U.S. SINKS 9 SHIPS AT GUADALCANAL, LOSES CRUISER, BUT BARS LANDING (12/4/42)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 12/4/42 | Raymond Daniell, David Anderson, James MacDonald, Ralph Parker, Hanson W. Baldwin

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
Papua, New Guinea, 1942
The Solomons: Guadalcanal and Florida, 1942
Southwest Russia, 1942: Soviet Winter Offensive, Operations, 19 November-12 December 1942
North Africa, 1941: Pursuit to Tunisia, November 1942-February 1943
Tunisia 1942: The Race for Tunisia-Situation 1 January 1943, and Operations Since 17 November 1942
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941: Status of Forces and Allied Theater Boundaries, 2 July 1942
India-Burma, 1942: Allied Lines of Communication, 1942-1943

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Winston S. Churchill, Their Finest Hour

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Winston S. Churchill, The Hinge of Fate

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Sea Fight by Night – 2
Nazis Attack Again (Daniell) – 2-4
Allies Reveal Loss of 16 Ships in North African Landings (Anderson) – 4-5
7 Axis Ships Sunk on Way to Tunisia (MacDonald) – 5
Russians Capture New Vital Points – 6
Air Hero’s Widow and Child (photo) – 6
Invisible Bridge Aids Soviet Drive (Parker) – 7
War News Summarized – 7
Bingo Games in Catholic Churches are Ordered Halted by Chancery – 8
The War in Russia-II (Baldwin) – 9-10
The British Photograph the City of Genoa Under Attack by the R.A.F. (photo) – 10
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the Fighting in Various War Zones – 11-12

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1942/dec42/f04dec42.htm

Italy targeted by USAAF
Friday, December 4, 1942 www.onwar.com

American bombs fall on Italy [photo at link]

Over Italy... The US 9th Air Force bombs the harbor at Naples causing damage and sinking two cruisers. First American raid on the mainland of Italy.

In Washington...US President Roosevelt receives a petition from 244 Congressman in support of the establishment of a Jewish Homeland in Palestine.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/frame.htm

December 4th, 1942

UNITED KINGDOM: Frigate HMS Kale commissioned.

Corvette HMS Privet launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

GERMANY: U-539 launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

ITALY: Submarine HMS Traveller is lost after being sent on a reconnaissance to the harbour approaches in the Gulf of Taranto. This is in preparation for Operation Principal- an attack by chariots on the Italian ports. Traveller is believed to have been mined. There are no survivors. (Alex Gordon)(108)

One cruiser is sunk in the harbour at Naples during airstrikes of the US 9th Air Force. This is the first US strike on mainland Italy. One Montecuccoli-class light cruiser Muzio Attendolo, was sunk. Cruiser MONTECUCCOLI was badly damaged. Cruiser EUGENIO DI SAVOIA and four destroyers were less seriously damaged. (Ric Pelvin)

EGYPT: Cairo: In the first US raid on Italy’s mainland, Liberator bombers today attacked Naple’s, sinking the cruiser MUZIO ATTENDOLO and damaging two other cruisers and four destroyers. Some 159 people died and 358 were injured. The raid by long-range Liberators has changed the Mediterranean strategic scene. Naples has been free of raids since Rommel took Allied coastal airfields in North Africa six months ago. Now its back in range.

TUNISIA: Chougui: Acting Wing-Cdr. Hugh Gordon Malcolm (b.1917) was shot down and killed while leading Blenheim Vs of No. 18 Squadron RAF. He had led his bomber squadron with great daring in previous weeks. (Victoria Cross)(22)

ALGERIA: Algiers: Admiral Darlan claims the leadership of the imperial council of France on the grounds that Marshal Petain is a prisoner of the Germans.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Guadalcanal: US marines complete a month of foraging in which they killed 400 Japanese at the cost of 17 of their own number.

CANADA: Corvette HMCS Chilliwack assigned EG W-8, Western Escort Force. (Dave Shirlaw)

U.S.A.: 244 US Congressmen present a petition for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine to President Roosevelt.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the dismantling of the Works Progress Administration, which had been created to provide jobs during the Depression.
Submarine USS Bashaw laid down.

Destroyer escort USS Fogg laid down.

Destroyer USS Eaton commissioned.

Corvette USS Prudent launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

[skeeter]

The article refers to the Battle of Tassafaronga. I guess it could be called a strategic victory for the US, 'cause the Japanese were unable to deliver most of of the supplies they carried.

But it was definitely not a tactical win as the US lost a heavy cruiser with three more badly damaged in exchange for one Japanese destroyer. It also should have cost a US admiral his job.

[HenpeckedCon]

It’s amazing that other than the German General Staff most people were still ignorant of the disaster that was happening to the Germans on the Eastern front. I imagine even the Russians expected the Germans would retreat from Stalingrad. It was only the courage of the German soldiers that the war lasted over 2 more years.