US NAVY
PACIFIC—Battle of Santa Cruz Islands occurs as TF 16
(Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid) and TF 17 (Rear Admiral GeorgeD. Murray)
engage a numerically superior Japanese force (Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi).
Although the Japanese achieve a tactical victory, the failure of their
simultaneous land offensive on Guadalcanal means that they cannot exploit it to
its fullest. The dwindling number of Japanese carrier planes cannot eliminate
Henderson Field, while fuel shortages compel the Combined Fleet to retire on
Truk. Americans control the skies above the sea routes to Guadalcanal.
The
victory, however, does not come cheaply in this, the fourth major carrier
battle of 1942, for Enterprise (CV‑6) is damaged by planes from carriers
Junyo and Shokaku; Hornet (CV‑8) is damaged by planes from Junyo,
Shokaku, and Zuikaku; battleship South Dakota (BB‑57) and
light cruiser San Juan (CL‑54) are damaged by planes from Junyo;
destroyer Smith (DD‑378) is damaged by a crashing carrier attack plane;
during the operation of fighting Hornet’s fires and taking off her
survivors, destroyer Hughes (DD‑410) is damaged in collision with the
doomed carrier (as well as by friendly fire earlier in the action). The attempt
to scuttle the irreparably damaged Hornet, by gunfire and torpedoes from
destroyers Mustin (DD‑413) and Anderson (DD‑411) fails; destroyer
Porter (DD‑356) is accidentally torpedoed by battle-damaged and ditched
TBF (VT 10), and, deemed beyond salvage, is scuttled by destroyer Shaw
(DD‑373).
SBDs (VS
10) from Enterprise damage carrier Zuiho; SBDs (VB 8, VS 8) from Hornet
damage carrier Shokaku and destroyer Terutsuki; TBFs (VT 6)
from Hornet damage heavy cruiser Chikuma.
Battle of
Henderson Field ends as marines repulse Japanese land and air attacks.
U.S. liner
President Coolidge, chartered for use as a troop transport, blunders
into U.S. minefield off Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides; the ship is beached to
facilitate salvage, but slips into deep water and sinks. Four of the 5,050 Army
troops are lost in the accident, as is one of the 290 man merchant complement.
There are no casualties among the 51 man Armed Guard.
Submarine S‑31
(SS‑136) sinks Japanese transport Keizan Maru off Paramushiro,
50°10'N, 155°36'E.
INDIAN OCEAN—U.S. freighter Anne Hutchinson is
torpedoed and shelled by German submarine U‑504 some 90 miles off East
London, South Africa, 33°12'S, 29°03'E; three crewmen are killed in the attack.
The rest of the ship's complement (37 merchant sailors and the 17 man Armed
Guard) take to two lifeboats (see 27, 28, and 31 October 1942).
ATLANTIC—British motor torpedo boat rescues 39 merchant
seaman and the 10 man Armed Guard from U.S. freighter Reuben Tipton, sunk
by German submarine U‑129 on 23 October 1942, and are transported to
Barbados.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—Momentum of British drive
decreases in El Alamein battle. 30 Corps takes Kidney Ridge, and General Montgomery
decides to regroup for a break-out assault. Allied aircraft continue strong support
to ground forces and disperse enemy concentrations preparing for attack. B‑25’s
hit transport, troop concentrations, and tanks. P‑40’s fly sweeps over El Daba
area and attack motor transport and other targets. Enemy air action increases
and considerable aerial combat ensues. US fighters claim 4 airplanes shot down.
More than 30 B‑17’s and B‑24’s attack shipping off coast of Libya.
TENTH AF—Japanese again hit airfields in Assam connected
with India-China transport route, concentrating on Sookerating. A freight
depot, containing food and medical supplies for China, is destroyed but no US airplanes
are lost. Due to lack of warning, no fighters intercept the attacking force.
CATF Medium Bombers move to W China to carry out neutralization of Lashio, where
the Japanese have aircraft they are using against the Dinjan area. P‑40’s
continue to hit Hong Kong-Canton area, using dive-bombing tactics for first time
in the area.
FIFTH AF—B‑25’s hit Salamaua and airfield at Lae. A‑20’s,
escorted by P‑40’s, bomb and strafe trails in Missima- Kaile-Deniki area.
SOUTH PACIFIC—Carrier aircraft from the Hornet a Enterprise
fight fierce air action with TF in Rattle of Santa Cruz Islands. B‑ 17’s also
attack the TF but report no hits. With 3 of his carriers hit and almost 100
airplanes lost, Vice Admiral Nagumo retires toward Truk. Hornet is severely
damaged a is sunk the following day by Japanese aircraft and destroyer with
bombs and torpedoes.
US ARMY
NEW HEBRIDES—172d Regiment
of U.S. 43d Division arrives at Espiritu Santo, but vessel bringing it, President
Coolidge, is sunk off coast by U.S. mines.
BATTLE OF SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS—Admiral Kinkaid’s naval force,
upon learning of presence of Japanese naval units near Santa Cruz Islands.,
moves forward and engages in naval air battle. 3 Japanese carriers and 2 DD’s
are damaged and 100 planes are destroyed. Cost is high, however, since carrier Hornet
and DD Porter are sunk; 4 vessels, one of them the carrier Enterprise,
are damaged; 20 planes are lost to enemy and 54 from other causes. This is the
last time during the Guadalcanal Campaign that Japanese use carrier aircraft in
close support.
GUADALCANAL—Operational aircraft on Henderson Field now
total 29.
EGYPT—El ‘Alamein battle continues but with decreasing
momentum. 30 Corps, British Eighth Army, improves positions in vicinity of
Miteiriya Ridge and during night 26–27 succeeds in taking Kidney Ridge. General
Montgomery decides to regroup for next phase, the breakout attack, and
withdraws New Zealand 2d Division into reserve. Allied planes continue
effective support of ground operations and disperse enemy force concentrating
for attack. Enemy air action, which has been rather light thus far, increases.
USSR—Hard fighting continues in Stalingrad.
In the
Caucasus, Nalchik falls to Army Group A.
UNITED KINGDOM—TORCH troop convoy leaves for Africa.
US MARINE CORPS
—Naval Battle of Santa
Cruz Island. U. S. force sustains heavy loss, but checks Japanese movement
toward Guadalcanal.
