"... caused accidentally by own ship's force"

WED 18 AUG 1943
Pacific
Task group composed of four destroyers (Captain Thomas J. Ryan) attacks Japanese convoy north of Vella Lavella, Solomons; destroyers Nicholas (DD-449), Chevalier (DD-451), O'Bannon (DD-450), and Taylor (DD-468) sink auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 5 and Cha 12.

In the first step toward acquiring airfields in the Ellice Islands to support projected operations in the Marshalls and Gilberts, an advanced survey party moves onto Nanomea atoll.

Tank landing ships LST-396 is sunk by explosion (believed to have been caused accidentally by own ship's force), en route to Barakoma, Solomons, 08°18'S, 156°55'E.

Destroyer Abner Read (DD-526) is damaged by mine off Conquer Point, Kiska Island, Aleutians, 52°01'N, 177°26'E. [The rest of the story.]

Submarine Plunger (SS-179) damages Japanese merchant cargo ship Okuni Maru, 43°30'N, 140°30'E.

Atlantic
Advanced Amphibious Training Base, St. Mawes, Cornwall, England, is established.

Mediterranean
Light cruisers Philadelphia (CL-41) and Boise (CL-47) and four destroyers shell Gioia Taura and Palmi on Italian mainland.