History of United States Naval Operations in World War II

by Morison, Samuel Eliot

• ISBN13: 9780252069727
• ISBN10: 0252069722
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Univ of Illinois Pr

Summary

Volume II: Operations in North African Waters, October 1942-June 1943 covers naval operations on the Atlantic coast of North Africa and in the Mediterranean. Morison focuses especially on "Operation Torch," the all-American effort to capture bases in French Morocco, thereby opening up a second front to relieve the Russians.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Abbreviations Used in Text	2	(1)
PART I THE EXPEDITION AGAINST FRENCH MOROCCO
Preliminaries, July 1940--October 1942	3	(40)
The Diplomatic Contest over North Africa	3	(8)
The Decision, 25 July 1942	11	(8)
a. Africa --- Thank God!
b. The Concept
The Western Naval Task Force	19	(24)
a. Amphibious Force Atlantic Fleet
b. Joint Planning and Training
c. The Plan
d. Composition
The Crossing, 20 October--7 November 1942	43	(12)
Landing at Fedhala, 8 November 1942	55	(33)
Initial Landings	55	(10)
The French Side of the Fence	65	(7)
The Battle for the Beaches	72	(16)
a. Silencing Shore Batteries
b. The Landings Analyzed
c. Varied Adventures
The Naval Battle of Casablanca, 8 November 1942	88	(27)
The Carrier-based Planes	88	(3)
The Opening Bombardment	91	(7)
The Morning Naval Battle	98	(10)
The Afternoon Engagement	108	(7)
The Northern Attack, 7--11 November 1942	115	(20)
Conditions and Objectives	115	(3)
The Landings at Mehedia	118	(6)
Difficulties Ashore	124	(5)
Dallas Wins Through	129	(6)
The Southern Attack, 7--11 November 1942	135	(22)
The Problem	135	(3)
The Assault	138	(10)
Fire Support and Air Support	148	(5)
Unloading and Fueling	153	(4)
Morocco Secured, 9 November--1 December 1942	157	(24)
Events at Fedhala	157	(4)
a. Unloading Progress
b. Shift of Command
c. Unloading Troubles
French Hostilities Concluded	161	(6)
The Axis Takes a Hand	167	(7)
The Move to Casablanca	174	(7)
PART II THE EXPEDITIONS AGAINST ALGERIA AND TUNISIA
Preparations, October--November 1942	181	(8)
Plans and Targets	181	(3)
La Haute Politique	184	(5)
The Winning of Algiers, 8--15 November 1942	189	(33)
The Eastern Naval Task Force	189	(9)
a. Organization
b. The Passage
The Landings	198	(11)
a. Group ``Charlie'' Lands East of Algiers
b. Groups ``Apples'' and ``Beer'' Land West of Algiers
c. H.M.S. Broke and Malcolm Attempt a Frontal Attack
d. Diplomacy Ashore
The Thomas Stone Flotilla	209	(3)
Air Raids, 8--15 November	212	(2)
Politics Again	214	(6)
Bougie and Bone Secured	220	(2)
The Capture of Oran, 8--11 November 1942	222	(17)
Plans and Forces	222	(3)
Hartland and Walney	225	(6)
The Landings	231	(8)
a. Arzeu
b. West of Oran
The Navy in the Tunisian Campaign, November 1942--May 1943	239	(36)
The Race for Tunisia	239	(5)
The United Nations Build-up	244	(14)
a. Morocco
b. Algeria
North Africa Cleared of the Axis	258	(3)
Motor Torpedo Boat Operations	261	(5)
a. PT Background
b. Operations of Squadron 15
Arrival of the New Landing Ships	266	(9)
a. LST, LCT and LCI
b. ``Spitkit'' Convoys
Pantelleria	275	(8)
The Anchored Carrier	275	(5)
The Pelagies	280	(3)
Appendix I Allied Ships Sunk in Operation ``Torch,'' 7--16 November 1942	283	(2)
Appendix II Western Naval Task Force: Expenditure of Ammunition, 8--11 November 1942	285	(1)
Appendix III Summary of Beginning Action, 8 November 1942	286	(1)
Index	287