Battle of Port Cros

Battle of Port Cros Part of the Mediterranean Theater of World War II Port Cros (left) from space and Île du Levant (right). Date August 15, 1944 Location Port-Cros, France, Mediterranean Sea Result Allied victory Belligerents  United States  Canada  Nazi Germany Commanders and leaders William C. Hughes unknown Strength Land: 1,800 infantry Sea: 1 destroyer Land: 5 forts Sea: 1 corvette 1 aviso Casualties and losses 9 killed 1 corvette sunk 1 aviso sunk 5 forts captured Port-Cros Location within France

Battle of the Mediterranean Malta Club Run¹ Malta Convoys¹ Espero ¹² Mers-el-Kébir Calabria¹² Cape Spada Hurry ¹ Cape Passero¹ MB8 ¹ Taranto Strait of Otranto² White ¹ Cape Spartivento¹ Excess ¹ Convoy AN 14¹ Genoa Abstention Souda Bay Matapan Tarigo ² Crete ² Substance ¹ Halberd ¹ U-boat Campaign Duisburg ² Bon² 1st Sirte¹² Alexandria raid 2nd Sirte¹ Calendar ¹ Bowery ¹ Albumen Harpoon ¹ Vigorous ¹ Pedestal ¹ Agreement Torch Stone Age ¹ Toulon Portcullis ¹ Skerki² Olterra's campaign¹ Algiers¹ Zuwarah  Cigno ² Campobasso ² Sicily Gela Scylla ² Bastia Sinking of Roma Dodecanese Campaign Santorini Symi Cape Bougaroun¹ Port Cros La Ciotat Ligurian Sea ¹ ¹ — Involved an Allied convoy ² — Involved an Axis convoy

The Battle of Port Cros was a battle of World War II fought off the French Riviera in the Mediterranean Sea on the island of Port-Cros. The battle began when a United States Navy warship encountered two German warships in August 1944 while supporting the Allied Operation Dragoon. It was one of the few surface engagements fought between the United States Navy and the German Kriegsmarine. Later that day, the combined American and Canadian Devil's Brigade was dropped on the main island and captured the German held positions.

Battle

The American destroyer USS Somers—armed with eight 5 in (130 mm) guns and twelve 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes^[1][2]—was cruising in the Mediterranean on 15 August 1944 when she came across the former Italian Gabbiano-class corvette Camoscio of 738 long tons (750 t), which was renamed UJ6081 by the Kriegsmarine. Also involved was the former French aviso Amiral Senes of 917 long tons (932 t), renamed SG21.^[3] UJ6081 was armed with one 3.9 in (99 mm)gun and two 17.7 in (450 mm) torpedo tubes. The aviso was armed with two 4.1 in (100 mm) guns. It was early morning off Port Cros, about four hours before the Allied landing in Vichy France, when the Americans sighted the German corvette. Commander Willam Christopher Hughes ordered a torpedo attack and directed his men to battle stations.

USS Somers in 1942.

A spread of torpedoes was launched and the Germans opened fire as they attempted to maneuver out of harm's way. However, one torpedo slammed into the UJ6081's hull and she quickly began to sink. SG21 was then spotted coming to the rescue. She was engaged by Somers' main gun battery. The ensuing duel lasted for a few minutes until SG21 was hit several times and began taking in water. Within a few more minutes, both German ships went down and Somers therefore left the area for naval gunfire support missions against targets along the French mainland. American forces suffered no damage or casualties.

Later that day, a mixed regiment of United States Army and Canadian Army infantry, the 1st Special Service Force, was dropped onto Port Cros and captured the five forts after a day-long battle with their German garrisons. The Allies assaulted two or three forts and seized the remaining without resistance. Nine paratroopers were killed in the land battle.

Aftermath

As result of the battle, Commander Hughes was recognized for his victory and eventually rose to the rank of Rear Admiral partly due to his involvement in this action. After the engagement, the U.S. Army occupied Le Levant, another island nearby. Two days later, on 17 August, the former Italian corvette Antilope, renamed UJ6082, and the former Egyptian armed yacht Nimet Allah were sunk by USS Endicott with help from two British gunboats at the Battle of La Ciotat.

References

Notes

Bibliography

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
• Ford, Roger; Gibbons, Tony; Hewson, Rob; Jackson, Bob & Ross, David (2001). The Encyclopedia of Ships. London: Amber Books, Ltd. p. 405. ISBN 978-1-905704-43-9. 
• Groner, Eric (1990). German Warships 1815 - 1945. Volume One: Major Surface Vessels. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-790-9. 
• Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II. London: Random House Group, Ltd. 2001. p. 284. ISBN 0-517-67963-9.