Corgi Fairey Swordfish MkI Operation Torch November 1942

The Swordfish aircraft deployed during Operation Torch were tasked with conducting anti-submarine patrols to protect the invasion forces from enemy attacks. The patrol operations began on October 30, as the task force was approaching Gibraltar.

This marked an extremely busy period for the Swordfish crews. However, not everything went according to plan during this time. HMS Biter lost three of its Swordfish in landing accidents within a few days, as aircraft attempted to land on the carrier in rough seas.

In fact, two of these aircraft were so severely damaged that they were simply pushed over the side of the ship into the choppy waters, leading to their loss. On November 7, 1942, the Swordfish of A and B flights from No. 833 Squadron FAA landed in Gibraltar and began anti-submarine patrols from the island, while work on the completion of the massive assault groups began in earnest.

HMS Biter was assigned to the Central Naval Task Force with the objective of Oran. While its Swordfish continued to protect the operational ships from submarine attacks, its crew had to serve as cover for Sea Hurricanes, which were to provide support for other fighter aircraft tasked with neutralizing Axis airfields after the operations commenced.

Although the activities of enemy submarines posed a very real threat to the considerable Allied assault force, the protection provided by the Swordfish helped to fend off all futile attacks from enemy units.