Fortunately Bad Gunnery

FRI 18 SEP 1942
Pacific
7th Marine Regiment reinforces marines on Guadalcanal.

Atlantic
German submarine U-455 lays mines off Charleston, South Carolina.

British destroyer HMS Vimy is detached from convoy to investigate raft containing survivors from U.S. freighter West Lashaway (sunk by German submarine U-66 on 30 August 1942). Vimy believing the hoisted sail to be part of the disguise of a U-boat, opens fire on the raft. Her gunnery, however, is fortunately bad, and the survivors (who hurriedly strike the sail) are rescued. This group includes among them the woman missionary and four children (see 24 September 1942).

Laconia Incident: Vichy French sloop Dumont D'Urville takes on board 42 survivors from sunken British transport Laconia that had been rescued by Italian submarine Capellini.

North Russia
German torpedo planes continue attacks upon Archangel-bound convoy PQ 18, sinking U.S. freighter Kentucky approximately 35 miles west of Cape Kanin, USSR; all hands survive the loss of the ship. Two British minesweepers rescue the 38-man merchant complement and the 16-man Armed Guard.