Friday 23 October, 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Kingfish (SS‑234) sinks Japanese gunboat Seikyo Maru at entrance to Kii Suido, Honshu, 33°20'N,135°27'E.

            USAAF B‑17s damage Japanese submarine chasers Ch 31 and Ch 32 at Rabaul.

            Japanese submarine I‑7 shells Espiritu Santo.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Reuben Tipton, bound for Trinidad, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U‑129; three merchant seamen are killed in the attack (see 25 and 26 October 1942).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY MIDDLE EAST AIR FORCE—B‑17’s and B‑24’s sent to attack Candia and Bengasi turn back short of target due to bad weather. El Alamein offensive by British Eighth Army begins at 2140 with artillery barrage by more than 1,000 guns aimed at enemy batteries. At 2200 barrage switches to enemy forward positions as British troops move forward. Heavy fighting continues during 23/24 Oct.

FIFTH AF—A‑20’s bomb and strafe Deniki and Deniki-Kokoda trail. B‑17’s thoroughly pound shipping at Rabaul.

SOUTH PACIFIC—Henderson Field is again made operational by Seabees, and Marine and AAF fighters begin to inflict heavy losses on naval aircraft. Japanese ground forces assault def lines around the airfields but are thrown back.

ELEVENTH AF—Armed reconnaissance by 7 bombers, escorted by 6 P‑38’s, is flown over Kiska installations, chiefly the submarine base and Main Camp. Visibility is excellent and direct hits are scored, including 1 on submarine base.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Forces from U.S. begin movement to North Africa in preparation for TORCH. First detachment of Western Naval Task Force, under Rear Admiral Henry K. Hewitt, sails from Hampton Roads, Virginia.

GUADALCANAL—After quiet day, Japanese artillery opens up at 1800 with heaviest fire to date, after which assault force (tank co and infantry regiment) makes determined but futile efforts to cross Matanikau River mouth and overrun 3d Battalion of 1st Marines. Japanese sustain heavy losses: 600 are estimated killed and at least 8 tanks are knocked out. 1st Marines casualties are 25 killed and 14 wounded. Main enemy enveloping force, which was to have attacked simultaneously with coastal force, is not yet in position and postpones for another day its attack on S perimeter.

EGYPT—British Eighth Army opens El ‘Alamein offensive at 2140. More than 1,000 guns pound enemy batteries until 2200, then switch to enemy forward positions as British troops move forward, 30 Corps on N making main effort and 13 Corps conducting diversionary actions on S. Heavy fighting continues throughout night.

US MARINE CORPS

—Marines and Army troops fight off heavy ground attacks of major Japanese counteroffensive.