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Operation Dragoon - Naval Order of Battle World Naval Ships Forums Archive

Operation Dragoon - Naval Order of Battle

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[B][B][B]OPERATION DRAGOON_THE ALLIED INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE[/B][/B][/B] [B][B]ALLIED NAVAL FORCES Vice Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt[/B][/B] [B][B]CONTROL FORCE,[/B][/B] Vice Admiral Hewitt Amphibious Force Flagship USS Catoctin, destroyer USS Plunkett, minesweepers USS Pheasant, Raven, Auk, Broadbill, Chickadee, Nuthatch, Staff, Swift, Threat [B][B]SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP [/B][/B]Captain H. C. Johnson Western Diversionary Unit, Captain H. C. Johnson USS Endicott, four Minelayers, eight 8 PT boats, twelve ASRC Eastern Diversionary Unit, Lieutenant Commander Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Gunboats HMS Aphis, Scarab, Stuart Prince, Antwerp, three minelayers, four PT boats [B][B]Task Force 84 "Alpha Force" Rear Admiral Frank J. Lowry[/B][/B] Force Flagship Group: USCGC Duane, Fighter Director Ship HMS Ulster Queen, LCl-953, PC-1169. Assault Groups Red Beach Assault Group: 46 LCI, 25 LST, 7 LCC, 43 LCT, 11 LCM, 1 LCG, 1 LCF, 7 LCS, 4 British AM, 5 PC Yellow Beach Assault Group: Attack transports USS Samuel Chase, USS Henrico, transports USS Anne Arundel, USS Thurston, attack freighters USS Oberon, USS Andromeda, HMS Highway, 6 SC, 4 PC, 3 LCC, 6 LST, 9 LCI, 1 LCG, 1 LCF, 17 LCT, 9 LCM, 6 LCS, 4 British AM. Gunfire Support Group, Rear Admiral J. M. Mansfield RN Battleship HMS Ramillies Light cruisers HMS Orion, Aurora, Ajax, Black Prince, USS Quincy, French light cruiser Gloire Destroyers USS Livermore, Eberle, Kearny, Ericsson, HMS Terpsichore, Termagant Minesweeper Group USS Barricade, Prevail, Seer, Dextrous, Pioneer, 6 SC, 10 YMS, 8 British and 6 French AM, 2 LCC, 2 danlayers. Salvage and firefighting group Fleet tug USS Hopi, 1 ATA, British tugs Empire Spitfire, Empire Ann, 1 boom vessel, 1 ATR, 1 YTB, 1 YTL, 1 FT [B][B][B]Task Force 85 DELTA FORCE Rear Admiral Bertram J. Rodgers[/B][/B][/B] Force Flagship Group: Seaplane tender USS Biscayne Destroyer USS Forrest one fighter-director tender TRANSPORT GROUP Captain R. A. Dierdorff Transports USS Elizabeth C. Stanton, Lyon, Marine Robin, Santa Rosa, Barnett, Joseph T. Dickman Attack freighters USS Procyon, Arcturus British LSP Dilwara, LSI Ascania, Landing Ship Gantry Ennerdale (converted tanker carrying LCM). Destroyers USS Baldwin, Madison, Carmick Destroyer escorts USS Marsh, Haines ASSAULT GROUPS Red Beach Assault Group: 10 LST, 6 LCI, 7 LCT, 1 LCG, I LCF, 4 LCS, 2 LCM(R), 2 SC, 2 LCC; 1 LCM Green Beach Assault Group: 5 LST, 5 LCI, 7 LCT, 4 LCS, 2 LCM, 2 SC, 1 LCC Yellow Beach Assault Group: 2 LST, 2 LCI, 26 LCVP, 4 LCS, 4 LCT, 3 LCM, 1 SC, 1 LCC Blue Beach Assault Group: 1 LST, 26 LCVP, 16 LCT, 1 LCG, 1 LCF, 4 LCS, 3 LCM, 1 PC, 1 LCC, 1 LCI Corps and Division Reserve Groups: 5 LST, 20 LCI, 18 LCT, I FT GUNFIRE SUPPORT GROUP Rear Admiral C. F. Bryant Battleships USS Texas, Nevada Light cruiser USS Philadelphia French light cruisers Montcalm, Georges Leygues Destroyers USS Ellyson, Rodman, Emmons, Forrest, Fitch, Hambleton, Macomb, Hobson French destroyers Fantasque, Terrible, Malin MINESWEEPER GROUP Minesweepers USS Sway, Symbol; HMS Rinaldo, Antares, Arcturus, Brave, Rosario, Spanker Danlayers Satsa, Calm COMBAT AND FIREFIGHTING GROUP Fleet tugs USS Narragansett, Pinto, HMS Aspirant, Athlete, Charon, 1 ATA, 2 YTL. [B][B]Task Force 87 CAMEL FORCE Rear Admiral Spencer S. Lewis[/B][/B] Force Flagship Group: Attack transport USS Bayfield, British LCH-3l5· ASSAULT GROUPS Red Beach Assault Group: Attack transports USS Charles Carroll, Thomas Jefferson Transports USS Dorothea L. Dix, Florence Nightingale, General G. O. Squier Attack freighters USS Cepheus, Achernar, Betelgeuse 5 LCI, 3 LST, 21 LCT, 20 LCVP, 9 LCS, 3 LCC, 1 LCG, 1 LCF, 2 LCM, 3 SC, 2 PC; 1 LSI (Br.), 1 LSD (Br.) Green Beach Assault Group: 23 LCI, I LCH, 14 LST, 21 LCT, 7 LCVP, 7 LCS, 3 LCC, 1 LCG, 1 LCF, 2 LCM, 2 PC, 2 SC Blue Beach Assault Group: 5 LST, 1 LCI, 3 LCS, 2 LCT, 2 SC, 1 PC Escort and Screening Group: Destroyers from Bombardment Group; 6 PC, 10 SC, 1 LST, 2 LCF, 1 LSF, 1 LCC, 5 LCS, 5 LCVP, 1 LCT, 2 LCM BOMBARDMENT GROUP Rear Admiral Morton L. Deyo Battleship USS Arkansas Heavy Cruiser USS Tuscaloosa Light cruisers USS Brooklyn, Marblehead, HMS Argonaut, French cruisers Duguay-Trouin, Émile Bertin Destroyers USS Parker, Kendrick, MacKenzie, McLanahan, Nields, Ordronaux, Woolsey, Ludlow, Edison, Boyle, Champlin Minesweeper Group Minesweepers USS Strive, Steady, Speed, Sustain, 6 YMS, 6 BYMS, 2 danlayers, 6 British ML, 12 British AM, HMS Product Salvage and Firefighting Group Fleet ocean tugs USS Moreno, Arikara, 1 U.S., 2 British ATA, 1 YTB, 3 LCI, 1 LCT, 4 LCM, 1 boom vessel, 1 YTL [B][B][B]Task Force 86 SITKA FORCE Rear Admiral Lyal A. Davidson[/B][/B][/B] GUNFIRE SUPPORT GROUP Rear Admiral Davidson French battleship Lorraine Heavy cruiser USS Augusta (flagship) Light cruiser HMS Dido Destroyers USS Somers, USS Gleaves, HMS Lookout, HHMS Themistoklis Reserve: Light cruisers USS Omaha, USS Cincinnati, HMS Sirius TRANSPORT GROUP Rear Admiral Theodore E. Chandler Unit A: Destroyer transports USS Tattnall, HMS Prince Baudoin; PT-201 Unit B: HMCS Prince Henry; Destroyer transports USS Barry, USS Greene, USS Roper, USS Osmond Ingram, four PT boats ROMEO Unit: HMCS Prince David, HMS Prins Albert, HMS Princess Beatrix, four PT boats Screen: Eight PT boats MINESWEEPER GROUP HMS Larne, Clinton, Octavia, Stormcloud, Welfare, four minelayers, Danlayer HMS Kintyre [B][B][B]Task Force 88 AIRCRAFT CARRIER FORCE Rear Admiral Thomas Hope Troubridge RN TG 88.1 Rear Admiral T.H. Troubridge RN[/B][/B][/B] HMS Khedive (899 Naval Air Squadron) Supermarine Seafire HMS Emperor (800 Naval Air Squadron) Grumman Hellcat HMS Searcher (882 Naval Air Squadron) Grumman Wildcat HMS Pursuer (881 Naval Air Squadron) Wildcat HMS Attacker (879 Naval Air Squadron) Supermarine Seafire Anti-aircraft light cruisers HMS Royalist (flagship), HMS Delhi, Destroyers HMS Troubridge, Tuscan, Tyrian, Teazer, Tumult, Wheatland; HHMS Navarinon [B][B]TG 88.2 Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin USN[/B][/B] USS Tulagi (VOF-01) F6F Hellcat, USS Kasaan Bay (VF-74) F6F Hellcat, HMS Hunter (807 Naval Air Squadron) Supermarine Seafire, HMS Stalker (809 Naval Air Squadron) Supermarine Seafire Antiaircraft light cruisers HMS Colombo, HMS Caledon Destroyers USS Butler, Gherardi, Herndon, Murphy, Jeffers, Shubrick, 6 British ML. [B][B]TG 80.6 Antisubmarine and Convoy Control Group Captain J. P. Clay[/B][/B] Destroyers USS Jouett, Benson, Niblack, Madison, Hilary P. Jones, Charles F. Hughes, Frankford, Carmick, Doyle, McCook, Baldwin, Harding, Satterlee, Thompson, HMS Aldenham, Beaufort, Belvoir, Whaddon, Blackmore, Eggesford, Lauderdale, HHMS Pindos, HMS Farndale, Atherstone, Brecon, Calpe, Catterick, Cleveland, Haydon, Bicester, Liddesdale, Oakley, Zetland, HHMS Kriti, HHMS Themistoklis Destroyer escorts USS Tatum, Haines, Marsh, Currier, Frederick C. Davis, Herbert C. Jones French destroyers Le Fortuné , Forbin , Simoun, Tempête, Alcyon French corvettes Marocain, Tunisien , Hova, Algérien, Somali French sloops Commandant Domine, La Moqueuse, Commandant Bory, La Gracieuse, Commandant Delage, La Boudeuse Minesweepers USS Improve, Implicit, Incessant, Incredible, Mainstay, Pinnacle, 6 YMS Corvettes HMS Aubretia, Columbine [B][B][B]Source: Morison, The Invasion of France and Germany, 1944–1945 (1957), pp. 338–343[/B][/B][/B] jainso31

[B][B]Operation Torch, the Anglo-American landings against French North Africa in November 1942, was followed by Husky, the assault against Sicily in early July 1943, and the invasion of southern Italy in September[/B][/B]. [B][B]General Jacob Devers, commander of the U.S. Services of Supply in the Mediterranean, was the overseer of Lt. General Alexander M. Patch and his Seventh Army staff, who were the nucleus of Anvil. The operation would consist of the U.S. VI Corps under Maj. General Lucian Truscott with the U.S. Third, 36th, and 45th Infantry divisions, commanded respectively by Maj. Generals John W. "Iron Mike" O'Daniel, John E. Dahlquist, and William W. Eagles. As shipping schedules and the situation ashore allowed, they were to be followed by seven French colonial divisions under the overall command of General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny.[/B][/B] Other elements of the Anvil order of battle included an ad hoc airborne division, the Anglo-American First Airborne Task Force, under Maj. General Robert T. Frederick; the Canadian-American First Special Service Force, an experienced regiment-size commando force; various French special assault detachments and French Partisans and Freedom Fighters.[B][B] Air support would generally stage out of Corsica, about 100 miles away, supplemented by naval aviation from several escort carriers operating offshore. The latter vessels, together with supporting warships and the entire amphibious assault fleet, were under the control of Vice Admiral Henry K. Hewitt, the veteran commander of the Western Naval Task Force.[/B][/B] The invasion While planning for Anvil had continued quietly for months, the actual order to proceed came on June 24, only seven weeks preceding the invasion. General Patch had intelligence from French Partisans and Ultra, which together exposed German emplacements, activities and strengths. The time available to prepare was severely limited and tied to rigid schedules. Even as those forces assembled, Allied air attacks against the southern French coastline and the immediate interior, begun on August 5, continued and intensified. To avoid revealing the precise landing area, targets all along the coast were struck. Also attacked were the Rhone River bridges, whose destruction would severely hamper German movements throughout the campaign. At the same time, French Resistance forays against lesser water crossings, rail and communication sites, further paralyzed German movement behind the battle area and seriously degraded internal communications capabilities.[B][B] Deception efforts on the night before the Anvil landings included dummy paratrooper drops and visits by small fleets of patrol craft, one led by cinema star Lt. Commander Douglas Fairbanks Jr., to other potential landing sites to simulate an invasion force.[/B][/B] On the German side, the attack would come as no surprise. Luftwaffe air reconnaissance had chronicled the Allied naval buildup for General Friedrich Wiese, commander of the defending 19th Army in southern France. But neither he nor his superior, General Johannes Blaskowitz, heading Army Group G, could determine the precise landing area, nor had they the forces to defend the entire coastline. [B][B]German naval and air power in southern France was extremely weak, and steadily increasing guerrilla attacks by the French Resistance continued to hamper German lines of communication. Nevertheless, the German leaders did what they could to prepare for the assault.[/B][/B] Smaller, but as complex as the Normandy invasion, Operation Anvil employed many simultaneous operations. [B][B]Preceding the actual landings, air and naval bombardments softened the German defenses. On the night of August 14 and 15, French partisans secured the general beachhead area. Members of the Special Service Force assaulted key German positions overlooking the invasion beaches and sealed off coastal roads, all to prevent German reinforcement of the area. [/B][/B]Paratroopers secured Le Muy, a small French town a short distance inland from the landing beaches, which provided protection of the invasion beaches and access to the Argens valley corridor. [B][B]The actual landings took place, meeting some resistance, but successfully and anti-climatically, at 8 a.m. on August 15, providing additional time for air and naval bombardments[/B][/B]. At Hitler's personal order, vital coastal enclaves were to be defended to the last man. However, at that critical juncture in the Southern France Campaign (Anvil), the German High Command began to reevaluate its entire position in the west. By August 16, with many of their divisions in danger of annihilation, the German leaders elected to order a general withdrawal from France. Blaskowitz was to leave strong garrisons at Toulon, Marseille, and several key Atlantic ports.[B][B][B]Stretching their supply lines thin, all Anvil commanders nevertheless agreed that keeping the initiative was paramount. Allied forces struggled northward on the heels of the retreating Germans to meet Eisenhower’s forces — the hammer striking the anvil — to finally drive the Germans out of France.[/B][/B][/B] PS A pre landing naval bombardment fire plan would be useful [URL]http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1772.html[/URL] jainso31 *

Jim: Interesting account. One does not often think about Anvil as most of the action was up north. Brian

[B][B]Operation Anvil US/Operation Dragoon British [/B][/B]was not favoured by the British and to that end [B][B]General Bernard Montgomery wrote Dwight Eisenhower on 21 Feb 1944 "I recommend very strongly that we now throw the whole weight of our opinion into the scales against Anvil."[/B][/B] This recommendation was consistent to the general objection to this campaign shown by the British. [B][B]In a communication between Churchill and Eisenhower, the British Prime Minister stated that[/B][/B] "[w]e no longer had any need of the port of Marseilles and the line of communication leading northward from it. Troops from America could come in via Brittany." "The attack through the south of France was far removed geographically from the troops in northern France that there was no tactical connection between them." "The troops to be used under General Devers in the southern invasion would have more effect in winning the war by driving forward in Italy and into the Balkans and threatening Germany from the south than they would by pursuing the originally planned line of action." "Our entry into the Balkans would encourage that entire region to flame into open revolt against Hitler and would permit us to carry to the resistance forces arms and equipment which would make the efforts of these forces more effective." [B][B][B]However, Eisenhower overruled the British objections and decided to carry out the operation; he was said to be partially distrustful of the British intentions for a Balkans entry into Europe, for that he thought Britain may have had imperialistic ambitions. [/B][/B][/B]This incident of Eisenhower overruling British opposition was yet another signal that [B][B][B]the United States was not only coming to age as a dominant world power, but she was taking over Britain's place as the more influential member of the alliance.[/B][/B][/B] Eisenhower argued for taking Marseilles for the fact that the Germans had already sent a portion of the area's defenses northward to reinforce the Normandy region, leaving Marseilles vulnerable and free of the threat of German demolition. [B][B][B]The elimination of German forces in southern France in general would give the Normandy landers much needed relief on their southern flank, granting much safety for a strong supply line[/B][/B][/B] [URL]http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=110[/URL] jainso31

To assist in understanding the text -herewith a map of sorts jainso31
Attachments :

Hi All, It should be remembered that this operation was primarily a US one with significant French forces also employed. The only British land involvement was by some paratroopers who were dropped in simultaneously with the beach assault. This para drop was not well co-ordinated and significant marches had to be made to rally point by many units. The main British involvement was in the naval forces and some 350 RN or British controlled ships were involved. Contrary to some, British, sources this was not a majority of the ships deployed and was just over one third. The other main British commitment was in aircraft, particularly FAA. My reason for concentrating on putting the RN and British contribution into context is that my search for information has revealed little on the RN involvement and almost nothing on the large forces of the other navies involved. That said it is sad to have to report that in The Imperial War Museum book of The War at Sea, which is over 250 pages long, all of 7 lines are devoted to Operation Dragoon. My most productive information sources are British Invasion Fleets, The Mediterranean and beyond 1942-1945 by John de S Winser and published by World Ship Society which provide details with '(1)' where that is credited as the source and Fleet Sweepers at War by Jack Williams with '(2)' noting where that is the source. So, with apologies to those of whose national involvement I can trace no details, this is a brief note of some of the details of the assault. On 12th August the 19th Minesweeping Flotilla sailed from Naples and at Ajaccio picked up a convoy of LCIs carrying the first wave of US assault troops bound for St Tropez. At 0300 the Flotilla, Rinaldo, Rosario, Brave and Spanker, swept clear the invasion channel, saw the LCIs on their way to the beach then swept a clear area for the bombarding battleship force of Ramillies, Texas and Nevada which arrived at 0700. Later, in the smoke and congestion Brave collided with LCT591(no from1) and had to retire to Naples for repair.(2) Ramillies had sailed from Algiers on 13th August. She was joined by Termagent and Terpsichore on 14th August and they arrived at Alpha beachhead on 15th August to provide bombardment support.(1) It is recorded that, owing to a shortage of targets, Ramillies fell silent earlier than anticipated. Also involved in the Alpha bombardment were the cruisers Ajax, Aurora, Black Prince and Orion which had all sailed from Malta on 13th August to arrive off the beachhead on 15th August. The Alpha force also included the 13th Minesweeper Flotilla which was made up of the ships Rothesay, Polruan, Bude, Stornoway, Brixham and Aries.(2) They had sailed on 9th August from Naples with assault convoy SS1B and arrived at Alpha beachhead on 15th August. They were involved in a surface engagement with five small German patrol vessels but the sank them without suffering any damage.(1) The flotilla swept Yellow beach assault channel and then continued to sweep along the coast. As they swept in the Gulf of Fos they came under heavy fire but sustained no damage while accounting for 60+ mines. In total, in the area, before they left they swept 172 mines.(2) In addition to the collision mentioned above, which took place on 16th August, shore gunfire on the 15th August achieved three hits on LCT307, which was abandoned, and also damaged LCTs 339, 629 and 552. The worst damaged of these being 552 which suffered a hit in the engine room. The follow up convoy TM1 arrived on 16th August and two of its ships, Fort Maisonnueve and Essex Trader were hit by anti-personnel bombs at 1830 hrs. The latter was hit by 15 of these bombs and suffered many casualties.(1) The 5th Minesweeping Flotilla, Larne, Octavia, Clinton, Welfare and Stormcloud (2) left Propriano on 13th August and arrived at Sitka area on 14th August. (1) Their first action was to sweep a channel for the French Battleship Lorraine. Later that day while sweeping off Cape Benat they came under heavy fire which they returned with their 4” guns – 187 rounds expended. Numerous mines were swept. (In 1984 the SO. Cdr H. L. Jenkins DSC RN was awarded the Croix de Guerre for the actions of 5th MSF.)(2) Dido and Lookout sailed from Naples on 12th August then Propriano on 14th August. Having first ensured that guns believed(erroneously) to be sited on the islands of Port Cros and Levant could not interfere with the assault they arrived at Sitka area on 15th August where they supplied fire support up to 18th.(1) Antares, and Arcturus sailed from Naples on 11th August for Salerno and joined up with assault convoy SF2A arriving at Delta beachhead on 15th August. (1) Argonaut sailed from Palermo arriving at Camel beachhead on 15th August where she provided fire support.(1) The Royal Navy Day by Day states that overall much ammunition was used quoting as an example that Argonaut fired 349 5.25” shells. I may be naïve but I would not have thought that to be a particularly high quantity for a cruiser which could fire off that number in 5 minutes and which had an outfit of 3,400 5.25” shells. Possibly the greatest contribution was by the aircraft flying from the nine escort carriers, seven of which were RN. Emperor, Hunter, Stalker, Attacker, Khedive, Pursuer and Searcher which operated Hellcat, Seafire and Wildcat aircraft. They had sailed from Malta on 13th August and arrived 30 miles off the beachhead on 15th August to support the landings. They were accompanied by the cruisers Caledon, Colombo and Delhi which provided AA defence and the carrier force flagship Royalist. With the success of the land operations the advance of US 7th Army rapidly outran the range of land based fighter-bomber support. This was taken on by the carrier aircraft and they racked up a formidable tally of German vehicles and equipment destroyed. In Britain at War, The Royal Navy, it is claimed that Rear-Admiral Troubridge's group of five escort carriers flew almost 1,000 sorties in the first 8 days of the operation. For strategic reasons the RN escort carrier group was withdrawn to operate in the Aegean on 27th August. During the first 64 hours of the landing, D-hour to the end of D-Day+2, the assault forces landed 86,575 men, 12,520 vehicles and 46,140 tons of stores over the beaches. Most of the men and half of the vehicles were landed by the end of the first day. It is almost certain that the main factors were the quality of the Heer forces which opposed the landings. It is true that the deception plan (a landing at Genoa) appeared to work. It is true that the security was of a high level and that there was no apparent raised level of awareness on the part of the defending forces. I am of the opinion that, with all German reserves committed to resist the Normandy invasion, and the quality of the defending divisions being generally poor both in manpower and equipment since most of the divisions were outfitted with Beute guns and armour and all divisions permanently stationed on the Riviera had been ruthlessly trawled for fit men to post to the Eastern Front, the outcome was wholly predictable. For once the initial success was not wasted by lethargy and the advance of the US Army up the Rhone valley to a point where the French forces under its operational command met up with the Free French forces was a story of almost unalloyed success. Cheers, Sandy McAuslan.

AN absolutely splendid bit of work Sandy-done twice too-you are to be congratulated on your effort.To add to your magnificent work hereunder a minor Naval engagement from anther thread by self [B][B]The Battle of La Ciotat was a naval engagement that occurred in August 1944 as part of Operation Dragoon.[/B][/B] Allied forces, engaged at the main landings in Vichy France, ordered a small flotilla of American and British warships to make a feint against the port city of La Ciotat with the objective of creating a diversion. The Allies hoped to draw German forces away from the main landing zones at Cavalaire-sur-Mer, Saint-Tropez and Saint Raphaël. During the operation, two German warships attacked the Allied flotilla. [B][B]Ships Engaged ALLIED USS Endicott DD 2359T 35kts 4 X 5"/38 guns 5 X 21"TT HMS Aphis GBR 645T 14kts 2 X 6"/40 " HMS Scarab " " " " GERMAN UJ6082 DC 728T 18kts 1 X 3.9"/47gun 2 X17.7TT UJ6073 DC 1710T 1 X3.5"[/B][/B] [B][B]On 17 August 1944, the Allied command appointed Captain John D. Bulkeley USN to take charge of the operation. Bulkeley proceeded to La Ciotat with a force of one destroyer, USS Endicott, 17 PT boats and the British Insect-class gunboats HMS Scarab and Aphis.[/B][/B] When the Allies arrived off La Ciotat, the PT boats and gunboats were sent in ahead of Endicott and sank a German merchant steamer in the harbor. The warships then bombarded targets in the city until two German ships were spotted. They were the former Italian corvette Antilope, renamed UJ6082 (728T) and the former Egyptian armed yacht Nimet Allah UJ6073 (1710T). UJ6082 was armed with one 3.9 in (99 mm) gun and two torpedo tubes, her sister ship UJ6081 had been sunk two days earlier at the Battle of Port Cros. The armed yacht mounted only one gun, but it was an 88 mm (3.46 in) Flak gun, a powerful German-built weapon. The two British gunboats engaged with their 6 in (150 mm) and 12-pound weapons, but the enemy fire was returned so accurately that the British ships were forced to withdraw. USS Endicott, with only one 5 in (130 mm) gun in operation, opened fire at 06.20 from within 1,500 yd (1,400 m) of the enemy ships. The Germans switched fire from the gunboats to Endicott and hit her, wounding one man, the only American casualty. Although a dud, the shell tore a large hole in Endicott's side. [B][B]In an engagement that lasted just under an hour, the Americans and the Germans dueled at close range and their fire was pretty good but both the corvette (07.17) and auxiliary cruiser (07.09) were sunk.[/B][/B] The Allies then resumed the bombardment of the city. When later asked why he engaged two enemy vessels which at the time outgunned his destroyer, Captain Bulkeley replied; "What else could I do? You engage, you fight, you win. That is the reputation of our Navy, then and in the future." [B][B]On the same day, American aircraft, just north of La Ciotat, dropped around 300 dummy paratroopers and explosive devices that simulated rifle fire. German casualties are unknown, although Endicott rescued 169 sailors who became prisoners of war. John Bulkeley eventually rose to the rank of Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, largely due to his conduct in this action.[/B][/B] [url]http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12311[/url] jainso31

[QUOTE=Sandy McAuslan;10062107]Hi All, It is almost certain that the main factors were the quality of the Heer forces which opposed the landings. It is true that the deception plan (a landing at Genoa) appeared to work. It is true that the security was of a high level and that there was no apparent raised level of awareness on the part of the defending forces. I am of the opinion that, with all German reserves committed to resist the Normandy invasion, and the quality of the defending divisions being generally poor both in manpower and equipment since most of the divisions were outfitted with [B]Beute guns [/B]and armour and all divisions permanently stationed on the Riviera had been ruthlessly trawled for fit men to post to the Eastern Front, the outcome was wholly predictable. For once the initial success was not wasted by lethargy and the advance of the US Army up the Rhone valley to a point where the French forces under its operational command met up with the Free French forces was a story of almost unalloyed success. Cheers, Sandy McAuslan.[/QUOTE] Sandy: My ignorance concerning army stuff is showing here ... what is a "[B]Beute[/B]" gun?

[QUOTE=jainso31;10062111] [B][B]Ships Engaged ALLIED USS Endicott DD 2359T 35kts 4 X 5"/38 guns 5 X 21"TT HMS Aphis GBR 645T 14kts 2 X 6"/40 " HMS Scarab " " " " GERMAN UJ6082 DC 728T 18kts 1 X 3.9"/47gun 2 X17.7TT UJ6073 DC 1710T 1 X3.5"[/B][/B] [B][B]On 17 August 1944, the Allied command appointed Captain John D. Bulkeley USN to take charge of the operation. Bulkeley proceeded to La Ciotat with a force of one destroyer, USS Endicott, 17 PT boats and the British Insect-class gunboats HMS Scarab and Aphis.[/B][/B] When the Allies arrived off La Ciotat, the PT boats and gunboats were sent in ahead of Endicott and sank a German merchant steamer in the harbor. The warships then bombarded targets in the city until two German ships were spotted. They were the former Italian corvette Antilope, renamed UJ6082 (728T) and the former Egyptian armed yacht Nimet Allah UJ6073 (1710T). UJ6082 was armed with one 3.9 in (99 mm) gun and two torpedo tubes, her sister ship UJ6081 had been sunk two days earlier at the Battle of Port Cros. The armed yacht mounted only one gun, but it was an 88 mm (3.46 in) Flak gun, a powerful German-built weapon. The two British gunboats engaged with their 6 in (150 mm) and 12-pound weapons, but the enemy fire was returned so accurately that the British ships were forced to withdraw. USS Endicott, with only one 5 in (130 mm) gun in operation, opened fire at 06.20 from within 1,500 yd (1,400 m) of the enemy ships. The Germans switched fire from the gunboats to Endicott and hit her, wounding one man, the only American casualty. Although a dud, the shell tore a large hole in Endicott's side. [B][B]In an engagement that lasted just under an hour, the Americans and the Germans dueled at close range and their fire was pretty good but both the corvette (07.17) and auxiliary cruiser (07.09) were sunk.[/B][/B] The Allies then resumed the bombardment of the city. When later asked why he engaged two enemy vessels which at the time outgunned his destroyer, Captain Bulkeley replied; "What else could I do? You engage, you fight, you win. That is the reputation of our Navy, then and in the future." [B][B]On the same day, American aircraft, just north of La Ciotat, dropped around 300 dummy paratroopers and explosive devices that simulated rifle fire. German casualties are unknown, although Endicott rescued 169 sailors who became prisoners of war. John Bulkeley eventually rose to the rank of Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, largely due to his conduct in this action.[/B][/B] jainso31[/QUOTE] It should be remembered that this account is highly debatable. The gunboats claim to have destroyed the corvette with a 6" shell in her boiler room and they would probably have been rather upset to hear that they had "withdrawn".

Hi Scatari, In the German forces the expression Beute was used to describe equipment which had been captured from the enemy. It is very similar to Booty. Sorry, Sandy McAuslan

[QUOTE=Sandy McAuslan;10062129]Hi Scatari, In the German forces the expression Beute was used to describe equipment which had been captured from the enemy. It is very similar to Booty. Sorry, Sandy McAuslan[/QUOTE] Thanks Sandy - one learns something new from this Forum every day! Cheers!

jainso31 [B][B]"The two British gunboats engaged with their 6 in (150 mm) and 12-pound weapons, but the enemy fire was returned so accurately that the British ships were forced to withdraw.[/B][/B] USS Endicott, with only one 5 in (130 mm) gun in operation, opened fire at 06.20 from within 1,500 yd (1,400 m) of the enemy ships. The Germans switched fire from the gunboats to Endicott and hit her, wounding one man, the only American casualty. Although a dud, the shell tore a large hole in Endicott's side. [B][B]In an engagement that lasted just under an hour, the Americans and the Germans dueled at close range and their fire was pretty good but both the corvette (07.17) and auxiliary cruiser (07.09) were sunk.[/B][/B] The Allies then resumed the bombardment of the city" patroclus "It should be remembered that [B][B]this account is[/B][/B][B][B] highly debatable.[/B][/B] The gunboats claim to have destroyed the corvette with a 6" shell in her boiler room and they would probably have been rather upset to hear that they had "withdrawn". Peter just how do you reconcile the two statements-the above statement makes no such claim that you refer to-it was the gunboats that withdrew and I cannot see anything of the gunboats claim that they sunk the corvette with a 6" shell????As far as I am concerned it was Endicott that sank both German ships jainso31

Hello Jim: The gunboats (as monitors, not having fire control systems to deal adequately with relatively fast moving targets) steered towards where they expected their support to come from and laid a smoke screen pending the arrival of the ENDICOTT . When she arrived the gunboats emerged from their smoke screen and again engaged the enemy. You will already have read Commander Fairbanks' account of the action and his statement that he and Bulkeley disagreed on aspects of the engagement. This was brought up on the last occasion that this action was discussed on the forum. As usual, the truth probably falls somewhere between the two.

Peter-I used only the Intro to that particular thread to illustrate what else was happening at sea that day; and no- I have not found anything in the thread to belie what the Intro stated,however- later on I said:- [B][B]"The Aphis [B][B](Lt Cdr Douglas Fairbanks Jnr)[/B][/B] and Scarab were first on the scene after bombarding the port installations at 05.55.They were outmatched and being low on ammunition and suffering gun,director and electrical malfunctions [B][B]fled SE[/B][/B] under heavy gunfire, pursued by the aggressive corvette."[/B][/B] jainso31

[B][B]Another sideshow was the action off Port Cros[/B][/B] [B][B]The American destroyer USS Somers—armed with eight 5 in (130 mm) guns and a number of 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes—was cruising in the Mediterranean on 15 August 1944 when she came across the former 738 long tons (750 t) Italian corvette Camoscio which was renamed UJ6081 by the Kriegsmarine. Also involved was the former French 917 long tons (932 t) aviso Amiral Senes, renamed SG21. UJ6081 was armed with one 3.9 in (99 mm)gun and two 17.7 in (450 mm) torpedo tubes. The aviso was armed with two 4.1 in (100 mm) guns. It was early morning off Port Cros, about four hours before the Allied landing in Vichy France, when the Americans sighted the German corvette. Commander Willam Christopher Hughes ordered a torpedo attack and directed his men to battle stations..[/B][/B] [B][B]A spread of torpedoes was launched and the Germans opened fire as they attempted to maneuver out of the missile's path. Unsuccessful in escaping, one torpedo slammed into the corvette's hull and she quickly began to sink[/B][/B]. Then the aviso was spotted coming to the aid of the sinking corvette. She was engaged by Somers' main gun battery and a duel started and lasted for a few minutes until the enemy vessel was hit several times and began taking on water. [B][B][B]Within a few more minutes, both of the German ships were underwater, so Somers left the area for naval gunfire support missions against targets along the French mainland. [/B][/B][/B]American forces suffered no damage or casualties. Later that day, a mixed regiment of United States Army and Canadian Army infantry, the 1st Special Service Force, was dropped onto Port Cros and captured the five forts after a day long battle with their German garrisons. The Allies assaulted and captured Port Cros. [url]http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13389[/url] jainso31

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