Tuesday, 16 June 1942

US NAVY

CARIBBEAN—Submarine chaser PC-460 rescues 42 survivors from U.S. steamship Sixaola, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-159 off the coast of Panama on 12 June.

           Gunboat Erie (PG-50) and destroyer Tattnall (DD-125), south of St. Andrews Island, rescue survivors of U.S. bulk carrier Lebore, which had been sunk by German submarine U-172 on 14 June. Among those rescued are the 8 Armed Guard sailors from Lebore, and the 49 survivors of the Dutch steamship Crijnssen, which Lebore had rescued on 11 June when U-504 had sunk the Netherlands-flag ship at 18°14'N, 85°11'W.

           Provision storeship Pastores (AF-16) rescues 36 survivors of U.S. freighter Arkansan, sunk by German submarine U-126 the day before.

           U.S. freighter Kahuku, torpedoed by U-126, sinks; six of her 36 man crew as well as three of her 10 man Armed Guard perish in the attack. Lost as well are nine passengers: six of the 46 survivors from U.S. freighter Scottsburg, sunk by U-161 on 15 June and three of the 17 survivors of Panamanian-flag steamer Cold Harbor, sunk by U-502 the same day. Coastal yacht Opal (PYc-8) and district patrol vessel YP-63 rescue the 91 survivors from the three ships.

MEDITERRANEAN—Operation HARPOON: of the six ships in convoy WS 12Z, only two reach Malta; two escorting destroyers are lost, while a light cruiser, three destroyers and a minesweeper suffer varying degrees of damage.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—B‑26’s, B‑25’s, and B‑17’s pound Lae and Salamaua, hitting runways and buildings and starting several fires.

US ARMY

LIBYA—General Auchinleck authorizes General Ritchie to organize the garrison of Tobruk as he wishes. 4 infantry brigades with supporting artillery and tanks are disposed within Tobruk. Rest of British Eighth Army is to act as mobile columns outside the fortress. General Klopper is authorized to withdraw the garrison if necessary. Acroma garrison holds out against enemy tank attacks. Other enemy tank columns drive on Sidi Rezegh and feint toward El Adem. El Adem garrison withdraws after nightfall.

US MARINE CORPS

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