July 16, 1942 - Thursday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS O'Brien:

O'Brien had joined Task Force 17 at  Pearl Harbor.

Operation Watchtower

On the 16th, there was a delay of the Solomons invasion from August 1st to August 7th.  More time was required to assemble and coordinate the invasion forces.

U. S. Navy Task Forces:

• Task Force 17 (Hornet) was at Pearl Harbor and sailed out to conducted intense training exercises for the entire task force from the 13th to the 16th..
  
• Task Force 16 (Enterprise) sailed on July 15th for the South Pacific.
  
• Task Force 11 (Saratoga) was nearing Samoa enroute to rendezvous with Task Force 18.
  
• Task Force 18 (Wasp) was nearing Tongatabu on the 13th when Wasp began to have engine trouble and slowed markedly.  Repairs were done to fix the problem but a future overhaul of the right engine would be needed.
  

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 231-233.
  
•  The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign,  John B. Lundstrom, pp 19-27.
• Coral Sea, Midway and Submarine Actions, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 261-267.
  

 

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