Decision at Safi DTO (id:#57419)

Critical Hit (Platoon Leader ID: PL C)   [next]   [previous]

Safi, French Morocco 1942-11-08 (24 others)

Overview:

"Operation Torch", the invasion of North Africa by combined U.S.-British forces had begun. Landing along the Atlantic and Mediterranean shores, the Allied command hoped that the Vichy French Forces in Morocco and Algeria would choose not to resist the Allies, but would in fact join them and other Free French Forces in their war against Germany. On the extreme southwestern flank of the invasion was the small port of Safi, where the medium tanks of the Western Task Force were to land and move northward to Casablanca. In the pre-dawn darkness, embarkation nets were lowered over the side and the landing craft loaded with the men of the U.S. 47th Infantry Regiment. As the darkness started turning into pre-dawn grey, the troopers of Companies L and K started their run-in to Safi. On board the command ship, the leaders of the Western Task Force were still wondering what the French decision would be... to fight or not.

Defender: Vichy French (2nd Moroccan Infantry)  

Errata (source)