Trafford

In April 1941, the United States transferred ten "Lake Class" Cutters to
Great Britain under terms of the Lend Lease Act of 11th March 1941. Two of
the cutters, SEBAGO and PONCHARTRAIN, were renamed HMS WALNEY and HMS
HARTLAND respectively. Both were lost during Operation Torch, the
Anglo-American invasion of North Africa.

This initial operation called for the taking of the seaports of Casablanca,
Oran, and Algiers so that heavy equipment and supplies could be landed and
airfields captured to support the invasion.   WALNEY and HARTLAND were
attached to the 'Centre' Task Force (there were three Task Forces -
Western, Centre and Eastern). This Centre Task Force, comprised 105 Royal
Navy ships, that included warships, transports, and landing craft, to
transport and land 39,000 United States troops to this section of the North
African coast alone.

The object was to take the port without damaging the important facilities
by prior bombardment and to prevent the French from destroying the harbour
installations, or blocking the entrance to the harbour. To this end, troops
were to be landed by surprise on adjacent beaches and encircle the city.
WALNEY and HARTLAND would then crash the boom at the harbour's entrance,
land troops at the heart of the waterfront, and prevent defenders from
sabotaging port facilities and scuttling ships. 

At H-Hour, 01.00 hrs on the 8th November 1942, invading forces from the
Center Task Force were put ashore on the beaches adjacent to Oran. While
this was taking place WALNEY and HARTLAND were maneuvering off the harbour
entrance awaiting the signal to begin their dash. The landings on the beach
went off smoothly against light opposition. Task Force Commanders believed
the entire operation had caught the French by surprise and hastened to give
the order for WALNEY and HARTLAND to begin the frontal assault.

The signal came at 02.45 hrs, 1 hour and 45 minutes after H-Hour. WALNEY
and HARTLAND squared off and headed at top speed for the log boom
stretching across the harbor mouth. Royal Navy personnel manned both
vessels and each carried about 200 men of the 6th U.S. Armored Infantry
Division. The landing force included specialists equipped with canoes
designed to quickly bring them alongside ships in the harbor and prevent
them from being scuttled. In addition to their White Ensigns, both ships
flew large American flags.

WALNEY was in the lead. Riding her was Squadron Commander, Captain R.T.
Peters, RN, who had come out of retirement to volunteer for the 'Death of
Glory' mission. As she began her swift approach it became apparent that the
French defenders of Oran were not only aware of her presence, they were
full of fight as well. Huge searchlights from shore caught WALNEY in their
glaring beams and she immediately came under heavy automatic gunfire.

Undaunted by the heavy rain of shells and partially screened by smoke
generated by escorting motor launches, Captain Peters drove WALNEY head on
into the log boom and crashed through it. Once past this barrier WALNEY
found the narrow entrance the harbour blocked by the French Sloop LA
SURPRISE, attempting to sortie. The French ship after narrowly avoiding a
collision with WALNEY poured heavy gunfire into her at point blank range,
wrecking WALNEY's machinery spaces and putting her out of control. WALNEY's
headway carried her on into the confines of the harbour where she came
under a murderous crossfire from several French submarines and a French
destroyer. With his ship helpless and nearly 76% casualties on board,
Captain Peters gave the order to abandon ship. The French took prisoner
those who managed to reach shore.  Not long after she was abandoned and at
09.45 hrs WALNEY, exploded and sank.

HARTLAND fared no better as she followed close astern of WALNEY.