USS Susan B. Anthony (AP-72) - Invasion of North Africa, 1942

Invasion of North Africa, 1942

After almost a month of drills and exercises in the lower Chesapeake Bay, the transport — carrying troops and equipment — steamed out of the bay on 23 October for the invasion of North Africa. At the completion of a 15-day passage, she arrived in the transport area off Mehdia, French Morocco. Early the next morning, on 8 November, the Northern Attack Group opened the assault upon Mehdia and Port Lyautey. Despite the general difficulties encountered in handling landing craft, she disembarked her troops and unloaded their equipment in relatively good order. She remained in the area a week before sailing on the 15th for Safi to unload the rest of her cargo. She departed that port on 18 November bound for Norfolk, Virginia, and arrived at Hampton Roads on the last day of the month.

For the next seven months, Susan B. Anthony shuttled troops and supplies across the Atlantic to North Africa, making three voyages; the first to Casablanca and the other two to Oran, Algeria.