| Original caption: “LCT(6)-1003, USS LST-914, LCT(5)-222, and LCT(5)-274 beached after the initial invasion of southern France “Operation Dragoon (Anvil).” An amphibious 6 by 6 DUKW truck leads CCKW 2-and-a-half ton trucks and Willys MB jeeps out of landing craft onto the beach near Provence, France, during Operation Dragoon. A barrage balloon to protect the invasion fleet from low-flying strafing aircraft is seen over the convoy. Operation Dragoon (initially Operation Anvil) was the code name for the landing operation of the Allied invasion of Provence (Southern France) on August 15, 1944. Although initially designed to be executed in conjunction with Operation Overlord, the Allied landing in Normandy, a lack of available resources led to a cancellation of the 2nd landing. By July 1944 the landing was reconsidered, as the clogged-up ports in Normandy did not have the capacity to adequately supply the Allied forces. Concurrently, the High Command of the French Liberation Army pushed for a revival of the operation that would include large numbers of French troops. As a result, the operation was finally approved in July to be executed in August. The invasion sought to secure the vital ports on the French Mediterranean coast and increase pressure on the German forces by opening another front. After preliminary commando operations, the US VI Corps landed on the beaches of the Côte d’Azur under the shield of a large naval task force, followed by several divisions of the French Army B. They were opposed by the scattered forces of the German Army Group G, which had been weakened by the relocation of its divisions to other fronts and the replacement of its soldiers with 3rd-rate Ostlegionen (“East Legions” – captured Red Army soldiers who volunteered for service in France to get out of prisoner of war camps) outfitted with obsolete equipment. Hindered by Allied air supremacy and a large-scale uprising by the French Resistance, the weak German forces were swiftly defeated. The Germans withdrew to the north through the Rhône valley, to establish a stable defense line at Dijon. Allied mobile units were able to overtake the Germans and partially block their route at the town of Montélimar. The ensuing battle led to a stalemate, with neither side able to achieve a decisive breakthrough, until the Germans were finally able to complete their withdrawal and retreat from the town. While the Germans were retreating, the French managed to capture the important ports of Marseille and Toulon, soon putting them into operation. The Allied casualties at the initial landings were very light, with only 95 killed and 385 wounded; 40 of those casualties were caused by a rocket-boosted Henschel Hs 293 guided gliding bomb launched from a Do-217 bomber aircraft by a rare appearance of the bomber wing KG 100, which sank the tank landing ship USS LST-282. The Germans were not able to hold Dijon and ordered a complete withdrawal from Southern France. Army Group G retreated further north, pursued by Allied forces. The fighting ultimately came to a stop at the Vosges mountains, where Army Group G was finally able to establish a stable defense line. After meeting with the Allied units from the American 3rd Army, the Allied forces were in need of reorganizing and, facing stiffened German resistance, the offensive was halted on September 14. The Americans considered Operation Dragoon a success. It enabled them to liberate most of Southern France in just 4 weeks while inflicting heavy casualties on the German forces, although a substantial part of the best German units were able to escape. The captured French ports were put into operation, allowing the Allies to solve their supply problems quickly. The British disagreed with the American assessment due to the weak political impact and lack of movement in Italy. Landing Craft Tank (Marck 5) LCT(5)-274 was laid down at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company of Leavenworth, Kansas. The ship was launched into the Missouri River on October 5, 1942. Commissioned on October 21, 1942; she 1st served in the Sicily campaign of July 9-15, 1943 before Operation Dragoon from August 15 – September 13, 1944. Struck from the Naval Register on February 25, 1946. LCT(5)-274 earned 2 battle stars for World War II service. Registered in 1949 by The California Company, New Orleans, Louisiana, as oil exploration vessel Rangely. Landing Craft Tank (Mark 5) LCT(5)-222, was laid down at Bison Shipbuilding Corporation, North Tonawanda, New York on October 21, 1942. Launched into the Niagara River on November 4, 1942, she was delivered to the United States Navy on November 13. During World War II LCT(5)-222 was assigned to LCT Flotilla 10. She served at Sicily (July 9-15, 1943) and Elba and Pianosa (July 17, 1944) before operation Dragoon. Built in Leavenworth, Kansas, USS LCT(5)-274 was a Landing Craft Tank (Mark 5) laid down at Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company on September 7, 1942, and launched into the Missouri River on October 5, 1942. Delivered and commissioned on October 21, 1942, USS LCT(5)-274 was sailed down the Missouri River to the Mississippi River, and then taken to Norfolk, Virginia, where she was loaded onto the deck of an LST for transport to Europe. USS LCT(5)-274 served in Sicily (July 9-15, 1943) before Operation Dragoon. Struck from the Naval Register on February 26, 1946, LCT(5)-274 was registered in 1949 as an oil exploration vessel named Rangely by the California Company of New Orleans. She founded in the Gulf of Mexico on May 27, 1957, near Houma, Louisiana. Final Disposition, foundered, May 27, 1957, in the Gulf of Mexico, Southwest of Houma, Louisiana. Laid down by Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts, on February 16, 1944, Landing Ship, Tank USS LST-914 was launched into Boston Harbor on April 18. On May 18, Lieutenant Arthur W. Meyer (December 1, 1917 – August 8, 1962), United States Naval Reserve, took command of USS LCT-914 and placed the ship in commission. On June 24, 1944, USS LST-914 was attached to Task Force 60, 1 of 19 LSTs, for sailing across the Atlantic. 1 oiler, 3 cutters, and 6 destroyer escorts screened the LSTs from U-Boats during the crossing. USS LST-914 was assigned to Task Force 81.1, LST Group 60, part of LST Flotilla 20, 8th Amphibious Force. On August 1, 1944, LST Group 60 was in Naples, Italy, preparing for the invasion of Southern France, taking on water and provisions and unloading excess gear to meet minimum draft requirements. Her 1st landing on Delta Beach, between Sainte-Maxime and Sainte-Tropez, was on August 19, 1944. She stayed less than 24 hours to discharge vehicles and cargo and left the same day. Arriving again at Delta Beach on August 23, 1944, USS LST-914 discharged 71 French vehicles belonging to the 431st Etat-Major (General Staff Headquarters) in 24 hours starting at 1800 hours August 22 to August 23, with 198 personnel of the 11ème compagnie du Groupe de Transport No. 501. USS LST-914 left Delta Beach on August 25, 1944. From August 29-31, 1944, USS LST-914 received temporary repairs from USS Extricate (ARS-16) for damage from grounding. The bulkhead between A401 and A402 ruptured, and a cement patch was fitted. Extricate’s log noted “She will be operational until some future availability for removal of the patch.” She was then assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and took part in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in May and June 1945. She received 2 battle stars for Southern France and Okinawa. Following the war, the ship performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-November 1945. Decommissioned on June 26, 1946, USS LST-914 was recommissioned August 26, 1950, during the Korean War. She received 6 battle stars Korean landings, including Inchon (September 15-17, 1950). Decommissioned on September 5, 1959, LST-914 was sold for scrapping on June 22, 1960. USS LCT(6)-1003, a Landing Craft Tank (Mark 6) class craft laid down by Bison Shipbuilding Corporation, North Tonawanda, New York, outside of Buffalo on January 30, 1944, and launched into the Niagara River on February 16, 1944, delivered 2 days later, date of commissioning unknown. Sailed through Lake Ontario to the Saint Lawrence Seaway, LCT(6)-1003 was taken to Norfolk, Virginia, where it was placed on the deck of an LST and sailed to North Africa for the Operation Dragoon invasion. USS LCT(6)-1003 was decommissioned after World War II. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1770.jpg |
| Image Size | 279.81 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1920 x 1507 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 23, 1944 |
| Location | Le Muy |
| City | Delta Beach |
| State or Province | Saint-Tropez |
| Country | France |
| Archive | United States Army Center of Military History |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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