Monday 12 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Battle of Cape Esperance continues as TG 64.2 engages Japanese cruiser and destroyer force. As the result of damage received in the battle, Japanese heavy cruiser Furutaka sinks, 09°02'S, 159°34'E; destroyers Murakumo and Shirayuki rescue survivors of Rear Admiral Goto's ships sunk in the engagement with TG 64.2.

            Despite efforts of a salvage party from destroyer McCalla (DD‑488), destroyer Duncan (DD‑485) sinks as a result of damage received off Cape Esperance. McCalla also conducts unsuccessful attempt to sink Japanese submarine I‑2 off Guadalcanal.

            Destroyers Gwin (DD‑433), Nicholas (DD‑450), and Sterett (DD‑407) shell Japanese artillery positions on Guadalcanal.

            SBD (VS 71) sinks Japanese destroyer Natsugumo off Savo Island; destroyer Murakumo, after being damaged by TBF (VT 8), Navy and Marine SBDs (VS 3, VS 71, VMSB 141) and Marine F4Fs (VMF 121, VMF 212, and VMF 224) off New Georgia, Solomons, is scuttled by destroyer Shirayuki.

            Submarine Nautilus (SS‑168) is damaged by depth charges off northern Honshu, 41°05'N, 141°58'E, but remains on patrol.

            Motor torpedo boats PT-38, PT-46, PT-48 and PT-60 arrive at Tulagi, having been towed from Espiritu Santo to a point 300 miles south of that place by high-speed minesweepers Southard (DMS‑10) and Hovey (DMS‑11).

            Transport Mount Vernon (AP‑22) is stranded by storm, Sydney, Australia, harbor, but is not damaged in the accidental grounding.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Pan Gulf, in convoy TAG 18S, blunders into U.S. minefield at 10°01'N, 61°50'16"W; she returns to Trinidad under her own power. There are no casualties among the 38 man merchant complement and 21 man Armed Guard.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—VIII Fighter Command is made responsible for preparation and movement of air echelons of Twelfth AF from UK to N Africa.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Bomber Command USAMEAF is organized at Cairo with Col Patrick W Timberlake as CO. This step comes about as part of a move to preserve Arnold-Portal-Towers agreement that US combat units in theaters of British strategic responsibility are to be organized in homogeneous ‘American formations’ and under ‘strategic control only’ of a British CinC. B‑17’s hit shipping at Tobruk harbor.

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s hit village of Isivita and targets on trail near Wairopi. B‑25’s bomb Buna, Wairopi bridge, and targets along Buna-Kokoda trail.

SOUTH PACIFIC—5 B‑17’s bomb installations at Buka.

ELEVENTH AF—2 B‑24’s abort bombing of Kiska due to overcast and instead fly shipping search W of Attu.

US ARMY

BATTLE OF CAPE ESPERANCE—Henderson-based planes conclude action against retiring enemy naval force, sinking DD’s Murakumo and Natsugumo.

SOLOMON ISLANDS—4 boats of MTB Sq 3, the first naval craft to be permanently based at Tulagi except for harbor patrol boats, are towed in.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—General Stilwell requests that a second 30 Chinese divisions be equipped.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday 11 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese transport force (Rear Admiral Joshima Koji), formed around seaplane carriers Chitose and Nisshin and six destroyers, reaches Tassafaronga, Guadalcanal, to disembark elements of the Japanese Army's 2d Infantry Division. Three heavy cruisers and two destroyers (Rear Admiral Goto Aritomo, his flag in heavy cruiser Aoba) are to provide cover by shelling Henderson Field. Battle of Cape Esperance commences shortly before midnight, however, as naval surface force TG 64.2 (Rear Admiral Norman Scott) bars Goto's way. Heavy cruiser Salt Lake City (CA‑25) and light cruiser Boise (CL‑47) are damaged, but combine to cripple Japanese heavy cruiser Furutaka; destroyers Duncan (DD‑485) and Farenholt (DD‑491) are also damaged by Japanese gunfire, the latter possibly by friendly fire from either Boise or Helena (CL‑50). American cruiser and destroyer gunfire sinks Japanese destroyer Fubuki (09°06'S,159°38'E) and damages heavy cruiser Aoba (Rear Admiral Goto is killed on board his flagship) and destroyer Hatsuyuki.

            Japanese submarine I‑25, homeward bound from her deployment off the U.S. West Coast, torpedoes and sinks Russian submarine L 16 (bound from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, to San Francisco, California), 46°41'N, 138°56'E.

            Submarine Searaven (SS‑196) torpedoes German blockade runner Regensburg in Sunda Strait, N.E.I.

            British destroyer HMS Active rescues 23 survivors from No.2 lifeboat from U.S. freighter Coloradan, which had been torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑159 on 9 October 1942 (see 19 October 1942).

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Steel Scientist, en route to Paramaribo, British Guiana, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑514, 05°48'N, 51°39'W; one crewman is killed in the attack. Survivors (who include 37 merchant seamen and the 9 man Armed Guard) take to a gig and three lifeboats (see 19 and 20 October 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s attack convoy in the Mediterranean, hitting 1 vessel and claiming 1 fighter shot down.

SOUTH PACIFIC—B‑17’s sight Task Force of cruisers and destroyers bearing down on Guadalcanal in the afternoon. During 11/12 Oct, in the Battle of Cape Esperance, Adm Scott’s cruisers drive away the vessels. Search has been and continues to be the most useful service of the B‑17’s in SOPAC.

ELEVENTH AF—Kiska is hit by 3 bombing and strafing missions flown by 10 B‑24’s and 3 B‑17’s. The B‑17’s make no contact. The B‑24’s blast harbor targets and Main Camp.

US ARMY

BATTLE OF CAPE ESPERANCE—After Japanese naval force moving toward Guadalcanal is spotted by U.S. planes in afternoon, Task Force of 4 cruisers and 5 DD’s under Rear Admiral Norman Scott, standing off Rennell Island to protect convoy bringing elements of Americal Division to Guadalcanal, moves toward Cape Esperance to engage enemy and at 2346 opens fire. During 34-minute battle, the Task Force sinks Furutaka (CA) and Fubuki (DD) and damages Aoba and Kinugasa (CA’s). Enemy retires northward, leaving DD’s Natsugumo and Murakumo to rescue survivors. U.S. losses are light: Duncan, Boise, Salt Lake City, and Farenholt are damaged; of these, only the DD Duncan sinks, on 12th.

MADAGASCAR—General Platt, CG E African Command, relinquishes command on island to Maj General Smallwood, General Officer Commanding Islands Area.

US MARINE CORPS

—Naval Battle of Cape Esperance. U. S. forces under Admiral Spruance engage Japanese ships of the “Tokyo Express. ”

 

Saturday 10 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Amberjack (SS‑219) damages Japanese transport Tenryu Maru and auxiliary Tonan Maru off Kavieng, 02°36'S, 150°48'E.

            Submarine Seadragon (SS‑194) sinks Japanese transport Shigure Maru off Samarinda, Borneo, 01°01'S, 117°22'E.

            Submarine Wahoo (SS‑238) sinks Japanese collier Kamoi Maru off Bougainville, Solomons.

            Japanese submarine chaser Ch 14 is damaged by planes (USAAF B‑24s and B‑17s, accompanied by P‑38s, bomb shipping in Trout Lagoon and off South Head) off Kiska, Aleutians.

            U.S. tanker Camden, torpedoed by Japanese submarine I‑25 on 4 October 1942, catches fire and sinks off the mouth of the Columbia River, 46°46'38"N, 124°31'15"W.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s bomb shipping and dock area at Bengasi, while B‑25’s hit landing grounds.

FIFTH AF—B‑17’s pound Rabaul and nearby Lakunai airfield. A‑20’s hit target along Buna-Kokoda trail and, with P‑ 400’s, strike villages in area of Asisi and Sanananda.

ELEVENTH AF—10 B‑24’s, 7 B‑17’s, and 4 P‑38’s fly 4 missions to Kiska. Third mission (3 B‑17’s) does not make contact. The others bomb and strafe Main Camp area, hit shipping in Trout Lagoon and off South Head, where gun positions and installations are also blasted. Fires are started in the Main Camp and hangar areas.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—In anticipation of enemy counteroffensive, marines strengthen defense positions and patrol aggressively. 3 Battalions of 1st and 7th Marines plus elements of Special Weapons Company take responsibility for E bank of the Matanikau, where permanent positions are established at river mouth. By this time, 12 P–39’s of 67th Fighter Squadron are at Henderson Field. B–17’s are occasionally staging through the field.

NEW GUINEA—Main body of 2d Battalion, 126th Infantry, U.S. 32d Division, with supporting units, leaves Kalikodobu on foot for Jaure.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday 9 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—U.S. troop convoy, TG 62.6, consisting of transports McCawley (AP‑10) and Zeilin (AP‑9) and eight high speed transports (Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner) sails from Nouméa, New Caledonia, for Guadalcanal with the U.S. Army 164^th Infantry Regiment embarked.

            Auxiliary aircraft carrier Copahee (ACV 12) ferries 20 USMC F4Fs (VMF 121) to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal.

            Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I‑7 reconnoiters Espiritu Santo.

            Submarine Drum (SS‑228) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Yawatasan Maru, 33°27'N, 136°01'E.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Coloradan is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑159 approximately 214 miles southwest of Cape Town, South Africa, 35°47'S, 14°34'E; six crewmen are killed in the attack. Survivors (who include 33 merchant seamen and the 15 man Armed Guard) divide themselves between two lifeboats; the men in lifeboat no.1 are questioned by the Germans and are given a course to Cape Town (see 11 and 19 October and 2 November 1942).

            German submarine U‑505 is damaged by aircraft off Trinidad, B.W.I.

            U.S. freighter Examelia is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑68 20 miles south of the Cape of Good Hope,34°52'S, 18°30'E; U‑boat officers question the survivors before the enemy submersible leaves the area. U.S. freighter John Lykes subsequently rescues the survivors (30 of 38 merchant sailors and 10 of the 13 man Armed Guard) (see 2 November 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—B‑24’s join air assault in first US mission in which more than 100 bombers are dispatched from UK. The principal targets are the steel and engineering works of the Compagnie de Fives at Lille and the locomotive and freight car works of Ateliers d’Hellemmes at Lille, which are attacked by 69 B‑17’s and B‑24’s. Other targets attacked (by 10 Heavy Bombers) are Courtrai/Wevelghem and Saint-Omer airfields and the city of Roubaix.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s strike shipping and harbor facilities at Bengasi. P‑40’s fly escort and strafe a landing ground W of El Daba and emplacements in battle area W of El Alamein.

FIFTH AF—14 B‑25’s hit airfield at Lae. 30 B‑17’s pound numerous targets at Rabaul.

ELEVENTH AF—7 B‑17’s and 10 B‑24’s escorted by 6 P‑38’s and 4 P‑39’s bomb Kiska Harbor, installations and shipping 6 times. Targets include shipping in Gertrude Cove, small cargo vessels in Kiska Harbor, installations at North Head, hangar, Main Camp area (hit several times), and various shore facilities.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—Rear echelon of 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division, arrives. 164th Infantry of Americal Division sails to Guadalcanal from Nouméa, New Caledonia. Whaling Group and 7th Marines force cross the Matanikau and, with artillery assistance of 11th Marines, drive N to coastal area; retire eastward across Matanikau River mouth, covered by 5th Marines, concluding 3-day action during which Japanese lose nearly 700 men as against 65 marines killed and 125 wounded.

FRANCE—In heaviest daylight raid to date, about 100 U.S. heavy bombers with strong RAF and U.S. fighter support attack industrial targets at Lille. Many enemy planes are encountered and more than 100 are damaged or destroyed.

US MARINE CORPS

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Thursday 8 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese guard boat Toyohama Maru is wrecked (cause unspecified), Wotje Atoll.

            Submarine Drum (SS‑228) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Hague Maru, 34°06'N, 136°22'E.

INDIAN OCEAN—U.S. tanker Swiftsure is torpedoed by German submarine U‑68 approximately 25 miles southeast of the Cape of Good Hope, 34°40'S, 18°25'E, and after firefighting efforts prove futile, is abandoned. There are no casualties among the 31 man crew, and all hands are rescued by a British minesweeper that comes out from Cape Town, South Africa (see 2 November 1942).

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter John Carter Rose is torpedoed by German submarine U‑202 at 10°27'N, 45°37'W; fires triggered by the explosions make abandoning ship difficult. Five the 45 man crew perish, as do 3 of the 20 man Armed Guard. U‑201 returns, but a second dud torpedo fails to damage the merchantman. The U‑boat then shells John Carter Rose, after which time the Germans provide the survivors with cigarettes, medical supplies and food (see 13 October 1942).

            British corvette HMS Rockrose picks up 42 survivors (32 merchant seamen and 10 Armed Guard sailors) of U.S. freighter Chickasaw City, sunk the previous day by German submarine U‑172 (see 2 November 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

USSR—German High Command abandons attempt to storm Stalingrad; announces plans to take city by artillery siege.

EIGHTH AF—In letter to General Stratemeyer, General Eaker indicates plans for developing highly-skilled intruder force capable of using bad weather as a cloak for small blind-bombing operations. These missions are also to serve purpose of keeping the enemy from resting during periods of bad weather when big strategic missions cannot be flown.

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s of 343d and 344th Squadrons, 98th Bomb Group, fail to reach target at Bengasi because of bad weather. Hal Bomb Squadron manages to attack shipping at Bengasi.

FIFTH AF—B‑25’s bomb Buna area while A‑20’s pound Buna-Kokoda trail. Japanese withdrawal NE across Owen Stanley Range slows as they prepare to make a stand at Templeton’s Crossing N of Myola.

ELEVENTH AF—9 B‑24’s, 3 B‑17’s, and 12 P‑38’s blast Kiska Harbor installations (starting fires in Main Camp), and strafe AA positions, hangars, a corvette (silencing her guns), and a freighter.

US ARMY

GUADALCANAL—Marine attack across Matanikau River is postponed because of heavy rains, but 5th Marines and raiders reduce enemy bridgehead on E bank in costly fighting. When Japanese plans for counteroffensive are discovered, 1st Marine Division CG changes plan of attack. Instead of driving toward Kokumbona and the Poha, marines are to raid Pt Cruz area in force and return to Lunga perimeter.

NEW GUINEA—Japanese withdrawal across Owen Stanley Range toward Kokoda slows as preparations are made for stand at Templeton’s Crossing, N of Myola.

CHINA BURMA INDIA—General Chennault delivers to Wendell L. Willkie a letter for President Roosevelt asking for increased authority and air power in order to destroy Japanese Air Force in China, then attack Japanese Empire.

US MARINE CORPS

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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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Tuesday 6 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—U.S. tanker Larry Doheny is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I‑25 off the coast of Oregon, 42°20'N, 125°02'W, and abandoned. Two of the ship's 34 man merchant complement die in the attack, as do four of the 8 man Armed Guard. Small seaplane tender Coos Bay (AVP‑25) rescues the survivors. Larry Doheny sinks the next morning.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑24’s hit Bengasi harbor, scoring large number of near misses but no direct hits. 1 Heavy Bomber bombs Bardia during return flight. AA is heavy and accurate and fighters attack 6 Heavy Bombers over target. 2 B‑24’s are lost.

FIFTH AF—Fifth AF aircraft complete movement of reinforced Australian 18th Brigade to Wanigela on peninsula between Dyke Acland and Collingwood Bays on E coast of Papua. This is part of move aimed at capture of Buna-Gona area.

ELEVENTH AF—8 B‑24’s, 1 B‑17, 10 P‑39’s, and 8 P‑38’s fly bombing and weather missions over Kiska. A large transport is bombed in the harbor which is left sinking. Hits are scored on a corvette and on a large freighter at Gertrude Cove and on a hangar in Main Camp. The radio station is damaged. A float fighter is strafed and set afire, and 6 Zeros are hit on the water.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Second Protocol for U.S. aid to USSR, covering period to 1 July 1943, is signed in Washington. 3,300,000 tons are to be sent by N Soviet ports and 1,100,000 by Persian Gulf route.

PACIFIC OCEAN AREA—General Harmon recommends to Admiral Ghormley that projected invasion of Ndeni, Santa Cruz Islands., scheduled to follow capture of Tulagi and Guadalcanal airfield, be postponed and that Guadalcanal be reinforced; that naval operations in the Solomons be increased; and that adequate airdrome construction personnel and equipment be sent to Guadalcanal. Admiral Ghormley decides to proceed with plan to occupy Ndeni as landing field site and agrees to reinforce Guadalcanal with an Army regiment and to improve airdrome facilities. 164th Infantry of Americal Division is chosen to reinforce Guadalcanal and 147th Infantry (less 2 Battalions) to occupy Ndeni.

NEW GUINEA—Fifth Air Force completes movement of reinforced Australian 18th Brigade to Wanigela. Channel from Milne Bay to Cape Nelson has now been charted in order to permit shipment of supplies by water.

EGYPT—General Montgomery issues instructions for El ‘Alamein offensive in Western Desert.

USSR—Oil city of Malgobek, near Grozny, falls to Army Group A.

US MARINE CORPS

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