11/08/42 - North Africa
ALGERIA
Beginning at 0100 the Eastern Naval Task Force lands the Eastern Assault Force, under the command of Maj-Gen Charles W. Ryder, east and west of Algiers. The assault force consists of the 39th Regimental Combat Team, 9th Infantry Div; 168th Regimental Combat Team, 34th Infantry Div; the 11th and 36th Brigades, British 78th Div; and the British 1st and 6th Commando Battalions. The 11th Brigade and the 168th Regimental Combat Team go ashore west of Algiers near Castiglione and Sidi Ferruch, and the 39th Regimental Combat Team lands east of Albiers near Cap Matifou. As the troops advance toward Algiers against little or no resistance, 2 British destroyers with the 3rd Battalion of the 135th Regimental Combat Team, 34th Div, embarked, make a frontal attack on Algiers Harbor in an effort to capture it intact. One destroyer is forced to withdraw. The other enters the harbor and lands troops about 0530, but is forced to retire under heavy fire leaving the troops ashore. The Eastern Assault Force takes Blida and Maison Blanche airfields and pushes to the edge of Algiers, which capitulates at 1900.
At 0130 the Center Naval Task Force lands the Center Assault Force, under Maj-Gen Lloyd R. Fredendall, east and west of Oran, a half hour behind schedule. The assault force consists of the 1st Div; the 1st Ranger Battalion, and Combat Command B, 1st Armored Div. The Rangers and the 16th and 18th Regimental Combat Teams of the 1st Div land east of Oran in the Arzew area, take Arzew where the harbor is secured by a combined US-British naval landing party without opposition. They then move soutwestward toward Oran to St Cloud which remains in the enemy's hands, and Fleurus with elements driving southeastward along the coast to La Macta. Passing through the beachhead, Task Force Red of Combat Command B seizes Tafaraoui airport, 15 miles south of Oran, enabling the 31st Fighter Group planes to support the operation from there.
West of Oran, the 26th Regimental Combat Team lands at Les Andalouses, takes Bou Sfer ane Aïn et Turk, but is halted short of Oran. Task Force Green of Combat Command B debarks at Mersa Bou Zedjar, 16 miles west of Les Andalouses, and heads fo La Senia airport, clearing Lourmel and reaching Sebkra d'Oran. The 2nd Battalion of the 509th Parachute Infantry is dropped to assist in the capture of La Senia and Tafaraoui airports, but the drops are scattered and the paratroopers arrive too late to help. Meanwhile, HMS Walney and Hartland, carrying detachments of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Armored Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Div, and a British naval landing party, are sunk by enemy fire while attempting to take Oran Harbor intact.
MOROCCO
The Western Naval Task Force which is scheduled to land troops at 0400 is delayed at least an hour in landing the Casablanca assault forces due to action by the French fleet at Casablanca. The Northern Attack Group under Maj-Gen Lucian K. Truscott lands on beaches north and south of the Sebou River at Mehdia. This force consists of the 60th Infantry of the 9th Div and the 1st Battalion of the 66th Armored Regiment of the 2nd Armored Div. They attempt to reach Port-Lyautey and the airfield 2 miles to the north but meet considerable opposition and cannot reach the objective. The Task Force of the Center Attack Group, under Maj-Gen Jonathan W. Anderson, lands northeast of Fedala. This force consists of the 3rd Div and the 1st Battalion of the 67th Armored Regiment of the 2nd Armored Div. They take their D-Day objectives. The surprised Fedala garrison surrenders and the advance is continued toward Casablanca. The Southern Attack Group, under Maj-Gen Ernest N. Harmon, secures a 5,000-yard beachhead in the Safi area and takes Safi. This force consists of the 47th Infantry of the 9th Div, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 67th Armored Regiment of the 2nd Armored Div and some special units. 2 US destroyers with K and L Companies of the 47th Infantry, 9th Div, and a naval contingent, enter Safi Harbor ahead of the landings. After silencing the batteries with gunfire, the assault force is landed and the harbor facilities are taken without opposition.
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