Battle of Port Cros

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 US 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 —armed with six guns and eight torpedo tubes—was cruising in the Mediterranean on 15 August 1944 when she came across the former Italian ''Camoscio'' of , which was renamed ''UJ6081'' by the ''Kriegsmarine''. Also involved was the former French aviso ''Amiral Senes'' of , renamed ''SG21''.Groner, p.237 ''UJ6081'' was armed with one gun and two torpedo tubes. The aviso was armed with two 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.

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 a 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 1944, the former Italian corvette ''Antilope'', renamed ''UJ6082'', and the former Egyptian armed yacht ''Nimet Allah'' were sunk by with help from two British gunboats at the Battle of La Ciotat.

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Port Cros, Battle of
Port Cros
Naval battles of World War II involving Germany
Allied naval victories in the battle of the Mediterranean
Battles of World War II involving Canada
August 1944 events