Operation Reservist facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Operation Reservist
Part of Operation Torch of the Second World War
Date 8 November 1942 Location Oran, Algeria Result Vichy French victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  United States	Vichy France
Commanders and leaders
Frederick Peters  George F. Marshall  †	André Rioult
Strength
393 landing troops 2 sloops	4,000 soldiers 31 warships
Casualties and losses
United States: 194 killed 164 wounded  United Kingdom: 113 killed 86 wounded 2 sloops destroyed	165 killed

Operation Reservist was a secret plan by the Allied forces during World War II. It was part of a bigger plan called Operation Torch. The goal was to land soldiers directly into the busy harbour at Oran in Algeria. This happened on November 8, 1942.

What Was Operation Reservist?

Operation Reservist was a daring attempt to capture important port facilities and ships. These belonged to the Vichy French forces in Oran. The Allies wanted to take control of them before they could be destroyed. Landing troops directly into a harbour was very risky. However, the Allies hoped the French defenders would be surprised. They also hoped some French soldiers might even help them.

The Ships Used

Two special ships, called sloops, were chosen for this mission. They were the HMS Walney and HMS Hartland. Sloops are small warships often used for escorting other ships. These two sloops were meant to carry the soldiers right into the harbour.

The Battle in Oran Harbour

As the Allied landing ships entered the harbour, they came under heavy attack. The French defenders fired from shore batteries. These batteries were strong gun positions along the coast. There were also 31 French warships inside the port. These ships caused a lot of damage to the Allied vessels.

Heavy Losses

The fighting was very tough. More than 90 percent of the Allied soldiers involved were either killed or wounded.

• Out of 393 American soldiers, 189 were killed and 157 were wounded.
• The British Royal Navy lost 113 sailors, and 86 were wounded.
• A small team from the US Navy also suffered losses.

One of the sloops, the Walney, managed to reach the jetty. A small number of soldiers got off the ship. However, the French quickly captured the survivors. Both the Walney and the Hartland were destroyed during the battle.

After the Operation

The French defenders in Oran surrendered two days after the invasion. But by then, the harbour facilities had been badly damaged. They were no longer useful to the Allies right away.

Other landings happened at the same time around Oran. A similar operation, called Operation Terminal, also took place in Algiers. That operation included a surprise attack on its harbour and an airborne mission.

See also

• Frederick Thornton Peters
• HMS Walney (Y04)
• HMS Hartland