Blue Water War by Brian E. Walter

Author:Brian E. Walter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Published: 2022-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

In November 1942 the Allies used maritime power to open a second front in the theatre by launching Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa. This action brought the United States directly into the conflict and eventually ensnared two Axis armies in a powerful Allied pincer in Tunisia. (Hudson, F. A. (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer, public domain)

With the cessation of hostilities in Morocco and Algeria, the Allies turned their attention to Tunisia. Since most of the Allied formations were located in the western and central portions of French North Africa at the time, only a small number of units were actually available to advance on Tunisia. Despite this imbalance, the Allies began their advance in earnest. On 11 November three fast troopships, with an escort led by the cruiser Sheffield, landed the British 36th Infantry Brigade at Bougie. Located some 110 miles east of Algiers, the British occupied the small port without opposition. The next day British airborne troops seized Djidjelli airfield while commandos from the escort destroyers Wheatland and Lamerton took possession of Bône. In doing so, the British gained a useful staging base that was another 125 miles closer to the Tunisian border. Within two days Spitfire fighters were operating from Bône while Allied forces renewed their push into Tunisia. Moving overland in two lines of advance towards Bizerte and Tunis, the Allies made slow progress as logistical constraints and difficult terrain hampered their efforts.

The Axis responded to these developments in a swift and decisive manner. Immediately upon learning of the Allied invasion, Hitler ordered forces into Tunisia, Corsica and the unoccupied portions of southern France. On 9 November the first contingents of German aircraft and ground personnel arrived in Tunisia. Encountering no resistance from local Vichy forces, the Axis followed this up with a continuous flow of men and materiel during the ensuing days. By the end of the month total Axis deliveries to Tunisia included 15,273 men and 581 tons of supplies brought in by air and 1,867 men, 159 tanks and armoured cars, 127 guns, 1,097 vehicles and 12,549 tons of supplies brought in by sea.12 The Axis also deployed forces overland from Libya thus bringing their total troop strength in Tunisia during this period to 15,575 Germans and some 9,000 Italians. Meanwhile, by 25 November Axis air strength in Tunisia had grown to five fighter groups, a bomber group and a unit of short-range reconnaissance aircraft.13

The Axis took little time in putting these forces to effective use. By 10 November German aircraft were operating from Tunisian airfields, while the first clash of ground forces occurred on the 17th. Then during the latter half of November and the better part of December these newly arrived Axis forces fought a series of engagements with the advancing British and American spearheads. In this, the Axis enjoyed a number of short-term advantages that aided their efforts. By seizing Tunis and Bizerte ahead of the Allies, the Axis commanded a centralised position that maintained a compact logistical centre of gravity.

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