US Naval Bases North Africa

US Naval Bases North Africa
Part of the Second World War
Landings during the operation, sites of  United States Navy Bases
Date May 1942 to 1945 Location French Morocco, French Algeria, French Tunisia, French West Africa

US Naval Bases in North Africa were

Algeria became a

Before the Vichy French surrendered they destroy the Oran harbor facilities and disable the Vichy ships at the docks.[8]^[9][10]

Operation Terminal and Operation Reservist, were part of Operation Torch, the goal was to capture Algeria and French North Africa port facilities before they could be destroyed, both failed at their goal, but the ports were secured and repaired.^[11]

After the Vichy French surrendered the Clark-Darlan Negotiations were held in the Hotel St. Georges on 10 November between US General Mark W. Clark and French Admiral François Darlan. In the end, the negotiations gave the outcome they were looking for: ceasefire in Oran and Casablanca, the French African army would help the Allies fight the Nazis, help unload Allied cargo ships, and use of French trains to support the troops. On 24 December 1942, pro-monarchist Fernand Bonnier de La Chapelle assassinated Darlan in his headquarters, but the negotiations agreements continued.^[12][13][14]

In the end not only did Algerians help with supplies many Muslim and European Algerians joined the

After the port city of Dakar surrendered in November 1942, French ships at the port also joined the Allies, including: battleship Richelieu, the heavy cruiser Suffren, light cruisers Gloire, Montcalm, Georges Leygues, and a few destroyers, including cruiser-sized Le Fantasque-class destroyers.^[16]

Many of the US Army troops arriving at bases in North Africa had trained at the Desert Training Center at the California–Arizona Maneuver Area. From the US Naval Bases in North Africa, the US Army traveled east against the desert fox, Erwin Rommel's army. The British Eighth Army traveled west against the Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps. The two armies met up at Tunis and drove the Afrika Korps and Panzer Army Africa out of North Africa.^[17][18]

Amphibious Training Bases

Algeria

Oran Naval Base

Oran, Algeria with the city port and Oran's French Naval base

Béni Saf is 49 miles southwest of Oran and was used as a sub-base to Oran. Seabee with the 54th Battalion worked at Béni Saf. Béni Saf had a large mine that produced manganese ore for the Allies. Béni Safwas deployed into a supply depot and an Advanced Amphibious Training Base. The supply depot was built of 40 100-foot quonset huts.^[27]

Arzeu Naval Base

Arzeu (also spelled Arzew), Algeria was deployed into a Naval advance base, a large Advanced Amphibious Training Base, a hospital, a large supply depot and a staging camp. At Arzeu is the French Fort Supérieur. At Arzeu was a Seabee training base, the Seabee's 1005th and 1006th Detachments trained in building, launching, and installing pontoon causeways that were later used at Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio. With the 500-foot pontoon causeways, LST ships could unload at the shallow beaches of Sicily and Italy. The pontoon causeways were first tried at Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, but at Arzeu a new deployment technique was to have the pontoon carried on the side of the LST ships to the beaches. This saved time, so the other deployment technique of having the pontoons towed to the invasion beachhead was later ended. CBD 1005 and CBD 1006 Seabee were camped and trained at Arzeu starting May 1943. Later, on November 18, 1943, Seabee 70th Construction Battalion took over the operation at Arzeu. USS LST-389 was based at Arzeu Naval Base and became the flagship for Captain Frank Adams, Commander.^[1]

Mostaganem Naval Base

Mostaganem Base was deployed into a Naval advance base, a large Advanced Amphibious Training Base. Mostaganem is about 30 miles east of Arzeu, then with a population of 50,000. The port was in working order and no work needed to be done. A hospital, troop camp, Seabee camp and supply depot were built. In the town, a French theater was used by the USO and Red Cross for the troops. The town was made up of mostly citizens of French and Spanish descent.^[27]

Port aux Poules Naval Base

Port aux Poules (port of chickens) now called Mers El Hadjadj was a small resort town. Port aux Poules is 15 miles east of Arzeu. With many sandy beaches, the site was good for the Amphibious Training Base. In addition to the standard camp being built, the Seabee built a large fresh water distillation unit. The 85th Infantry Division, 337th Infantry Regiment, 261st Medical Battalion and 92nd Field Artillery Regiment trained at Port aux Poules amphibious Training Base from 1 February to 23 March 1944.^[27]

Nemours Naval Base

Nemours, now called Ghazaouet, Algeria was developed into a Naval advance base, a large Advanced Amphibious Training Base. Nemours is a small fishing town in the western part of Algeria. The Seabee built a large freshwater distillation. A hospital was built in a large French house. A large warehouse was built to be a living space for the troops. A hotel was used for the Headquarters. The port was manmade with breakwater. The 1st Ranger Battalion was activated on May 12, 1943, at Nemours, Morocco, and trained at Nemours.^[27]

Ténès Naval Base

Ténès, Algeria was developed into an Advanced Amphibious Training Base. Ténè was an Arab town with a large French Amry base with a manmade port. Ship LCT 33 shot down a Junkers Ju 88 bomber over the port, it crashed 15 miles from the town.^[27]

Cherchell Naval Base

Cherchell, Algeria, is port city and resort town with a lighthouse, that was converted into an Advanced Amphibious Training Base. The town is west of Tipaza. A French military base was near the town and was used for Advanced Amphibious Training Base. The town had many European tourists and thus become known as the Algerian Riviera.^[27]

Bône Naval Base

• Bone Airfield. A 750-bed hospital was set at the base.^[28][29][30]

Naval Air Station Port Lyautey

At

Agadir Naval Base

Advance Naval Base Agadir, in

The US Navy operated a base at Fedala, (now called Mohammedia) was similar to Casablanca, though smaller. The Fedala Base has a lighthouse towerat the port. The Fedala harbor has an 800-foot breakwater. The town, in 1943, had a population of 16,000. Fedala was invaded to facilitate the capture of Casablanca, as ground troops at Fedala move on Casablanca. U-boats sank three US troopsships at Fedala, including the USS Electra and USS Joseph Hewes. An U-Boat damaged the USS Hambleton and USS Winooski at Fedala. Members of the German Armistice Commission were captured at Fedala as they tried to flee. The Fedala port was captured in Operation Brushwood.^[1][34][26]

Safi Naval Base

The US Navy operated a base at

Tunis Naval Base

Tunis Naval Base also La Goulette Naval Base. called Axis forces retreated towards Sicily after being surrounded by Allied forces from Algeria to the west and from Libya to the east in May 1943.

At

At Ferryville, now Menzel Bourguiba, Tunisia, a port 40 miles northwest of Tunis. The town had a population of about 10,000. A Medical Supply Depot was built at the Naval Base to support the Sicily invasion.^[41]

French West Africa

Dakar Naval Air and Sea Base

Dakar Naval Air Base and sea port were in

• Algiers, Algeria, Africa FPO# 922 (Fleet Post Office #922) and FPO# 728, Box 25, General HQ
• Oran, Algeria, Africa FPO# 147, City Port
• Mers El Kebir, Algeria, Africa FPO# 233, Oran Naval Base See Attack on Mers-el-Kébir
• Arzeu, Algeria, Africa FPO# 232, Naval Station and Naval Air Facility
• Nemours, Ghazaouet, Algeria, Africa, FPO# 235, Advanced Amphibious Training Base
• Beni Saf, Algeria, Africa FPO# 236, Advanced Amphibious Training Base
• Mostaganem, Alferia, Africa FPO# 238, Advanced Amphibious Training Base
• Ténès, Algeria, Africa FPO# 239, Advanced Amphibious Training Base
• Cherchel, Algeria, Africa FPO# 240, city port
• Tipaza, Algeria, Africa FPO# 241, city port and HQ.
• Dakar, French West Africa FPO# 241 see Battle of Dakar
• Nouasseur Base, became Nouasseur Air Base

Airfields

• Tafaraoui Airfield
  Oran
• Oran Tafraoui Airport
• Nouvion Airfield
• La Sénia airfield Oran
• Lambiridi Airfield
  Batna, Algeria
• Blida Airfield
  Blida, Algeria
• Mostaganem Airport
• Angads Airport
• Naval Air Station Port Lyautey
• Berguent Airfield
• Bone Airfield
• Casablanca–Anfa Airport
• Guercif Airfield
• Louis Gentil Field
• Médiouna Airfield
• Ras el Ma Airfield
• Naval Air Base Karouha (former French at Bizerte Naval Base)
• Bizerte Airfield
• Oudna Airfield
• Tunis–Carthage Airfield
• Kairouan Airfield
• Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed Air Base
• La Senia Airfield
  Oran

Post war

After Victory in Europe Day the bases in Algeria were not needed. The naval slowly returned the ports and bases over to France. The depots were turned over on June 26, 1945, and Naval Base on July 29, 1945. The US Naval ammo magazine depot was closed on September 7, 1945. On September 30, 1945, the Naval Hospital 9, the medical storehouse and remain supply depots were closed. On December 1, 1945, the reverse Lend-Lease of the base and land ended. ^[1]

• Algeria became Independent on July 5, 1962. Morocco became independent on April 7, 1956. Tunisia became independent on March 20, 1956.
• Naval Air Station Port Lyautey was the last Naval Base in North Africa to close in 1977, as it became a trining base after the war. The other North Africa were closed in 1945.^{[citation needed]}
• Memorial Meeting 22 October 1942, is a Memorial at Messelmoun, Algeria.^[46]

Operation Flagpole: In preparation for Operation Torch, British General Clark landed in Algeria for talks with French General Mast and Robert Murphy, an American diplomat. Murphy had been negotiating with the French leaders about the invasion. French Generals Mast and Bethouart, Chiefs of Staff at Algiers and Casablanca have given their support. But the French Navy is still upset with the British for the bombings of French ships at Mers-el-Kebir and Dakar. General Mast gives cooperation with the allied effort and helps French General Giraud as the French leader to accept.^[47]

British Empire bases

Also see:Italian Libya in World War II, North African campaign and Western Desert campaign
In the early days of the war

• Port of Alexandria was a base of warships and supply ships in Egypt. In the 1941 raid on Alexandria Italian Navy divers attacked two Royal Navy battleships with manned torpedoes.^[52][53]
• Port Said Egypt was the training site of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force starting in 1940.^[54]
• British Empire used ports on the Suez Canal, like Adabiya, El Arish and Said.^[55][56][57]
• The port at Safaga in the Red Sea was used as they were out of reach of Axis planes.^[58]
• Rats of Tobruk. Tobruk had a deep, natural, and protected harbor, thus a key port to support armies in North Africa. Italian Libya was held by the Italians. Tobruk was captured by British, Australian and British Indian forces on 22 January 1941. In the Battle of Gazala Tobruk was lost to Afrika Korps in June 1942. British retook Tobruk on November 11, 1942, in the Second Battle of El Alamein.^{[59][60][61][62]}
• Tripoli, Libya and its port fell to the British Eighth Army on January 23, 1943, in the Battle of Tripoli.^[63]
• Italians took the city and port in Operation Compass the city was captured on February 6, 1941. General Rommel took the port on April 4, 1941.^[64] British took the port on December 24, 1941, in Operation Crusader. Rommel took it again on January 29, 1942. In Second Battle of El Alamein, Egypt–British troops led by General Bernard Montgomery took Benghaziagain on November 20.^{[65][66][67][68]}
• Derna, Libya was taken Australian Troops on 30 January 30, 1941. Rommel took the city on April 6, 1941, and the British took the city on November 15, 1942.^[69]
• El Alamein, Egypt was a major port and base for the support of the Egypt–British troops led by General Bernard Montgomery. The port supported the westward push in the First Battle of El Alamein in July 1942, Battle of Alam el Halfa in September 1942 and the Second Battle of El Alamein in November 1942.^[66][70]
• Port Tewfik, Egypt at the Suez Canal was a key support port for the Egypt–British troops.^[71][72]
• Sallum, Egypt British supply port and site of a battle January 10, 1942, supporting the battle at nearby Halfaya Pass.^[73]
• rail station terminus. Mersa Matruh was also the site of the Baggush Box camp and the Battle of Mersa Matruh.^[74][75]
• Bougie Harbour, Algeria was taken by the British November 11, 1942.^[76]
• British Mandatory Palestine has ports that supplies the British Empire. A fuel depot was used at Haifa.^[77]
• Island of Malta, port, Grand Harbour submarine base, airfield, and seaport. Supplied by Operation Vigorous.^[78][79][80]

Photo gallery

• 
  1006th Seabees in the Salerno Invasion,Operation Avalanche, unloading an LST ship over a Pontoon Causeway at Safta Beach in September 1943. The ship had trained and loaded with the Pontoon Causeway at an US Naval Bases North Africa Amphibious Training Bases
• 
  1006th Seabees using a Three-Section Pontoon Causeway at Safta Beach in September 1943.
• 
  Cherchell Navy Base in Algeria, US Navy base in Algeria from May 1943 to 1945
• 
  Casablanca Naval Base, vehicles unloaded at port in 1943 ready for the US Army's drive east to fight Nazi Afrika Korps.
• 
  Mediterranean Area US Navy map from 1944.
• 
  American ships preparing to land off Safi, Morocco, during Operation Blackstone
• 
  Ténès Port in 1943, Ténès, Algeria was developed into an Advanced Amphibious Training Base by the US Navy from May 1942 to 1945.
• 
  A flyer in French and Arabic that was distributed by Allied forces in the streets of Casablanca, calling on citizens to cooperate with the Allied forces.
• 
  USS Lakehurst (formerly Seatrain New Jersey), after discharging medium tanks at Safi, Morocco

  . Load is damage plane to be repaired.
• 
  Jean Bart attacked by planes of USS Ranger at Casablanca port.
• 
  Jean Bart being repair at Casablanca port
• 
  American troops land on an Algerian beach during Operation Torch
• 
  Map of Tunisia in 1942 and 1943
• 
  Map North Africa
• 
  SS Susan B. Anthony at Oran July 5, 1943, just before departing for the

  invasion of Sicily
• 
  Casablanca Conference, Casablanca, Morocco, 1943
• 
  United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British prime minister Winston Churchill, and their advisors in Casablanca, 1943
• 
  Agadir port in Morocco
• 
  Port of Bizerte Morocco, before Naval base
• 
  Map of Port of Bizerte Morocco
• 
  Free French Army

  movement map from June 1941 to 1945 from the US Army
• 
  Unloading P-38` Fighter Planes For The Free French Army at Casablanca, on April 13, 1943.
• 
  French Submarine, Casablanca Harbor, Joins Allied Forces In North Africa, November 12, 1942
• 
  Map of Site of French West Africa and Dakar Naval Base
• 
  American troops unload stores from

  Arzeu
• 
  Oran, Algeria. Supplies stacked at the 160-Q-"F" Army Quartermaster Corps Depot, 17 March 1943.
• 
  Western Desert Battle Area 1941

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Operation Torch.

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

US Army Campaigns of World War II Series/Algeria-French Morocco

Wikimedia Commons has media related to French West Africa in World War II.

• Battle of the Mediterranean
• US Naval Advance Bases
• North African campaign timeline
• Operation Flagpole (World War II)
• Operation Husky
• Allied Invasion of North Africa in 1942
• 6th Port Headquarters
• Operation Tidal Wave

External links

• Operation Torch: Allied Invasion of North Africa Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine article by Williamson Murray
• Eisenhower's report on operation Torch
• Operation TORCH Motion Pictures from the National Archives
• Operation Torch
• Operation Torch World War II

References