Complex sentence: While ships of the western task force of Operation Torch silenced French shore batteries and naval resistance, troops of the western pincer were landed to trap the retreating Afrika Korps of General Erwin Rommel, the "Desert Fox".
Split into simpler sentences: While ships of the western task force of Operation Torch silenced French shore batteries and naval resistance, troops of the western pincer began pouring ashore. These troops were intended to trap the retreating Afrika Korps of General Erwin Rommel, the "Desert Fox".