"Operation Torch was designed to trap the German and Italian troops between British forces moving from the east and American forces invading from the west in French North Africa. Driven back from Egypt by the British Eighth Army, the Germans decided to hold Tunisia, which would give them control of shipping in the Mediterranean.
In February 1943, the Africa Corps attacked in an attempt to force an Anglo-American withdrawal into Algeria. Devastating blows hammered troops in the mountain ranges and passes that ringed the Tunisian coastal plains. At Kasserine Pass, the 39th Infantry Regiment‘s 3rd Battalion was among the American troops overrun by the German Panzers. Its Anti-Tank Company had few casualties, but lost all of its guns.
On February 17th, the 9th Infantry Division's Artillery was ordered to the defense of Thala. By late afternoon, with 34th Field Artillery Battalion leading the way, the 60th Field Artillery, 60th Cannon Company, Headquarters Battery, the 84th Field Artillery and the 47th Cannon Battalion were on a forced march from Tiemcen in Algeria, to Thala in Tunisia. In bitter weather over tortuous, almost impassable mountain roads, 2170 men and officers and 411 vehicles covered 735 miles in 100 hours…"
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Amicalement
Armand
's first experience with 1:4800 scale naval models.
