HMS NELSON 28-Oct-42
to 8-Nov-43
30-Oct-42 Vice
Admiral Syfret raised his flag and Nelson left Scapa in company with battleship
Duke of York, battle cruiser Renown, cruiser Argonaut and destroyers Ashanti,
Eskimo, Martin, Meteor, Milne and Tartar.
31-Oct-42 Off
the NW coast of Ireland they rendezvoused with carriers Formidable and
Victorious and destroyers Pathfinder, Partridge, Porcupine, Quality, Quentin
and HMAS Quiberon. This force now became known as Force H.
5-Nov-42 Netherlands
Navy destroyer Isaac Sweers joins the force. So many ships are in the area that
there is a delay for vessels requiring bunkers.
6-Nov-42 When
it was Nelson’s turn they appeared to make a mess of getting alongside in
Gibralatar as they collided with ‘Empire Gawain and sweepers Brixham and Bude.
Only minor damage was done to their stanchions and guard rails. However it must
have been a little embarrassing as Admiral Andrew Cunningham was waiting to
board and raise his flag as overall Naval Commander of the operation.
7-Nov-42 It
would have taken a massive effort to marshal 350 warships and 500 merchant
ships and have them all in the right positions for the landings that were to
take place on the following day.
Operation Torch Landing
Sites.
Operation Torch
was undertaken to open up a second front but allow a further build up of arms
and men before taking on Fortress Europe. North Africa of Morocco, Algeria and
Tunisia were mainly under the control of the Vichy French Forces and it was
hoped that they would surrender to the Allies. Much political maneuvering was
undertaken before the landings but it was still unknown what opposition would
be faced on the day of the landings.
8-Nov-42 The landings took place in three
places, Western at Casablanca, Central at Oran and Eastern to take Algiers. The
Eastern landing was to be mainly British but Americans were to land first and
all troops wore a ‘stars and stripes’ badge as it was felt that the Vichy
French were less likely to shoot on American forces. The Eastern landings were
also on three beaches, two West and one East of Algiers. The western ones were
unopposed despite troops being landed on wrong beaches etc. The eastern
landings were carried out in fog and confusion occurred. Here they were also
landed unopposed except for a few shells from coastal batteries that were soon
silenced. The only real fighting took place at the port of Algiers where HMS
destroyers Malcolm and Broke tried to land 600 American troops directly in the
port to prevent it being put out of action. Malcolm was severely damaged as she
tried to breach the boom and was hit by shore fire. She retreated at 4kts.
Broke managed to get through the boom and land her troops. She was soon forced
to retire though and leave the troops to fend for themselves and they were
forced to surrender seven hours later.
However Algiers
itself fell to superior forces by the end of the day and the port was captured
intact and workable. Nelson supported the landings on the eastern flank, and
for the next few days provided cover in case the Italian fleet should intervene
or land targets presented.
15-Nov-42 The Vichy French Forces surrender so
Admiral Cunningham strikes his flag as commander of the operation and Admiral
Syfret raises his as commander of force H. Their job was to continue to cover
the threat of the Italian Fleet.
21-Nov-42 Nelson left Mers-El-Kebir, the port of
Oran, to cruise south of the Balearic Islands.
22-Nov-42 She returns to Gibraltar.
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