'Span' was an Allied feint by forces in Corsica against the Italian, or left, flank of the German forces in the whole of south-western Europe in support of 'Dragoon' (i) (14 August 1944).
The undertaking involved the collection and supposed deployment of landing craft and aircraft, together with shore activities, and was designed to draw German attention toward the possibility of an Allied amphibious landing behind the German flank on the Italian front, in the area to the north of Rome, and therefore away from southern France, where 'Dragoon' (i) was to be delivered on the following day.