Section, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 58 HAA Rgt Platoon, Royal Army Service Corps North Africa 58th HAA Rgt was selected for the landings in North Africa in November 1942 (Operation Torch) with First Army. Two batteries formed part of 22 AA Bde, regarded as the best trained in mobile operations and amphibious warfare. They were equipped with the older 3-inch 20 cwt gun on a modernised trailer, rather than the newer 3.7-inch. This was because the lighter 3-inch was easier and quicker to deploy in the rough country anticipated for the campaign. After sailing from the River Clyde they were landed on the coast of Algeria as infantry in the first flight of landing craft on 8 November, to be followed later by their heavy equipment. After the initial fighting, 22 AA Bde accompanied the leading elements of First Army on their long march eastwards, while 58th's batteries remained at Algiers to unload their guns and equipment and take up positions around the harbour and airfields. There was congestion at the docks, and AA guns had been given low priority in loading the supply ships, so the regiment could get only four guns into action by 10 November, eight more on the 11th, and four more on the 12th, during which time the port and airfields were under air attack. Follow-up elements of the regiment were lost when the liner Cathay was sunk on 11 November, and more men were lost in other convoys. Axis air command reacted quickly to the Allied invasion. As the AA troops moved into their positions they were dive-bombed in the open, particularly at Djidjelli airfield. One troop of 207th Bty and a troop of 45th LAA Rgt rapidly organised barrages in close defence, so effectively that three enemy aircraft were destroyed and the gun positions survived. There was a repeated attack, by Junkers Ju 87s and Ju 88s flying at 5000–6000 feet, on 22 November, which lasted two hours. The harbour at Bône became the most heavily attacked target in North Africa, and a troop of 58th HAA was sent to reinforce the AA defences there. On 21 November they fought raids by Ju88s, which set buildings and stores ablaze, and destroyed the AA units' small number of vehicles. During the next few weeks, AA defences for the Algiers area were built up into an integrated joint-service organisation, with the RAF installing early-warning