http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1942/dec42/f16dec42.htm
Red Army threatens wider encirclement
Wednesday, December 16, 1942 www.onwar.com
On the Eastern Front... Soviet begin Operation Saturn, the next phase in the their winter offensive, even though the German drive toward Stalingrad is advancing albeit slowly. The Soviet attack focuses on the Italian 8th Army on the middle of the Don River. The Italian force is almost immediately overrun. There are also Soviet attacks along the Chir River, against Army Detachment Hollidt. The continued attack towards Stalingrad by the Germans is going well, but the concern is now that the Soviet breakthrough will lead to a wider encirclement.
In North Africa... In response to the progress of the New Zealanders to the rear of the Axis forces at El Agheila, in Libya, they split into small groups to withdraw.
In the Solomon Islands... Admiral Tanaka’s supply run is attacked again, US dive bombers sink the destroyer Kagero off Guadalcanal. On land, US troops move on Mount Austen.
In Burma... In the Arakan Valley, the British have assembled two brigades to attack the Japanese between Maungda and Buthidaung. The Japanese withdraw before the attack to a more defensible position between Guedauk and Kondan.