| Special Forces Operations in September 1942 |
| September 1st, 1942 – October 1942 |
| Operation Caravan |
| Long Range Desert Group |
| Operation Caravan, carried out in September 1942 by the Long Range Desert Group, is part of a series of raids designed to support Operation Agreement. Forty-seven men in 12 Chevrolet 1533X2 trucks and five Jeeps of T1 Patrol and G1 Patrol of the Long Range Desert Group. Their mission is to attack the airfield, the barracks at nearby Campo Maddalena, disrupt communications and the railway station in the Barce area in Libya. The Allies lose twenty men in Operation Caravan (eight wounded, ten captured and two Senussi disappeared), while the Italians report four killed, fifteen wounded and one prisoner, sixteen aircraft destroyed and another seven damaged. Furthermore, considerable quantities of other matériel and buildings are destroyed. |
| September 7th, 1942 – September 14th, 1942 |
| Battle of Edson’s “Bloody” Ridge |
| 1st Raider Battalion, U.S. Marine 1st Parachute Battalion |
| In August 1942, Japanese forces begin nightly reinforcement runs to Guadalcanal, known as the “Tokyo Express.” On August 21st, 1942, the Marines, under Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift, repel the first Japanese attack at the Tenaru River. Recognizing the need for more strength, Vandegrift prepares for further defenses around the airfield. Major General Kiyotaki Kawaguchi, leading 6,200 soldiers, plans a three-pronged assault on Henderson Field, underestimating the Marine forces. In late August, Vandegrift positions the 1st Raider Battalion and the 1st Parachute Battalion near Lunga Point. Colonel Edson, commander of the raiders, prepares for offensive operations. On September 7th, 1942, intelligence reports Japanese forces in Tasimboko. Colonel Merritt A. Edson secures approval for a raid on September 8th, 1943. Vandegrift deploys 849 Marines, including raiders and parachutists, to engage the enemy. Due to recent transport losses, the raiders embark on U.S.S. McKean, U.S.S. Manley, and converted tuna boats. Scouts report significant Japanese forces in the area, but Edson trusts intelligence suggesting defences face west. Landing at Taivu Point before dawn, the Marines advance inland, discovering evidence of Japanese presence, including foxholes, life preservers, and anti-tank guns. A rear guard of 300 men defends the village, while the main force has moved inland. The Marines encounter heavy resistance, prompting Edson to request reinforcements. Division command orders a withdrawal, but Edson disregards this and continues the assault, securing the village by midday with the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion. The raiders destroy stockpiles of supplies, artillery, and communications equipment, gathering valuable intelligence documents. The raid significantly disrupts Japanese logistics and reveals plans for an upcoming offensive. Marine casualties remain low, while Japanese losses amount to around 50. The operation bolsters Marine morale and plays a crucial role in the ongoing Guadalcanal campaign. From September 9-11, 1942, Vandegrift orders the combined forces into defensive positions near the Lunga River. They face continuous Japanese bombardments and skirmishes. On September 12, Japanese aircraft severely damage Henderson Field. By nightfall, Kawaguchi’s battalions attack but face strong Marine resistance. From September 12-13, 1942, intense battles occur on Bloody Ridge. Despite numerous assaults, the Japanese fail to break the Marine defenses. Artillery and Marine reinforcements play crucial roles. By September 14th, 1942, the Japanese are significantly weakened, with heavy casualties and a failed final assault. On September 15th, 1942, the Japanese launch minimal attacks and begin retreating. The battle results in significant casualties: 111 Marines killed, 283 wounded, and approximately 1,200 Japanese soldiers killed or missing. The Marines continue to strengthen defenses and prepare for future actions, marking Bloody Ridge as a key defensive victory. |
| September 11th, 1942 – September 21st, 1942 |
| Operation Musketoon |
| Commandos |
| Ten men from No. 2 Commando and two men of the Norwegian Independent Company 1 of the Special Operations Executive and the Minerve-class submarine, Junon. Their mission is to destroy the Glomfjord power plant, south of Narvik, which supplies an aluminium plant in the area. The men succeed and get away. One is wounded during the escape to Sweden and dies of his wounds in hospital, three days after the raid. Seven others are captured and send to Germany seven as prisoners. These men are executed on October 13rd, 1942 at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany as part of Hitler’s infamous Kommando Befehl. Four men make it to Sweden and are repatriated by aircraft to RAF Leuchars. |
| September 13th, 1942 – September 15th, 1942 |
| Operation Nicety |
| Sudan Defence Force |
| Operation Nicety, by Force Z of the Sudan Defence Force, is part of a series of World War II raids designed to support other concurrent operations—Agreement, Caravan, and Bigamy. Its primary goal is to capture the Jalo Oasis in the Libyan desert, facilitating the retreat of forces from the operations. However, the operation fails due to a breach in security; the Germans intercept detailed plans from the body of a deceased officer involved in Operation Agreement. Consequently, the Italian garrison at Jalo is forewarned and reinforced, successfully repelling the attack on the night of September 15th, 1942. |
| September 13th, 1942 – September 15th, 1942 |
| Operation Bigamy |
| L Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade, No. 1 Special Boat Section, Middle East Commando |
| Operation Bigamy, by L Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade , No. 1 Special Boat Section and the Middle East Commando, is part of a series of raids designed to support Operation Agreement. In September 1942, under the command of David Stirling, a plan is put into action to destroy the harbour and storage facilities at Benghazi and raid the airfield at Benina in Libya, in coordination with the RAF. This raid serves as part of a larger deception strategy for Operation Agreement, which targets Tobruk. The operation is compromised when trying to enter Benghazi. Stirling decides to withdraw and during the retreat to Kuffra the force suffers the loss of 70 vehicles. |
| September 18th, 1942 – September 19th, 1942 |
| Operation Basalt |
| Commandos |
| Twelve men from the Small Scale Raiding Force, No. 62 Commando and No. 12 Commando, Motor Torpedo Boat 344. Cancelled due to bad weather. |
| August 31st, 1942 – September 18th, 1942 |
| Operation Anglo |
| No. 1 Special Boat Section |
| Operation Anglo is a raid on the Italian-occupied island of Rhodes by eight men of No. 1 Special Boat Section, along with two Greek guides and two interpreters in September 1942. Their mission is to disrupt Italian airfields crucial for supporting Rommel’s advance to Cairo and supplying besieged Malta. The team lands near Cape Feralco and splits into two parties. Despite facing challenges and being pursued, they successfully destroy aircraft and fuel storage tanks at the target airfields. Sutherland and Duggan evade capture and swim out to H.M. Submarine Traveller for rescue. Their courage and resourcefulness are recognised with military honours, while the rest of the Special Boat Section team are captured. Tragically, the Greek guides suffer severe consequences, with one executed and the other dying in prison. |