<Li> 1--Involved an Allied convoy </Li> <Li> 2--Involved an Axis convoy </Li> <P> Operation Torch (8--16 November 1942, formerly Operation Gymnast) was an Anglo--American invasion of French North Africa, during the North African Campaign of the Second World War . Torch was the debut of the mass involvement of US troops in the European--North African Theatre . </P> <P> The Soviet Union had long pressed the US and British to start operations in Europe and open a second front, to reduce the pressure of German forces on the Red Army . While US commanders favored Operation Sledgehammer, a landing in Occupied Europe as soon as possible, British commanders believed that it was premature and likely to end in disaster and proposed landings in French North Africa . On July 28, the Axis Afrika Korps, under General Erwin Rommel, captured Mersa Matruh, in Egypt, only 140 miles (230 km) from Alexandria . </P>

When did us troops land in north africa
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