Air Operations, Europe

During the night 52 aircraft are involved in minelaying operations off Lorient, St Nazaire, Verdon, in the Frisians and in the Elbe River. There are no losses. 4 other aircraft make leaflet flights over France with no losses.

U-Boat U-576

Nazi submarine (U-576) wreck found off coast of U.S. likely contains remains of 45 German soldiers. The U-boat skipper, Hans-Dieter Heinicke, had a crippled submarine and was headed home when he spotted the juicy allied convoy off the coast of North Carolina. Although Heinicke, 29, had a damaged boat, he had sunk only three ships on his four prior patrols, and probably saw the 19 merchant vessels of convoy KS-520 plodding south at eight knots as a chance to redeem himself. About 4 p.m. on July 15, 1942, about 50 kilometres off Cape Hatteras, U-576 attacked. In the ensuing free-for-all, the sub sank one ship and damaged two others, but was assailed by aircraft and escorts, and sank with all hands.

Eastern Front

Army Groups A and B are making swift progress, the first towards Rostov and the other towards Stalingrad. The 4th Panzer Army is transferred from Army Group B to Army Group A to join in the operations south of Rostov.

The Bryansk Front is pinned down by the German 2nd Army. To shorten the extremely long flank of the 6th Army, the 2nd Hungarian Army deploys south of the 2nd Army.

India, Home Front

The Congress Party Working Committee calls for the ending of British rule and a campaign of 'civil disobedience'.

Mediterranean

Beginning this day and continuing until July 19 supplies are carried to Malta by submarine and fast transport. HMS Eagle flies 31 Spitfires to the island. Italian submarines are also engaged in supply for their forces in North Africa which are critically short of supplies.

North Africa

There are British attacks, by units of 1st Armored Div, to the south of Ruweisat Ridge. Little ground is gained and losses on both sides are severe. Rommel's dream of capturing Alexandria and Suez within a few days is rapidly fading.[MORE]

A Crusader Mk II, 14 July 1942

A Humber Mk II Armored Car in the Western Desert, 14 July 1942

Occupied France

The Free French movement is renamed La France Combattante.

Pacific

• Gen Millard F. Harmon is appointed to command the American armed forces in the South Pacific area. In prepration for the invasion of the Solomon Islands the ships of Task Force 44 leave Brisbane for New Zealand, where they join the combined operations force for the Solomon Islands. Task Force 42, a submarine force, is to harry Japanese communications in the area of Rabaul. The 7th Marine Regiment, stationed in Samoa, is ordered to stand ready to leave for the Solomons at four days' notice.
• The unarmed US freighter Arcata, en route to Seattle, Washington from Bethel, Alaska, is shelled and sunk by Japanese submarine I-7 losing 7 of the 29-man crew in the attack; 4 passengers survive. The submarine machine-guns the life rafts mortally wounding 1 sailor. The US destroyer Kane (DD-235) rescues 11 survivors, the fishing boat Yukno 14 more.