NAVAL FORCES
 
BRITISH.
 
        Unless there is reason to believe that enemy surface units are
loose in the Atlantic, close protection of British convoys by heavy
ships or aircraft carriers will not be essential. Protection provided
by theHome Fleet watching the northern passages and by Force It in the
Gibraltar area should be sufficient.
 
        There will probably be 6 British convoys, each divided into a
fast and slow portion, sailing from the United Kingdom at about
fortnightly intervals. This sunounts to doubling the rate of' sailing
of normal United Kingdom to Cape convoys and the extra escorts will
have to be withdrawn from trade protection for a considerable period.
 
UNITED STATES.
 
        The U.S. Atlantic Pleet will provide appropriate protection and
support for the transit and landing of U.S. Expeditionary Forces.
 
AMERICAN CONVOY ESCORTS.
 
                   _a    Advance American Division -
                                     One ~larine Division embarked in
15 vessels
escorted by units from Task Force Three.
 
                   b_     Remainder of initial U.S. forces-
                                   Three convoys at about one month
intervals,
                          escorted by units withdrawn from Task Forces
Three
                          and Four. Successive logistic convoys require
                          escorts withdrawn from Task Force Four,
 
TIMINGS.
 
        D-1 is the day on which the order is given to mount the
expedition.
 
                   a      U. S. FORCES
%
                                     The U. S. Marine Division could
reach Casa-
                           blanca on D-20.
 
b_    BRITISH FORCES
           The first British convoy could reach Algiers
 
on D .... , or Casablanca on D .... . Subseqt the despatch of the
remaining British for, totalling 1 armored and 2 infantry divisi~
ancillary troops would take about another Its movement would therefore
be complete ~
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