Operation TORCH

Invasion of North Africa

Apr 20, 2009 Michael G Walling

Allied troops from the greatest armada ever put into a military operation, swarmed ashore on the Vichy-controlled shores of North Africa before dawn on November 8, 1942.

Overall the plan was to make a landing, capture an airport, certain villages, and hold road heads and bridges. The airports had to be taken since short-legged British Spitfire fighters were being flown from Gibraltar to provide air cover. If the airfield was not in Allied hands in time, the fighter planes would crash when their fuel was exhausted. This was to be accomplished within twenty-four hours in a three-pronged assault: an expedition to Casablanca in Morocco 190 miles south of Gibraltar on the Atlantic coast, and landings in Algeria; one at Oran, 280 miles east of Gibraltar; and Algiers, 500 miles east of Gibraltar.

Each task force was to conduct multiple operations within its area for a total twenty-one separate landings including one by the British 6th Commando at just west of Algiers. Another key part of the operation was preventing the port facilities of Safi, Oran and Algiers from being sabotaged. To accomplish this, two destroyers in each task force, loaded with specially trained troops were detailed to force their way into the respective harbors as the main assaults took place in the surrounding area.

The final stage called for a cessation and settlement of all hostilities in four days so the British portion of the convoys could move into Algiers and disembark the First British Army destined to push Rommel from the West.

Eastern Task Force

The Eastern Task Force, composed of 23,000 British and 10,000 U.S. troops, commanded by Lt. Gen. K.A. N. Anderson of the British First Army, was to attack Algiers. Maj. Gen. Charles W. Ryder, commander of the 34th Infantry Division which consisted of two reinforced regimental combat teams (RCT), one each from the 9th and 34th Infantry Divisions, and a Ranger battalion. This force trained in England and accompanied to its destination by units of the British Navy. In the hope of securing co-operation from the French, American troops were to spearhead the Eastern Task Force assault.

Center Task Force

The Center Task Force, command by Gen. Lloyd R. Fredendall, was made up of elements of II Corps, built around the 1st Infantry Division, half of the 1st Armored Division, and a force from the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, reinforced by corps troops totaling more than 40,000. It was to go ashore on beaches flanking Oran. This Task Force also trained in England and was convoyed by British warships.

Western Task Force

The Western Task Force, an entirely American operation, was commanded by Maj. Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. Totaling approximately 34,000 men, it consisted of the 2d Armored Division, the 3d Infantry Division, and two regimental combat teams of the 9th Infantry Division. The Task Force trained in the United States and sailed for Africa under convoy of the U.S. Navy.

Lessons Paid in Blood

This was the first time anyone had attempted a large scale amphibious operation and there wasn’t enough time or experience to get everything right. The beaches were taken by grimly determined men who paid for the first lessons in massed amphibious assaults with their blood.

Sources: Author’s personal files and

Howe, George F., Seizing the Initiative In the West United States Army in World War II Mediterranean Theater of Operations Northwest Africa, Office Of The Chief Of Military History

Department Of The Army, Washington, D.C., 1957

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