American Battle Monuments Commission

Western Naval 

Task Force Marker

The battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-59) during a lull

in the Naval Battle of Casablanca, November 8, 1942.

Photo: Naval History and Heritage Command

The Western Naval Task Force Marker in Casablanca, Morocco 

is located at the Ben M’Sik civilian cemetery. The bronze 

plaque is mounted on a solid block of Moroccan granite. 

It commemorates the Western Task Force, which made 

successful assault landings on the Atlantic coast of French 

Morocco at Fedala, Safi, and Port Lyautey on November 

8-11, 1942. This was the first U.S. trans-oceanic amphibious 

operation, which embarked from the east coast. Army units 

were transported and supported by more than 100 naval 

vessels. NOTE: Port Lyautey was renamed Kenitra in 1956, 

and Fedala was renamed Mohammedia in 1960.

the united states of america 

honors those elements of the united states 

western task force which successfully made 

opposed landings at mohammedia, safi and 

kenitra on 8-11 november 1942. their heroic 

sacrifices and achievements and their 

indomitable courage during this initial 

phase of united states combat operations 

contributed immeasurably to the success 

of allied endeavors which followed.

inscription

Western Naval 

Task Force Marker

For more information on this site and other ABMC 

commemorative sites, please visit: www.abmc.gov

American Battle Monuments Commission

This agency of the United States government operates 

and maintains 25 American cemeteries and 27 memorials, 

monuments and markers in 16 countries. The Commission 

works to fulfill the vision of its first chairman, General of 

the Armies John J. Pershing. Pershing, commander of the 

American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, promised 

that “time will not dim the glory of their deeds.”

Western Naval Task Force

GPS N33 34.727 W7 34.526

The Western Naval Task Force Marker is in the Ben M’Sik 

European Cemetery. From the A3 city bypass, take the 

Route des Ouled Ziane exit.

American Battle Monuments Commission

2300 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 500

Arlington, VA 22201 USA

Consulate General of the United States 

8, Bd Moulay Youssef

Casablanca Morocco

tel (212) 522-26-45-50

email daramerica@state.gov

MA

ER

CI AN BATTLE MONUMENTS COM

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SI S OI N

UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA
By mid-1942, German and Italian advances in Europe 

had slowed. The Allies were ready to push back. The time 

was too early for a Cross-Channel operation into France. 

Something else was needed.

July 25, 1942: U.S. and British leaders decided to strike 

in North Africa. Combined U.S. and British forces would 

conduct amphibious landings. The operation would 

harmonize with British offensives pushing the German 

Afrika Corps westward from Egypt. Lt. Gen. Dwight 

D. Eisenhower was to command Operation TORCH. 

July thru October: The Allied planners settled on an 

operation to strike simultaneously at three points in North 

Africa. The Eastern Task Force and the Center Task Force 

would deploy from Great Britain to Algeria. British and 

American units would be conveyed via British shipping. 

The Western Task Force would consist of U.S. Army units 

aboard U.S. Navy ships departing from the east coast. 

Rear Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt commanded the Western 

Naval Task Force. Major General George S. Patton, Jr. 

commanded the Western Army Task Force.

Army and Navy units trained intensively on amphibious 

techniques. The Western Task Force was organized into 

three operational components: the Northern Attack Group, 

Central Attack Group, and Southern Attack Group. Plans 

were developed for landings on the coast of French Morocco.

October 23 and 24: More than 100 ships began the transAtlantic crossing. Five submarines had departed earlier to 

reconnoiter the planned landing sites. Aircraft carriers provided 

air support for the crossing and the landings. Battleships, 

cruisers, and destroyers protected the transport ships. 

North Africa, 1942:

Striking Back

November 8: The three attack groups began landing troops 

and tanks before dawn on Sunday, November 8. The locations:

» Southern Attack Group at Safi

» Central Attack Group at Fedala (now Mohammedia) 

» Northern Attack Group at Mehedia/Port Lyautey 

(now Kenitra)

Vichy French forces resisted the landings. The Naval 

Battle of Casablanca developed as their ships, aircraft, 

and coastal artillery fought back. U.S. Navy warships, 

led by the battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-59) 

bombarded and diminished the opposition.

Fighting on land continued for three more days, as negotiations 

proceeded between the Allies and the Vichy government. 

November 11: Vichy French resistance in French Morocco 

ended. They became part of the Free French and joined 

Allied operations in North Africa. 

A Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat 

fighter taking off from 

USS Ranger (CV-4) to attack 

targets ashore during the 

invasion of French Morocco, 

November 8, 1942. 

Army Jeep rolling off 

a Navy landing craft 

at Fedala harbor during 

the amphibious operations 

of the U.S. Western Task Force 

on November 8, 1942.

U.S. Army soldiers aboard 

the transport USS Joseph 

T. Dickman (APA-13) receive 

ammunition in preparation 

for the landing before dawn 

on November 8, 1942. 

U.S. Navy landing craft 

of various types swarm 

about a mother ship off Safi, 

French Morocco, during 

American landing operations, 

November 8, 1942. 

Photo: National Archives Photo: Library of Congress

Photo: National Archives Photo: Library of Congress