INVASION  OF NORTH AFRICA

 

 

U.S.S. SWANSON  with TASK  GROUP 34.9

CENTER ATTACK GROUP

 

NORFOLK,  VIRGINIA   TO  FEDHALA,  AFRICA

 

The Swanson having arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, with Destroyer Squadron 13 from Casco Bay, Maine on 2 October 1942 would now be undergoing three weeks of training. There were Cruisers, Destroyers, Fast Attack Transports, Cargo Ships and Fleet Tankers  present or arriving. Troops were being embarked and Cargo Ships were being loaded. A tight lid of security had been imposed, as secrecy was vital. The officers and men of the Swanson knew that outside of HAMPTON ROADS in the Atlantic ocean German submarines lurked and were very proficient in their art of  sinking ships. At that time Germany had 382 submarines with 100 submarines operational.

 

On 23 October 1942, numerous Warships, Fast Attack Transports, Cargo Ships and Fleet Tankers quietly got underway and proceeded out of HAMPTON ROADS to sea. Which left officers and men of the Swanson wondering ; where are they bound for? Task Group34.8 (Northern Attack Group) and Task Group 34.10 (Southern Attack Group) sailed on a diversionary  Southeastern course  from HAMPTON ROADS and would rendezvous with Task Force 34 on 27 October.

 

At 0808 on Saturday 24 October 1942 the Swanson got  underway from alongside the USS Wilkes at Pier #5 at the Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia and proceeded out to sea. At 1700 the Swanson took station in the anti-submarine screen on the starboard bow of Task Group 34.9, on a base course of 074 degrees true at 14 knots.

 

The speculation was now ended. LCDR. L.M. MARKHAM, Jr., Commanding Officer of the Swanson had been briefed just  prior  to sailing. When the Swanson joined Task Group 34.9 (Center Attack Group) at sea, the officers and men were informed that we were bound for North Africa. There was subdued elation and a feeling of satisfaction. The  Swanson was part of a substantial Military Force proceeding on an operation to move the United States one step closer to victory. Germany had rolled swiftly across Europe and into Russia, and up to the Suez Canal in North Africa. The Japanese had enjoyed spectacular success in moving into the Western and Southwestern Pacific. The officers and men of the Swanson had no way of knowing the true implications of  the 4 June 1942 Battle of Midway; the 23 October 1942 British attacks in the  Second  Battle of Alamein, North Africa and the Battle raging around Stalingrad, Russia during November 1942. The tide was turning in favor of the Allies.

 

The Swanson and Task Group 34.9 was sailing east north east in perfect Atlantic Autumn weather with moderate sea and a brisk wind from the southeast.

 

Radio silence had been imposed and line of sight TBS (talk between ships) had been ordered to be kept to a minimum. During  the first day there was unnecessary use of the TBS. During daylight the main communication method was Flag hoist and 12 inch searchlight. The Swanson was on the inner sound screen in sight of the Flagship USS Augusta carrying Admiral Hewitt, and responsible for relaying visual messages to a Destroyer in the outer sound screen. At times it seemed if the Signalmen were knee deep in signal flags and the 12 inch searchlights really got a work-out relaying messages to the outer screen destroyers, however all signals were promptly received, relayed and executed timely.

                                                              

                                          TASK GROUP  34.1    Covering Group

 USS MASSACHUSETTS                  BB59       USS WAINWRIGHT           DD419

 USS WICHITA                                                        CA45                USS MAYRANT DD402

 USS TUSCALOOSA                                              CA37                USS RHIND DD404

 USS  CHEMUNG                                                     AO30                USS JENKINS DD447

 

TASK GROUP  34.8   Northern  Attack Group

USS TEXAS                                                              BB35                 USS ROE DD418

USS SAVANNAH                                                   CL42                 USS  LIVERMORE DD329

USS HENRY T. ALLEN                                           AP30                USS  KEARNY DD432

USS JOHN PENN                                                     AP51                USS  PARKER DD604

USS  GEORGE CLYMER                                         AP57                USS ERICSSON DD440

USS  SUSAN B. ANTHONY                                  AP72                USS DALLAS  DD199

USS FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE                          AP70                USS  EBERLE DD430

USS ANNE ARUNDEL                                           AP76                USS RAVEN  AM55

USS  ELECTRA                                                        AK21                USS OSPREY AM56

USS ALGORAB                                                       AK25                USS BARNEGAT AV10

USS KENNEBEC                                                      AO36                SS  CONTESSA   (Honduran)

 

TASK GROUP  34.9  Center Attack Group

USS AUGUSTA                                                       CA31                USS WILKES DD441

USS BROOKLYN                                                     CL40                 USS SWANSON DD443

USS LEONARD WOOD                                         AP25                USS LUDLOW DD428

USS  THOMAS JEFFERSON                                 AP60                USS MURPHY DD603

USS  CHARLES  CARROLL                                   AP58                USS BRISTOL DD453

USS WILLIAM P. BIDDLE                                    AP15                USS EDISON DD439

USS JOSEPH  HEWES                                            AP50                USS TILLMAN DD641

USS TASKER H. BLISS                                          AP42                USS BOYLE DD600

USS EDWARD RUTLEDGE                                   AP52                USS ROWAN DD405

USS HUGH L. SCOTT                                             AP43                USS PALMER DMS  5

USS ANCON                                                            AP66                USS HOGAN DMS  6

USS ELIZABETH C. STANTON                           AP69                USS STANSBURY DMS   8

USS THURSTON                                                     AP77                USS TERROR CM     5

USS PROCYON                                                        AP19                USS MIANTONOMAHCM    10

USS OBERON                                                           AP56                USS AUK  AM    57

USS  ARCTURUS                                                    AP18                USS WINOOSKI AO     38         

                                                         

TASK GROUP 34.10   Southern Attack Group

USS NEW YORK                                                     BB                     USS MERVINE DD489

USS  PHILIDELPHIA                                              CL                     USS KNIGHT DD633

USS  HARRIS                                                           AP8                  USS BEATTY DD640

USS CALVERT                                                         AP65                USS COWIE DD632

USS DOROTHEA A. DIX                                       AP67                USS QUICK DD490

USS LYON                                                                AP71                USS DORAN DD634

USS LAKEHURST                                                   AP49                USS COLE DD155

USS TITANIA                                                          AK55                USS  BERNADOU DD153

USS HOUSATONIC                                                AO35                USS HAMILTON DMS18

USS MERRIMACK                                                 AO37                USS  HOWARD DMS  7

USS  MONADNOCK                                              CM 9                USS CHEROKEE AT  66 

 

The Center Attack Group,  Task Group 34.9 of which the Swanson was a part bound for FEDHALA, French Morocco, North Africa was the key element of the Invasion Force. Failure at Fedhala or Casablanca due to enemy resistance or weather such as high surf delaying or canceling the landing could be a disaster.

 

When Task Groups 34.1, 34.8, and 34.10 joined Task joined Task Group; 34.9, it was a magnificent sight to behold, with ships as far as the eye could see and with the knowledge there ships beyond the horizon. This was the largest and most powerful Naval Force to cross the Atlantic up to that time.

 

On Wednesday 28 October 1942 Task Group 34.2, the Air Group joined Task Force 34 and took station 12 miles astern of the main body. Task Group 34.2 was composed of the following ships:

                                            AIR  GROUP  CARRIERS

USS RANGER            CV4                                                 USS SANTEE           ACV29

USS SUWANNEE      ACV27                                              USS CHENANGO    ACV28

USS SANGAMON     ACV 26                                            

                                       

AIR SCREEN GROUP:

 

                                             USS CLEVELAND  CL55

 

USS HAMBLETON       DD455                          USS  CORRY DD463

USS MACOMB              DD458                         USS  HOBSON DD464

USS ELLYSON               DD454                         USS  RODMAN DD456

USS  FORREST              DD461                         USS  EMMONS DD457

 

With the Air Group now joined, aircraft from the carriers would maintain dawn to dusk patrols ahead of and on the flanks of the Task Force. Aircraft would search for and attack enemy submarines . The aircraft would also spot and notify the Commander Task Force  34 of any Merchant ships. It was important that Task Force 34 avoid being spotted by a neutral Nation whose sympathy lay with our enemies. If the Germans, Italians or the French had been fore warned, with  sufficient time, the Germans could have gathered U-Boat wolf packs to attack, or move in dive bombers and fighters from France. The French could have moved substantial Naval Units from DAKAR, Africa.

 

On Saturday 31 October 1942 at 1040 the Swanson left her station to sweep to sweep astern of the Task Force. Destroyers  in the anti-submarine screen took turns in conducting sweeps astern of  the Task Force. An enemy submarine may endeavor to trail the Task Force but would have to run on the surface to keep up with the 14 knot pace of Task Force 34. A destroyer coming in fast at 20 or 25 knots at dusk or darkness stood a good chance of catching a submarine on the surface or at least forcing the submarine to submerge  and thereby losing the Task Force. During daylight the mere presence of a destroyer would keep the submarine submerged.

 

On Wednesday 4 November beginning at 0100, the wind force increased to force 6 from the Northeast , with sea condition 4,  according to Swanson’s logs.

 

By 2200 the wind force increased to force 7 and sea condition 5. One Mine Layer had to drop out of formation due to rolling 42 degrees; One of the battleships feared losing her boats and 20mm gun mounted on her forecastle.  All of the sips were rolling heavily with some pitching.                                                            

 

On Thursday 5 November at 0100 the wind and sea were moderating and the ships were riding easier. At 2001 the Swanson sighted Porto Santo Light bearing 181 degrees true at 32 miles distance.

 

On  7 November at 2158 the Swanson sighted Point d’El Hank light bearing 198 true distance 30 miles. Now the navigators could breathe  a little easier at the sighting of this navigation aid, even though they had been able to obtain a celestial star fix earlier that evening.

 

At 2245 the Swanson sounded General Quarters as the task force was approaching the transport area.

 

There was some last minute emergency maneuvering by the Transports to move to the proper designated anchorage, located 7 miles north of Cape Fedhala.. An unexpected northeasterly current had moved the Transports approximately 7 miles from their proper anchorage’s. Navigators by using the wonderful new invention Radar discovered the error.

At a pre-sailing conference at Norfolk, Virginia, General Patton had declared:

 

Never in history has the Navy landed an Army at the planned time and place.  

But if you land us anywhere within fifty miles of Fedhala and within one week

of D-Day, I’ll go ahead and win.”

 

Task Group 34.9 after a voyage exceeding  4,000 miles arrived at Fedhala on time. Task Force 34 did not sweep over the ocean in vain!

                      

Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll.

Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain:

Man marks the earth with ruin,- his control

Stops with the shore.

Lord Byron   1788-1824

 

 

TROOP  LANDINGS  AND NAVAL  ACTIONS ;  FEDHALA, 1942

 

At 0000 hours on 8 November the Swanson was still at General Quarters and lying to ahead of the Transports, waiting to lead landing craft to the line of departure.

 

As control destroyers the USS Wilkes, Swanson, Ludlow and Murphy were lying to 1,000 yards due south of the four leading transports. (Wood, Jefferson, Carroll and Dickman). In an area designated as “Rendezvous area”. The Swanson position  was 1,000 yards south of the USS Jefferson.

 

At 0310 the First and Second waves of landing craft came alongside the Swanson, followed afterwards by the Third Wave. The landing schedule was about one hour late due apparently to delay in loading troops into the landing craft.

 

At 0357, the Swanson was underway at 5 knots on course 180 degrees true leading the first 3 waves of landing craft to the “Line of Departure”, which was located two miles off Fedhala. The Swanson landing craft were assigned to Red Beach- two.

 

At 0445 the Swanson arrived at the “Line of Departure”,  dropped anchor at short stay and the landing craft departed for Red Beach – two.

Landing craft waves six, seven and eight did not report, and as almost all the waves from the other control vessels had departed. Preparations were made to get underway after the “Line of Departure” was properly buoyed .

 

It was imperative to get underway and avoid being caught as a “sitting duck” by the French shore batteries in the breaking dawn. As it turned out the USS Wilkes , Swanson, Ludlow and Murphy were the first to come under fire from the French Shore Batteries.

 

At 0603 the Swanson observed fire from Battery Blondin at Chergui directed at the USS Murphy and Ludlow. Commander Destroyer Division 26 promptly ordered his ships to their Fire Support areas. Commander Task Group 34.9 gave the order  - “Play Ball !” over the TBS.

 

At 0631, the Swanson opened fire with her main battery (5”/38 caliber guns) on the French Battery located on Cape Fedhala. The sea was calm with a 4 knot wind from the southwest. In the morning twilight there was a low thick haze along the coast line obscuring the targets bearing 160 degrees true from the Swanson. The Swanson was firing intermittently and counter marching; that is , reversing ships direction.

 

At 0650 the Swanson ceased firing on Cape Fedhala and was proceeding to a Fire Support Area northwest of Battery Blondin at Chergui,  in accordance with orders from Commander Destroyer Division 26 as a replacement for the USS Murphy which had been hit in her engine room, killing 3 men and wounding 7 . The damage would force this new  ship out of action for several hours. The Landing Craft with their assault troops were continuing to move across the sea from the Transports to the landing beaches.

At 0657 the Swanson was returning fire from the Shore Battery Blondin at Cherqui bearing 160 degrees true at a distance of 6,200 yards ( 3 miles). The Swanson was firing intermittently and counter marching.

 

At  0714 the Swanson received orders from Commander Destroyer Squadron 13 to take station in Convoy Screen .

 

At 0720 the above orders were cancelled  and the Swanson and Ludlow were ordered to form a column astern of Commander Destroyer Division 26 embarked in the Wilkes , proceeding to fire support area off Cape Fedhala. Batteries on Cape Fedhala were silent during this period, and orders from fire control group had been received indicating that further fire was not necessary.

 

At 0806 Batteries at Fedhala  resumed fire on landing beaches and on our naval forces.

 

At 0808 the Wilkes , Swanson and Ludlow returned fire of the shore batteries.

 

At 0813 ceased firing after cessation of fire from the shore batteries but remained in the fire support area.

 

At 0815 the French Destroyer Leaders Milan and Albatross along with destroyers Frondeur, Fougueux, Brestois and Boulonnais steamed out of Casa Blanca Harbor heading for our transport area off Fedhala, approximately 20 minutes away.

 

At 0821 the Swanson sighted the French men of war advancing towards our transport area and landing beaches. At the time the Swanson mistook the French Destroyer Leaders as Cruisers.

 

At 0825 the French men of war opened fire on Wilkes, Swanson, and Ludlow. These vessels began zig zagging at full power to avoid enemy fire which was straddling  the Swanson and other ships in the column. The Swanson and other ships were returning fire, while retiring northward to join the Cruisers Augusta and Brooklyn, who were proceeding from Convoy area to intercept the enemy. During this action the Ludlow was hit by a 6” shell at 0834, wounding 4 men and starting a blaze which was quickly put out. The Ludlow was ordered out to the Convoy area. The Milan was also hit by shell from U.S. Naval Forces.

 

At 0846 the Augusta and Brooklyn opened fire on the enemy ships. The Wilkes and Swanson assuming position to screen our cruisers and to deliver a torpedo attack if the opportunity should present itself. French fire and fire from  the Brooklyn and Augusta, later augmented by fire from Massachusetts, Cleveland, and Tuscaloosa continued  intermittently until about 0945.

 

At 0945 the Wilkes and Swanson opened fire on French Cruiser Primauguet and Destroyers  Brestois, Frondeur and  L’Alcyon standing out of Casablanca Harbor bearing about 200 degrees true at approximately 13,000 yards. The range closed to 12,000 yards and this was a brief furious fight. At 0952 the enemy ceased firing and disappeared in a haze and smoke, apparently heading for Casablanca. The Swanson ceased fire.

 

At 0953 the Wilkes and Swanson formed a column astern of the Bristol. At 0954 the ships in column turned 180 degrees and proceeded towards Cape Fedhala  with the Swanson leading . The Swanson observed shore batteries firing on our landing beaches.

 

At 1004 the Swanson opened fire on shore Batterie du Pont on Cape Fedhala, bearing 166 degrees true and a range of 6,750 yards. Commander Task Group 34.9  ordered the Swanson and Edison to cease fire based on a report that they were firing into our own troops and civilians. This report was later proved to be false. Commander Destroyer Squadron 13 protested to CTG 34.9 that Batterie du Pont was still firing on our troops and requested permission to open fire. CTG 34.9 granted permission and the Wilkes was given the task.

 

At 1010, the Swanson having been replaced by the Edison  proceeded to area southeast of the Transports and began anti-submarine patrol. This concluded the Swanson participation in engaging the enemy shore batteries and naval surface forces.

 

During the day of 8 November the Swanson fired 797 rounds of 5”/38 caliber shells at the French Forces.

            Gun #1             41 rounds

            Gun #2           246 rounds

            Gun #3           395 rounds

            Gun #4           115 rounds

 

The rammer of Gun #1 overheated to such an extent as to cause it to jam firmly in a partially retracted position. Hand ramming was resorted to but failed when one incompletely rammed round left a projected lodged in the bore.

 

Gun #4 was out of action due to a broken extractor and a case jammed in the breech in such a manner that it was eventually removed only with the aid of a chipping hammer.

                                                   

CONCLUSION

 

Fifty percent of the officers were young naval reserve officers and the remaining officers were Naval Academy graduates. The Chief Petty officers were in their early to mid thirties with a length of service of about 15 years. The other Petty Officers were in their mid twenties with a length of service of about 7 years. The non-rated enlisted men average age was 18 years and most had less than one-year service. For some this was their very first trip to sea. They had barely gained their sea legs when the heavy sea of 4 November struck but fate smiled upon the American invasion fleet and blessed them with a calm sea on 8 November. The novice sailors performed like old salts.

 

The Swanson had crossed the Atlantic ocean as part of the largest Task Force ever to do so, up to that date.

 

The officers and men received their baptism of enemy gun fire from the shore batteries at Cape Fedhala and the French Warships that stood out of Casablanca Harbor.

 

The late LCDR. L.M. Markham, USN, who was commanding officer at the time had this to say in his Action Report to the Commander in Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet:

“The officers and crew conducted themselves in a cool and efficient manner while under fire and in accordance with spirit and tradition of the naval service.”

           

Captain Markham should be included in the above statement , as he did a remarkable job in handling the Swanson throughout the hectic day. He was particularly adroit in handling the Swanson when the ship was being straddled by shells from the enemy ships.

 

The heavier and faster firing guns of the U.S. Navy, particularly the light cruiser Brooklyn who was quite impressive when she went into rapid fire overwhelmed the French forces. The French must have lacked fire control radar and were relying on spotting to acquire their targets.

 

Subsequently the Swanson participated in the sinking of the U-173, which had sunk the Transport USS Hewes, damaged the Fleet Oiler USS Winooski and torpedoed the destroyer USS Hambleton amidships which almost gutted her but she made port. The American cargo ship Electric was torpedoed and damaged.

 

The Swanson had come of age and was truly a fighting machine with trained and experienced officers and men.

 

Related Information
Chart of Task Force Route from USA to North Africa
Chart of Fedhala Landings
Chart of the Order of Battle with French Opposition.


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