At the end of October, "Wichita" was assigned to Task Group 34.1, under the command of Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, who flew his flag in . The Task Group also included the battleship and "Tuscaloosa". The ships were assigned to provide gunfire support for Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa. "Wichita" participated in the Naval Battle of Casablanca, which began early on the morning of 8 November. The ships were tasked with neutralizing the primary French defenses, which included coastal guns on El Hank, several submarines, and the incomplete battleship which lay at anchor in the harbor. "Wichita" and "Tuscaloosa" initially engaged the French batteries on El Hank and the French submarine pens, while "Massachusetts" attacked "Jean Bart". French naval forces, led by the cruiser , put up a stubborn defense.