Battle of the Atlantic

• In more attacks on Convoy SC-48 U-432 sinks the Panamanian steamer Bold Venture (6595t) south of Iceland with the loss of 17 of her crew. 17 survivors are picked up by the Canadian corvette Wetaskiwin.
• U-558 sinks the British tanker W. C. Teagle (9552t), the Norwegian tanker Erviken (6595t) and the Norwegian steamer Rym (1369t). 35 crewmen are lost on the W. C. Teagle, 9 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Broadwater and 1 by the British corvette Veronica. The Erviken loses 22 of her crew, 16 survivors are picked up by the British corvette Abella, the Broadwater and the Veronica. All 21 of the crew of the Rym are picked up by the Veronica.
• U-432 sinks the Greek steamer Evros (5283t) and the Norwegian tanker Barfonn (9739t) south-southwest of Iceland. All 32 of the crew of the Evros are lost. 14 crewmen are lost on the Barfonn, 26 survivors are picked up by the Canadian corvette Baddeck and the Wetaskiwin.
• The British corvette Gladiolus, off the port wing of Convoy SC-48, is sunk by U-553 in the early morning. All 65 on board are lost.

Eastern Front

The mopping up of the Vyazma and Bryansk pockets is completed.

The Germans capture Kalinin. To the south the remnants of the 50th Army fighting north of Bryansk surrendered, while the 3rd Army continues to fight on in isolation at Dmitrev-Lgovsky.

Armored Vehicle Collision

During the raid to Kalinin, 17-18 October 1941 T-34 tank number 4 of the 21st Armored Brigade rammed a German self-propelled gun StuG III of Lieutenant Tachinski of the 660th Assault Gun Battery. Both fighting machine are put out of service. The Soviet crew was captured.

The Stavka creates the Kalinin Front. This new formation, based upon Koniev's Kalinin Group, with 2 rifle and 2 cavalry divisions and 1 tank brigade is also attached. The new front's objective is to prevent the 3rd Panzer Group from penetrating into the rear of the West and Northwest Fronts.

The fighting around Volokolamsk intensifies as Dovator's Cavalry Corps is struck by the German divisions north of the town.

Taganrog falls to the 1st SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler Motorized Division as the Army Group South fights its way closer to Rostov.

India, Home Front

Despite war-time transportation problems, plans are completed to transport Moslem pilgrims to Mecca.

Mediterranean

U-97 sinks the Greek steamer Samos (1208t) and the British tanker Pass of Balmaha (758t) about 50 miles west of Alexandria. The Samos loses 31 of her crew, 3 survivors are picked up by the British anti-submarine whaler Cocker. All 20 of the crew of the tanker are lost.