Editing Operation Torch (section)

=== Axis reaction ===
In the central and eastern Atlantic, U-boats had been drawn away to attack trade [[convoy SL 125]],{{sfn|Edwards|1999|p=115}} and troop convoys between the UK and North Africa went largely unnoticed. A [[Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor]] detected on 31 October a task force of aircraft carriers and cruisers, and on 2 November a returning [[U-boat]] reported a troop ship convoy.{{Sfn|Blair|1998|pp=88-89}}

On 4 November the Germans became aware of an impending big operation, they anticipated another convoy run to Malta or an amphibious landing in Libya or at [[Béjaïa|Bougie Bay]]. Seven U-boats of the Atlantic force were ordered to break through the [[Strait of Gibraltar]] and go to the North African coast. Nine Mediterranean U-boats were also deployed to the same region.{{Sfn|Blair|1998|pp=89-97}} A total of nineteen U-boats were stationed between the [[Balearic Islands]] and Algiers, whilst the Italian Navy deployed twenty-one submarines East of Algiers.{{Sfn|Rohwer|2005|pp=208-209}} On 7 November five German submarines made contact with the British invasion forces but all their attacks missed their target. On 8 November most of these U-boats were operating near Bougie and missed the landings at Algiers.{{Sfn|Blair|1998|pp=89-97}} When receiving news of the landings, [[Karl Dönitz|Dönitz]] ordered twenty-five of the Atlantic U-boats to move towards the Morocco area and Gibraltar, leaving only ten U-boats in the North Atlantic and bringing the U-boat [[Battle of the Atlantic|main offensive]] against the convoy lanes to the United Kingdom to a virtual standstill.{{Sfn|Blair|1998|p=107}} The first wave of nine U-boats to arrive off Morocco ran into a well-prepared defense and achieved little. Only {{GS|U-130|1941|2}} sank three large transport on the anchorage of Fedala, forcing the port to close and ships to divert to Casablanca.{{Sfn|Blair|1998|p=110}} The second wave of fourteen U-boats was sent to the area West of Gibraltar, trying to block all traffic in and out the Straits. They sank the escort carrier {{HMS|Avenger|D14|6}} and the destroyer tender {{HMS|Hecla|1940|6}} with heavy loss of life. In both theaters of operation, the Mediterranean and Atlantic, the Germans lost eight U-boats,{{Sfn|Blair|1998|pp=111-115}} and the Italians two.{{Sfn|Rohwer|2005|p=209}}
[[File:North Africa Operations. 12 November 1942, Bougie, North Africa. A13019.jpg|thumb|The Karanja and Cathay on fire off Bougie after Axis air attacks]]
Between 8 and 14 November German bomber and torpedo aircraft attacked ships along the North African coast. They sank two troop transports, one landing ship, two transport ships and the sloop {{HMS|Ibis|U99|2}}. The aircraft carrier {{HMS|Argus|I49|2}} and the monitor {{HMS|Roberts|F40|2}} were damaged by bombs.{{Sfn|Rohwer|2005|p=210}}