View source for Battle of Port Cros

{{Short description|Naval battle in World War II}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict    = Battle of Port Cros
| partof      = the [[Mediterranean Theatre of World War II|Mediterranean Theater]] of [[World War II]]
| image       = Port-Cros SPOT 1272.jpg
| image_size  = 300px
| caption     = ''Port Cros (left) from space and Île du Levant (right).''
| map_type    = France
| map_label   = Port-Cros
| date        = August 15, 1944
| place       = [[Port-Cros]], [[France]], [[Mediterranean Sea]]
| coordinates = {{coord|43.005|6.398611|type:event|display=inline}}
| result      = Allied victory
| combatant1  = {{flag|United States|1912}}<br/>{{flag|Canada|1921}} 
| combatant2  = {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany|1935}}
| commander1  = {{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[William Christopher Hughes Jr.|William C. Hughes]]
| commander2  = unknown
| strength1   = '''Land:'''<br/>1,800 [[infantry]]<br/>'''Sea:'''<br/>Destroyer {{USS|Somers|DD-381|2}}
| strength2   = '''Land:'''<br/>5 [[fort]]s<br/>'''Sea:'''<br/>Corvette [[Gabbiano-class corvette|''UJ6081'']]<br/>Aviso [[Chamois-class sloop|''SG21'']]
| casualties1 = 9 killed
| casualties2 = ''UJ6081'' sunk<br/>''SG21'' sunk<br/>5 forts captured
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Operation Dragoon}}{{Campaignbox Mediterranean Campaign}}
}}

The '''Battle of Port Cros''' took place during [[World War II]] off the [[French Riviera]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]] on the island of [[Port-Cros]]. The battle began when a [[United States Navy]] warship encountered two [[Nazi Germany|German]] warships in August 1944 while supporting the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[Operation Dragoon]]. It was one of the few surface engagements fought between the US Navy and the German ''[[Kriegsmarine]]''. Later that day, the combined American and [[Canada|Canadian]] [[1st Special Service Force|Devil's Brigade]] was dropped on the main island and captured the German-held positions.

==Battle==
The American [[destroyer]] {{USS|Somers|DD-381|6}}—armed with six {{cvt|5|in|mm|sigfig=3}} [[Naval gun|gun]]s and eight {{cvt|21|in|mm|sigfig=3}} [[torpedo tube]]s<ref>Ford, Roger (2001) ''The Encyclopedia of Ships'', pg. 405. Amber Books, London. {{ISBN|9781905704439}}</ref><ref>(2001) ''Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II'', pg. 284. Random House, London. {{ISBN|0517679639}}</ref><!-- Both sources support Somers still having all three quad torpedo launchers. -->—was cruising in the Mediterranean on 15 August 1944 when she came across the former [[Italy|Italian]] {{sclass|Gabbiano|corvette}} ''Camoscio'' of {{cvt|738|LT|t|lk=on}}, which was renamed ''UJ6081'' by the ''Kriegsmarine''. Also involved was the former [[France|French]] [[aviso]] [[Chamois-class minesweeping sloop|''Amiral Senes'']] of {{cvt|917|LT|t}}, renamed ''SG21''.<ref>Groner, p.237</ref> ''UJ6081'' was armed with one [[Škoda 10 cm K10|{{cvt|100|mm|in}} gun]] and two {{cvt|17.7|in|mm}} torpedo tubes. The aviso was armed with two {{cvt|4.1|in|mm}} guns. It was early morning off Port Cros, about four hours before the Allied landing in [[Vichy France]], when the Americans sighted the German corvette. [[Commander]] Willam Christopher Hughes ordered a torpedo attack and directed his men to battle stations.
[[File:USS Somers (DD-381) at the Charleston Naval Shipyard on 16 February 1942 (NH 98021).jpg|250px|left|thumb|USS ''Somers'' in 1942.]]

A spread of torpedoes was launched and the Germans opened fire as they attempted to maneuver out of harm's way. However, one torpedo slammed into the ''UJ6081''{{'}}s hull and she quickly began to sink. ''SG21'' was then spotted coming to the rescue. She was engaged by ''Somers''{{'}} main gun battery. The ensuing duel lasted for a few minutes until ''SG21'' was hit several times and began taking in water. Within a few more minutes, both German ships went down and ''Somers'' therefore left the area for naval gunfire support missions against targets along the French mainland. American forces suffered no damage or casualties.

Later that day, a mixed [[regiment]] of [[United States Army]] and [[Canadian Army]] [[infantry]], the 1st Special Service Force, was dropped onto Port Cros and captured the five [[fort]]s after a day-long battle with their German [[garrison]]s. The Allies assaulted two or three forts and seized the remaining without resistance. Nine paratroopers were killed in the land battle.{{clear left}}

==Aftermath==
As a result of the battle, Commander Hughes was recognized for his victory and eventually rose to the rank of [[rear admiral]] partly due to his involvement in this action. After the engagement, the U.S. Army occupied [[Île du Levant|Le Levant]], another island nearby. Two days later, on 17 August 1944, the former Italian corvette ''Antilope'', renamed ''UJ6082'', and the former [[Egypt]]ian armed [[yacht]] ''Nimet Allah'' were sunk by {{USS|Endicott|DD-495|6}} with help from two [[United Kingdom|British]] [[gunboat]]s at the [[Battle of La Ciotat]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Battle of La Ciotat August 1944 World Naval Ships Forums Archive |url=https://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/thread.php?threadid=12311 |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=www.worldnavalships.com}}</ref>

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{reflist}}

'''Bibliography'''
*{{DANFS}}
*{{cite book|author1=Ford, Roger |author2=Gibbons, Tony |author3=Hewson, Rob |author4=Jackson, Bob |author5=Ross, David |name-list-style=amp|year=2001|title=The Encyclopedia of Ships|page=405|publisher=Amber Books, Ltd.|location=London|isbn= 978-1-905704-43-9}}
*{{cite book | last = Groner | first = Eric | title = German Warships 1815 - 1945 | volume = One: Major Surface Vessels | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 1990 | location = Annapolis | isbn = 0-87021-790-9 }}
*{{cite book|year=2001|title=Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II|page=[https://archive.org/details/janesfightingshi00fran/page/284 284]|publisher=Random House Group, Ltd.|location=London|isbn=0-517-67963-9|url=https://archive.org/details/janesfightingshi00fran/page/284}}

{{World War II}}
{{Liberation of France}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Port Cros, Battle of}}
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving the United States|Port Cros]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Germany]]
[[Category:Allied naval victories in the battle of the Mediterranean]]
[[Category:Battles of World War II involving Canada]]
[[Category:August 1944 events]]