Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of Southern France between Toulon and Cannes on 15th August 1944. The operation was originally, and for most of the planning stage, known as "Anvil". The code name had been changed because it is believed that the Germans discovered it and its significance.

An enemy sortie from Toulon which was unknown and unsuspected to the Augusta resulted in her appearing in the periscope cross-hairs of U-230. The U-230(a type VIIc) reportedly was the last German submarine in the Mediterranean to put to sea. Lt. Eberbach, her young C.O. with a scratch crew of sailors picked up on the beach , moved out of the harbor on at 21:00 August 17 hoping to get a crack at the invasion fleet. After hanging about the Mandrier Peninsula for two days he spotted Augusta and tailed her all day on the 20th. He claims to have penetrated her destroyer screen and was just about to fire four torpedoes when the cruiser, completely unaware of his presence, was braketed by a salvo from a shore battery and high-tailed out, completely spoiling his aim. That night U-230 ran aground, was abandoned and blown up in position 43.07N, 20.38W.

On 29 August 1944, during the invasion of southern France, Marines from the Augusta and the cruiser Philadelphia went ashore in Marseilles harbor to accept the surrender of more than 700 Germans who had fortified island garrisons.

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CREW REPORTS

"I was aboard during the southern France operation.
 The Augusta fired all her 8-inch 55 ammunition.
 We went to Corsica to reload. We were fired upon 
 by shore batteries."
            -Harry D. Moebus, Sr., Gunnersmate S1c 
               (Augusta service: 2/43-1/46)