Arctic

On September 18, 1941 the first PQ convoy with ten fast freighters left Iceland headed for Arkhangelsk. The convoys in the opposite direction were named QP.

Crew of AA Gun on British Destroyer in Arctic Convoy

Eastern Front

In the siege of Leningrad, German artillery fire seriously damages the Russian battleship Petropavlovsk in Kronstadt Harbor.

The Germans make more gains around Leningrad, the 1st Panzer and SS Polizei Divs capturing Pushkin and the XXVIII Corps taking Slutsk.

In Kiev the Soviet 37th Army is being ground down by the German 6th Army. Kirponos orders all units trapped in the Kiev Pocket to battle their way east.

Mediterranean

2 Italian troopships, the Neptunia and the Oceania (both 19,500t) are sunk in the central Mediterranean by the British submarine Upholder. 384 are drowned. The German command in Italy views losses of transports on this scale as 'catastrophic'.

Soviet Union, Home Front

The Soviets issue an order for the conscription of all men between the ages of 16 and 50.

United States, Politics

Roosevelt asks Congress for an additional $5,985,000,000 for Lend-Lease supplies.