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Hello, and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast, episode 560, Rock the Casbah.

Last time, the naval covering force for the three attacking groups going inland at French Morocco

had their hands full as elements

of the French fleet kept pulling American vessels away so French destroyers could go after the landing

craft just north of Casablanca. The Americans fell for this faint at least twice, but had the numbers to

compensate before too much damage was done.

Besides, the rough tides alone had taken out almost half of the landing craft allocated for this part of

torch. Still, between the ground troops, air attacks, and naval might, Casablanca was becoming

less able to defend itself.

As for the deep water harbor at Safi to the south of Casablanca,

the southern attacking force there had their own issues,

but again a combination of forces silenced the coastal guns,

subdued the port, and weakened outlying French military

posts like at Marrakesh. By November 10th, D-Day Plus 2, the only strong French force in the

south was at Bo Gedra, east of Safi, but enough of Major General Harmon's forces held them in check while a part of the

2nd Armored Division broke off to head up the coast to approach Casablanca from the south. The Americans

were learning much as they clashed with French forces on the ground, in the air, and on the sea,

and they weren't even facing the Germans yet, which left the most

northern American landing force against French Morocco at Medea. The plan was simple, direct,

...