Following Cherbourg,
the Nevada returned to Belfast, replenished supplies and got ready
for the next big job - invasion of Southern France. Tuesday,
August 15, the Nevada and a mixed force of United States and Free
French ships sailed into the Gulf of St. Tropez. General Quarters
was sounded at 1330, firing commenced at 1650 and within an hour
troop landings were in progress. All day the Nevada fired at
predetermined targets or targets of call from the beach. All
landings were successful.
The next day the
Nevada was ordered to dispose of tiers of coast defense guns, 15 -
inchers, at Cape Sicie. The coastal batteries opened fire as the
ship moved into the bombardment area. A salvo landed in the
Nevada's wake a scant 300 yards astern. The Nevada gunners went to
work ain in two hours three enemy guns took direct hits.
The strain of continuous
firing began t tell on the Nevada August 23 when she was sent back
to Cape Sicie where the Germans had restored their
batteries.
Marseille ended the
European adventures of the Nevada. She returned to Algiers, then
sailed for Norfolk, Virginia.
