Play Ball

On D-Day of Operation Torch, the 2nd Battalion Landing Team (BLT) had in part the critical mission of capturing the coastal defenses of Mehdia before daylight. The Vichy French resisted the landings. In the fight the GIs were unable to halt their own naval gunfire support and could …

1942-11-08

80

On D-Day of Operation Torch, the 2nd Battalion Landing Team (BLT) had in part the critical mission of capturing the coastal defenses of Mehdia before daylight. The Vichy French resisted the landings. In the fight the GIs were unable to halt their own naval gunfire support and could not close with the defenders. Later in the morning, a misunderstanding caused the green and shaken unit to advance about a thousand yards eastward into a village. Shortly thereafter it came under counterattack by westward moving French reinforcements.

Mehdia, Morocco

Operation Torch (8 November 1942 – 16 November 1942) was an Allied invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. While the French colonies formally aligned with Germany via Vichy France, the loyalties of the population were mixed. Reports indicated that they might support the Allies. American General Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied forces in Mediterranean Theater of Operations, planned a three-pronged attack on Casablanca (Western), Oran (Center) and Algiers (Eastern), then a rapid move on Tunis to catch Axis forces in North Africa from the west in conjunction with Allied advance from east. The Western Task Force encountered unexpected resistance and bad weather, but Casablanca, the principal French Atlantic naval base, was captured after a short siege. The Center Task Force suffered some damage to its ships when trying to land in shallow water but the French ships were sunk or driven off; Oran surrendered after bombardment by British battleships. The French Resistance had unsuccessfully attempted a coup in Algiers and, even though this raised alertness in the Vichy forces, the Eastern Task Force met less opposition and were able to push inland and compel surrender on the first day.

Vichy French

American

Scenario Type = Standard