16 Dec 1942
- Soviet troops launched an offensive towards Rostov-on-Don, Russia hoping to cut off German troops in the Caucasus, defeating Italian units on the Don River. ww2dbase [Caucasus Campaign | TH]
- Overnight and into the next morning, men of US 1st Infantry Division raided Maknassy, Tunisia, taking 21 German prisoners. ww2dbase [Advance into Tunisia | CPC]
- Tenryu departed with supplies and troops onboard for Madang, Australian New Guinea. ww2dbase [Tenryu | CPC]
- S-36 was ordered to Mariveles Bay, Philippine Islands. ww2dbase [S-36 | CPC]
- Battleships USS Washington, USS North Carolina, and USS Indiana escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS Farragut, and USS Clarke departed Nouméa, New Caledonia on a patrol cruise around the Coral Sea. ww2dbase [Nicholas | Indiana | Farragut | North Carolina | Washington | DS]
- USS Flying Fish arrived at Brisbane, Australia, ending her third war patrol. ww2dbase [Flying Fish | Brisbane, Queensland | CPC]
- Amagiri and Yugure arrived at Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Amagiri | Yugure | Shortland Islands | CPC]
- USS Finback departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii for her third war patrol. The first phase of this war patrol would be to escort a carrier force rather than to hunt for enemy shipping. ww2dbase [Pearl Harbor Navy Base and Ford Island Naval Air Station | Finback | Honolulu, Oahu | CPC]
- Cruiser USS Nashville and destroyer Ralph Talbot departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bound for Nouméa, New Caledonia escorting United States Army Transport Frederick Funston. ww2dbase [Pearl Harbor Navy Base and Ford Island Naval Air Station | Ralph Talbot | Nashville | Pearl Harbor, Oahu | DS]
- Light carrier Ryuho entered the drydock at Yokosuka, Japan for repairs. ww2dbase [Ryuho | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal | Yokosuka, Kanagawa | CPC]
- After dark, USS Sunfish laid mines at the entrance of Iseno Imi off Japan. ww2dbase [Sunfish (Gato-class) | CPC]
- Submarine USS Spearfish spent an hour stalking an unescorted ship south of New Hanover only to recognize it as the same properly marked hospital ship Spearfish wasted an hour stalking two days earlier 40 miles away. Again, the ship was allowed to pass. ww2dbase [Spearfish | Bismarck Sea | DS]
- USS Ranger entered drydock at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia. ww2dbase [Ranger | Norfolk Navy Yard | Portsmouth, Virginia | DS]
16 Dec 1942 Interactive Map
Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis
Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you. Please help us spread the word: Stay updated with WW2DB: |
Search WW2DB
News
- » WW2DB's 20th Anniversary (29 Dec 2024)
- » Wreck of USS Edsall Found (14 Nov 2024)
- » Autumn 2024 Fundraiser (7 Nov 2024)
- » Nobel Peace Prize for the Atomic Bomb Survivors Organization (11 Oct 2024)
- » See all news
Current Site Statistics
- » 1,151 biographies
- » 337 events
- » 44,186 timeline entries
- » 1,243 ships
- » 350 aircraft models
- » 207 vehicle models
- » 375 weapon models
- » 123 historical documents
- » 260 facilities
- » 470 book reviews
- » 28,668 photos
- » 431 maps
Famous WW2 Quote
"We no longer demand anything, we want war."Joachim von Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister, Aug 1939
Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!