Notes
Slide Show
Outline
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November 8, 1942

USS Massachusetts-BB59 v. Jean Bart-D615

See Dad’s story of this battle in the Mediterranean,
told according to his view from aboard
USS Wilhoite-DE397 destroyer escort
(member ship of the battle group including USS Massachusetts)
which battle resulted in the disabling of the
French battleship Jean Bart
and the saving of the City of Casablanca

Dad’s story is at the link “Email Me Siblings”
at URL http://www.missmanagement.com/Albums/wilhoitegallery/WilhoiteSurround.html

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Jean Bart, Captain of the
French Battleship Jean Bart D615
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Captain Jean Bart Wearing Boots
Shined With Cirage Impermeable
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Captain Jean Bart Telling His Ship To
“Hold On, I’m Coming” (Attribution: Wilson Pickett)
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Captain Jean Bart At The Station or,
As The French Like To Say, “De La Station”
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The French Battleship Jean Bart D615
(just kidding)
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The French Battleship Jean Bart D615
(just kidding)
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The French Battleship Jean Bart D615
Actually Looks A Tad Scary
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The French Battleship Jean Bart D615
Still Lookin’ Darned Scary
But Sleek! – Like Dad Said!
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The French Battleship Jean Bart D615
Lookin’ Hell’a Scary
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The USS Massachusetts BB-59
Spooking Along
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The USS Massachusetts BB-59
Shorin’ Up For A Squarin’ Off
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The USS Massachusetts BB-59
Real Scary Up Close And Personal
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The USS Massachusetts BB-59
Ain’t No Kitty Kat
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The USS Massachusetts BB-59
Looking Forward From The Afterdeck
During Lull In The Battle Of Casablanca
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The USS Massachusetts BB-59
Ain’t No Kitty Kat
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The USS Massachusetts BB-59
Sailors Ain’t No Kitty Kats Either
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French Battleship Jean Bart D615,
After Meeting the USS Massachusetts BB59
On November 8, 1942
Dud’n’t Look So Scary Now
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Re Previous Slide

















Credit:  http://www.internet-esq.com/ussaugusta/photos/bart.htm

Photo of French battleship Jean Bart at Casablanca pier following Allied aerial and naval bombardment during North African Invasion ("Operation Torch") .
During the opening bombardment of Casablanca on 8 November, 1942 the battleship USS Massachusetts scored 5 hits on Jean Bart with her 16" shells. One penetrated an empty magazine. A second penetrated below the after control station, completely wrecking it, and the nose made a large hole below the waterline. The third and fourth did not meet sufficient resistance to detonate an armor-piercing shell. The fifth, about 0720, hit the forward turret (then firing at Massachusetts), ricocheted against the top of the barbette, and then into the city, where it was recovered and set up as a trophy at the French Admiralty building. The impact of this shell on the barbette jammed the turret in train, silencing Jean Bart's entire main battery for about eight hours.
THE END