The time was now 1120. What a battle, the Massachusetts, Wichita, and the Tuscaloosa are still firing at a fleeing cruiser. Most of the naval hostilities ceased about noon, as the enemy ships have fled the scene. We recovered or planes. They had been doing a good job of scouting and keeping us informed of enemy movements on the beach. Our planes took off again after refueling and supplying machine guns with ammunition Our force was notified that a cruiser and two destroyers were leaving the harbor again. We got underway to engage them in battle. We immediately opened fire. Our planes reported that we made a three turret hit on a destroyer which re-entered the harbor and went aground so it wouldn't sink. It was now about 1400. Since 2100 we have eaten one sandwich and we had one cup of coffee. Reports came in that the USS Swanson and the USS Ludlow, both destroyers were hit by shore battery fire. Our carrier based planes have been dive-bombing and torpedoing enemy ships in Casablanca harbor.

The cruiser which had come out of the harbor was now being towed back in as it had several hits. The other destroyer also retreated back behind the breakwater for the same reason. We ceased firing our main battery. The Massachusetts, Tuscaloosa, and the Wichita started to bombard the harbor of Casablanca again. There were only small skirmishes around Fedala. Fighting was still going on in the battle for Casablanca on land, sea, and in the air. The American flag is flying over Fedala. We had ceased firing about 1520. We remained at General Quarters. We expect air attack tomorrow.

November 9, 1942 - Sunrise came and 15 enemy bombers and fighter escorts attacked the beach of Fedala. They were out of our range so we could not fire on them. The transports and some destroyers opened up on them. Our own planes encountered them and fought them off. They disappeared into the clouds so I do not know the results of the battle.

Later in the day our own planes were fired upon by the transports who could not identify them. We from General Quarters at 0900. We had been in G.Q. for 36 hours. I had about two hours rest; I also had two sandwiches, a bowl of beans, a bowl of peaches and two cups of coffee. I saw a communiqué stating our attack, successes and losses. We lost 12 planes and the enemy lost 56 in the air and on the ground. Our forces have taken the airport at Saffi and our P-40s and other planes are now based there.

Fighting is still going on in Casablanca. There are still French warships in the harbor. The Massachusetts, Tuscaloosa, and the Wichita, are still bombarding them from long range. The crew is now standing four on and four off, this is a condition of readiness watch.

November 10, 1942 - We went into G.Q. at sunrise as always. No air attack came. We now have complete control of the air. We secured from G.Q. The best part of this naval battle so far is that we had not been hit and that we have had no personnel casualties. It has been said that this is the longest naval engagement of the war, in fact the longest naval engagement any U.S. warships ever had. On Sunday we were firing for about eight hours. We have about one third of our ammunition left. At 1130 G.Q. sounded. We were immediately manned and ready. The word was passed over the speaker system that we were going after two destroyers which were leaving Casablanca harbor. The French cans opened fire on us and we returned the fire. We were closing in with our five destroyer escorts who were also firing at the enemy destroyers. Shells were landing all around us. We received word from our planes that the Jean Bart had opened fire on us as we were in her range. The 15" shells were landing very close to us. We will never know how they ever missed us. One landed so close that I got soaking wet along with many others on the topside. The destroyers had led us into a trap, we continued our fire at the enemy cans and we turned and cruised out of the range of the Jean Bart at full speed. We were firing for 12 minutes in this engagement. No hits were made but our fire was very close. The time was now 1200. Our objective is still Casablanca harbor. There were no casualties today although the boat deck was showered with shrapnel from an enemy shell which landed on our port beam.

General Patton went ashore today with his staff to conduct the Army operations from Fedala. We all gave him three big cheers, which is traditional in the Navy.

November 11, 1942 - At 0700 our forces were supposed to attack Casablanca by land, sea, and air in an all out effort to subdue the enemy. We got underway towards the harbor with all batteries ready for action. Our planes which had taken to the air to resume their job reported that the cease firing flag had been hoisted over all of Casablanca. Task Force Admiral Hewitt gave the order for all hostilities to cease in the battle for Casablanca, until further assurance was guaranteed from the French land, sea, and air forces, if this assurance was given the fighting will cease in this area. Our other invasion forces at Saffi and Port Lyautey are still encountering little resistance. Word was received that the Allied forces at Oran were making successful gains against a surprised enemy. We proceeded back to the transport area to await further developments. The afternoon press came out and it stated that all hostilities had ceased in the battle for Casablanca. We have been victorious. The armistice was signed at 1100, November 11th, 1942. This was the same hour and date that the first World War ended. We are back in the transport area standing by to protect our ships against subs.

Just after sunset three of our ships were torpedoed: the Hewes, a transport was sunk, the tanker Winooski was severely damaged, and the destroyer Hambleton was damaged. All the hits were directly amidships. The sub which did the torpedoing was sunk by our cans.

November 12, 1942. At 1230 we got under way for Casablanca Harbor. We moored to a dock at 1600. I observed two French destroyers aground behind the breakwater and one light cruiser. These three enemy ships were still smoldering from the fires. All three were severely damaged. There were four other destroyers of which one had been damaged. The Jean Bart was severely damaged although her one good turret had not been hit. There were eight other merchant vessels in the harbor which were sunk at their moorings. One destroyer was sunk right at the mouth of the harbor. This was a decisive naval victory. The USS Hambleton stood in and moored along side of us. There were 18 men killed and several injured.

This was a happy and victorious day for the Augusta. The battle is not over and the only trouble on the beach is the problem of snipers, both German and Arab. After sunset four more ships were torpedoed. The transports Bliss, Rutledge, and the Scott were sunk. An ammunition ship was also hit and it was beached. The torpedoings cost the lives of many soldiers who were already wounded in battle, and were put aboard the transports for treatment. Our transports are coming in to unload their supplies and some remaining soldiers.

Our invasion has been successful. Now we are going to move on until eventually our Army will get to Germany. The North African campaign is well in progress. Our job is done and now we are awaiting orders to start us on our way back to the United States.

--Morey "Rothholtz" Roth