With Friends Like These

Among those landed in the initial stages of Operation Torch, the 7th RLT was assigned to capture the Batterie de Fedala. After a shaky landing at beach Red 2, the 1st Battalion moved easily through Fedala. A member of Patton’s staff, Colonel Wilbur, knew the surrounding terrain and took the …

1942-11-08

OA31

Among those landed in the initial stages of Operation Torch, the 7th RLT was assigned to capture the Batterie de Fedala. After a shaky landing at beach Red 2, the 1st Battalion moved easily through Fedala. A member of Patton’s staff, Colonel Wilbur, knew the surrounding terrain and took the point, riding on one of the lead tanks of company A. Just before noon, the location of the French gun battery could be seen. Immediately, Colonel Wilbur ordered the attack against the strangely silent strong point.

Fedala, 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.

American

Vichy French

Scenario Type = Standard