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North africa current
| Морской словарь |
The most permanent current in the non-tidal mediterranean sea, flowing eastward from gibraltar to the sicily strait.
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Mediterranean, английский
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North africa invasion, английский
In 1942, with barely two months of planning, the allies simultaneously mounted two amphibious operations inside the mediterranean, and a third on the atlantic coast. code-named operation torch, it is the largest and most complex amphibious lift ever convened, involving almost a million soldiers and sailors; some eight-hundred merchantmen; six battleships, five fleet and nine escort carriers, twenty cruisers, eighty-one destroyers, and thirty-eight ocean escort vessels. the initial assaults sailed in nine convoys from britain, and three from the united states; the slowest leaving on 2nd october, the fastest on 1st november, each scheduled to arrive precisely on time. while the british convoys were converging on gibraltar, a large german u-boat wolfpack lay across their path. suddenly it was directed to move south to intercept another convoy (sl.125) heading north. during a six-day battle, several merchantmen in ballast (without cargo) were sunk, but the diversion had saved the invasion fleet. after the war, the escort commander, british rear admiral c.n. reyne said “it was the only time i had ever been congratulated for losing ships.” not only was torch the largest, it was also the longest-range amphibious operation. never before had a major invasion been launched from bases so far away from their targets. the eastern assault force, commanded by rear-admiral sir harold burrough rn, sailed from britain bound for algiers. it carried 33,000 british troops in thirty-four ships and had to steam roughly 3500 km (2200 miles). the central assault force, commanded by commodore thomas troubridge rn, headed for oran (with the author aboard). it consisted of forty-seven vessels, carrying 39,000 u.s. troops and british commandos. it also sailed from britain and had to travel some 4000 km (2500 miles). the western assault force was entirely american. it consisted of 35,000 troops in thirty-nine ships, under rear admiral henry hewitt usn. it sailed directly from the united states to casablanca, roughly 5,000 km (3000 miles). air support for the casablanca assault was provided inshore by four u.s. assault carriers, offshore by fleet carrier ranger. for the mediterranean landings it was provided inshore by five british assault carriers, while offshore air cover depended on 3 british fleet carriers. to reassure the french, and assist american troops identify unfamiliar but friendly carrier aircraft, most 221 north were painted with the american star, rather than the british roundel. the entire movement had to pass over waters infested with german u-boat wolf packs, enter axiscontrolled air space, and face large and potentially hostile vichy french forces ashore and afloat. elaborate disinformation campaigns were mounted (see military deception), successfully leading hitler to concentrate air and submarine forces off libya, some 1600 km (1000 miles) east of the invasion beaches. without german help, vichy french resistance was fierce but brief.
Norsemen, английский
A collective term for the peoples of ancient scandinavia, especially during the viking period (9th to 11th centuries).
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