22 December 1942

Submarine HMS Sturdy laid down.

Destroyer HMS Vigilant launched.

Frigate HMS Ness commissioned.

FRANCE: The Vichy French government appoints Admiral Henri DeCoux as Governor General of Indochina and High Commissioner for French territories in the Pacific. The Marshal Petain regime hopes that once Japan occupies the islands it will be allowed to exercise sovereignty over them. DeCoux makes a number of broadcasts over Saigon Radio urging New Caledonians to revolt against Free France.

GERMANY: During the day, six RAF Bomber Command Wellingtons are dispatched on a cloud-cover raid to Emden; four aircraft bomb the estimated positions through cloud.

U-294 laid down.

U-200 commissioned.

POLAND: Cracow: Bomb blasts in two of the city's cafes have killed at least 20 German officers. The explosions, the work of a group of young Zionists led by Adolf Liebeskind, mark the climax of a resistance campaign which has included arson attacks on Nazi targets and the theft of weapons from German soldiers and police. Increasing numbers of younger Jews have joined the underground resistance movements, often under the umbrella of Soviet and Polish communist partisans. They want to show that the Jewish people will not go to their deaths without putting up a fight.

U.S.S.R.: In the Caucasus, Soviet forces begin strong attacks southeast of Naichik as the Germans start a withdrawal of the spearhead in the area. The Red Army offensive continues to gain ground on the Stalingrad front and in the middle Don sector. Sharp Soviet thrusts toward Velikie Luki, on the central front, are gaining ground.

TUNISIA: The British First Army's V Corps renews their drive on Tunis, during the night of 22/23 December. The 2d Coldstream Guards of the 1st Guards Brigade attacks Djebel el Ahmera hill (later known as Longstop Hill), 6 miles (9,6 kilometers) northeast of Medjez el Bab, and partially occupies it. The heavy rain does not slow the advance or the heavy fighting around Longstop Hill, which they are trying to take.

USAAF Ninth Air Force B-24 Liberators and RAF (B-24) Liberators are dispatched to bomb the harbor at Sousse; only two bombers reach the target, the others are forced to return to base due to weather, but a few manage to bomb Monastir and the railroads at Mahdia.

A solid overcast prevents USAAF Twelfth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses from bombing Bizerte or alternate targets of Sousse and Sfax. P-40s shoot up a train in Kairouan and destroy trucks on the Sfax-Faid road. F-4 Lightnings continue reconnaissance between Bizerte and the Gabes-Medenine area.

BURMA: The British 47th Brigade advances down both sides of the Mayu Peninsula. Major-General Wilfrid Lewis Lloyd (GOC 10th Indian Division) has his troops dispersed in this deployment with the 123rd Brigade moving off toward Rathedaung. (Steen Ammentorp)

A small detachment is to move farther inland in the direction of Kyauktaw. These dispositions are less than ideal because of the dispersions they bring about.

NEW GUINEA: In Papua New Guinea, Japanese Major General ODA Kensuku, commander of the 5th South Seas Detachment, takes responsibility for the Japanese beachhead from Colonel Yokoyama and personally directs operations on the Sanananda front. In the Australian 7th Division area, reinforcements (21st Brigade Headquarters and the 39th Battalion of the 30th Brigade) reach Soputa from Gona; and relieve the U.S. 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division, forces of the roadblock on the Soputa-Sanananda trail. The Australian 21st Brigade takes command of the 49th Battalion, 2/7th Cavalry Regiment, and U.S. forces from the roadblock. The 30th Brigade, which is responsible for clearing the pockets at the track junction, retains command of the 36th and 55/53d Battalions and the rest of U.S. forces on this front. Firm opposition by seasoned Japanese troops limits efforts to advance north along the track and to clear the track junction. On the Urbana Force front, Company I, 127th Infa ntry Regiment follows Company K across Entrance Creek, strengthening the bridgehead. Other elements of the 127th Infantry Regiment begin to clear Musita Island after engineers repair a bridge to it. On the Warren front, the Australian 2/10th Battalion (less Company C), 18th Brigade, continues to cross Simemi Creek near Old Strip, while the 2/9th Battalion plus Company C of the 2/10th Battalion mops up east of the creek.

In Papua New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb Maimba mission and the village near Buna where Japanese ground forces continue to resist stubbornly.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: On New Britain Islands, a single USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberator sinks a Japanese merchant cargo ship off Gasmata on the south coast and B-17 Flying Fortresses hit a ship in the harbor at Arawe.

PACIFIC OCEAN: On board submarine USS Silversides (SS-236), submerged in the shipping channel off Rabaul, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, Pharmacist's Mate First Class Thomas A. Moore performs a successful appendectomy on Fireman Second Class George M. Platter. This is the third of three such procedures that will be performed on board U.S. submarines during the war.

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Transcona commenced refit Halifax, Nova Scotia for engine repairs.

U.S.A.: Sue Dauser takes oath of office as Superintendent of Navy Nurse Corps, becoming first woman with the relative rank of captain in US Navy. She was promoted to the rank of captain on 26 February 1944.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-653 loses a man washed overboard at 0810hrs. [Bootsmaat Heinz Wendler] (Alex Gordon)

Pharmacist's Mate First Class Thomas A. Moore performs appendectomy on Fireman Second Class George M. Platter on board USS Silversides.