1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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adere and New Strip is spearheaded by tanks, which
prove invaluable in reducing concrete and steel fortifications.
After preliminary air and ground bombardment,
Aus 2/9th Bn begins attack on Cape
Endaiadere and soon breaks through main enemy
positions and reaches objective; then drives W along
coast until halted near Strip Pt by new line of bunkers.
3d Bn of U.S. 128th Inf mops up and establishes
defensive perimeter in Duropa Plantation.
Americans and Australians attack New Strip from S
and E. While 1st Bn, 126th Inf, pushes toward bridge
between the strips, elements of Aus 2/9th Bn, reinforced
during day by 1st Bn of 128th Inf, reduce
strongpoint at E end of New Strip and pursue enemy
W along N edge of strip toward bridge. Australians
sustain heavy casualties and lose 3 tanks in the
action, which is otherwise highly successful. Advance
elements of Aus 2/10th Bn arrive at front by sea
during night 18–19.
LIBYA—Continuing pursuit of enemy, NZ 2d Div
of Br Eighth Army clashes sharply with rear guards
at Nofilia. After the action, pursuit is largely abandoned
for administrative reasons.
19 December
GUADALCANAL—After air and arty preparation,
3d Bn of 132d Inf attempts unsuccessfully to advance
from Hill 35; 3d Bn CO is killed by enemy fire. Reserve
bn (1st, 132d Inf), less one co, advances to
positions E of 3d Bn.
NEW GUINEA—Continuing assault on Sanananda
front, Australians reduce several enemy positions just
beyond track junction in frontal drive; flanking elements
reach positions near roadblock. Enemy attack
on the block is repulsed. Aus cavalrymen destroy
enemy force 300 yards N of the block and establish
new perimeter, which they call Kano Urbana Force,
after air and mortar preparation, attacks the Triangle,
Cos E and G of 126th Inf driving S on it while
Co F blocks from below. Attack is soon halted by
cross fire, which causes heavy casualties. Bn commander
is lost in this action. Troops on Warren front
regroup. Rest of Aus 2/10th Bn arrives at front after
dark. U.S. troops to operate Oro Bay port and
engineers charged with construction of road from
Oro Bay to Dobodura airfields land at Oro Bay, night
19-20. Additional cargo is also brought ashore.
USSR—Soviet forces continue to gain ground
in broad offensive. Assault forces from middle Don
reach Kantemirovka, on Voronezh–Rostov RR N of
Millerovo.
20 December
GUADALCANAL—Enemy riflemen harass flanks
and rear of 132d Inf on NW slopes of Mt Austen.
[ 19–22 DECEMBER 1942 ]
1st Bn attempts unsuccessfully to locate enemy’s E
flank. U.S. engineers complete construction of jeep
road to Hill 35.
NEW GUINEA—Australians on Sanananda front
continue to reduce enemy positions beyond track junction;
consolidate new Kano perimeter. On
Urbana front, 2d Bn of 126th Inf, except for Co F at
tip of Triangle, is withdrawn as reserve, and 127th Inf
takes over attack. After preparatory bombardment, Co
E attacks the Triangle under cover of smoke but is
unable to advance; another attack is also unsuccessful.
During this action, its first, Co E sustains 39 casualties.
The decision is made to bypass the Triangle in the
future. Gen Eichelberger replaces Col Tomlinson with
Col Grose as commander of Urbana Force. On left
flank of Urbana Force, Schwartz patrol, having clashed
with enemy W of Siwori Village on 18th and 19th, is
reinf with 20 men from 2d Bn, 126th Inf. Warren
Force, attacking after heavy arty preparation, clears
most of region E of Simemi Creek. Enemy retains only
small finger of land at creek mouth. Efforts to cross
125-foot bridge W of New Strip are futile as are attempts
by engineers to repair it.
21 December
U.S.—JCS direct Amchitka to be occupied as
near 5 January as possible.
GUADALCANAL—Ordered to cut Maruyama Trail,
Co C of 132d Inf pushes 1,000 yards S without making
contact with enemy or finding trail.
NEW GUINEA—From Napapo, Gen Oda and his
staff arrive at Giruwa. On Sanananda front, Australians
continue to batter enemy positions in front of
track junction. 49th Bn succeeds in entering the roadblock
and protects supply line to it. Cavalrymen push
N from Kano position toward Sanananda. Urbana
Force, feinting toward the Triangle, draws enemy from
bunkers and kills many with arty fire. In preparation
for drive through Government Gardens to sea, Co K
of 12th Inf crosses Entrance Creek in rubber boats
under fire, night 21–22, to establish bridgehead above
the Triangle. On left flank, Schwartz patrol meets firm
resistance at Tarakena, about a mile W of Siwori, and
retires eastward; 30 more men of 2d Bn, 126th Inf,
reinf the patrol. Warren Force finishes clearing region
E of Simemi Creek and begins to cross after patrol
discovers suitable site some 1,300 yards below its
mouth. The crossing is undetected by enemy.
LIBYA—Light forces of Br Eighth Army, pursuing
enemy westward, overtake rear guard at Sirte and
are halted.
22 December
NEW GUINEA—Gen Oda takes responsibility
for Japanese beachhead from Col Yokoyama and