14-114 Garand Picture of the Day

[Snafu]

Operation Torch begins. American troops landing on the beach of Surcouf, on November 8, 1942

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Englishmen sitting in the foreground? Right at the berm...

[25-5]

Because of British-French enmity, a lot of the British troops wore American uniforms. Fought Vichy France until the 10th of Nov. when they surrendered at the request of their General. Darlan

[browningautorifle]

You sort of lost me there. These guys are in Commonwealth uniform...look like they're doing beach master.

[CINDERS]

I'm with you Jim bit confused with 25-5's explanation
Yep picked them up due to the brodie lids, so would you have tanks coming in with the infantry or use the infantry to subdue the AT guns early prior to the tanks coming ashore makes it hard if they are protected by MG's and the Germans just loved citing them for mutual support of each other....TIA

[browningautorifle]

Some OP's had observers from foreign units. Maybe this is one...

[25-5]

Sorry. It was a side comment relating to Operation Torch in general. Not meant as specific to the picture. It just came to mind as I looked at the photo. I'll be more careful in future.
I enjoy these Garand picture threads.

[RT Ellis]

These are likely elements of the 39th Infantry Regiment (reinforced and organized as a regimental combat team) landing on Beach Red east of Algiers. At this location the landing continued until 1800 hrs when the sea became too rough to continue. The dawn landing of the first waves was very disorganized and unopposed. Some landing craft waundered into range of a French battery and shelled with losses. This image likely taken later in the day after the initial landings, which would account for the casual appearance of the soldiers and the presence of the media or signal corps photoghrapher to record the event. After the beach landings were curtailed the French surrendered and the remainder of the troops were landed in the port of Algiers.

The Eastern Task Force was mostly a British operation with American forces to make the appearance that it was an American operation. The only U.S. ships in the task force were the transports that carried the 39th RCT. The support ships were all British. That it was mostly a British operation I think accounts for the British beach party in this view.