19441 INVASION OF SOU REPORT OF NAVAL COMMANDER, W IX~ D:f~ 52(y1 :o Vice Admiral H. K. NI UI InstnictDfl Uektliflt UIIt DO*UnItIfl B~oWDi (V'11 Ne1 I-a-zfnuu ! ~asq a ~s~ a D a t Q umfl h S M ----- --------- I- -~4 ~WQ17( I NI - z ~~~jJ1tr, J UNITED STATES EIGHTH FLEET File No. A16-3 Serial: 01668 29 November 1944 CONFIDDNTIAL' From: Commander U.S. EIGHTH Fleet (Naval Commander Western Task Force). To Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet. Via : (1) Commander in Chief, Mediterranean. (2) Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean. Subject: Invasion of Southern France, References: (a) Articles 712 and 874(6), U.S. Navy Regulations. (b) COMINCH and CNO letter FFl/A12-l/A16..3, Serial 7152 of 29 October 1943. Enclosure: (A) Invasion of Southern France, Report of Naval Commander Western Task Force, Commander EIGHTH Fleet, File No., A16-3, Serial 01568 of 15 November 1944. 1. In accordance with references (a) and (b), I submit herewith as enclosure (A) my report as Naval Commander Western Task Force for the invasion of Southern France. H. K. HEWITT Copies with Enclosure to: Distribution List ~ a .46 fPId~~ j~r'ZQ~r:6i'~ z File No. A16-3 Serial: 01668 CONFIDEZNTIA Subject: Invasion of Southern France. DIS MTICN No. Copies COMINCH (For further distribution) 80 AG WAR 4 CO US Armo Air Forces 2 CinCPac 6 CinCLant 2 CoinServLant 2 ComDesLant 2 ComPhibTraLant -6 ComNavEui 1 ComNavForFrance 1 SAG~fd 4 DSACMed 2 Admiralty 7 CinGMed (For furthJer' distrbution) 30 C SOS NATOUSA 1 AFH (COT) 1 0G 6th Army Group 2 00 Seventh Army 2 CG VI Cozrps 2 CG 3rd Infantry Division (US) 1 CO 45th Infantry Division (Us) 1 CO 36th Infantry Division (US) 1 CG MAAF 1 CO MATAF 1 CG MASAF 1 AOC MACAF 1 CG 111 TAC 2 Navale France 2 CoinAirLant 1 ComThirdFleet 2 ComFifthFleet 2 ComSeventhFleet 2 ComNorPac 2 ComThirdPhib 2 CoaFif thPhib 2 ComSeventhPhib 2 ComEighthPhib 10i ComTwelfthPhib 2 QOTO Pac 2 OOTC Lant 2 ComPhibTraPac 2 ComBatPac 2 ConiCruPac 2 ComijesPac 2 Army-.Navy Staff College 5 Naval War College 5 USMC, Conumand and Staff School 3 Command and General Staff School, Leavenworth, Kansas 3 Army Air Forces Tactical Center, Orlando, Florida 2 Eighth Fleet 50 FOREWORD The invasion of Southern France had.a number of features which appear to justify a report which may serve for analysis and study with a view to further developing our proficiency in amphibious warfare. A long period of planning study was available, even though the final de- cision and the necessary forces were problematical until the final stages. This enabled planning procedures to be developed in detail and the lessons of previous large am- phibious operations in this theater, in all of which this command participated, to be applied insofar as circum- stances permitted. The number of units involved was so large that experience gained should be valid for the larg- est operations. Though, as expected, strong enemy coast defenses were encountered, the enemy lacked air strength and reserves for effective counter-attack. Therefore our operations were carried through without major changes forced by the enemy, and the efficacy of the.plan for rapid build-up and maintenance of the Army was well tested. Lastly in the diversity of services and nationalities in- volved, there was presented an outstanding pattern of co- ordination and whole-hearted cooperation which is the key- stone to success in amphibious operations. -1- - 11 - INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE Table of Contents Page Part I PLANNING Chapter 1 Appreciation Section 1.1 Introduction------------------ ------ Section 1.2 Background of Planning ------------------ Section 1.3 The Objective ------------------------ Section 1.4 The Naval Consideration of the Military Forces Available - Section 1.5 Survey of the Theater of Operations -- - --------- Section 1.6 Strategic Deception - ------------- ----- Chapter 2 The Decision Section 2.1 Maintenance over the Beaches 12 ' Section 2.2 The Assault Area - - - - - -- 14 Section 2.3 D-Day - --------- 16 Section 2.4 The Assault Beaches -- - -- 18 " Section 2.5 H-Hour------------- 20 Section 2.6 Summary ----------- 23 Chapter 3 Formulation of Planned Action Section 3.1 Analysis of the Decision - - Section 3.2 Naval Planning Memoranda - Section 3.3 Preparing the Plan - - -- Chapter 4 Assignment of Task Organizations Section 4.1 Attack Forces --------- Section 4.2 Gunfire Support - - - - - - -- Part II EXECUTION OF THE PLAN Chapter 1 Campaign Narrative - - - - - - - - - -- --- 35 D-Day--------------- -------- 45 Summary Statistics - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - 133 Chapter 2 Intelligence Section 2.1 Surprise - ---------- 134 Section 2.2 Aerology ----------- 136 Section 2.3 Enemy Coast Defenses - - - 138 Section 2.4 Underwater Obstructions and Mines 143 Section 2.5 Enemy Air Forces- - - - - - - - - - 146 Section 2.6 Enemy Naval Forces - - - 146 Section 2.7 Beach Intelligence - - - - - - 147 Section 2.8 Photographic Interpretation - 151 Section 2.9 Rubber Topographic Models- 154 Section 2.10 Panoramic Beach Sketches - 155 Section 2.11 Combat Intelligence -- ------ 158 Section 2.12 Captured Equipment and Documents 162 Section 2.13 Prisoner of War Interrogation - -- 163 Section 2.14 Press Relations - ---------- 164 - iii - Table of Contents Page Chapter 3 Operations Section 3.1 Rehearsals--------------------- ----- 166 Section 3.2 Mounting, Sailing, and Staging of Assault Convoys ---- -169 Section 3.3 Approach and Arrival of Assault Convoys - - - - ----- 174 Section 3.4 Diversionary Operations - - - ----- 177 Section 3.5 SITKA Assault---------- ----- 181 Section 3.6 ALPHA Assault --------- ----- 184 Section 3.7 DELTA Assault --------- -- --- 187 Section 3.8 CAMEL Assault --------- - ---- 190 Section 3.9 Aircraft Carrier Operations - - - - -- -194 Section 3.10 Screening Operations - ----- ----- -197 Section 3.11 PT Operations ----- ---- ------- - - - 204 Section 3.12 Minesweeping ---------- - -- - -207 Section 3.13 Navigation Units - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 216 Section 3.14 Reduction of Hyeres, Toulon and Marseille - - - - - - 218 Section 3.15 Seizure and Development of Port de Bouc- - - - - - - 223 Section 3.16 Control of Post Assault Convoys - - - - - 226 Section 3.17 Beaches and Ports- ------- ----- 229 Section 3.18 Organization ----------- - - - - - 231 Section 3.19 Postponement Directive - - - - - - - - - - 236 Section 3.20 Storm Plans ----------- ----- 237 Section 3.21 Charts and Anchorages - - - - - - - - - - 239 Section 3.22 Reports - ---------- ----- 242 Chapter 4 Air Section 4.1 Joint Air Plan ---------- 244 Section 4.2 Pre-D-day bombing ------- 246 Section 4.3 Pre-H-hour D-Day bombing - - 252 Section 4.4 Post-H-hour bombing - - - - -- 257 Section 4.5 Fighter Direction Ships - - - - - 260 Section 4.6 Air Support ----------- 264 Section 4.7 Fighter Cover - --------- 265 Section 4.8 Carrier Aircraft Operations - - 269 Section 4.9 Spotting Planes --------- 271 Section 4.10 Air Raid Warnings- - - - - - - - 273 Section 4.11 Airborne Troop Movements - - - 275 Section 4.12 Air/Sea Rescue Service - - - - - 276 Section 4.13 Anti-Submarine Air Operations - 277 Section 4.14 Aircraft for Mine Spotting- - - - 278 Section 4.15 Air Dispatch Letter Service- - - 280 Section 4.16 Naval Air Liaison Officers - - - 281 Chapter 5 Gunnery Section 5.1 Bombardment - ------------ 284 Preparation ------- ------ 284 Naval Gunfire during Assault - - - 285 Post Assault Naval Gunfire Support - 285 Section 5.2 Ordnance Material- - -------------- 287 Liaison Section 5.3 Shore Fire Control Parties and Naval Gunfire --- Officers ------ - -,,, - --- - - --- 288 Section 5.4 Anti-aircraft Gunnery and Aircraft Recognition - - - - - 293 Section 5.5 Smoke Plan and Execution ---- ------------ 296 Section 5.6 Ammunition and Smtoke Supply and Expenditures ------ 298 - iv - Table of Contents Page Chapter 5 Gunnery (Continued) Section 5.7 Chemical Defense ---------------------- 301 Section 5.8 Naval Combat Demolition Units - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- 302 Section 5.9 Apex Boats and Reddy Fox (Demolition Outfit Mark 119)- - 306 Section 5.10 Woofus Craft - LCT(R), LCM(R), LCS(S) ---------- 309 Section 5.11 Mine and Bomb Disposal- ------------------ 311 Section 5.12 Light Indicator Net Plan ------------------ 312 Chapter 6 Material and Logistics Section 6.1 Planning, Preparation and Training Period- - - - - - - - 313 Section 6.2 Repair Facilities and Dry Docks - - - - - - - - -- - - - - 315 Section 6.3 Petroleum Installations and Supply of Petroleum Products and Coal -------------- ---------- 317 Section 6.4 Water Installations and Supply -- - - - - - - -- 320 Section 6.5 Provisions, Clothing and Small Stores, Ships Store Stock and General Stores ------------------- 321 Section 6.6 Barrage Balloons - ------------ 323 Section 6.7 Assault Maintenance and Build-up Period 324 Section 6.8 Losses and Damage - r---------- 327 Section 6.9 Salvage and Fire Fighting - - - - - - - - - 328 Section 6.10 Eighth Fleet Ships and Craft - - - - - - - 331 (a) General Remarks ---------- 331 (b) Research and Development -- - - - 332 (c) Recommendations - --------- 333 Section 6.11 Beach Control Group and Beach Battalions 334 Section 6.12 Loading and Unloading of Ships and Craft- 336 Section 6.13 Evacuation of Prisoners of War - - - - 339 Section 6.14 Opening of Ports- - ---------- - - 340 Chapter 7 Communications Section 7.1 General ------ 342 Section 7.2 Planning ------ 344 Section 7.3 Cover Plan - - - - 346 Section 7.4 Flagships - - - - - 347 Section 7.5 Deficiencies - -- - 349 Section 7.6 Call Signs ----- 351 Section 7.7 Authentication - - - 352 Section 7.8 Cryptographic