The Action of Port Cros (15 August 1944) took place during the Second World War 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 German warships in August 1944 while supporting the Allied Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of the South of France. It was one of the few surface engagements fought between the US Navy and the Kriegsmarine. Later that day, the combined American and Canadian 1st Special Service Force (the Devil's Brigade) was dropped by LST 32 on the main island and captured the German-held positions.
Background
USS Somers
The American Somers-class destroyer USS Somers—armed with six 5 in (127 mm) guns and eight 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes—was cruising in the Mediterranean on 15 August 1944.
Kriegsmarine
The former Italian Gabbiano-class corvette Camoscio of 738 long tons (750 t), had been commandeered and renamed UJ6081 by the Kriegsmarine. Also involved was the former French Chamois-class sloop (Avisos dragueur de mines) Amiral Senes of 917 long tons (932 t), renamed SG21. UJ6081 was armed with a 3.9 in (100 mm) gun and two 17.7 in (450 mm) torpedo tubes. The aviso was armed with two 4.1 in (100 mm) guns. It was early morning off Port Cros, about four hours before the Allied landings of Operation Dragoon, when the Americans sighted the UJ6081. Commander Willam Hughes ordered a torpedo attack and directed his men to battle stations.
Action
A salvo of torpedoes was launched and the Germans opened fire as they tried to evade the torpedoes. One torpedo hit UJ6081 and she quickly began to sink. SG21 was spotted coming to the rescue and was engaged by Somers' main gun battery. The duel lasted for a few minutes until SG21 was hit several times and began taking in water. Within a few minutes, both German ships had sunk and Somers left the area for naval gunfire support missions against targets along the French mainland. Somers expended 270 rounds and US units suffered no damage or casualties.
Land operations
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 forts after a day-long battle with their German garrisons. The Allies assaulted two or three forts and seized the remaining without resistance. Nine paratroopers were killed in the land battle.
Aftermath
After the engagement, the US Army occupied Île du Levant, another island nearby. Two days later, on 17 August 1944, the former Italian corvette Antilope, renamed UJ6082, and the former Egyptian armed yacht Nimet Allah were sunk by USS Endicott with help from two British gunboats at the Battle of La Ciotat.