Operation Dragoon order of battle
On 15 August 1944, Allied forces carried out Operation Dragoon, a set of simultaneous amphibious landings by three US infantry divisions followed by four Free French divisions along the Mediterranean coast of France. The main landings were preceded by nighttime paratroop drops and commando beach landings. This was a phase of the European Theatre of World War II.
Originally called Operation Anvil, these landings had been intended to take place at the same time as the Normandy landings of Operation Overlord, commonly called D-Day, but were postponed because the necessary shipping was committed to the Normandy operation.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill strenuously objected to the invasion of Southern France, strongly preferring an operation in the Adriatic Sea. The American high command, however, particularly SHAEF commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower, insisted on opening a port on the Southern French coast even after the lodgment in Normandy was obtained. The ports of Normandy were overwhelmed handling the cargo to support the Overlord invasion forces and another high-capacity port closer to the German frontier was vital if more men and supplies were to be delivered to the continent. Additionally, the high command of the French Liberation Army pushed for a landing on the coast of Provence that would include the large numbers of Free French troops that were being trained. Churchill finally relented only five days before the date set for the landings.
In the Alpha and Delta areas, Allied air assault and naval bombardment had either destroyed the German gun emplacements or driven their crews to abandon them. Only in the Camel zone did the landing forces experience any serious resistance.
The Americans considered Operation Dragoon a success. It enabled them to liberate most of Southern France in just four weeks while inflicting heavy casualties on the German forces, and the ports of Marseille and Toulon were soon in operation.
Allied command structure
Ground forces
US Seventh Army
Lieutenant General Alexander McC. PatchEngineer
Military Police
Medical
Quartermaster
Signal
'''Miscellaneous'''
''Armee'' "B"
Armee B constituted the follow-up landing forceGénéral d'armée Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
Naval forces
US Eighth Fleet
Vice Admiral H. Kent Hewitt in amphibious force command ship ''Catoctin'''Aircraft Carrier Force (Task Force 88)
Rear Admiral Thomas Hope Troubridge, RN in light cruiserAntisubmarine and Convoy Control Group (Task Group 80.6)
Captain J.P. Clay,,,,,,,,,, ', HHMS Kriti
,, HMS Catterick,, HHMS Themistoklis,, HHMS Pindos
Sitka Force
''Parachute and commando landings night of 14–15 August''Sitka parachute and commando forces
1st Airborne Task ForceBrigadier General '''Robert T. Frederick'''
Sitka naval forces
Rear Admiral Lyal A. Davidson in heavy cruiser 'Augusta'''''Alpha Force
''Landings near St. Tropez, 15 August''Alpha ground forces
3rd Infantry "Rock of the Marne" DivisionMajor General John W. O'Daniel
Organic Units
'''3rd Infantry Division Beach Group'''
Alpha naval forces
Task Force 84Rear Admiral Frank J. Lowry in Coast Guard cutter 'Duane'''''
Delta Force
Landings near St. Maxime, 15 AugustDelta ground forces
45th Infantry "Thunderbird" DivisionMajor General William W. Eagles
Organic units
'''45th Infantry Division Beach Group'''
Delta naval forces
Task Force 85Rear Admiral Bertram J. Rodgers in amphibious force flagship ''Biscayne''
Camel Force
Landings at St. Raphael, 15 AugustCamel ground forces
36th Infantry "Arrowhead" DivisionMajor General John E. Dahlquist
Organic units
'''36th Infantry Division Beach Group'''
Camel naval forces
Task Force 87Rear Admiral Spencer S. Lewis
Allied air forces
Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force
Major General John K. CannonXII Tactical Air Command
Brigadier General Gordon P. SavilleMediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force
Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Pughe Lloyd63rd Fighter Wing