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The Battle of Port Lyautey began on November 8, 1942 for the city of Port Lyautey (today known as Kenitra), French Morocco.

Contents 1 Objectives 2 Command structure 3 Prelude 3.1 Planning 3.2 Preparation for battle 4 Battle 5 Aftermath 6 Notes 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Objectives

The attack was a part of the objectives of the Western task force as part of Operation TORCH^[1], a large allied landing to seize control of North Africa from German control. Within the task force, sub task force GOALPOST was tasked with the objective of securing Port Lyautey. There were three objectives to the attack:

1. Capture the beach village of Mehdiya
2. Capture the fortress which secured the river mouth (the Kasbah)
3. Secure the airfield

[edit] Command structure

The operation was under the command of U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the western task force was under the command of General George S. Patton. Sub task force GOALPOST was under the command of General Lucian Truscott^[2].

[edit] Prelude

[edit] Planning

Prior to the landings in French Morocco, and after the fall of France in World War II, the US State Department had maintained in French North Africa an unusually large number of very able consular officials. This group was under the leadership of Mr. Robert Murphey, later General Eisenhower's political adviser. From these sources and from the military attache in Tangiers, the US Army obtained much detailed information concerning conditions in Morocco and were placed in contact with loyal Frenchmen who opposed the Vichy regime and were not friendly towards Axis forces.^[3]

Two Frenchmen were smuggled into London, Karl Victor Klopet and Jules Malvergne.^[3] Klopet had an intimate knowledge of the ports, beaches and coast defenses along the entire coast as a result of living in Casablanca for over 12 years and with tight connections to salvage operations there.^[3] Malgergne was familiar with every turn and bar in the Sebou river channel, knew all of the shipping which was engaged in the coastal trade, and provided important information concerning pro-Nazi political sentiment which was stronger in the Port Lyautey area than in any other section of Morocco.^[3]

[edit] Preparation for battle

Outline plans were drawn up in London for the assault on Port Lyautey by Lt. Gen Truscott and his staff. (Command). Capturing and stocking the airfield at Port Lyautey was the primary mission. Infantry and armored combat teams were at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Primarily this would be the 9th Infantry Division, 60th Infantry Regiment "Go Devils".^[3] Personnel and Vehicles Assigned to Force "Z" (Goalpost), as of 22 October 1942^[4]:

Unit	Personnel	Vehicles
9th ID 1st BLT, 60th Infantry	1345	118
9th ID 2nd BLT, 60th Infantry	1268	117
9th ID 3rd BLT, 60th Infantry	1461	118
Other 60th Infantry Troops	1318	224
66th Armored Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment	919	163
XII Air Support Command	1936	103
692d-697th Coast Artillery (AA) Batteries	448	0
66th Topographic Engineer Company (Detachment)	5	0
1st Armored Signal Battalion	3	1
9th Signal Company	68	10
122d Signal Company	26	4
163d Signal Company	6	1
239th Signal Company	35	4
56th Medical Battalion	36	0
2d Broadcasting Station Operation Detachment	30	5
Counterintelligence Group	16	0
Prisoner Interrogation Group	21	0
Civil Government Personnel	4	0
Force Headquarters	46	10
Submarine Markers	30	0
Harbor Obstruction Experts	40	0
Naval Personnel	18	0
Total	9079	881

It was realized early on that there were not sufficient berths in the port of embarkation to permit all of the Western Task Force to load and embark simultaneously. One Sub Task Force would have to load early, a full week before setting sail. The 60th Regiment and the 1st Battalion Combat Team of the 66th Armored Regiment were well organized and all were as well trained as could have been expected, to include some amphibious training. A commanders conference was held on October 14th in Washington D.C. with General Patton. It was noted that a counter sign for the attack had not been developed yet for identification purposes during operations. Someone suggested the words "George Patton" which met with unanimous approval. The challenger would call "George"; the challenged, if a friend, would answer "Patton".On the night of October 15, 1942, troops and equipment were embarked. Some last minute loading was done on October 16th, and at 1340 on that day, the sub task force sailed for Solomon's Island in Chesapeake Bay, where the had their rehearsal training.^[3]

On the beaches at Solomon's Island, tests of naval gunfire or air support were not allowable, but tests of communications and procedures would be the primary focus. On Saturday morning, the 17th, all rehearsal training seemed to be going according to plan. Transports were riding at anchor with landing craft swarming in the water about them. However, at some point, Colonel Demas T. Craw reported from one of the ships that the ship's captain had refused to hang any nets or lower any craft, giving the reason that his crew was not sufficiently trained to go on the expedition.^[3] After General Truscott visited with the ship's captain for a while, and informing him that the inadequate state of training and preparation was known, his refusal would have no effect on the overall operation. The captain relented, and training on that ship began. The next day, their voyage to North Africa began.

During the military preparations, another question arose from Naval commanders, how would supplies be carried up the Sebou River to the Port Lyautey airfield? Where was a ship big enough to carry these supplies, and go through a river that might be at most 17 feet deep? The S.S. Contessa was the Navy's pick as such a ship. A message was sent to the boat's commander, Capt William H. John, to go to Newport News to undertake a secret war mission.^[5]

The Contessa was a Standard Fruit Company vessel designed for the hauling of bananas and coconuts from Caribbean ports to the United States and to be hostess to cruising vacationists. She was drafted for war service in light of the critical ship shortage due to the war. The ships steward as a colorful man who spent his off hours trying to save the souls of the crew and the other half praying for the Contessa's welfare.^[5] The boat was nearing the end of her rope, she was salt cracked, rust stained, and her degaussing equipment was gone.^[5]

Upon arriving at Newport News, the Contessa went immediately into dry dock for 24 hours for repairs and preparation for her voyage to support the landing at Port Lyautey. By Sunday night, the 18th of October, she was completely loaded with gasoline, ammunition and bombs.^[5] The naval convoy had set sail already, the Contessa would have to catch up. She was short many crewmen, so the Norfolk city jail was opened up and a crew was made of those seamen who were serving time.^[5]

Eventually, the Contessa set sail, and met up with here convoy in the middle of the Atlantic. Her next stop would be at Port Lyautey airfield.

[edit] Battle

November 7, 1942:
The Northern Attack Group, Sub Task Force Goalpost, arrived off Mehdia, Morocco, just before midnight, 7-8 November, 1942.

The battleship Texas and cruiser Savannah took up station to the north and south of the landing beaches. The transport ships had lost formation in the last part of the approach to Morocco, and had not regained it. Some landing craft from five of the ships were first to carry troops from the other three, much confused searching causing a delay in forming waves for the actual landings. General Truscott was ferried from transport to transport and agreed to postpone H-Hour from 0400 to 0430.

President Roosevelt's and General Eisenhower's messages were already broadcast from London much earlier, and in the Mediterranean, the landings were wel advanced before those at Mehdia commenced. Surprise was lost^[6].

Defenses at Mehdia were lightly manned. Naval crews operated two 5-inch guns in protected positions on the tableland above Mehdia village and in the vicinity of the Kasbah. Not more than seventy men occupied the fort when the attack started. Two 75-mm guns were mounted on flat cars on the railroad running beside the river at the base of the bluff on which the Kasbah lay. A second battery of four 75's was brought forward after the attack began to a position on the high ground along the road from Mehdia to Port Lyautey. A battery of four 155-mm rifles (Grandes Pussances Filloux) was emplaced on a hill west of Port Lyautey and south west of the airport. The airport was defended by a single anti-aircraft battery. The infantry consisted of the 1st Regiment of Moroccan Infantry and the 8th Tabor (battalion) of native Goums. One group of nine 25-mm guns withdrawn from other infantry regiments and one battalion of engineers completed the defensive force. Reinforcements were sent to occupy the entrenchments and machine gun positions which covered approaches to the coastal guns and the fort and to occupy defensive positions on the ridges east of the lagoon^[6]..

November 8, 1942:
At first light on the 8th, Col. Demas T. Craw and Maj. Pierpont M. Hamilton went by jeep from an early beach landing, to Port Lyautey to consult the French commander (Col. Charles Petit). The emissaries were to give him a diplomatic letter in the hopes of preventing any hostilities from starting. They went ashore as the fire of coastal batteries and warships and strafing French airplanes began. French troops near the Kasbah directed them toward Port Lyautey, but as they neared the town under a flag of truce, a French machine gunner at a road fork outpost, stopped them with a burst of point-blank fire which killed Colonel Craw. Major Hamilton was then conducted to the headquarters of Colonel Petit, where his reception led to no conclusive reply^[6].. The pervading atmosphere at the French headquarters in port Lyautey was one of sympathy toward the Allied cause and distaste for the current fighting. What was lacking was an authorization from Colonel Petit's superior to stop fighting. Pending receipt of such authorization, the French at Port Lyautey continued to fight^[6]..
Units of the 60th Infantry Regiment began disembarking troops and supplies from their ships just off the Moroccan shore^[7]. The first wave of landing boats began circling and grouping together in preparation for the coming invasion. Unfortunately, in the confusion of disembarkation, the first wave was delayed as they looked for guidance to the shoreline; hence the second wave pressed into the shore as planned, on time. As the second wave began their attack, the first wave started in toward their objectives. Confusion was prevalent in the landing operation. Once the first wave made it to shore, the French defenders began resisting with small arms fire as well as cannon fire from a fortress overlooking the area^[8]. For all of the first day, the 60th Regiment achieved their first objective of securing the beach, but had not secured their other objectives. The night of the 8th was stormy, men were trying to rest anywhere, and many scurried through the blackness to find their units^[9].

November 9, 1942:
On the second day, further attacks began against the Kasbah fortress^[9]. The ground around the fortress was taken and secured, but the fort itself was still successfully defending itself. At the end of the day, a number of attacks were repulsed by the French defenders, the American attackers had not met with success.

November 10, 1942:
Finally, on the third day, November 10, 1942, the fortress was overrun and captured, leading to the final success of capturing the local airfield^[9]. These victories led to a truce being established on November 11, 1942^[9].

[edit] Aftermath

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Mittleman, Joseph. (1948). "Eight Stars to Victory", F.J. Heer Printing Company
2. ^ *Howe, George. (1957). "Mediterranean Theater of Operations", US Government Printing Office
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Truscott, L.K. Jr. (1954). "Command Missions, A Personal Story", E.P. Dutton and Company, Inc.
4. ^ Howe, George. (1957). "Mediterranean Theater of Operations, Northwest Africa, Seizing the Initiative in the West", US Government Printing Office
5. ^ ^{a b c d e} Fowler, Bertram B. (1943). "12 Desperate Miles, A Wartime Saga of the S.S. Contessa", The Saturday Evening Post August 28, 1943.
6. ^ ^{a b c d} *Morison, Samuel Eliot. (1947). "Operations in North African Waters, October 1942-June 1943", Castle Books.
7. ^ *Eisenhower, John S.D. (1982). "Allies", Da Capo Press
8. ^ Jones, V (1972). "Operation Torch Anglo-American Invasion of North Africa", Ballantine
9. ^ ^{a b c d} *Mittleman, Joseph. (1948). "Eight Stars to Victory", F.J. Heer Printing Company.

[edit] See also

• Kenitra (Port Lyautey, Morocco)
• Operation Torch
• North Africa Campaign
• Dwight D. Eisenhower
• George Patton
• Lucian Truscott

[edit] References

• Fowler, Bertram B. (1943). "12 Desperate Miles, A Wartime Saga of the S.S. Contessa", The Saturday Evening Post August 28, 1943.
• Eisenhower, John S.D. (1982). "Allies", Da Capo Press.
• Howe, George. (1957). "Mediterranean Theater of Operations, Northwest Africa, Seizing the Initiative in the West", US Government Printing Office.
• Jones, V (1972). "Operation Torch Anglo-American Invasion of North Africa", Ballantine.
• Mittleman, Joseph. (1948). "Eight Stars to Victory", F.J. Heer Printing Company.
• Moran, Charles. (1944). "The Landings in North Africa", US Government Printing Office.
• Morison, Samuel Eliot. (19470. "Operations in North African Waters, October 1942-June 1943", Castle Books.
• Truscott, L.K. Jr. (1954). "Command Missions, A Personal Story", E.P. Dutton and Company, Inc.

[edit] External links

• 60th Infantry Regiment
• WWII News Reels
• Cradle of Invasion
• Old Reliables
• Website Links
• Letters from a 60th Regiment Soldier
• Rene Malvergne
• Military History Veteran Story
• Octofoil Association