War Diary,
November 7, 1942
Orders and
organization same as before.
Steaming toward the
midnight assault positions. At 0700 the Northern
Group (see CAFAF Landing Attack Plan 1-42) was
released and at 1400 the Southern Group departed.
Went to General Quarters at 2200.
Position at 0800 -
Latitude 34 - 36.5 N Longitude 09 - 49 W.
Position at 1200 - Latitude 34 - 45 N Longitude 08
-51.5 W.
Position at 2000 - Latitude 34 - 17.5 N Longitude 07
- 27 W.
Course and distance
made good since 1200 November 6, 1942, 083º T, 231
miles
A.G. Caden, Lt.
Cmdr, USN,
Communication Officer
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War Diary, November 8, 1942.
With the Center
Attack Group off Fedala, French Morocco. At 0000 in
position and the transports began putting troops
ashore. During the approach various French small
craft (picket boats, corvettes. etc.) opened fire on
our destroyer screen which fire was returned. These
craft were all silenced or taken over and the
transport area was unmolested. Cape Fedala light was
on this night for the benefit of a French convoy
coming down the coast, but was turned off as soon as
our presence became known. However, it was on long
enough to enable us to fix our position. The landing
of our boats was heavily opposed by both shore
installations and French troops and at 0617 the order
to "Play Ball" was received - this meant
that we were to carry out our Attack Plan and destroy
to the best of our ability all resistance
encountered.
At 0630 catapulted
two planes and took position in our assigned fire
support area. At 0710 opened fire with 8"
battery on gun flashes from shore batteries. Brooklyn
nearby and firing also. At this time, range 11,400
yards, there were a number of near misses and the Augusta
and the Brooklyn opened the
range. At 0730 during a lull in the firing catapulted
the remaining two planes. At 0740 there were several
single shot near misses, within 50 and 100 yards of
the ship, the "Whistle" of the oncoming
projectiles being plainly heard on the bridge. At
0750, range 19,000 yards to El Hank, the enemy fire
had almost ceased and at 0755 Augusta
ceased fire and headed back toward the transport area
where it had been reported over the TBS that enemy
planes were attacking the ships and small craft.
Reached the transport area at 0825 and found no enemy
aircraft in sight. At this time a report was received
that enemy planes were laying a smoke screen north of Casa Blanca. Shortly thereafter our planes reported
that the smoke screen was being laid by two enemy
CA's and four DD's standing up the coast. Immediately
set course to intercept enemy force, joined by the Brooklyn
and four of our DD's. At 0900 enemy force opened fire
on us but none of his splashes were very close. Very
difficult to see the enemy ships due to smoke of
gunfire, burning objects ashore and his own smoke
screen. At 0915 opened fire with 8" battery on
enemy CA, range 23000 yards. At 0950 the enemy force
reversed course and were obviously trying, to get
back into Casa Blanca. At 0955 an enemy DD came out
of the smoke into into the clear and our planes
reported several straddles on it and that it was
"down by the bow". Augusta reversed
course and. headed back for the transport area. At
1011 the Brooklyn was again
under fire of the enemy force that had turned and
were coming out of Casa Blanca, the Augusta
turned to assist and at 1027 again
opened fire on them. At this time the Covering Force
stood into range and also opened fire on the enemy.
At 1122 the enemy into Casa Blanca harbor and all
firing had ceased. Returned to transport area,
recovered and gassed planes. At 1300 received word
that the enemy .force was again standing out and the Augusta
and Brooklyn proceeded to
intercept them. 1305 sighted the enemy force
consisting of 1 CA and 2 DD's. At 1325 launched two
planes and at 1326 opened fire on the enemy. Firing
continued until about 1420, the enemy meantime at
about 1350 having again turned and, headed into Casa
Blanca harbor. The enemy CA was reported by our
planes to be under tow by tugs and two destroyers to
be beached just north of the harbor. Ceased firing
and returned to our patrol station in the transport
area. Stayed at General Quarters all night but no
events of importance took place.
A.G. Caden, Lt.
Cmdr, USN,
Communication Officer
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War Diary,
November 9, 1942.
Patrolling our
station southwest and west of the transport area
since midnight and no incidents of importance took
place. At daylight made all preparations for an
expected air attack as word had been received that
"enemy planes were forming" at Safi. At
0733 an enemy twin engine bomber flew over the
transport area and practically every ship in the area
opened fire but apparently no hits were scored and
the plane disappeared without dropping. any bombs.
The Augusta did not fire.
At 0750 fourteen bombers with fighter escort circled
the transport area well out of our range and dropped
bombs on the beach north of Fedala. At 0754 this
enemy formation of bombers was attacked by our
carrier planes and apparently broken up and driven
off. Intermittent anti-aircraft fire by our
destroyers and gunfire on the beach all during the
morning. At 1433 the Brooklyn
on the north side of the transport area fired on a
group of enemy planes that made an attempt to strafe
her and then went on over to bomb and strafe Red
Beach Two until driven off by our own carrier planes.
No other incidents of importance to this ship but
frequent gunfire or bombing flashes were seen inland
all during the night.
A.G. Caden, Lt.
Cmdr, USN,
Communication Officer
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War Diary, November 10, 1942.
Patrolling station
near the transport area since midnight.. At 0615
prepared to repel enemy air attacks. At 0850 the New
York and Cleveland
stood into the transport area. No events of
importance until 1120 at which time we received word
that two enemy destroyers were bombarding our troops
on the beaches and roads north or Casa Blanca. We
received orders to proceed at best speed to destroy
them but were warned to stay out of range of the
battery at El Hank. The air group had reported the
previous day that the Jean Bart
had been "gutted by fire". At 1135 we
opened fire on one of the destroyers with the 8"
battery and scored four and possibly five straddles
on her. At 1145 while still out of range of the
battery at El Hank, the Jean Bart
opened fire on us with two gun salvos and scored
several straddles before we were able to withdraw
beyond her range. One of these projectiles landed so
close to the bow that we rode through its splash
drenching the forward half of the ship with its
yellow dyed water. However, no hits were registered
and we returned to the transport area feeling very
fortunate that no damage had been sustained and
indignant at the falsity of the report that the Jean
Bart had been "gutted by
fire". Admiral Hewitt then ordered that another
dive bombing attack be made on the Jean
Bart by our carrier planes. This was
carried and a report received that seven out of ten
1000 lb bombs had hit her. Anchored in the transport
area about 1300 and made plans for a co-ordinated
attack on Casablanca ships and shore batteries by the
Augusta, New
York, Cleveland
and four destroyer while the Army attacked the city
from the rear.
A.G. Caden, Lt.
Cmdr, USN,
Communication Officer
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War Diary,
11 November, 1942
At anchor since
midnite - made plans for a co-ordinated attack with
the Army at Casablanca. New York,
Cleveland, and Augusta
plus four DD's to bombard designated objectives and
to prevent escape of French naval units. Air group
also to participate. Attack was to commence at 0715
but as the force steamed toward Casablanca word was
received from Army headquarters ashore that the
garrison at Casablanca had capitulated. Did not open
fire - returned to the transport area off Fedala and
anchored. Remainder of the day was taken up by
negotiations ashore at the Maramer Hotel between
Allied and French Army, Navy Commanders. Admiral
Hewitt returned to the ship writing that a
gentlemen's agreement had been reached concerning the
terms of the surrender. (Admiral Michilier the French
Naval Commander).
During the night
searchlights illuminated the beach and the Joseph
Hewes was torpedoed and sunk. The Winooski
also torpedoed but in no immediate damage. Hambleton
torpedoed (webmaster's note:
the Hambleton had been
struck by U-173) and is to be towed into
Casablanca harbor tomorrow.
A.G. CADEN,
Lt.-Cmdr, USN,
Communication Officer
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