Battle of Port Cros

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Battle of Port Cros
Part of the
Mediterranean Theater of World War II

Port Cros (left) from space and Île du Levant (right).
DateAugust 15, 1944
Location
Port-Cros, France, Mediterranean Sea
43°00′18″N 6°23′55″E / 43.005°N 6.398611°E / 43.005; 6.398611
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
 United States
 Canada		  Germany
Commanders and leaders
United States William C. Hughes unknown
Strength
Land:
1,800 infantry
Sea:
Destroyer Somers		 Land:
5
forts
Sea:
Corvette UJ6081
Aviso SG21
Casualties and losses
9 killed UJ6081 sunk
SG21 sunk
5 forts captured
Port-Cros is located in France
Port-Cros
Port-Cros
class=notpageimage|
Location within France

The Battle of Port Cros took place during

Devil's Brigade
was dropped on the main island and captured the German-held positions.

Battle

The American

Amiral Senes of 917 long tons (932 t), renamed SG21.[3] UJ6081 was armed with one 100 mm (3.9 in) gun and two 17.7 in (450 mm) torpedo tubes. The aviso was armed with two 4.1 in (100 mm) guns. It was early morning off Port Cros, about four hours before the Allied landing in Vichy France, when the Americans sighted the German corvette. Commander Willam Christopher Hughes
ordered a torpedo attack and directed his men to battle stations.

USS Somers in 1942.

A spread of torpedoes was launched and the Germans opened fire as they attempted to maneuver out of harm's way. However, one torpedo slammed into the UJ6081's hull and she quickly began to sink. SG21 was then spotted coming to the rescue. She was engaged by Somers' main gun battery. The ensuing duel lasted for a few minutes until SG21 was hit several times and began taking in water. Within a few more minutes, both German ships went down and Somers therefore left the area for naval gunfire support missions against targets along the French mainland. American forces suffered no damage or casualties.

Later that day, a mixed

forts after a day-long battle with their German garrisons
. The Allies assaulted two or three forts and seized the remaining without resistance. Nine paratroopers were killed in the land battle.

Aftermath

As a result of the battle, Commander Hughes was recognized for his victory and eventually rose to the rank of

Le Levant, another island nearby. Two days later, on 17 August 1944, the former Italian corvette Antilope, renamed UJ6082, and the former Egyptian armed yacht Nimet Allah were sunk by USS Endicott with help from two British gunboats at the Battle of La Ciotat.[4]

References

Notes

  1. ISBN 9781905704439
  2. ISBN 0517679639
  3. ^ Groner, p.237
  4. ^ "Battle of La Ciotat August 1944 World Naval Ships Forums Archive". www.worldnavalships.com. Retrieved 2023-07-18.

Bibliography

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Port_Cros&oldid=1200950929"