Fantasque Time Line (France Fights On) - English Translation

[Wings]

September 2nd, 1940

Algeria, 13:15 GMT - The allied ships assigned to the fire support and remote escort forces of Marignan 1, 2 and 3, anchored until then at Oran and Mers-el-Kébir, set sail. Once they are gathered off Oran, they set course for Algiers.
The departure of the squadron does not escape the attention of the Italians. Patrolling off the port, the sub Maggiore Baracca (C.C. Enrico Bertarelli) is too far away to gain a position to attack. He is at least able to report the movement of "at least two battleships, six cruisers and numerous escort vessels" to Maricosom, which immediately passes on the information to Supermarina.
18:00 GMT - The troop transports and freighters of Marignan 2, 3 and 1515 coming from Ile-Rousse and Calvi reach the Ajaccio harbor under good escort.
23:15 GMT - Cruising at 20 knots, the Oran squadron arrives off Algiers. It is then joined by the cruisers and light units which are waiting in this port. On the other hand, the journey stops there for the four destroyers of the Le Hardi [1] class. These, following the decision taken the same morning by the Admiralty to save them, will return to Oran. They are replaced by the destroyers MN Brestois and Boulonnais and HMS Forester and Fury: these ships areto be part of the close escort of Marignan 1 and would themselves be replaced in this escort by the four torpedo boats recently engaged in Operation Ravenne.
Once reorganized, the imposing squadron (1 aircraft carrier, 3 battleships, 10 cruisers, 25 destroyers) continues at 18 knots towards the east, in the direction of Bône, where the convoy Marignan 1 is waiting.

[1] Le Hardi, Epée, Casque, Fleuret

 

[Wings]

September 2nd, 1940

La Spezia, 02:00 GMT - Another discreet departure in the night: this time, it is the submarine Ametista which sets sail, heading south, also with three strange cylinders on deck. Aboard, Commander Mario Giorgini, commander of the Ia MAS, directs the operation in person.
04:15 GMT - At dawn, 19 Douglas DB-7 of the GB II/61 (9) and II/32 (10) attack the port. The bombing lacks precision (many bombs fall in the water) and the damage is limited.. Nevertheless, the submarine Mocenigo is damaged, five of its crewmen are killed. Four attackers are damaged by the flak, but are able to return.

 

[Wings]

September 2nd, 1940

Oran, 06:30 GMT - The cruiser HMS Dragon, escorted by the destroyers Escapade and Greyhound, leaves Oran for Gibraltar, where she arrives at 18:30. She will leave a few days later to resume its patrols in the Atlantic.

 

[Wings]

September 2nd, 1940

Malta - The damaged HMS Gallant arrives in the morning. Judged repairable, the destroyer will enter the dockyard. But the work is very slow.
On the other hand, the HMS Inglefield, which arrives at the same time, is quickly repaired of the damage inflicted by the Lanterna battery.

 

[Wings]

September 2nd, 1940

Cyprus, 10:00 GMT - General Eugène Mittelhauser, who is to assume the command of the forces engaged in Operation Cordite aiming at Karpathos and Rhodes, arrives at Nicosia on board a Dewoitine D-338, accompanied by his chief of staff, General René de Larminat. Mittelhauser first meets General Jean-Henri Jauneaud, commander of the land-based air forces that were to participate in Cordite. He then goes to Limassol, to meet with the senior officers of the Polish Mountain Infantry Brigade, stationed on the island since the second week of July. This one must leave soon for Famagusta and embark for an "unknown destination", which most men and officers assume to be East Africa.
16:00 - The GB I/23 and II/23, each equipped with 13 LeO-451 medium bombers, land at Larnaca. Their arrival is a notable reinforcement for the light bomber and reconnaissance groups stationed in Cyprus since July or August (GB II/54 and GAO I/583) [1]. It is ostensibly announced that these aircraft are destined for Romania, in an order placed before the war. It is however very doubtful that the Italian espionage falls in this trap!
19:30 (17:30 GMT) - The destroyers MN Chevalier-Paul and Tartu, which had arrived six hours earlier from Alexandria, set sail from Limassol, each carrying half a company (about 100 men) of the IIIrd Battalion of the 24th Colonial Infantry Regiment (RIC) [2]. Once out of Akrotiri Bay, the two ships accelerate progressively to 24 knots and set course to the west then, having passed by a few nautical miles the meridian of the Cape Akamas, come to the northeast.

[1] The losses undergone on August 17th were compensated for the two groups, but the GB II/54 does not count any more but 12 machines because it lost on August 29 a Martin-167 by accident (engine failure). 12 machines because it lost a Martin-167 by accident on 29 August (engine failure during take-off).
[2] This battalion, sent from Lebanon on June 17th to reinforce the ground defence of Cyprus, had been distributed between Famagusta, Larnaca and Limassol. It had not joined the Cyrenaica campaign, but had been sent to the same location.

 

[Wings]

September 3rd, 1940

Paris - Werner Best, head of the wartime administration of the military commander in France, signs agreements with representatives of the GPEF that would allow the establishment of a "supervisory administration".
This administration is to facilitate the work of the three German occupation bodies. The military command in France, assured by General Otto von Stülpnagel (until February 1942), holds the real territorial power. In addition, the German embassy in Paris and the special Kommando of the Sipo-SD (safety and security police) are also involved.
The objective of these three overlapping bodies is to ensure military control of the territory, administrative surveillance of the French authorities and the exploitation of economic resources - to the benefit, of course, of Germany.
The "surveillance" administration, under the guise of preserving the prerogatives of the the French administration, is in fact intended to limit the workload of the occupiers. Therefore Werner Best leaves the responsibility for the fight against the Resistance to the French authorities. This policy lasted until May 14th, 1941.

 

[Wings]

Operation Marignan - Order of Battle

I) Allied forces
Contrary to the conquest of the Dodecanese, which is articulated in two successive phases (Cordite [conquest of Karpathos and Rhodes] then Accolade [conquest of the other islands]), the conquest of Sardinia, the Marignan operation, consists, according to many staff discussions, in the simultaneous execution of three sub-operations:
- Marignan 1: landing in the south of the island, in the region of Cagliari, to take control of the air bases of Decimomannu and Elmas, before attacking the capital from inland.
The project of a direct attack on Cagliari from the sea was studied and then rejected as it would be too costly. The failure of the direct action against Pantelleria underlined the wisdom of this decision; the assault on the port of Rhodes confirmed it.
- Marignan 2: landing in the center of the west coast, with the objective of taking Oristano and the airfield of Villacidro.
- Marignan 3: landing in the northwest of the island. This part of the operation took the longest to develop. The initial plan was for units leaving Corsica to seize Porto Torres by force, and then the airfield of Alghero-Fertilia and the town of Sassari.
After some thought, the plan chosen was twofold. Marignano3 itself will include a direct assault on Alghero, coupled with landings on the beach between Fertilia and the city and in the bay of Porto Conte, then targeting the airfield and Sassari. Launched a little earlier, a diversion called Marignan 1515 (or operation 1515) was launched shortly beforehand, and it was to pin part of the defenders on Porto Torres.
The French, who were in charge of Marignan, had to carefully divide the naval and land forces at their disposal into three main groups and into three main groups and a secondary group, adapted to each of the objectives.
First set for the morning of September 3rd, to take advantage of the darkness of the night following the new moon, the landings were postponed to the morning of September 4th, not so much to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Third Republic, but rather to be able to react to the results, good or bad, of the Operation Ravenne.

A) Naval forces
All the French naval forces in the western Mediterranean and in Morocco were not engaged in Marignan. It was deemed more prudent not to risk the major units, namely the battleship Richelieu, which completed its trials, and the battlecruisers Dunkerque and Strasbourg. As a result, the large destroyers of the 6th, 8th and 10th DCT, normally assigned to escort the two battlecruisers (when they were not acting as raiders), were also kept in reserve.
This is the case of the Volta, L'Indomptable, Le Malin, Le Triomphant (returned from Great Britain in the last week of August), Le Fantasque and Le Terrible. The other two are under repair, due to damage sustained during the August 20th battle with elements of convoy C14: the Mogador will be available on September 28th, the Audacieux on October 25th.
The light cruiser Primauguet and the destroyers Aigle [1], Epervier and Milan (11th DCT) were in Casablanca with the mission of hunting down the raiders. They were to be reinforced by the destroyers Albatros, Gerfaut, Vautour (7th DCT), as soon as the latter were no longer useful in thebMediterranean.
Based in Casablanca or Dakar, according to the missions, the colonial avisos La Grandière and Savorgnan de Brazza constituted the core of the long-range component of the "Patrols of the Ocean".
They are completed by modern minesweepers (Chevreuil, Gazelle) and old avisos (such as the Somme and Luronne) [2].
The large units that had just been engaged in the unfortunate operation Ravenne (CA Foch and CL Emile-Bertin) did not participate in Marignan either (the Emile-Bertin had been reluctantly engaged). As a result, it proved necessary to briefly risk the cruiser-school Jeanne d'Arc, which was already scheduled to be sent to the Pacific.
Finally, the five modern submarine hunters available in the Mediterranean are assigned to the defence of the approaches to ports: the CH-3 and CH-4 at Ajaccio, the CH-1 and CH-2 in Algiers, the CH-25 at Bône.
On the other hand, the Royal Navy agreed to provide assistance, notably by sending Force H (minus the battlecruiser HMS Renown, which remained in Gibraltar), which participated in Marignan 1.
As for the cargo ships, it was decided, in order to save the tonnage involved, that, except for the same ships would carry the first wave of landings and then the reinforcements.
As for the convoys, following the example of the large military units, the choice was made to leave aside the largest large liners (such as the De Grasse), reserved for trans-oceanic links.

- Marignan 1
Part of the operation most exposed to the reactions of the Regia Aeronautica, Marignan 1 benefits from the assistance of the AA cruiser HMS Carlisle and the DDAA HMS Wryneck [3] , as well as the protection provided by the Skua of the Ark Royal, whose Swordfish provide an appreciable ASW cover.

Fire support and remote escort force (Vice-Admiral Emile Duplat, flag on the Bretagne)
CV HMS Ark Royal (Sqn 800 and 803 : 24 Skua II, Sqn 810 and 820 : 26 Swordfish)
BB MN Bretagne
CA MN Algérie, HMAS Australia
CL MN Jean-de-Vienne, HMS Sheffield
CLAA HMS Carlisle
DD MN Lynx, Panthère, Tigre (4th DCT), Brestois, Boulonnais (5th TD); HMS Faulknor, Foresight, Forester, Fury

Close escort and sweeping force [4]
DD HMS Firedrake
DDAA HMS Wryneck
DD MN L'Alcyon (8th TD) [5]
TB Bombarde, L'Iphigénie [6], La Pomone (12th TD)
PMS (modern minesweepers) MN L'Impétueuse, La Batailleuse, La Capricieuse
Old PMS (aviso-minesweeper) Ypres
PC (ASM trawlers) L'Ajaccienne, La Sétoise
AMA (auxiliary minesweepers) Bienvenu, Fezzara II, Goëland X, Madone-de-Pompéi, Tess II (trawlers), Pigeon, Saint-Charles (tugs)

Convoy
AMC (or CX, auxiliary cruiser) Colombie (X10), with General Béthouart and his staff
Cruise ships Chantilly, Compiègne, Cuba, Mariette Pacha, Mexique, Savoie
Cargo ships Dupleix, Ile d'Aix, Pierre L.D., Prosper Schiaffino, Sainte-Jacqueline (ex Italian Fortunata)
Hospital ship Canada (X45) [7]

– Marignan 2
Fire support and remote escort force (Rear Admiral Marquis, flag on the Lorraine)
BB MN Lorraine
CA MN Colbert
CL MN Marseillaise, HMS Delhi
DD MN Albatros, Gerfaut, Vautour (7th DCT) [8], Mistral, Ouragan (6th TD) [9], Cassard, Vauquelin (9th DCT), HMS Encounter, Fortune

Close escort and minesweeping force
TB MN Branlebas, L'Incomprise (11th TD) [10]
Modern PMS (minesweepers) MN Commandant-Duboc, Commandant-Dominé
PMS (aviso-minesweeper) old Engageante
AMA (auxiliary minesweepers) Alcyon, Angèle-Perez, Cap-Noir, Givenchy, Ile de Rachgoun, Lion II, Raie, Saint-Augustin (trawlers)

Convoy
AMC (or CX, auxiliary cruiser) Koutoubia (X4)
Ships Chenonceaux, Massilia, Sagittaire
Cargo ships Belain d'Esnambuc, Congo, Djebel Aurès, Mayenne, Sidi-Brahim

- Marignan 3
Fire support and remote escort force (Rear Admiral Bouxin, flag on the Provence)
BB MN Provence
CA MN Dupleix
CL MN La Galissonnière
DD MN Léopard [11], Lion, Vauban (1st DCT), Guépard, Valmy, Verdun (3rd DCT)

Close escort and minesweeping force
TB MN La Flore, La Melpomène (14th TD) [12]
Modern PMS (minesweepers) MN La Boudeuse, La Moqueuse
Old PMS (minesweepers) MN Dédaigneuse, Tapageuse
PC (ASM trawlers) La Bônoise, La Toulonnaise
Auxiliary patrol boat Casoar (P10)
AMA (auxiliary minesweepers) Banche II, Capitaine Teissier, Gracieuse II, Roche Bleue, Roche Françoise, Saint-Joseph (trawlers)

Convoy
Liners Côte d'Argent, Marrakech, Meknes, Sidi-Bel-Abbès
Belgian liner Prince Philippe
Cargo ships Djebel Dira, Djebel Nador, Malgache
Hospital ship Asie [13]

– Marignan “1515”
Fire Support Force (CV Rouyer, commander of the Jeanne d'Arc)
CL MN Jeanne d'Arc
DD MN Fougueux, Frondeur (2nd TD),
TB MN Baliste, La Bayonnaise, La Poursuivante (13th TD)

Close escort and minesweeping force
Auxiliary patrol boat Sampiero Corso (P8)
PMS (minesweeping vessel) MN La Gracieuse
PC (ASM trawlers) La Havraise, La Sablaise, La Servannaise
AM (minesweepers) Granit, Meulière
AMA (auxiliary minesweepers) Courlis, Jean d'Agrève, Marsouin II (trawlers)

Convoy
Auxiliary patrol boats Cyrnos (P2), Pascal Paoli (P7), Sidi Okba (P3), Ville d'Ajaccio (P4)
Cargo ships Catherine Schiaffino, Spahi [14]

B) Air forces
Marignan operations have air support from nearly 450 aircraft.
1. ZOA-Co (Corsica and Sardinia)
Total: 179 aircraft.
- Fighters
Curtiss H-75
GC I/5: 25 (22) aircraft (one squadron on H-751) at Calvi
GC II/4: 24 (21) planes at Calvi
GC I/9: 26 (24) at Ajaccio Campo dell'Oro and Ghisonnacia (squadron on H-751)
MS-406
GC III/1 : 23 (19) planes at Ajaccio Campo-dell'Oro
Potez 631
ELCN-Corse : 8 (7) planes in Ajaccio and Calvi
- Bombers
Douglas DB-7
GB II/61 : 11 (9) planes in Ajaccio Campo dell'Oro
GB II/32 : 13 (11) planes in Ajaccio Campo dell'Oro
Martin 167F
GB I/32 : 13 (11) planes in Calvi
- Reconnaissance and light attack
GR I/22 : 13 (9) Potez 63.11 at Ghisonaccia
GR I/61 : 12 (10) Glenn-Martin 167F at Calvi
Corsican Observation Group (ex GAO 550) at Ghisonaccia : 11 (9) Potez 63.11

2. ZOA-ANO (including Malta)
Total: 236 aircraft (including the 22 fighters of the Aéronavale, but without the =bombers reserved for anti-ship operations). In brackets, the number of operational personnel. Not included are units reserved to support the ongoing offensive in Libya, notably the 27 (24) Martin 167F of GB I/62 and II/62, which left Sidi-Ahmed to reach the ex-Italian ground of Castel Benito (in order to reach Benghazi).
- Fighters
Curtiss H-75
GC III/2 : 20 (16) aircraft (unit deployed in Malta)
MS-406
GC III/4: 18 (15) aircraft
GC III/5 : 21 (18) planes
GC III/8 : 20 (17) planes
GC II/16 : 18 (13) planes
Potez 631
ELCN-Tunis: 11 (8) planes
AC2 : 9 (7) planes (unit of the Aéronavale deployed in Malta)
Dewoitine 520
AC1 : 13 (11) planes (Aéronavale unit deployed in Malta)
- Bombers
LeO-451
GB I/11 : 12 (9) planes in Blida
GB II/11 : 13 (12) planes in Blida
GB I/31 : 13 (11) planes at Sidi-Ahmed
Douglas DB-7
GB I/19 : 13 (11) planes at El Batha
GB II/19 : 14 (12) planes at El Batha
Martin 167F
GB I/63 : 13 (11) planes at Malta
GB II/63 : 14 (11) planes in Malta
- Reconnaissance, observation and light attack
GR II/36 : 14 (11) Potez 63.11 at Youks-les-Bains, planned to be transferred to Sardinia as soon as an airfield has been conquered and is usable.

3. ZOA-Algeria
Total : 33 aircraft.
- Fighters
None (all retained by the defense of Algiers and Oran/Mers-el-Kébir)
- Bombers
LeO-451
GB II/25 : 12 (10) planes
- Reconnaissance
Alias Group (Cdt Alias), under the direct control of General Noguès
GR I/33 : 9 (7) MB-174 and 2 Amiot-351GR
GR II/33 : 12 (11) MB-174
ESRR (special rapid reconnaissance squadron) : 4 Arsenal VG-33 converted.

C) Land forces
Marignan expeditionary corps (General Béthouart) [15]
This corps was to be made up of troops repatriated from Norway. Unfortunately, the 2nd Division Légère d'Infanterie and the 3rd Light Division of Chasseurs had already been sent back to France and sacrificed while trying to stop the German offensive. It was therefore necessary to call upon other units.

Marignan 1
The forces selected for this operation were assembled in Algeria. To them were added the organic elements of the Corps.

- Organic elements of the Corps
Staff
Independent group of the 104th RAL (8 x 105 mm/mle 36, 4 x 155 mm GPF towed) [16]
342nd Autonomous Combat Tank Company (ACCC) with 15 H-39 tanks with 37 mm long guns [17]
Automobile transport group (2 automobile companies, one heavy transport company)
Flak: a 2 x 20 mm Œrlikon section is attached to the corps HQ
Services: one engineer battalion, one mixed signals company, medical service, quartermaster's office.

- 1st Light Division of Chasseurs (General Lhuillier) [18]
24th Demi-Brigade de Chasseurs Alpins (6th, 12th and 14th battalions)
13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion with 3 battalions [19]
2nd Autonomous Group of the 10th RACTTT (12x 75 mm towed)
Flak: the 24th DBCA and 13th DBLE are equipped with 4 x 20 mm Œrlikon AA each
Services: a company of engineers, a mixed company of signals

- 3rd Polish Light Infantry Division [20] (General Bohusz-Szyszko)
7th RIP (3 battalions)
8th RIP (3 battalions)
1st Polish Mobile Artillery Group (12 x 75 mm towed)
3rd Polish GRDI (one motorized squadron with two 37 mm sections)
Flak: the 7th and 8th RIPs are equipped with 4 x 20 mm Œrlikon AA each and the 3rd Polish GRDI with a 2 x 20 mm Œrlikon AA section.
section of 2 x 20 mm Œrlikon AA
Services: a company of engineers, a mixed signalling company

Marignan 2
The forces of Marignan 2, Marignan 3 and Marignan 1515 were, quite logically, formed from troops stationed in Corsica, either because they had been there for a long time, or because they had been withdrawn there as part of the Grand Déménagement.

- 9th Light Division of Colonial Infantry [21] (General Pellet)
20th Colonial Infantry Regiment (RIC, 3 battalions)
4th Regiment of Senegalese Riflemen (RTS, 3 battalions)
Autonomous mobile artillery group 314 (12 x 75 mm towed)
4th GRDI (Cdt du Moustier) [22]
Flak: the 20th RIC and 4th RTS were each equipped with 4 x 20 mm Œrlikon AA and the 4th GRDI with a section of 2 x 20 mm Œrlikon AA.
of 2 x 20 mm Œrlikon AA
Services: a company of engineers, a mixed signals company
- 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (REC) - 2 motorized squadrons.

Marignan 3
C Group (General Cartier) [23]
373rd DBIA (three battalions, IV, V and VII)
Colonial Infantry Regiment of Morocco (RICM - two battalions, IV and V)
IV/28th RTT (motorized)
I/92nd RAM (two batteries of 4 x 75 mm mountain, one of 4 x 65 mm mountain)
2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (REC - 2 mounted squadrons, 2 motorized squadrons)
III/2nd Colonial Artillery Regiment (RAC)
Flak: the detachment of the 373rd DBIA and the RICM are equipped with 4 x 20 mm Œrlikon AA each

Marignan "1515"
373rd DBIA (three battalions, VI, VIII and IX)
II/92nd RAM (two batteries of 4 x 75 mm mountain, one of 4 x 65 mm mountain)

Operational reserves
They are all in Algeria.
- Marine brigade (Rear Admiral Ronarc'h) [24]
1st Marine Regiment (three battalions) [25]
1st Marine Gunnery Group (8 x 155 mm GPF towed)
Marine Mobile Flak Group (four 90 mm AA batteries)
- 13th Battalion of Alpine Chasseurs [26] (including 6th Anti-tank Company, 25 mm army)
- 3rd Regiment of Senegalese Tirailleurs [27]
- Airborne Group: two Air Infantry Groups based in Algiers Maison-Blanche (601st and 602nd GIA) with their
602nd GIA) with their transports, Bloch 200s and 210s of the new 64th Transport Wing (ET) [28].

II) Italian Forces
A) Naval forces
Maritime Military Command "Sardinia", in Olbia (replacing La Maddalena since the beginning of July) - Vice-Admiral Ettore Sportiello.

Surface ships
Since July 27th, only the following ships are still in Sardinian waters:
2nd MAS squadron (replaced the 4th squadron after August 5): MAS-424, MAS-509, MAS-543 and MAS-544.
ACM Attilio Deffenu (damaged on July 4th and immobilized in Cagliari).

Submarines
The submarines of the VII Group and the 15th Squadron coming from the I Group (La Spezia) no longer operate from Cagliari, but from Naples since the end of June. There are still 9 units in total:
71st Squadron: Adua, Alagi, Aradam, Axum
72nd Squadron: Corallo (on its way from Monfalcone to Naples, where it will arrive on September 3), Diaspro, Turchese
15th Squadron: Ascianghi, Gondar
Note - The Italians were able to engage in the defense of Sardinia both the other submarines originally based in Naples, as well as those from other bases, primarily La Spezia.

Coastal batteries
The Regia Marina arms, directly or not, a significant number of coastal batteries. Their greatest concentration is in and around the naval base of La Maddalena and in Cagliari and its surroundings. The latter were entrusted to the men of the 4th Legion of the MILMART (Milizia Marittima di Artiglieria). As for the other batteries, their service seems to be shared between men of the Regia Marina itself and the militiamen of the 3rd Legion of MILMART, whose headquarters is in La Maddalena.
Details of the batteries (turning around Sardinia from the north-east, clockwise)
- Archipelago of La Maddalena and Santa Teresa di Gallura
18 batteries of various calibers. In decreasing order of calibers:
- Pes de Villamarina (Guardia del Turco, La Maddalena) and Caroli (Punta Falcone, Santa Teresa),
each with 4 howitzers of 305/17 mm, with a range of about 17,000 m.
- Rubin de Cervin (island of Spargi), 4 pieces of 203/45 mm.
- 5 batteries of 152/50 mm guns with a range of about 18,000 m.
- 5 batteries of 120/45 mm guns with a range of about 12,000 m.
- 5 batteries of 76/40 mm guns with a range of 6,000 m.

- Cagliari and surroundings
- 3 batteries of 4 guns of 152/50 mm (Corrado Boggio in Capo Pula, Roberto Prunas in Capo Sant'Elia and Carlo Faldi at Torre Mortorio, Quartu Santa Elena).
- 4 batteries of 102/35 mm anti-ship and anti-aircraft guns (Sant'Elia, Monte Urpinu, Tuvixeddu, Nuraghe Capitana).

- Sant'Antioco Island complex
- Sant'Antioco Island: batteries A. Sogliuzzo batteries of 4 guns of 120/45 mm (on Capo Sperone) and SR 311 of 4 guns of 102/35 mm anti-ship and anti-aircraft (Mangiabarche).
- San Pietro Island: Zonza battery with 4 guns of 120/45 mm (at Carloforte).
- Porto Pino, Punta Menga: Ammiraglio Candiani battery with 4 120/45 mm guns.
- Capo Altano, north of Portoscuso: SR 310 battery with 4 102/35 mm guns.

- Arbus, Capo Frasca:
- Canevaro battery, 120/45 mm guns.

- Alghero, Punta Giglio:
- SR 413 battery, 102/35 mm guns.

- Porto Torres:
- 1 battery of 76/40 mm guns.

Mines
Even before the outbreak of war, between June 6th and 10th, 1940, the Regia Marina placed in various points of the Sardinian coast (except on the eastern coast between Olbia and Cape Carbonara) no less than 17 defensive anti-ship minefields (AN), for a total of 1276 devices, as well as 12 anti-submarine fields (920 AS mines). Operation Marignan 1 will have to count with the four of the Gulf of Cagliari with 336 devices (on July 4th, the French battleships that came to bomb the port were lucky: they moved between two of these minefields, without penetrating them). Marignan 2 had to deal with the two AN fields (160 mines) of the Gulf of Oristano, Marignan 1515 with the three AN (180 mines) in the Gulf of Asinara. Only the Marignan 3 operation found open waters (which the French were unaware of: they had therefore planned solid means of minesweeping).

B) Air Force
Aeronautics of Sardinia, Cagliari - Air Division General Ottorino Vespignani.

- Fighters: none

- Bombardment: 21 aircraft
8th Ground Bombardment Regiment (Villacidro): 14 aircraft
27th BT Group, 7 SM-79 (Villacidro)
28th BT Group, 7 SM-79 (Decimomannu)
31st Maritime Bombardment Regiment (93rd BM Group), 6 Cant Z-506 (Cagliari-Elmas)

- Reconnaissance (and anti-submarine warfare): 13 aircraft
85th MR Group, 8 Cant Z.501 (146th Squadron at Elmas with 5 aircraft; 188th at Olbia with 3 aaircraft; the 183rd personnel were sent back to Italy)
199th RM Squadron, 2 Cant Z.506 (Santa Giusta)
124th Reconnaissance Squadron, 3 Ro.37 (Cagliari-Elmas)

Notes - Hard hit by the Air Force in June and July, the Sardinian Aeronautics suffered some more losses in August, especially in seaplanes, which remained active for the reconnaissance and less easy to hide than the land planes. It had 33 aircraft left, against 43 on July 31st.
The possibilities of action of the Regia Aeronautica were not limited to the meager forces available on the island. Sardinia was within reach of the Ju 87B Picchiatelli of Major Ercolano Ercolani, provided that these aircraft could use the most western Sicilian terrain.
Nevertheless, after the battle of Pantelleria, there are only 15 of them left, of which 11 are operational. The whole zone is within the range of the multi-engine bombers, now grouped together on the mainland (SM.79, Fiat BR.20) and in particular the "Four Cats", the SM.79 torpedo boats of the 278th squadron. On the other hand, it was difficult to provide escort for these aircraft. Only the attacks directed against the enemy forces acting against Porto Torres could benefit from a fighter cover (based in Tuscany), and even then the Fiat G.50 or CR.42 will not be able to consider fighting for more than a few minutes...

C) Ground forces
The defense of the island was based, on the one hand, on the static forces of the XIII Territorial Corps, intended to on the one hand, and on the other hand the so-called mobile (but not motorized!) forces of the XIIIth Corps, which had to go to the threatened points and counter-attack to drive the invader back to the sea.

XIII Territorial Corps
Nine coastal defense battalions.
- North-north-east of the island
4th Coastal Brigade with two battalions: defense of the Gallura coasts, from Punta di li Francesi [29] (included) to Capo (or Punta) Coda Cavallo [30] (included), including the Maddalena archipelago. Total front: 140 km.
HQ: Tempio Pausania (about 40 km inland).
- North-northwest of the island
14th Coastal Brigade with two battalions: defense of the coast from Punta di li Francesi (excluded) to Torre Foghe [31] (excluded). HQ: Sassari.
- West and far south
15th Coastal Brigade with two battalions: defense of the coast from Torre Foghe (included) to Capo Pula [32] (excluded). Very long sector including Oristano. HQ: Carbonia.
- Southeast
13th Coastal Brigade with two battalions: coastal defense from Capo Pula (included) to Torre Murtas [33] (included), thus including the Cagliari sector.
- East
19th Coastal Regiment with one battalion: defense of the coast from Torre Murtas to Capo Coda Cavallo (excluded).

XIII Army Corps - General Augusto De Pignier
1) North of the island: 31st Calabrian Infantry Division (General Carlo Petra de Caccuri), HQ in Sassari.
- Sassari: 60th Infantry Regiment; 177th Black Shirt Legion Logudoro; 40th Artillery Regiment Caprera
- Tempio Pausania: 59th Infantry Regiment.
In an attempt to anticipate some of the possible threats, General Petra de Caccuri had one of the battalions of the 59th Infantry Regiment forward to Luogosanto, closer to the 4th Coastal Brigade, and placed one of the battalions of the 60th in Olmedo, between Sassari and Alghero. After the
troops in Sardinia were put on heightened alert, he pushed the other two battalions of the 59th RI to Sorso, and sent a second battalion of the 60th to Olmedo. The 40th Artillery Regiment was cut into three: one third went to Sorso, another third to Olmedo, and the last third remained in Sassari with a battalion of the 60th RI and the Black Shirts.
2) South of the island: 30th Sabauda Infantry Division (General Ubaldo Scanagatta), HQ in Iglesias
45th and 46th RI; 176th CCNN Cacciatori di Sardegna Legion; 16th Artillery Rgt.
These troops were originally stationed mainly in Iglesias and in the neighboring localities. Like his colleague, General Scanagatta tried to anticipate the most likely threats: the 45th Infantry Regiment deployed one of its battalions in Guspini, in the direction of Oristano; the 46th Infantry Regiment sent two battalions in the hinterland of Cagliari, one at Decimomannu and the other at Dolianova.
On September 1st, Scanagatta moved the battalion of the 45th Infantry Regiment closer to Oristano, by moving it from from Guspini to Marrubiu, while moving another battalion to this last locality, accompanied by a third of the 16th Artillery Regiment. He also moved to Sestu the battalion of the 46th RI that was in Decimomannu, this town receiving in exchange the last battalion of the 46th RI and two thirds of the 16th RA.
The rest of his division (a battalion of the 45th RI and the Black Shirts) was installed in Samassi, so as to be able to react both to the northwest (Oristano) and to the southeast (Cagliari).
Note - Reinforced since June 10th, 1940, thanks to local recruitment, the two infantry divisions are almost at full strength, with 13,000 men each (11,500 from the Regio Esercito and 1,500 from the Black Shirts). But the level of training of the most recent recruits (who make up 40% of the regiments) is not very advanced.

[1] The Aigle was added to its twins of the 11th DCT, which had only two ships.
[2] They will be reinforced by the aviso Annamite once the damage it suffered during the Grand Déménagement will be repaired, and after the Operation Cordite by the aviso Rigault-de-Genouilly.
[3] The English agreed to add the Wryneck, freed by the semi-failure of Ravenne, to the defense of the convoy.
[4] If it was planned that the avisos-minesweepers would join the forces of Marignan 1 as soon as their role in Ravenne over, the French Navy took advantage of the partial failure of this operation to recover a destroyer and three "600 tons". This allowed it to withdraw in extremis from Marignan 1 the four new tdestroyers of the Le Hardi class (Le Hardi, Epée, Casque, Fleuret) that it had initially agreed to risk.
[5] Of the other two units of the division, the Trombe was damaged during the Operation Ravenne and the Bordelais was assigned to guard the conquered islands along with the destroyer ORP Garland.
[6] L'Iphigénie remained on the line despite the decommissioning of one of her 100 mm guns on 31 August.
[7] It was in this sector that the heaviest losses were expected.
[8] The entire division was to join the Atlantic as soon as the operation was over.
[9] Survivor of the 4th TD, the Ouragan was reunited with the Mistral, survivor of the 6th TD of which it was the flotilla leader.
[10] The third unit of the division, La Cordelière, was unavailable due to damage received during the Grand Déménagement.
[11] A survivor of the 2nd DCT, the Léopard, on its return from England, was added to the 1st DCT, which had only two ships after the departure of the Aigle for the Atlantic.
[12] The third unit of the division, the Bouclier was sunk during the Grand Déménagement.
[13] Asie was originally scheduled to participate in the northern landing of Marignan. This part of the operation having been split in two, the ship remained attached to the more northern operation. However, it is planned that, depending on the turn of the battle, it could intervene in favor of Marignan 2.
[14] Requisitioned as a minesweeper, this small cargo ship (1,058 GRT) momentarily found its first job.
[15] General Béthouart commanded the 1st Light Division of Chasseurs in Norway, then distinguished himself in Brittany, organizing a defense group that delayed the Germans in their march on Brest. Promoted, this time he was placed at the head of the expeditionary force.
[16] Under the orders of the hero of Voreppe, Captain Azaïs de Vergeron. Who "hijacked" the equipment destined for a Romanian order.
[17] The three tanks lost in Norway were replaced by three vehicles of the IV/1st RCA stationed in Morocco.
[18] Colonel Lhuillier effectively commanded the 27th DIAlp from June 14th to the end of the fighting in France. He was appointed general on July 14th.
[19] This half-brigade, organized on the Montagne type, could be reinforced by 2 to 3 battalions with the V/1st REI stationed in Algeria. It was commanded by Colonel Magrin-Vernerey.
[20] The 3rd DIP was supposed to be ready in January 1940, but its formation had been delayed by the dispatch to Norway of the Podolia (Podhale) brigade to Norway, which was taken from its strength. The brigade finally ended up in Algeria. The remains of the other units of the 3rd DIP (which had been severely tested by the fighting at St-Aubin du Cormier, in Brittany, against the 5th PzD) were merged with the Podhale brigade in July to form the 3rd DLIP.
[21] This division was first constituted in mid-June, but due to lack of time its units were dissociated and attached to other IDs. Then, when the 2nd and 8th DIC were taken from the Alpine front and transformed into a DLI, some of the units comprising them were used to form a new division.
[22] Du Moustier commanded a squadron of the 4th GRDI in May in northern France. He managed to break through the encirclement and embarked at Dunkirk. Repatriated to Normandy, he continued to fight, retreating as far as Toulouse before being evacuated by plane. In Algiers, learning that he owed this evacuation to the fact that he was a deputy (of the Doubs), he demanded to continue fighting and took back his place at the front of the army.
[23] General Georges Cartier, "the most Swiss of the French generals", was born in Geneva of a Savoyard father and a Swiss mother. He joined the French army after his studies in Zurich and Chambéry. He is a specialist in mountain troops who also has experience in the colonials. In June, he commanded the Savoie-Dauphiné defence corps with which he held in check the Hoepner army corps, which was trying to overrun the Army of the Alps.
[24] Rear Admiral Ronarc'h (nephew of the famous admiral of the Great War), after having saved the battleship Jean-Bart from capture, which he commanded, set up in Morocco his brigade of fusiliers-marins while the great ship prepared to leave for a shipyard in the United States.
[25] Under the command of C.F. d'Argenlieu.
[26] Reconstituted in Morocco from the 240 men of its 31st Company of Skier Scouts and the survivors of the battalion from England.
[27] The 2nd and 4th Foreign Infantry Regiments (REI), which had been severely tested in Operation Ravenne, were resting in Tunisia, with the exception of the II/4th REI, which occupied the Pelagie Islands. Having suffered few losses, the 3rd RTS was reassigned as one of the operational reserves of Marignan, with the exception of one battalion, sent to Morocco to reinforce the troops guarding the Spanish.
[28] Listed in the Ravenne order of battle but not engaged, the two GIAs were returned to the reserves of Marignan with the transport planes that were attached to them even before the French campaign.
[29] To the southwest of the coastal town of Santa Teresa di Gallura and to the north of the inland town of Tempio Pausania.
[30] Cape of the east coast, southeast of Olbia.
[31] South of Bosa.
[32] To the southwest of Cagliari.
[33] South of Arbatax.

 

[Wings]

September 3rd, 1940

07:00 GMT - Three innocent trawlers leave the port of Bône to, according to all appearances, go fishing on the high seas. They are in fact the auxiliary dredgers Fezzara II, Goëland X and Madone-de-Pompéi which meet at the entrance of the Gulf of Cagliari, a little before 01:00 GMT on the 4th, with the five dredgers assigned to Marignan 1 in order to undertake the sweeping of the landing zone. It is not considered prudent to send all the auxiliary minesweepers: the others will sail with the slowest of the transports.
8:00 GMT - For the sake of discretion, all the minesweeping means assigned to Marignan 2, 3 and 1515, except for the modern dredgers called to escort the convoys, have been gathered in the small port of Propriano and at the edge of the Gulf of Valinco. Although the distance to cover to Oristano is only a little less than 130 nautical miles, the ancient dredger MN Engageante and the eight auxiliary minesweepers of Marignan 2, whose group speed is limited to 9 knots, set off to reach the site around 01:00 GMT the next day (including a safety detour).
11:39 GMT - A Skua patrol from Ark Royal intercepts and shot down, 40 nautical miles to the northeast of the Allied squadron, a Cant Z.501 of the 148th Strategic Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron from Vigna di Valle. The latter had time to report by radio that it was under attack by British fighters - the Italian staff can suspect, but was not sure, that they were embarked planes.
12:00 GMT - Having arrived at the height of Bône, the Allied ships change their course towards east-north-east as if they were heading towards the west of Sicily and increase their speed to 20 knots. They were then spotted by the submarine Leonardo Da Vinci (C.C. Ferdinando Calda), which cannot do more, in turn, than inform Maricosom.
Informed by Supermarina, Marshal Badoglio immediately warns the armed forces of Sicily and the garrison of Pantelleria to prepare for an imminent attack. He also warns, with less conviction, Sardinia. In any case, in the island, the persons in charge consider that they have already done all they could in the previous days.
12:30 GMT - Two SM.79 sent on reconnaissance manage to fly over Bougie, to escape the French chase and bring back photos showing that the transports anchored in this port did not move. Nevertheless, the examination of the second set of photographs, around 17:30 (15:30 GMT), will lead to the suspicion that the ships are ready to leave.
13:15 to 14:10 GMT - Other aircraft verify that the allied warships continue to progress towards Sicily. The Skua of the Ark Royal shoot down one of them, a Cant Z.501 of the 144th RM Squadron (from Trapani-Stagnone).
In Rome, a lively discussion began among the highest Italian military officials: should they attack the enemy ships as soon as they could launch raids against them, escorted by the fighters or would it be better to wait until they were closer to their objective? General Pricolo, Chief of Staff of the Regia Aeronautica, pleads for them to wait: the recent success at Pantelleria is costly in terms of machines and men, but fighting over or near friendly lands has nevertheless allowed the return of damaged aircraft and the recovery of some of the crews of the shot down planes. His opinion prevails, probably rightly so, since all the French fighters of Tunisia are waiting for the opportunity to fight...
16:00 GMT - Departure from Bône of the five avisos-minesweepers. They have to join the three slow auxiliary minesweepers which have been under way since the morning and, under the cover of night, check the absence of mines or, more probably, to start sweeping them in the chosen zone for the landing.
At the same time, the two old minesweepers MN Dédaigneuse and Tapageuse and the six auxiliary dredgers of Marignan 3, accompanied by the two ASM trawlers MN La Bônoise and La Toulonnaise, leave Propriano. They have to operate in front of Alghero under the cover of night on September 4th from 01:00 to 04:00 GMT and then withdraw out of sight to await the arrival of the fire support force and the convoy.
16:15 GMT - The five minesweepers and auxiliary minesweepers assigned to Marignan 1515 to leave their mooring in Propriano. They too are due to start work on September 4th around 01:00 GMT.
17:15 GMT - The convoy of Marignan 2 and its close escort, the three "600 tons" of the 11th Torpedo Boat Division and the dredgers MN Commandant-Duboc and Commandant-Dominé, left the Gulf of Ajaccio and, having adjusted their speed to 12 knots set course for the Gulf of Oristano.
Sailing at periscope depth, the submarine Turchese (L.V. Gustavo Miniero) has just enough time to spot the convoy before having to think about its salvation: spotted by a seaplane on patrol, it is chased by a seaplane on patrol, it is chased by the local ASM forces, especially the CH-3 and CH-4. He has to wait until nightfall to report to Maricosom the departure from Ajaccio, heading southwest, of a convoy of at least six cargo ships escorted by four or five small torpedo boats and gunboats. However, in the absence of large ships, Maricosom and Supermarina will judge that it is an ordinary Corsica-Algeria convoy.
17:30 GMT - The Marignan 1 convoy takes off, soon splitting in two. The fastest ships (the auxiliary cruiser Colombia, the liners Cuba, Mariette Pacha, Mexique and Savoie, as well as the cargo ship Dupleix and the hospital ship Canada [1]) set sail, at 14 knots, on the Gulf of Cagliari, escorted by the destroyer HMS Wryneck and the torpedo boats MN Bombarde, L'Iphigénie and La Pomone. The liners Chantilly and Compiègne as well as the four remaining freighters form a slow convoy (10 knots) accompanied by the destroyer
HMS Firedrake, the MN destroyer L'Alcyon, the ASM trawlers MN L'Ajaccienne and La Sétoise as well as the minesweepers Bienvenu, Tess II, Pigeon and Saint-Charles.
18:00 GMT - Arriving northeast of Bizerte, the Franco-British squadron splits in two.
While the fire support force of Marignan 1 continues to pretend to head towards Sicily, those of Marignan 2 and 3 set a course to the north-west, adjusting their speed (taking into account periods of zigzagging) in order to be respectively in front of Oristano before 05:00 GMT and Alghero before 08:00 GMT.
19:30 GMT - The fire support force of Marignan 1 changes course, putting the bow towards the Gulf of Cagliari, where it should be around 05:00 GMT the next day.
21:00 GMT - Departure from Ajaccio of the slowest ships of Marignan 1515 (the cargo ships Catherine Schiaffino and Spahi, escorted by the ASM MN trawlers La Havraise, La Sablaise and La Servannaise): not having to participate in the initial action, they should arrive the next day around 04:30 GMT in front of Porto Torres.
22:30 GMT, Ajaccio - Departure of the main part of Marignan 1515 (the four auxiliary patrol boats with troops and their escort), which is sailing at 13 knots towards Porto Torres, in front of which it should be the next day at 04:00 GMT.

[1] Which, being still empty of any wounded, and will thus navigate lights off.

 

[Wings]

September 3rd, 1940

Castellorizo (Castelrosso) - From the beginning of the hostilities, the Italians installed on this island, 125 km east of Rhodes and the smallest of the Dodecanese (9.2 km2), a lookout post and a radio station entrusted to fifteen soldiers of the Regina Division under the command of Captain Augusto Rossi. The task of these men was to monitor enemy naval and air movements that could target Rhodes and the other Italian islands. As a matter of fact, the observatory proved to be very useful on August 17th, when it spotted the Franco-British raid on convoy C-14. The Allies, who were aware of its existence, decided, as a part of Operation Cordite, to "gouge out this indiscreet eye". The French, who had occupied the island during the First World War and a little beyond (from 1915 to 1921), volunteered and set up within the framework of Cordite a small operation logically named "Retrouvailles". Its first phase consisted of a few aerial reconnaissances completed by a two-day patrol around the island by the submarine MN Protée. This has above all the merit to demonstrate, to the retrospective relief of the sailors of the Protée, the absence of mines in the wide bay where the chief town and only port of Castellorizo, Meghisti, is located.
03:30 (01:30 GMT) - The Chevalier-Paul and Tartu, which has left Limassol eight hours earlier, disembarks on the island of Castellorizo the men of the 24th RIC: the Chevalier-Paul drops off its passengers partly in the bay of Diacouris, partly on the right side of the port of Meghisti (seen from the sea), the Tartu puts down all its passengers on the left side of the harbor. The latter seize the Delegate's Palace, the key points of the town and the cemetery, almost without a blow.
Almost, because the Italian carabinieri save their honor by putting up a resistance: in the scuffle, one carabiniere is killed and three are wounded, as well as two French soldiers. A part of the men then leaves to ensure the possession of the highest point of the island, Mount Vigla (273 m). The Colonials disembarks from the Chevalier-Paul has to secure Mount Mounta (230 m) and conquer the lookout post, installed in the fort of Paleocastro, as well as the radio station. They accomplish this last task without much difficulty, taking twelve prisoners and puts the rest of the small Regina detachment out of action, at the cost of three wounded. But the marconista (the radio operator) on duty has time to warn Rhodes and destroy the codes.
12:10 (10:10 GMT) - The two destroyers set sail again for Limassol, taking with them, in addition to the Italian prisoners and the wounded of both camps, half of the company of the 24th RIC: these professional soldiers will be needed for Cordite and the welcome of the Greek population augurs a peaceful occupation [1], it thus appears useless to leave a strong garrison. The other half will have to be relieved in time otherwise for the landing on Karpathos, at least to participate in the operation against Rhodes. Eight hours later, the two ships and their passengers arrive in port.

[1] More peaceful than between 1915 and 1918, when the island was within range of Turkish guns on the mainland!

 

[Wings]

September 3rd, 1940

Aegean Sea - Benefiting from a precise intelligence transmitted by British spies operating in Turkey, the submarine HMS Pandora (Lt Cdr J.W. Linton), which has relieved the Protée as a factional vessel at the exit of the Dardanelles, intercepts the Tarquinia, camouflaged as a Romanian ship, returning from its second commercial voyage to Istanbul. The small cargo ship refuses to comply with the warning shot from the submersible and seeks salvation by fleeing towards Turkish territorial waters and the island of Tenedos, very close by. In vain: the Pandora's gunners give it no chance. Hit twice at the waterline and with its stern on fire, the little ship is abandoned by its crew. Having suspended its fire for the time of the evacuation, the Pandora resumes it and quickly finishes off its prey. However, a Turkish patrol boat prevents it from approaching the lifeboats, claiming that it has entered territorial waters.
Unwilling to create a diplomatic incident with Turkey, Commander Linton obeys his order and withdraws.

 

[Wings]

September 4th, 1940

Alger - General Huntziger, in his capacity as Generalissimo, submits to the government a document prepared by the National Defense Staff, which summarizes, after a necessarily summary inventory of resources, the situation on September 1st concerning the small arms of the Army.

 

[Wings]

September 4th, 1940

Paris - At the end of the weekly meeting of the GPEF, Pierre Laval announces on the radio the creation of the New French Social and Corporatist State: "This New State will be governed by a Charter, which will soon be adopted by an Assembly of the Living Forces of the Nation. This assembly will be composed of representatives from the depths of our country, from its land itself, because the earth does not lie!" It is still unknown today whether Laval chose the date of September 4th by chance or by a desire to provoke.
The official promulgation of the New French State - we will write NEF very quickly, to shorten! - does not change the composition of the government, although relations between Doriot and Chevalier were at a low ebb. The latter claims to want to resign under the pretext of not wanting to disrupt education, "the breeding ground of the future lifeblood of the nation," by "chapel" struggles (the expression makes Doriot sneer). Laval is not fooled, but allows the ultra-Catholic philosopher a reprieve.
However, Laval's speech is listened to with the greatest attention by two men, Jean Filliol, one of the former leaders of the CSAR (Secret Committee for Revolutionary Action, known as the Cagoule), amnestied on August 28th who immediately returned to Paris, and his former accomplice Eugène Deloncle. The latter planned to revive the CSAR under the name of MSR (Mouvement Social Révolutionnaire).
Another attentive listener, Joseph Darnand, wonders about the opportunity to try to get to Algeria to re-enlist in the Army. But he is reluctant to join "the men who despised the Marshal", as Laval called the Reynaud government.

 

[Wings]

September 4th, 1940

01:00 GMT - The Marignan 3 convoy and its escort are the last to leave the Gulf of Ajaccio. Cruising at 13 knots, they should arrive at 08:00 in front of Alghero. The designers of the operation hope that, in the four hours between the launching of Marignan 1515 and Marignan 3, the Italians will have reacted and converged their troops on Porto Torres.
01:00 to 03:30 GMT - In order to maintain the fear of an operation against Sicily, the Armée de l'Air and the Aéronavale bomb several Sicilian cities: Messina, Augusta, Syracuse, Catania, Trapani, Palermo are visited by Farman 222/223. These night actions carried out by small groups of aircraft do not cause much military damage (it is the civilians who suffer the most) but they reach the psychological goal pursued.
01:20 GMT - Having arrived the day before in Cagliari with 50 tons of ammunition and other supplies and quickly unloaded, the submarine Faà di Bruno (C.C. Aldo Enrici) sets sail again to return to its base in La Spezia. Taking advantage of the darkness, it sails on the surface at 15 knots.
01:30 to 03:45 GMT, Sardinia - If they have understood that their adversaries are saving their air forces based in Sardinia, the French are convinced that reinforcements have been sent to them and and attribute to the Italians twice as many planes as they have. To leave nothing to chance, the MB-210s based in Corsica attacked the airfields of Villacidro, Decimomannu and Elmas, plus the hydrobase of this place. In spite of the care put by the Italians to camouflage their planes, a Ro.37 observation plane and a Cant Z.501 of the 146th RM squadron are destroyed at Elmas.

 

[Wings]

September 4th, 1940

Porto Torres, 04:00 GMT - The planners of "1515" chose to try to take the small port by force, instead of landing on either side of the city. If successful, the Italians should not have the time to carry out any destruction.
The work of the minesweepers allow the small French force to approach without breaking. Protected by the last moments of darkness, the liner Pascal Paoli, aka auxiliary patrol boat P7, carrying the IX/373rd DBIA, goes as fast as it can - 19 knots - towards the entrance of the port, accompanied by the destroyers Fougueux and Frondeur. Following at a slower pace (15 knots) the Sidi Okba (P3), which had to drop the men of the VIII/373rd DBIA on the quays. In a third time, the Ville d'Ajaccio (P4) will land the personnel of the II/92nd RAM 19 with their battery of four 65 mm mountain guns, the rest of the guns (8 x 75 mm mountain guns) will arrive on the cargo ship Catherine Schiaffino. Meanwhile, the Cyrnos (P2) will put the men of the VI/373rd DBIA on land west of Porto Torres (i.e. on the right of the city seen from the sea) to quickly take control of the small heights, culminating at Monte Forte (464 m), which are southwest of the town in the direction of Alghero.
The Italian defenders are taken by surprise. The four 76/40 guns defending the entrance to the port open fire, but the first salvos are ill-adjusted and the liner, which had begun to slow down, escapes unharmed. Afterwards, it is too late. The destroyer Fougueux comes to the port side of the Paoli, between the latter and the battery, which it crushes with its fire, soon assisted by the Frondeur. However, the battery returns fire and the Fougueux is hit five times before the enemy guns are silenced: it escapes with 4 killed, 10 wounded and some damage, including a 37 mm AA and the nearby torpedo launcher mount disabled.
The French infantrymen are quickly put on the ground and, while seizing the few coasters present at the time, they have no difficulty in pushing the garrison of the town, made up of elements of the 1st Battalion of the 14th Coastal Brigade, and to set up a bridgehead, which is quickly enlarged after the landing of the men of the VIII/373rd.
Rome, 04:25 GMT - Informed of the attack on Porto Torres by General De Pignier, himself warned by the commander of the Calabria division, Badoglio sees this action as what it is : a diversion. But he continues to think that the real attack would be on Sicily. It takes the news of the landings near Cagliari and Oristano for him to realize his mistake.
Porto Torres, 05:30 GMT - The two French battalions, which have taken control of the Ferrovie dello Stato station, which is still intact, sweep through the town. On its side, the II/92nd RAM recovered the rest of its equipment. In the meantime, supported by some salvos of the Slinger and the three "600 tons" of the 13th TD, the VI/373rd DBIA set foot on the beach in the west of the city and start to walk towards its objectives. On the right, a company, helped by the fire of the ships, pushes back a part of the defenders beyond the Pilo pond. In the center and on the left, the rest of the battalion advances towards Monte Alvaro (342 m), which it reaches at 06:00 GMT.
Porto Torres, 05:45 GMT - The first Italian reaction comes from the Regia Aeronautica. The runways not being repaired yet, the ground bombers cannot take off but the handful of Cant Z.506B seaplanes of the 93rd Elmas BM Group does not have this problem. The six aircraft take off in order to arrive at Porto Torres at first light, with the hope that the French fighters would not be already in cover above the ships.
Hope was dashed, the French took no chances.
When the Cants arrived, ten Curtiss of the GC II/4 were already there, and they throw themselves at them. What happened next looks more like an execution than a fight: four seaplanes are shot down, the other two escape damaged in the direction of Olbia, where Martin 167s of the GR I/61 finish them off in the early afternoon. Before being shot down, one of the aircraft succeeds in bombing the port. A bomb hits the Sidi Okba, on which the Italian prisoners were beginning to be taken on board, seven of them were killed, along with two sailors and a French soldier.
Sassari, 06:00 GMT - Having been quickly informed of the attack on Porto Torres, General Petra di Caccuri orders the two battalions of the 59th RI and the mixed group of the 40th Artillery Regiment to move from Sorso to Porto Torres. He also orders the forces that he had been keeping with him in Sassari (the III/60th RI and the 177th Blackshirt Legion). On the other hand, he hesitates to commit the two battalions of the 60th RI that are in Olmedo: it is only at 06:00 GMT that, since nothing is moving on the Alghero side, he decides to move them in the direction of Porto Torres. The problem is that, if he doesn't have an exact idea of the forces he is up against, his own will evolve in full view of the French reconnaissance aircraft. The first to experience this are those arriving from Sorso. Spotted by a Loire 130 seaplane, lent to Jeanne d'Arc to adjust its fire, they are soon subjected to the first salvos of the
cruiser.
In front of Porto Torres, 07:20 GMT - The Regia Marina intervenes in turn. As soon as the alert is given, the four MAS of the 2nd squadron (which had been on alert since the day before, the men sleeping next to their boats) leave Olbia at 04:50 GMT in the direction of Porto Torres, 66 nautical miles away. The boats cover the first 50 miles at more than 25 knots, then accelerate to 40 knots. At 07:20 GMT, the four torpedo boats arrive in contact with the naval force of "1515". At this moment, the damaged Sidi Okba, the Ville d'Ajaccio and the two cargo ships Catherine Schiaffino and Spahi are in the port. The other ships are out to sea. The Cyrnos and the "600 tons" are still watching over the progress of the VI/373rd DBIA. The three ASM trawlers are patrolling for all purposes. The minesweepers have undertaken to clean the waters in the east-north-east of Porto Torres. Having progressed cautiously behind them, the rest of the force commanded by C.V. Rouyer is busy bombing the Italian troops arriving from Sorso: the cruiser Jeanne d'Arc, the destroyers Fougueux and Frondeur, accompanied by the Pascal Paoli (P7), now a patrol boat, the Sampiero Corso (P8) and the aviso La Gracieuse.
At full speed, the launches raise a bow wave which makes them easy to spot.
The C.V. Rouyer calls the small torpedo boats to him, but before they have joined, the MAS go on the attack. Flying under the noses of the minesweepers who can only greet them with a few salvos, they aim at the Jeanne d'Arc, but her five escorts block their way. They then launch on them, except for the MAS-544, whose torpedo launching system is damaged by the vibrations and shocks of a long journey at high speed.
More fortunately, the MAS-509 is already close enough that the Pascal Paoli cannot avoid one of its two torpedoes. The other hits the militarized liner at the extreme front. Its bow mutilated, the Paoli nevertheless manages to reach the port in reverse. In return, the MAS-424 is hit by the Frondeur: slowed down, it is finished off by the latter and the Sampiero Corso. The three other units join La Maddalena.
Porto Torres area, 08:00 GMT - For a moment diverted from its objective by the attack of the MAS, the Jeanne resumes firing on land. The Italian detachment, which has lost two howitzers under the precise fire of the 155 mm of the training cruiser, is forced to make a detour to get out of range of the naval guns. But he then had to face the bombings and strafing from the French air force. For a few hours, the bombers available in Corsica (18 Potez 63.11, 21 Martin 167, 18 Douglas DB-7) are going to dedicate themselves to the exclusive support of "1515", as well as a part of the Curtiss fighters. Gradually, the men of the 31st Division leave Sorso, then Olmedo and Sassari, find themselves, if not pinned down, at least very slowed down and unable to try to retake Porto Torres. General Petra has only to order them to camouflage themselves as best they can and to wait for the night to act.
Taking advantage of these favourable circumstances, the men of the VI/373rd DBIA reach Monte Forte, where they settle with the major part of the II/92nd RAM (the 4 pieces of 65 mm and 4 of the 8 75s). The other two battalions move a little ahead of Porto Torres. But all this is only a prologue. The serious business begins with the entry onto the scene of the Marignan 3 forces.
In front of Alghero, 08:00 GMT - Marignan 3 starts under good auspices since, during their night search, the minesweepers do not find any trace of a minefield. At the appointed time, the battleship Provence opens fire, at a distance of 19 000 m progressively reduced to 14,000, on the battery of the Punta Giglio, whose guns only reach 12,000 m. Its fire is regulated by one of the Loire 130 seaplanes of the Dupleix. The only notable defensive work of the Alghero area is progressively put out of action by the battleship's big guns. During this time, the cruisers Dupleix and La Galissonnière, whose fire is also regulated by their seaplanes and the six destroyers of the 1st and 3rd DCT are in charge of the small defence works and light positions occupied by the men of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Coastal Brigade.
While the battery is engaged by the Provence, the small torpedo boats of the 14th TD, the aviso-minesweepers and auxiliary minesweepers set up a smoke screen intended to mask the Italian gunners the progression towards Alghero of the small fast liners Côte d'Argent and Prince Philippe. Indeed, as in Porto Torres, the method of direct assault was chosen, completed by a landing to the left (west-northwest) of the city and another one a little left, in the bay of Porto Conte. Despite the bludgeoning it suffered, the battery SR 413 manages to fire a few rounds at these targets within range and even puts a hit on the torpedo boat La Flore, which, with its damaged engines, withdraw painfully at 12
knots. As the liners moved forward, one of the Loire 130s of La Galissonnière reports that two small cargo ships are trying to leave and a third is being towed towards the entrance the of port [1]. This looks like an attempt to block the entrance to the port, which is out of the question to allow. So much for the catch! The matter is settled by a few salvos from the La Galissonnière with the help of the destroyer Lion: two of the ships are blown up at their mooring while the third one sinks well before entering the port.
Alghero, 08:35 GMT - Arrived in the port of Alghero with the support of the torpedo boat La Melpomène (joined a little later by the aviso La Moqueuse), the Côte d'Argent and the liner Prince Philippe throw the IV and V/RICM respectively onto the docks. These two units of experienced soldiers easily overcome the men of the 14th Coastal Brigade. An hour later, the town is under control and the colonials push on to the village of Surigheddu.
Around Alghero, 11:50 GMT - The liners Marrakech and Meknes, anchored in front of the Fertilia plain, slowly put ashore the men of the IV, V and VII/373rd DBIA. Once they are assembled, the three battalions rake inland and capture one of the objectives of Marignan 3, the airfield of Alghero-Fertilia.
At the same time, the men of the IV/28th RTT, thrown by the Sidi Bel Abbès into the bay of Porto Conte as soon as the SR 413 battery appeared to have been definitively silenced, they seize it by taking it from the rear, before taking control of the bay, pushing on to Monte Doglia (437 m).
Sassari, 12:00 GMT - The bits of information he received showed General Petra di Caccuri that his situation is serious. The second French landing threatens the rear of the two battalions of the 60th RI, which had ventured into the plain between Monte Forte and Sassari. The town itself is now practically devoid of defenders: all that remains are the elements of its staff and various services, a thousand men of whom very few are combatants. There is no longer any question of retaking Porto Torres. The emergency is to regroup its forces on a Sorso-Sassari line, but that the twilight is far away...
Between Alghero and Sassari, in the afternoon - The French plans are to wait for the heavy equipment (artillery of the I/92nd RAM and III/2nd RAC, new self-propelled guns of the motorized cavalrymen of the 2nd REC) before going further inland. With the means of the port of Alghero and those of the ships, the operation can only last so long, to the disappointment of the most daring officers. One of them, inspired by episodes from the 1870 war even proposes a direct raid, as "lost children", on Sassari using the railway equipment [2] captured in good condition. Strongly supported by the mounted units of the Legion, whose horses disembark faster than the vehicles, he at least obtains that Olmedo be occupied and to push on to the railway bridge over the Manniu "before the Italians blow it up". This is a wise move, because the elements of the IV/RICM arrive just in time to disperse the Calabrian sappers who had come to put a curse on the bridge!
For their part, the mounted squadrons of the 2nd REC launch a reconnaissance in force on the tracks of the two battalions of the Italian 60th RI, which allow them to surprise in full retreat part of the accompanying artillery group in the middle of their retreat to Olmedo. In a charge reminiscent of the First or Second Empire than of modern warfare, they take away from already exhausted opponents two poorly guarded 75 mm howitzers and their carriages.
Alghero, 18:30 GMT - Leaning over the map of Turritano [3] with his staff officers, General Cartier decides to take advantage of the night to transport a maximum number of men and means to the banks of the Manniu. The next day, leaving the forces that had landed at Porto Torres, assisted by the IV/28th RTT - which had joined forces with the VI/373rd DBI - the task of pinningthe Italians, he tries to envelop Sassari from the south and the east, thus cutting off the rest of Sardinia from the Calabria Division and the few elements of the 14th Coastal Brigade that were able to join it.

[1] These are the coasters Adda (792 GRT), Commercio (766 GRT) and Ilvania (487 GRT).
[2] These are metric tracks.
[3] Region of Porto Torres-Sassari.

 

[Wings]

September 4th, 1940

Oristano - Striking in the center and likely to quickly use one of the main roads of Sardinia, Marignan 2 is equipped with mobile forces (4th GRDI, two motorized squadrons of the 2nd REC, an autonomous mobile artillery group) in order to be able to turn towards the northwest or southeast, as needed. The only problem was that the Oristano of 1940 does not look much like the one of today: if its gulf offers a good shelter to ships, the port facilities are very limited. The landing of the heavy equipment therefore requires a lot of time, since it will be necessary to tranship guns or vehicles on barges quickly cobbled together in Algiers.
05:00 GMT - As in Alghero, there is only one defensive structure likely to oppose the landing: the Canevaro battery (4 x 120 mm guns) located on Cape Frasca, which partially closes the Gulf of Oristano to the south. Provoked by the cruisers Marseillaise and HMS Delhi, the battery responds to their fire. First, it telemeters on the lights of the guns then assisted by a seaplane as soon as the light is sufficient, the battleship Lorraine works to silence it. After one hour, the affair seems to be settled, the French transports enter the Gulf.
06:20 GMT - The Koutoubia and the Chenonceaux anchor opposite Oristano and the pond of Santa Giusta. Supported by the fire of the cruisers Colbert and Marseillaise (and some salvos from the cruiser), the men of the 20th Colonial Infantry Regiment (RIC) disembark without much opposition and push towards the city and the hydrobase. The latter falls after the airmen's "baroud d'honneur".
The 199th RM squadron ceases to exist. One of its last two Cant Z.506B had taken off while it was still dark to search for the convoy reported by the Turchese: it will be
destroyed in the afternoon, by the already mentioned raid hitting the Olbia-Venafiorita hydrobase where it had gone to land on its return from patrol. Delayed by engine problems, the second one tries too late to take off. Its floats and fuselage are pierced by shrapnel from the Colbert, it sinks in the shallow waters of Pond [1].
Further south, the Massilia and Sagittaire canoes drop off the 4th Senegalese Riflemen Regiment (RTS) in front of the pond of Sasso and the new town of Mussolinia [2]. The riflemen will have to fight. Indeed, the Italian troops positioned in Marrubiu react promptly. The I/45th Infantry Regiment sets off for Oristano with part of the artillery
while the II/45th RI throws itself into Mussolinia with the rest of the guns.
08:30 GMT - After having covered about 8 km, the movement of the I/45th is spotted by the observation seaplanes and the battalion is subjected to a severe bombardment from the Colbert and Marseillaise, reinforced by the successive interventions of 9 Potez 63.11 of the GR II/36 and 10 Douglas DB-7 of the GB II/19. Soldiers and artillerymen finally go back to Marrubiu.
09:00 GMT - The 4th RTS advance towards Mussolinia. Despite the fire support of the cruiser HMS Delhi and several destroyers, one hour and a half is necessary for the skirmishers to take the small town, which is reduced to ruins. It takes two adjusted salvos from the 340mm of the Lorraine to make the Italian soldiers break.
The II and III/4th RTS then pursue their opponents towards Terralba.
14:00 GMT - The battle briefly wakes up in the Gulf of Oristano. Hardly shelled in the early morning, the Cape Frasca battery remained silent since then. But there was no confirmation that it had been destroyed (on the contrary: after its capture, the French discovered that the Italian gunners were working to restore two of the pieces). In order not to force the Division Légère d'Infanterie Coloniale (DLIC) to divert men for the attack of an objective far from its main axis of effort [3], Admiral Marquis proposes to General Pellet who accepts, to settle the matter by employing the landing companies of his ships.
At 14:11 GMT 27, 300 fusiliers-marins disembark in the back of the battery while the latter is copiously sprayed with water.
The battery is heavily sprayed by the Allied guns. At 15:27 GMT [3] at the cost of 3 killed and 17 wounded, the French sailors obtain the surrender of the defenders (three officers and hundred men).
15:15 - The I/4th RTS marches on Marrubiu where it catches the men of the I/45th RI in full retreat. While the artillery group is annihilated, what is left of the Italian battalion does not insist and flees in small groups towards Samassi. The survivors are taken in Sanluri by the III/45th RI that General Scanagatta had sent to support them and that the raids of the French air force ended up blocking there.
19:00 - While maintaining a small garrison in the Oristano-Santa Giusta area, where its mobile forces are getting into marching order, General Pellet pushes the bulk of his infantry to a west-east Pubillonis-Sardara line, including the excellent observation point of the castle of Monreale. Opposite, the commander of the 30th Division Sabauda, installs what is left of the 45th Infantry Regiment, the value of two battalions (one of which has almost no heavy weapons), from San Gavino di Monreale to Sanluri to await the inevitable shock of the following day. But he knows that the decisive game is being played further south, against the forces of Marignan 1.

[1] The battery was built in a place more easily accessible by sea than by land.
[2] According to the report of the lieutenant of vessel placed at the head of the company of Lorraine, which obviously bears the French time, i.e. 15:11.
[3] Same source: 16:27 French time.

 

[Wings]

September 4th, 1940

Gulf of Cagliari - Marignan 1 is the only landing that has to count with respectable coastal defenses. Once the idea of confronting them head-on with a direct assault on the port of Cagliari, all that remains is to find a landing place beyond the reach of the majority of the coastal batteries, and in particular the anti-ship and counter-ship batteries, equipped with a 360° arc of fire.
The choice is therefore made forcibly on the western beaches of the Gulf of Cagliari, on the one hand between Sarroch and Torre degli Ulivi - this will be François Ier beach - on the other hand between this last one and the salt marshes - it will be Bayard beach [1]. "François Ier" is far from the city and its access is controlled by the anti-ship battery Corrado Boggio (4 x 152/50mm), installed on Cape Pula. Closer to the Sardinian capital, "Bayard" can only be used after having muzzled two 102/35 mm batteries with a double purpose: that of Tuvixeddu and the C 135 battery (or San Bartolomeo battery), installed on Cape Sant'Elia [2], also to silence the three anti-aircraft batteries defending the airfield and the hydrobase of Elmas: they can beat the eastern part of "Bayard" [3]. This is not insurmountable, because all five have open-air guns.
Assuming the case of the coastal batteries is settled, approaching the beaches supposes to have found access routes free of mines or to have opened passages in the minefields. Since 01:00 GMT, the eight minesweepers sent as a vanguard have been discreetly exploring the approaches to the gulf, moving at 6 knots and still refraining from advancing within range of the Italian batteries.
05:00 GMT - The fire support force and the fast convoy meet 15 nautical miles from Cagliari and the full advance is made. Cagliari and the advance towards Cagliari and the beaches begins. The fire support force approaches 11 miles from the coast, following the same route that the French battleships had taken on July 4th and which the minesweepers recognized as always safe.
05:15 GMT - The battleship Bretagne fires flares over Cape Pula and the heavy cruisers Algérie and HMAS Australia do the same on the side of Cagliari and Cape Sant'Elia. While the naval bombardment begins, the eight minesweepers move towards the beaches, emitting smoke.
05:48 GMT - The luck that had accompanied them all night abandonsthe minesweepers. They arrive within range of the Boggio battery. This one, which did not suffer yet too much from the shootings of the Bretagne, hits the trawler Madone de Pompei (AD190, 60 GRT) with a 152 mm shell.
While going to the rescue of the crew of the sinking small ship, the aviso Ypres hits a mine and sinks in turn [4]. The survivors of the two boats are later recovered by the destroyer Brestois. Admiral Duplat orders the minesweepers to withdraw until the Boggio battery has been put out of action.
05:50 to 07:00 GMT - While Bretagne is trying to silence the Boggio battery, the case of the batteries of Tuvixeddu, San Bartolomeo and Elmas is settled. To the shelling of the navy, two aerial bombardments are added, carried out by 21 LeO 451 of the GB I/11 and II/11 and 10 LeO 451 of the I/31.
Eastern coast of Sardinia, 06:30 GMT - The submarine Faà di Bruno has almost reached Arbatax when it receives the order to turn back towards the Gulf of Cagliari to attack the Allied ships: if, in its role as a supply ship, it was unable to take its reserve torpedoes, at least its eight tubes are full.
Rome, 06:45 GMT - Superaereo orders the SM.79 of Decimomannu and Villacidro not to attempt anything in daylight: as the fate of the Cant showed, without a fighter escort, it would be suicide for uncertain results. The message to the survivors of the 10th Marte Land Bombardment Brigade concludes: "The staff is preparing for tomorrow a coordinated action against the enemy ships in the Gulf of Cagliari. You will then have your part to play."
"Bayard" Beach and sector, from 07:00 GMT - Admiral Duplat sends the minesweepers forward.. He soon has them followed by the transports destined for Bayard beach,
accompanied by five destroyers and torpedo-boats stretching curtains of smoke (the destroyers remain on guard around the Ark Royal and HMS Carlisle).
Obstinate, the Boggio battery distinguishes itself one last time by placing a shell on the deck of the destroyer Brestois. The auxiliary cruiser Colombie (carrying General Béthouart and his staff as well as two thirds of the 24th DBCA [4]) and the liner Savoie (with the last battalion of the 24th DBCA and a battalion of the 13th DBLE [5]) pass without any problem. The liner Mexique, loaded with two battalions of the 13th DBLE, hits a drifting mine (sheared off but not destroyed by the minesweepers). Its commander manages to beach it as close as possible to La Maddalena: the legionnaires on board would thus have less distance to cover in boats to reach the beach!
Supported by the fire of the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia and the light cruisers Jean-de-Vienne and HMS Sheffield, the landing of the infantry is relatively inexpensive. The soldiers of the battalion of the 13th Coastal Brigade in the area are soon reduced to withdrawing inland, except for those defending La Maddalena: the village has to be taken by force.
General Scanagatta tries to send the III/46th RI and the artillery elements posted in Decimomannu to support the troops in position, but the slow movement of this fraction of the 30th Division is spotted by one of the Loire 130s observing the landing. It is stopped dead in its tracks a little south of the Cixerri River by the combined action of the Bretagne and 14 Swordfish of the Ark Royal (the others being reserved for ASW patrols), one of which is shot down. On the other hand, Scanagatta succeeds in making the two battalions (I/46th and II/46th RI), installed in Dolianova and Sestu, march towards Cagliari. A raid of the LeO 451 of the GB I/11 and II/11 on these localities arrives too late to seriously hinder their movement.
"François I" Beach and sector, from 07:30 GMT - The Boggio battery not showing any signs of activity, the liners Cuba and Mariette Pacha, carrying four of the six battalions of the 3rd Polish Light Infantry Division (DLIP), approach to land their passengers by means of their boats. The landing is supported by the heavy cruiser Algérie, later joined by the Jean-de-Vienne. In this sector too, the soldiers of the 13th Coastal Brigade cannot hold out for long, even if some resist to the very end, like on the Sarroch side. Once reorganized, the Polish infantrymen start to secure the bridgehead, while their comrades of the 3rd Polish IRGC, who have travelled with them, have to wait for the arrival of their equipment, which had been loaded onto the cargo ship Dupleix with the 342nd Autonomous Tank Company (CACC).
08:30 GMT - The disembarkation of the 3rd GRDI and 342nd CACC equipment begins, thanks to four barges hastily assembled in Algiers. Polish and French drivers and crews just have to be patient...
08:40 GMT - Arrival of the slow convoy.
From 10:00 GMT - Once the beaches are free of the first wave, it is the turn of the Chantilly and Compiègne to unload their passengers. The first one puts down the last two battalions of the 3rd DLIP on François I beach. The second one puts on the "Bayard" beach the French artillerymen of the autonomous group of the 104th Heavy Artillery Regiment and the II/10th RACTTT [7] and on "François Ier" the Polish artillerymen of the 1st Autonomous Group of Mobile Artillery. But these men must also wait for their equipment.
From 12:15 GMT - The liners leave, the cargo ships Ile d'Aix and Pierre L.D. start to unload the French and Polish guns.
Rome, 15:00 GMT - Superaereo is finalizing the response prepared for the next morning. A secondary action will target Porto Torres. The idea of a night bombing, considered for a moment, is postponed to avoid the risk of killing more Italian civilians than enemy soldiers. The attack is carried out at sunrise by 12 SM.79 provided by the units of the 5th Eolo Ground Bomber Division. Starting from Grosseto, they are escorted by 22 CR.42 of the 150th and 151st Ground Fighter Groups, the Fiat biplane having longer legs than its young brother monoplane, the G.50 [8].
The main action, launched at dawn against the enemy naval forces present in the Gulf of Cagliari, gqthers 40 bombers: 26 classic SM.79 (the 14 present in Sardinia and 12 coming from Naples, supplied by the formations which took part in the battle of Pantelleria) and above all the four SM.79 torpedo planes of the 278th squadron (the "Four Cats"), which took off from Littoria, and the 11 Ju.87B Picchiatelli available from the Maggiore Ercolano Ercolani, which, for more safety, will leave from Trapani [9]. For all these planes to have a chance of success, it is necessary to be able to spread the enemy fighters. Neither the CR.42 nor the G.50 being able to fight over Cagliari from Italy, the solution found is to transfer fighters to Sardinia by night. Full refitted, they could, one hopes, offer the necessary protection to the bombers. Taking into account the general state of the Sardinian grounds and difficulties of a night transfer, the deployment is however limited to a single group of fighters, whose three squadrons will be distributed between the fields of Villacidro, Monserrato and Decimomannu. The choice is made for the Picchiatelli team, who had just performed honorably in the fighting of August 31st to recieve the support of 24 Fiat G.50 of the 6th CT Autonomous Group.
The Superaereo officers are under no illusions: the action against Cagliari has very little chance of being repeated in this form. It will surprise the opponent only once, and, above all, the possession of the Sardinian airfields risks to be soon only a memory. Only the night bombardments will remain afterwards...
Gulf of Cagliari, 17:06 GMT - As it begins to get dangerously close to the Ark Royal, the submarine Faà di Bruno is spotted by a Swordfish on patrol, which alerts the destroyer HMS Faulknor. The time elapsed since the order received in the morning showed that the submarine's commander took the risk of sailing on the surface for as long as possible
(probably in the vicinity of Cape Carbonara) before completing his approach by diving [10]. Having the order to attack either the transport ships, or the biggest military units, the C.C. Enrici apparently chose to attack the aircraft carrier that crossed its path while the transports were still some distance away. The submarine is relentlessly pursued, first by the Faulknor, assisted by the HMS Fury, and then by other Allied ships.
Sectors "François Ier" and "Bayard", 18:00 GMT - As the day is ending, the situation looks favorable for the Allies.
In the Bayard sector, the 1st Light Division of Chasseurs of General Lhuillier advanced about ten kilometers inland, occupying Capoterra in particular. It hopes to be able to count the next day on the support of its artillery and the tanks of the 342nd CACC to get down to business, i.e. to advance towards Assemini-Monserrato line and thus begin the encirclement of Cagliari.
In the François Ier sector, the Poles occupy the hills southwest of Capoterra, with the small towns of Santa Barbara and Case Pauceris. Above all, pushing along the coast, they successively capture Sarroch, San Pietro di Pula and Pula before attacking the Corrado Boggio battery and obtain its surrender [11]: at sunset, the Polish and French flags are flown over its works. For the Poles, too, the serious business must begin the next day. Advancing to the left of the French, they had to march towards a Siliqua-Assemini line, or even reach the Decimomannu airfield.
On the Italian side, General Scanagatta sees a part of his division threatened to be caught in between the 9th DLIC coming down from Oristano and the forces of Marignan 1 marching towards it. He also suspects that his opponents would not attack Cagliari directly, but would start by encircling it. To slow down the 9th DLIC, he leaves the Black Shirts of the 176th Legion in support of what remained of the 45th RI. On the Cagliari side, he decides, despite the inexperience of his troops, to play his part in a night counter-attack.
Gulf of Cagliari, 21:17 GMT - The last pass of the fighter group hanging onto the Faà di Bruno (destroyers HMS Faulknor and Fury, destroyer MN Panthère) is
decisive. The fighters perceive characteristic noises in their hydrophones and then a large air bubble rises to the surface - in the light of a searchlight, one can see at this point numerous pieces of debris. The next morning, a large oil stain was also visible. The Italian submarine disappears with all its crew.

The 4th of September was clearly favorable to the French and this day erased the calamitous August 31 of Pantelleria. All the landings were successful and solid bridgeheads have been established. The French now had in their hands, in addition to the Gulf of Oristano the two ports of Alghero and Porto Torres. They also took the airfield of Alghero-Fertilia, which they now only have to make operational.
The greatest success was achieved in the north-west, where elements of Marignan 1515 and Marignan 3 have joined forces, with the whole unit coming under the authority of General Cartier. It is true that the Italian forces were only scratched and have yet to be overcome, but a reasonable optimism is legitimate. Marignan 2 also obtained a good result, since its forces can already consider coming to support those of Marignan 1. Finally, Marignan 1 is barely barely behind.
All this was achieved at the cost of relatively light human losses and material losses lower than expected: two small ships sunk, six more or less seriously damaged; two aircraft shot down (in addition to the Swordfish of the Ark Royal, a Curtiss H-75 of GC I/9 was shot down while strafing the troops of Calabria [12]) and two others lost by accident (an MS-406 of the GC III/1 and a LeO 451 of the GB II/11).
On the Italian side, there was no longer any question of pushing back the forces that had landed in the north-west and in Oristano. As for Cagliari... Certainly, the so-called mobile land forces looked formidable: with the exception of the 45th RI and the 16th RA of the Sabauda division, the other units have not yet been physically weakened. But the morale of the other units was different, and the strategic situation was more than bad.
The XIII Territorial Corps suffered more: the 14th Coastal Brigade ceased to exist as a formed unit, the 15th and the 13th have both lost more than a third of their strength. And what remained of the 15th Brigade was fragmented on either side of Oristano. General De Pignier ordered the detachments in the south to join General Scanagatta's forces. As for the forces between Torre Foghe and Oristano, he asked them to regroup in Macomer to form a buffer. Only the coastal batteries remained active on the
the southwestern coast.
For its part, the Regia Marina lost a submarine and a MAS (not counting a small auxiliary ship).
As for the air force, if the Sardinian forces lost 10 aircraft, they obeyed above all Superaereo's formal order to reserve for the next day. However, the French are not without
wonder why the Regia Aeronautica has been so little seen, and what bad move it can be preparing!

[1] In fact, the limit of the two beaches is a little to the west of Torre degli Ulivi.
[2] Not to be confused with the Roberto Prunas anti-ship battery, located on the main promontory of Cape Sant'Elia, but which cannot fire on the beaches west of Cagliari.
[3] Battery C 344, near the Elmas station (one 102/35 gun), batteries C 407 at Casa Lostia, near the Santa Gilla pond, and C 408 at Macchiareddu, both armed with 76/4 pieces.
[4] The Italian propaganda will also attribute its destruction to the Milmart militiamen serving the Boggio battery.
[5] Demi-Brigade of Chasseurs Alpins.
[6] Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion.
[7] Régiment d'Artillerie Coloniale Tractée Tous Terrains.
[8] 785 km of range for the CR.42 against only 675 for the G.50. The Macchi MC.200 would have been even better adapted (870 km), but it has not yet returned to the front lie.
[9] The return flight from Trapani to Cagliari is about 670 km long. With a distance of 788 km, it is wiser not to start from the east of Sicily.
[10] Hypothetical reconstruction made by the Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare. Considering the rather low autonomy of the submarine, the last few nautical miles must have been covered at 4 or 5 knots.
[11] The battery had a crew of 5 officers, 15 non-commissioned officers and 87 militiamen.
[12] The pilot was able to jump over an area held by French troops.

 

[Wings]

September 4th, 1940

Off Gibraltar - The Sciré made a smooth journey and is only 50 nautical miles away from the Rock of Gibraltar when it receives a message from Supermarina, announcing that the English fleet has left port and that the BG1 mission is therefore cancelled. The Sciré takes the way back home.

 

[Wings]

September 4th, 1940

Off Cyrenaica - On the road to Alexandria, the Ametista is sighted by English escorts who force it to dive. For six hours, the Italian submarine, lying motionless on the bottom, undergoes an intensive and precise shelling which damages it more and more as the hours go by. Several escape manoeuvres fail. Finally, the captain Mario Giorgini orders to emerge to save the crew. The Ametista is greeted on the surface by fire from the destroyers HMS Diamond and HMAS Stuart and by bombs dropped by a Sunderland, but its commander manages to evacuate all the crew before scuttling the ship.
"The outcome of the GA2 operation was catastrophic: in addition to the loss of a submarine, with well-trained special operations crew, the Ia SAM deplored the capture of its commander as well as four teams of divers among the most competent and trained. Among them, Captain Elios Toschi, one of the two inventors of the SLC, with a legendary courage, who made three escape attempts from his prison camp in India, and who told the incredible story of his third successful attempt in his book "In fuga oltre l'Himalaya". Perhaps even worse, the Sunderland had had time to photograph the Ametista with its cylinders on the deck, which alerted the British special services." (Francisco Marlieri. op. cit.)

 

[Wings]

September 4th, 1940

Rhodes - The news of the capture of Castellorizo prompts Lieutenant-Colonel Ettore Muti not to extend the stay on the island of his five SM.82, who had arrived from East Africa three days earlier. The heavy aircraft take off from Gadurrà in the middle of the day and reach the airfield of Rome-Guidonia.

 

[Wings]

September 4th, 1940

Cyprus, 12:00 (10:00 GMT) - The destroyers Chevalier-Paul and Tartu leave Limassol to meet the convoy of Operation Cordite, whose escort they will reinforce.