Wednesday 7 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Amberjack (SS‑219) sinks Japanese supply ship Senkei Maru, southern Carolines, 01°55'N, 153°01'E.

            Submarine Sculpin (SS‑191) sinks Japanese army transport Naminoue Maru off Rabaul, 03°14'S, 150°01'E.

            Japanese merchant cargo ship Midori Maru founders and sinks above Woosung, China.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Chickasaw City is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑172 approximately 85 miles south-southwest of Cape Town, South Africa, 34°00'S, 17°16'E; 5 of the 37 man crew, 1 of the 11 man Armed Guard and the sole passenger perish in the attack (see 8 October and 2 November 1942).

            U.S. freighter John Carter Rose is attacked by German submarine U‑201; one dud torpedo fails to damage the merchantman and Armed Guard gunfire drives off the ship's assailant (see 8 October 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s score 7 direct hits on a tanker and 8 on fuel installations at Suda Bay. 66 P‑40’s escort bombers over battle area W of El Alamein.

ELEVENTH AF—3 B‑24’s taking off to bomb Kiska and patrol Near Islands abort mission due to mechanical failure and instead fly reconnaissance over Agattu, Attu, and Semichi Islands with negative results.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—1st Marine Division, with air and artillery support, opens offensive to extend perimeter westward beyond artillery range of Henderson Field, moving 3 columns forward toward the Matanikau, line of departure, from Kukum area. While 5th Marines (less Battalion) moves along coast to conduct holding action at Matanikau River mouth, 7th Marines (less Battalion), followed by Whaling Group (3d Battalion of 2d Marines and division scout-sniper detachment under Col William J. Whaling), advances SW with mission of crossing river and enveloping Pt Cruz. 5th Marines column soon meets opposition and drives enemy back almost to Matanikau River mouth. The other 2 columns reach Hill 65, overlooking Matanikau River, with little difficulty and halt for the night. After nightfall, attack preparations are simulated at river mouth and 5th Marines is reinforced by company of 1st Raider Battalion.

NEW GUINEA—U.S. 32d Division force (platoon of Company E, 126th Infantry; Anti-Tank and Cannon Companies; native carriers) under Capt Alfred Medendorp begins difficult march from Kalikodobu, 40 miles SE of Port Moresby, toward Jaure. The force is dependent upon airdrops for most of its supplies.

US MARINE CORPS

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