Page:Charles Robert Anderson - Algeria-French Morocco - CMH Pub 72-11.pdf/14



consisted of three regimental landing groups (RLG), based on the 7th, 15th, and 30th Infantry Regiments, 3d Infantry Division. Other combat elements included the 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, and the 82d Reconnaissance Battalion, both of the 2d Armored Division, and the 756th Tank Battalion (Separate). Each regimental landing group consisted of three battalion landing teams, each with engineer, artillery, air liaison, and other support detachments. The 1st and 2d Regimental Landing Groups were each reinforced by a platoon of light tanks. With support units, totaled 19,364 officers and men.

The objectives of the landing were to silence all coastal batteries, seize the town and port of Fedala as well as all roads and rail lines serving them, and then turn south to envelop Casablanca from the landward side. To reach these objectives, individual battalion landing teams were to come ashore over four beaches along a four-mile arc of coastline bounded by two rivers, the Nefifikh on the east and the Mellah on the west. Known points of opposition included five coastal and antiaircraft batteries ranging from 75-mm. to 138.6-mm. in caliber. Garrison forces totaled 2,500 troops at Fedala and 4,325 at