November 8th – 10th 1942 Operation Torch
Operation Torch occurred in November 1942 and was the first Anglo-American land, sea, and air offensive of World War II. The operation was conceived as a means of opening a land front against Axis forces in Europe.
Strategically, Torch would likely cause the redeployment of German units from their engagement in Operation Barbarossa in the Soviet Union providing relief for the Soviet Army, meet Roosevelt’s demand that U.S. ground forces enter the war in Europe by the end of 1942, and place major Anglo-American forces on fascist Italy’s doorstep.
On July 25th, 1942 the code name Torch was officially adopted. The objective of the operation was to gain control of North Africa from the Atlantic to the Red Sea in coordination with Allied units in Egypt. The critical initial phase required simultaneously seizing ports from southern Morocco to the middle of Algeria. Close coordination among both American and British land, sea, and air forces would be necessary.
As Allied preparation for Torch began, planners had to consider possible French resistance. After France fell in June 1940, her colonies had opted to either join the Allies under de Gaulle and Free France or remain loyal to the pro-Axis regime at Vichy. Unfortunately, military governments in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia were all openly pro-Vichy.
Cautiously, the British and Americans brought selected French leaders into their plan in the hope that at the critical moment in the invasion the pro-Allied leaders would seize control of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, thereby holding resistance to a minimum.
Torch was the largest joint amphibious operation undertaken up to that time. Thus it was in many ways a watershed event for both the Army and the Navy. The number of issues that had to be considered and resolved was enormous. The two services had never conducted an operation like this. Prior to World War II interaction between them was infrequent. While lack of familiarity in each other’s procedures did hinder preparations for Torch, the professionalism of key leaders and staffs of both services overcame this handicap. The major concern was command and control.
The key operational Navy commander was Rear Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt, Commander Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet, with headquarters in Norfolk, VA. Hewitt, who was to figure prominently in Mediterranean amphibious operations, was designated to command Western Naval Task Force.
The assault force would be led by Major General George S. Patton, Jr., who was designated the Army Western Task Force commander.
Hewitt and Patton had separate commands, with Hewitt reporting to Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, while Patton reported directly to General Dwight D. Eisenhower who was the Allied Expeditionary Force Commander (controlling the entire Torch operation, from Morocco to Algeria).
The success of Torch depended on the capture of a number of key ports, from Morocco to Algeria.
In the early morning hours of November 8 certain French military who were aware of the Allied plan tried to assume control in Morocco. An unfortunate series of mishaps and errors led to the arrest of pro-Allied leaders.
The result was that the French, led primarily by the navy, elected to resist the landings. Thus began four days of fighting between American and Vichy forces.
French resistance in the north was more determined and effective than at Safi. Initially, the assault went well and by the morning of November 10 French opposition began to collapse.
The main American objective in Morocco was the great port of Casablanca. Unfortunately a direct assault on the city was impossible—there were too many coastal defense guns. Therefore, the assault force had to come ashore north of Casablanca at the small port city of Fedala. Once a landing at Fedala was secured, an overland advance on Casablanca would begin.
The French in the Casablanca area elected to resist the landing. Coastal defense guns fired on U.S. ships near the Fedala beaches, prompting a vigorous reply from the fleet.
By midmorning, despite the fact that French resistance was largely overcome, the landing was far behind schedule.
In almost all respect Operation Torch is considered a huge success. The operation achieved all of the primary objectives it was designed to and in addition provided practical experience in joint operations that would prove vital in the Invasion of Italy and the Normandy Invasion.
Linked below is a power point presentation file that shows the engagement map, troop strengths at the start of the battle and losses for both the Allies and the Axis.
Strategically, Torch would likely cause the redeployment of German units from their engagement in Operation Barbarossa in the Soviet Union providing relief for the Soviet Army, meet Roosevelt’s demand that U.S. ground forces enter the war in Europe by the end of 1942, and place major Anglo-American forces on fascist Italy’s doorstep.
On July 25th, 1942 the code name Torch was officially adopted. The objective of the operation was to gain control of North Africa from the Atlantic to the Red Sea in coordination with Allied units in Egypt. The critical initial phase required simultaneously seizing ports from southern Morocco to the middle of Algeria. Close coordination among both American and British land, sea, and air forces would be necessary.
As Allied preparation for Torch began, planners had to consider possible French resistance. After France fell in June 1940, her colonies had opted to either join the Allies under de Gaulle and Free France or remain loyal to the pro-Axis regime at Vichy. Unfortunately, military governments in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia were all openly pro-Vichy.
Cautiously, the British and Americans brought selected French leaders into their plan in the hope that at the critical moment in the invasion the pro-Allied leaders would seize control of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, thereby holding resistance to a minimum.
Torch was the largest joint amphibious operation undertaken up to that time. Thus it was in many ways a watershed event for both the Army and the Navy. The number of issues that had to be considered and resolved was enormous. The two services had never conducted an operation like this. Prior to World War II interaction between them was infrequent. While lack of familiarity in each other’s procedures did hinder preparations for Torch, the professionalism of key leaders and staffs of both services overcame this handicap. The major concern was command and control.
The key operational Navy commander was Rear Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt, Commander Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet, with headquarters in Norfolk, VA. Hewitt, who was to figure prominently in Mediterranean amphibious operations, was designated to command Western Naval Task Force.
The assault force would be led by Major General George S. Patton, Jr., who was designated the Army Western Task Force commander.
Hewitt and Patton had separate commands, with Hewitt reporting to Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, while Patton reported directly to General Dwight D. Eisenhower who was the Allied Expeditionary Force Commander (controlling the entire Torch operation, from Morocco to Algeria).
The success of Torch depended on the capture of a number of key ports, from Morocco to Algeria.
In the early morning hours of November 8 certain French military who were aware of the Allied plan tried to assume control in Morocco. An unfortunate series of mishaps and errors led to the arrest of pro-Allied leaders.
The result was that the French, led primarily by the navy, elected to resist the landings. Thus began four days of fighting between American and Vichy forces.
French resistance in the north was more determined and effective than at Safi. Initially, the assault went well and by the morning of November 10 French opposition began to collapse.
The main American objective in Morocco was the great port of Casablanca. Unfortunately a direct assault on the city was impossible—there were too many coastal defense guns. Therefore, the assault force had to come ashore north of Casablanca at the small port city of Fedala. Once a landing at Fedala was secured, an overland advance on Casablanca would begin.
The French in the Casablanca area elected to resist the landing. Coastal defense guns fired on U.S. ships near the Fedala beaches, prompting a vigorous reply from the fleet.
By midmorning, despite the fact that French resistance was largely overcome, the landing was far behind schedule.
In almost all respect Operation Torch is considered a huge success. The operation achieved all of the primary objectives it was designed to and in addition provided practical experience in joint operations that would prove vital in the Invasion of Italy and the Normandy Invasion.
Linked below is a power point presentation file that shows the engagement map, troop strengths at the start of the battle and losses for both the Allies and the Axis.