Navy Department Communique No. 166

OCTOBER 24, 1942

Central and South Pacific.

1. U. S. naval forces have recently carried out operations in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands with the following results:
   • (a) Two small enemy patrol vessels were sunk by gunfire near Tarawa Island.
   • (b) One enemy destroyer and one merchant ship were damaged by gunfire near the same island.
   • (c) No heavy enemy forces were encountered during the operations.
2. There has been no report of any new action in the Solomon Islands area.