Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) evacuates 29 civilians from Teop Island, Solomons.
Submarine Porpoise (SS-172), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks merchant cargo ship Renzan Maru off northeastern coast of Honshu, 39°11'N, 142°02'E.
Submarine Trigger (SS-237) damages Japanese transport Shozan Maru 35°55'N, 140°55'E.
Japanese army cargo ship Osaka Maru is damaged by mine, 16 miles off Ambon, N.E.I.
Mediterranean
German submarine U-73 torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter Arthur Middletonoff Oran, Algeria, 35 45'N, 00 45'W; of the 81 souls on board (11 of whom are from the crew of tank landing craft LCT-21, which is also lost) 3 sailors of the 27-man Armed Guard detachment are the only survivors.
U.S. Army I Corps (Lieutenant General Robert Eichelberger) captures Buna, New Guinea, significantly reducing the threat to Port Moresby.
Submarine Argonaut (SS-166) sinks Japanese guardboat Ebon Maru, Bismarck Sea, 04°30'S, 151°30'E.
Submarine Spearfish (SS-190) damages Japanese army cargo ship Akagisan Maru off New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, 03°30'S, 151°30'E.
USAAF B-17s and B-24s bomb Japanese shipping at Rabaul, New Guinea.
Atlantic
Last nine survivors (including the Armed Guard unit commander) of U.S. freighter Alaskan, sunk by German submarine U-172 on 28 November 1942, utilizing a bailed-out lifeboat, reach Cayenne, French Guiana.
PBY sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Montreal Maru near Kiska, Aleutians, 53°28'N, 177°52'E.
USAAF B-24s sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Kotohira Maru off Holtz Bay, Attu, 53°00'N, 173°10'E.
USAAF B-17s and B-24s bomb Japanese shipping at Rabaul, New Britain, sinking army cargo vessel Keifuku Maru and damaging destroyer Tachikaze and cargo vessel Kagu Maru.
USAAF aircraft damage Japanese torpedo boat Tomozuru off Kai Island, Banda Sea.
Atlantic
PBY-5A (VP 83) sinks German submarine U-164 off Brazil, 01°58'S, 39°23'W.
District patrol craft YP-492 is sunk in collision with YP-6713 off eastern Florida.
Mediterranean
German planes attack convoy KMS 7 off Bougie, Algeria, bombing U.S. freighter William Wirt; there are no casualties among the ship's complement (including the 21-man Armed Guard).
Atlantic
Shortly before midnight, submarine U-124 attacks 12-ship Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-bound convoy TB 1, torpedoing U.S. tanker Broad Arrow at 07°21'N, 55°43'W, and freighter Birmingham City at 07°12'N, 55°37'W. On board the former, the initial explosion kills seven of the eight-man Armed Guard, and her complement abandons the blazing ship (which is illuminating the entire convoy) without orders. Birmingham City sinks in three minutes (see 9 January).
Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) sinks Japanese transport Yoshinogawa Maru just east of Kieta, Bougainville, 06°13'S, 156°00'E; even though she is damaged early in the engagement, Yoshinogawa Maru depth-charges Nautilus, but the latter escapes unharmed.
Submarine Searaven (SS-196) damages Japanese army cargo ship Yubae Maru, 07°38'N, 134°12'E.
Submarine Tautog (SS-199) damages Japanese light cruiser Natori southeast of Ambon, 04°07'S, 128°32'E.
Atlantic
German submarine U-384 attacks Belfast, Ireland-bound U.S. freighter Louise Lykes in the North Atlantic at 58°55'N, 23°40'W; although the U-boat will ultimately destroy the merchantman, Armed Guard gunfire nearly turns the tables on the enemy. Sadly, none of Louise Lykes's people (including the 24-man Armed Guard) survive.
German submarine U-124 continues assault on convoy TB 1, begun shortly before midnight the day before, about 100 miles northeast of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana. U-124 torpedoes freighters Collingsworth and Minotaur at 07°12'N, 55°37'W; each ship sinks four minutes after being struck. Tanker Broad Arrow sinks as the result of damage received in U-124's initial attack. Submarine chaser PC-577 rescues survivors from all four ships sunk by the U-boat. Of the Armed Guards on the four merchantmen, only one sailor of the eight-man guard on board Broad Arrow survives; five of the 18-man Armed Guard perish in the abandonment of Birmingham City; Collingsworth's detachment loses four of 24 men; Minotaur's 15-man Armed Guard, however, survives intact.
Destroyer Shaw (DD-373) is damaged by grounding, Bulari Passage, New Caledonia.
Motor torpedo boats PT-27 and PT-28 are damaged by storm, Dora Harbor, Unimak Island, Aleutians.
Submarine Trigger (SS-237) sinks Japanese destroyer Okikaze off Yokosuka, 35°02'N, 140°12'E.
RAAF Hudsons and Catalinas damage Japanese army cargo ship Brazil Maru off Lae. Navy planes attack the same convoy later but do not achieve any damage.
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter Norwalk is sunk in collision with Norwegian freighter Nidareid north of Cuba, 28°18'N, 80°00'W. While one of the 30-man merchant crew perishes in the accident, none of the 14-man Armed Guard are hurt.
Norwegian freighter Dalvanger rescues 21 men from U.S. freighter Collingsworth, torpedoed and sunk by U-124 the previous day while in convoy TB 1.
Submarine Trout (SS-202) damages Japanese oiler Kyokuko Maru off Miri, 04°24'N, 113°51'E.
Motor torpedo boat PT-28 is damaged by grounding during storm, Dora Harbor, Unimak Island, Aleutians.
Submarine Guardfish (SS-217) sinks Patrol Boat No.1 about 10 miles southwest of the Tingwon Islands, located just southwest of the northern tip of New Hanover, Bismarck Archipelago, 02°51'S, 149°43'E.
New Zealand corvette scuttles hulk of motor torpedo boat PT-43 off Guadalcanal.
District patrol vessel YP-183 sinks after running aground off west coast of Hawaii, T.H.
Submarine Triton (SS-201) damages Japanese oiler Maru north of the St. Matthias Island group, 00°26'S, 148°40'E.
Submarine Whale (SS-239) sinks Japanese collier Iwashiro Maru about 40 miles north of Kwajalein, 09°54'N, 167°07'E.
Atlantic
PBY-5As (VP 83) sink German submarine U-507 off Brazil, 01°38'S, 39°52'W.
Pacific
Submarine Gudgeon (SS-211) lands men and equipment near Catmon Point, Negros, P.I.
Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) hits Japanese Toa Maru with dud torpedo off Bougainville, 05°13'S, 155°09'E.
Submarine Pike (SS-173) is damaged by bombs and depth charges off Ichie Saki, southern Honshu; she is forced to terminate her patrol.
Submarine Searaven (SS-196) attacks Japanese convoy northwest of the Palaus, sinking the sole escort, auxiliary submarine chaser No.1 Ganjitsu Maru, and army cargo ship Shiraha Maru, 09°12'N, 130°38'E.
Motor torpedo boat PT-28, previously damaged, is abandoned, Dora Harbor, Unimak Island, Aleutians.
Japanese naval auxiliary Shoan Maru is damaged by aircraft off Saipan.
SOCs (VCS Detachment RINGBOLT) locate and illuminate Japanese destroyers for PT-boats; the planes also bomb and strafe the enemy ships.
Japanese attempt to reinforce their troops in the Solomons begins as first group of ships--Section A-- three transports accompanied by destroyer Shigure, departs Truk for Bougainville. The soldiers are being transferred from China (see 17, 19, and 20 January).
USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese convoy, sinking army cargo ship Nichimei Maru and damaging army cargo ship Moji Maru, about 200 miles south-southwest of Rangoon, Burma, 13°30'N, 97°30'E. Unknown to the aviators, Nichimei Maru is transporting Allied POWs, 500 of whom are lost.
Submarine Growler (SS-215) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking army passenger-cargo ship Chifuku Maru 11 miles north of Waton Island, 04°00'S, 151°55'E, and survives escorts' counterattacks.
Section B of Japanese Solomons reinforcement convoy sails from Truk, bound for the Shortlands.
Submarine Finback (SS-230) damages Japanese merchant cargo ship Yachiyo Maru off Tanega Shima, 30°33'N, 132°25'E.
Submarine Searaven (SS-196) torpedoes Japanese ship Gokoku Maru just off Palau, but the "fish" that hits proves a dud, 07°52'N, 134°02'E.
Submarine Whale (SS-239) damages Japanese troopship Heiyo Maru northeast of Truk, 10°13'N, 151°25'E.
SOC (VCS Detachment RINGBOLT) on night patrol locates Japanese submarine by lightning flash and attacks her, but the bomb fails to detonate.
Submarine Silversidess (SS-236) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Genyo Maru about 90 miles southwest of Truk, 06°19'N, 150°15'E, but is damaged by depth charges from escorting warship and is forced to terminate her patrol.
USAAF B-24 sinks Japanese transport Senzan Maru off Kavieng, 03°29'S, 149°02'E; submarine chaser Ch 16 rescues survivors.
USAAF B-17s and P-39s sink Japanese cargo vessel Yamafuku Maru off Shortland Island.
Japanese collier Tokachi Maru is sunk by Japanese mine west of Surubaya, Java, N.E.I., 06°50'S, 112°12'E.
U.S. tanker Mobilube is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-21 off coast of New South Wales, Australia, 33°57'S, 157°20'E; Australian minesweeper HMAS Kapunda provides assistance as the tanker remains afloat. Other than three men killed in the initial explosion, no other members of the ship's complement (that includes an 11-man Armed Guard) perish. Mobilube is towed to Sydney by salvage tug St. Aristell, but is eventually declared a total loss.
Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) encounters Section A of the Japanese Solomons reinforcement convoy, and sinks army cargo ship Myoho Maru, 05°38'S, 156°20'E. Section C of the reinforcement convoy, meanwhile, departs Truk (see 20 January).
Submarine Greenling (SS-213) damages Japanese army cargo ship Shinai Maru north of Rabaul, 01°35'S, 150°57'E.
Submarine Haddock (SS-231) attacks Japanese convoy off south coast of Honshu, damaging transport Shunko Maru, 34°13'N, 136°59'E.
Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) damages Japanese destroyer Akizuki 270 miles west of Tulagi, 05°55'S, 156°20'E.
Submarine Spearfish (SS-190) en route to Pearl Harbor after completing her patrol, is damaged by aerial bombs off the Gilberts, 04°44'N, 175°28'E.
Atlantic
Carrier Ranger (CV-4) launches USAAF P-40s off Accra, Gold Coast, for further transfer to the North African theater.
First destroyer escort type ship, Brennan (DE-13), is commissioned at Mare Island, California, Navy Yard.
Mediterranean
German planes attack United Kingdom-bound convoy MKS 6 off coast of Algeria; U.S. freighter Walt Whitman is torpedoed at 36°55'N, 03°07'E. Four sailors of the 17-man Armed Guard are blown overboard by the explosion but are recovered by an escort vessel within a quarter-hour. There are no casualties and the ship ultimately reaches Algiers under her own power.
Atlantic
U.S. tanker Brilliant departs St. John's, Newfoundland, under tow, bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, but breaks up in storm (see 24 January).
Submarine Gato (SS-212) encounters Section B of Japanese Solomons reinforcement convoy and damages army transport Kenkon Maru just east of Kieta, Bougainville, 06°12'S, 155°51'E; escorts scuttle the ship to hasten her sinking.
Submarine Pollack (SS-180) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Asama Maru off Kushiro, Japan, 42°41'N, 145°37'E.
USAAF B-24 damages Japanese light cruiser Natori off Ambon.
Atlantic
Naval Base and Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Corinto, Nicaragua, are established.
USAAF B-17s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Tetsuzan Maru in Rabaul harbor; 30 landing craft on board are lost, 04°15'S, 152°10'E.
U.S. freighter Peter H. Burnett is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-21 about 500 miles east of Newcastle, Australia, 32°54'S, 159°32'E, and abandoned; other than one sailor of the 26-man Armed Guard who dies of injuries received in the explosion, there are no casualties. When I-21 withdraws, the freighter is reboarded (see 24 January).
District patrol craft YP-577 is destroyed by explosion of undetermined origin, Great Lakes, Illinois.
Pacific
Submarine Guardfish (SS-217) sinks Japanese destroyer Hakaze south of Steffen Strait, between New Ireland and New Hanover, 02°47'S, 156°38'E.
Japanese submarine I-8 bombards Canton Island.
Japanese planes bomb U.S. shipping in Milne Bay, New Guinea; fragments from near-misses damage freighter Stephen Johnson Field. One Armed Guard sailor and one merchant crewman are injured; there are no other casualties among the 23-man Armed Guard and 43 merchant seamen.
Atlantic
German submarine U-175 torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter Benjamin Smith off Cape Palmas, Liberia, 04°05'N, 07°50'W. The 23-man Armed Guard detachment (as well as the 43-man merchant complement) survives intact; all hands reach Sassandra, French Ivory Coast, the next day.
Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) damages Japanese destroyer Harusame eleven miles west of Wewak, New Guinea, 03°23'S, 143°34'E.
High speed minesweeper Zane (DMS-14) recovers one boatload of crewmen from torpedoed freighter Peter H. Burnett and then proceeds to aid the stricken merchantman. Zane then tows the freighter to Sydney, Australia, for repairs.
Japanese light cruiser Nagara is damaged by marine casualty off Anatahan Island.
Atlantic
Submarine chaser PC-576 rescues one Armed Guard sailor (Seaman First Class Basil D. Izzi, USNR) and two Dutch seamen from Dutch motorship Zaandam at 08°39'N, 58°46'W. Zaandam had been sunk by German submarine U-174 on 2 November 1942. The three survivors have spent 83 days on the small raft, subsisting on raw fish, fowl, and rainwater.
Survivors of U.S. tanker Brilliant, which had broken in two on 20 January, are rescued by Canadian minesweeper from the after portion of the ship. Of the 54 men on board, 31 merchant seamen are saved; 13 of the Armed Guard survive.
German submarine U-575 torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter City of Flint, straggling from Casablanca-bound convoy UGS 4, about 300 miles south of the Azores, 34°47'N, 31°40'W; 4 of 24 Armed Guard sailors are lost (see 28 January).
Submarine Grayling (SS-209) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Ushio Maru in Verde Island Passage, north of Mindoro, P.I., 13°26'N, 121°16'E.
Submarine Gudgeon (SS-211) is damaged by depth charges in the Banda Sea, 03°59'S, 127°54'E, but remains on patrol.
Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) attacks Japanese convoy about 270 miles north of Dutch New Guinea and torpedoes and sinks army cargo ships Buyo Maru and No.2 Fukuei Maru, 02°00'N, 139°14'E. After dispatching the freighters, which are serving as transports, Wahoo (Lieutenant Commander Dudley W. Morton) surfaces to recharge her batteries and mans her guns. Firing her 4-inch gun at the largest of the craft draws Japanese return fire from automatic weapons. As Morton later writes, "We then opened fire with everything we had." Subsequently, Wahoo pursues and torpedoes armed merchant cruiser Ukishima Maru, 02°37'N, 139°42'E, and army cargo ship Pacific Maru, 02°30'N, 139°44'E (see 27 January).
Japanese ship No.2 Choko Maru rescues about 1,000 survivors of army cargo ship Buyo Maru, sunk the previous day by submarine Wahoo (SS-238).
Japanese destroyer Karukaya is damaged off Takao, Formosa, by marine casualty.
Submarine I-27 is damaged by marine casualty off Penang, Malaya.
Atlantic
U.S. freighter Cape Decision, steaming independently from Charleston, South Carolina to Freetown, Sierra Leone, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-105 at 23°00'N, 46°40'W; all 45 merchant sailors, 26-man Armed Guard, and six passengers, survive the sinking (see 5 and 10 February).
U.S. freighter Charles C. Pinckney, a straggler from convoy UGS 4, is torpedoed by German submarine U-514 about 200 miles southwest of the Azores, 36°37'N, 30°55'W. When U-514 surfaces nearby, Armed Guard gunners hold fire until well within range, at which point they open up and score hits on their assailant, driving her off for the time being (see 28 January).
Portuguese destroyer Lima rescues 48 survivors from sunken U.S. freighter City of Flint. (see 12 March)
New Zealand corvettes HMNZS Kiwi and HMNZS Moa sink Japanese submarine I 1 off Kamimbo Bay, Guadalcanal, 09°13'S, 159°40'E.
Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Nichiun Maru off southeast tip of Bougainville, Solomons, 06°22'S, 156°04'E, despite proximity of escorting submarine chaser Ch 22.
Atlantic
Portuguese destroyer Lima recovers survivors from U.S. freighter Julia Ward Howe, sunk by German submarine U-442 about 350 miles southwest of the Azores.
Japanese submarine I-10 torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter Samuel Gompers 115 miles from Amadee Lighthouse, New Caledonia, 24°28'S, 166°20'E; one of the 17-man Armed Guard dies, and three of the 43-man merchant complement perish in the sinking. French fishermen and U.S. Army crash boat P 111 rescue the survivors.
Naval Station, Akutan Harbor, Fox Island, Alaska, is established.
Floating dry dock YFD-220 founders and sinks in heavy weather off California coast.
Atlantic
Grossadmiral Karl Doenitz succeeds Grossadmiral Erich Raeder as Commander in Chief of the German Navy.
To deny the Japanese "Tokyo Express" access to the channel between Savo Island and Cape Esperance, light minelayers Tracy (DM-19), Montgomery (DM-17) and Preble (DM-20) sow 255 mines in those waters. The three ships clear the mining area as Japanese men-of-war are only 12,000 yards away and closing (see 2 February).
Two waves of aircraft from Henderson Field (TBFs, SBDs, F4Fs, and USAAF P-38s, P-39s, and P-40s) attack Japanese destroyer force (Rear Admiral Hashimoto Shintaro), en route to evacuate Japanese troops from Guadalcanal (Operation KE), damaging Makinami (Hashimoto's flagship). U.S. motor torpedo boats later attack the Japanese force, but in that action PT-111 and PT-37 are sunk by gunfire from destroyer Kawakaze; a Japanese floatplane sinks PT-123. Hashimoto's force extracts 4,935 soldiers.
Submarine Tarpon (SS-175) sinks Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship Fushimi Maru about 20 miles south of Omai Zaki, 34°08'N, 138°11'E.
Japanese torpedo boat Kari is damaged by aircraft, Rangoon, Burma.
USAAF B-17s and P-39s sink Japanese cargo vessel Keiyo Maru off the Shortlands.
USAAF B-24s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese cargo vessel Kenkoku Maru while en route from Kokope to New Guinea, between Lolobau Island and New Britain, 04°58'S, 151°12'E.
Atlantic
German submarine U-456 attacks convoy HX 224 in the North Atlantic and torpedoes U.S. freighter Jeremiah Van Renssalaer at 54°50'N, 28°55'W; 10 of the 28-man Armed Guard are lost; the ship is scuttled by escorts later the same day.
Caribbean Open lighters YC-886 and YC-887 founder and sink in heavy weather, Guantanamo, Cuba.
Pacific
Submarine Tunny (SS-282) damages Japanese army transport No.1 Shinto Maru in the South China Sea, 22°03'N, 114°23'E.
Atlantic
German submarine U-223 attacks Greenland-bound supply convoy SG 19 which is escorted by Coast Guard cutters Tampa (WPG-48), Escanaba (WPG-77), and Comanche (WPG-76), and sinks War Department-chartered transport Dorchester about 150 miles west of Cape Farewell, Greenland, 59°22'N, 48°42'W, and damages Norwegian freighter Biscaya. Casualties on board Dorchester are heavy, 675 men (including 15 of 24 Armed Guard sailors) being lost. Four Army chaplains, representing four different faiths, bravely give up their lifebelts to soldiers who have none; all four perish with the ship.
German submarine U-255 attacks convoy RA 52 600 miles northeast of Iceland, torpedoing U.S. freighter Greylock, 70°50'N, 00°48'W; there are no casualties, British escort trawler HMS Lady Madeleine rescues all hands.
Submarine Tunny (SS-282) damages Japanese transport Tatsuwa Maru in the South China Sea, 21°30'N, 113°42'E.
Atlantic
German submarines attack convoy SC 118; Coast Guard cutter Bibb (WPG-31) pinpoints location of U-187, which is sunk by British destroyers HMS Vimy and HMS Beverly, 50°12'N, 36°34'W. Bibb later participates in driving off the four U-boats that try to close the convoy during the night.
Atlantic
Battle to protect convoy SC 118 continues; destroyers Babbitt (DD-128) and Schenck (DD-159), and Coast Guard cutter Ingham (WPG-35) arrive to reinforce the harried escorts. German submarine U-413 sinks U.S. freighter West Portal, a straggler from SC 118, in the North Atlantic, 52°00'N, 33°00'W. There are no survivors (12 Armed Guard sailors lost among them).
Forty survivors in boat from U.S. freighter Cape Decision, sunk by U-105 on 27 January, reach safety at Barbados (see 10 February).
USAAF planes sink Japanese cargo ship Gisho Maru, 04°30'S, 151°30'E.
Atlantic
Efforts to protect SC 118 continue; Babbitt (DD-128) helps prevent attacks by three U-boats attempting to close the convoy.
Mediterranean
North African Theater of Operations (Lieutenant General Dwight D. Eisenhower) is established.
Submarine Growler (SS-215) is damaged by accidental ramming of Japanese storeship Hayasaki and gunfire from the same vessel, 70 miles northwest of Rabaul, 03°34'S, 151°09'E. During this action, Growler's commanding officer, Commander Howard W. Gilmore, is mortally wounded. Rather than further hazard his ship, he orders Growler taken down. For his gallantry, Gilmore is awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously. Hayasaki is damaged in the encounter; Growler is forced to terminate her patrol.
Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) is damaged when mistakenly attacked by USAAF B-17, 150 miles north of New Ireland, 00°12'N, 152°00'E, and terminates her patrol as a result.
Submarine Trout (SS-202) damages Japanese tanker Nisshin Maru off Miri, 04°31'N, 114°52'E.
Atlantic
During continued fight to defend SC 118, Coast Guard cutter Bibb (WPG-31) drives off U-402, only to battle that submarine and U-456 later the same day. U-402, however, torpedoes and sinks U.S. tanker Robert E. Hopkins about 650 miles west of Northern Ireland, 55°14'N, 26°22'W. Only 1 of the 19-man Armed Guard detachment is lost; survivors are rescued by British corvette HMS Mignonette. U-402 also torpedoes and sinks U.S. passenger ship Henry R. Mallory at 55°30'N, 29°33'W; 49 of the 77-man merchant crew perish, as do 15 of the 34-man Armed Guard and 208 of 283 embarked passengers, primarily to exposure. Coast Guard cutters Bibb and Ingham (WPG-35) rescue 227 men, five of whom die of their injuries.
German submarine U-160 torpedoes and U.S. freighter Roger B. Taney, en route to Bahia, Brazil, 22°00'S, 07°00'W. Three crewmen perish in the explosion of the initial torpedo, but the rest of the 47-man merchant complement and the sole passenger survive, in addition to the 17-man Armed Guard (see 28 February and 20 March).
Submarine Tunny (SS-282) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Kusuyama Maru off southwest coast of Formosa about 55 miles west of Takao, 22°40'N, 119°12'E.
Japanese cargo ship Shotoku Maru is sunk by storm near Hinomizaki, Honshu, 35°26'N, 132°38'E.
Atlantic
During continued efforts by German submarines against SC 118, U-608 unsuccessfully attacks destroyer Schenck (DD-159).
Swiss freighter Caritasi rescues 14 survivors of U.S. freighter Charles C. Pinckney, sunk on 28 January 1943 by U-514; eight of the 27-man Armed Guard survive their ordeal, as do six merchant sailors.
Submarine Tarpon (SS-175) sinks Japanese transport Tatsuta Maru 42 miles east of Mikura Jima, 33°45'N, 140°25'E.
Japanese submarine I-21 sights U.S. freighter Starr King one day out of Sydney, Australia, and begins pursuit of the freighter (see 10 and 11 February).
Atlantic
Destroyer Boyle (DD-600) rescues 54 survivors of U.S. freighter Pan Royal, which sinks at 36°40'N, 67°20'W, after being accidentally rammed by motor vessel Evita and freighter George Davis, while proceeding in convoy UGS 5. Eight merchant sailors are lost in the mishap; there are no casualties to the 26-man Armed Guard.
Japanese submarine I-21 continues pursuit of U.S. freighter Starr King and torpedoes her, 34°15'S, 154°20'E; there are no casualties among the merchant crew or Armed Guard. Australian destroyer HMAS Warramunga rescues survivors but has to abandon attempt to tow the crippled freighter when a line fouls her port screw. Starr King, however, sinks that night.
Atlantic
USAAF B-24s (2d Antisubmarine Squadron) sink German submarine U-519 northwest of Spain, 47°05'N, 18°34'W.
Thirty-seven survivors in boat from U.S. freighter Cape Decision, sunk by U-105 on 27 January, reach St. Barthelemy, French West Indies.
Submarine Grayling (SS-209) damages Japanese army cargo ship Hoeizan Maru off Corregidor, 14°16'N, 120°28'E.
Oiler Salamonie (AO 26) is damaged in collision with merchant vessel Uruguay, 36°54'N, 49°29'W.
Submarine Runner (SS-275) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese cargo vessel Tokyo Maru north of Biak, New Guinea, 07°31'N, 134°21'E.
Submarine Thresher (SS-200) damages Japanese submarine I-62 off the Lesser Sundas, 06°05'S, 105°47'E.
Submarine Trout (SS-202) sinks Japanese gunboat Hirotama Maru at south entrance to Makassar Strait, 04°11'S, 117°45'E. Return fire from the enemy warship in the last phases of the action fought on the surface wounds seven sailors.
PB4Ys (VB 101) strafe and damage ammunition ship Hitachi Maru off Buin, Bougainville, 06°48'S, 155°50'E; USAAF B-17s bomb shipping at Buin as well, completing the destruction of Hitachi Maru.
Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese stores ship Suruga Maru in Bougainville Strait, 06°27'S, 156°02'E.
Submarine Pickerel (SS-177) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking cargo vessel Tateyama Maru off the east coast of Honshu, 39°18'S, 142°08'E.
USAAF aircraft sink Japanese cargo ship Kokoku Maru in the Bismarck Sea, 05°32'S, 150°09'E.
Atlantic
U.S. tanker Atlantic Sun, straggling from convoy ON 165, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-607, 150 miles off Cape Race, 51°00'N, 41°00'W; other than one deckhand rescued by U-607, all hands (45 merchant sailors, a 19-man Armed Guard and one passenger) perish with the ship.
Pacific
Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese stores ship Hyuga Maru 24 miles off Pagan, Marianas, 18°30'N, 145°57'E.
Submarine Triton (SS-201) departs Brisbane for her sixth war patrol. She will never be seen again (see 6 March).
Atlantic
Fleet Air Wing 16 (Captain Rossmore D. Lyon) is established at Norfolk, Virginia.
Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter Deer Lodge is torpedoed by German submarine U-607 about 60 miles east of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and abandoned (see 17 and 20 February).
Atlantic/Mediterranean
Moroccan Sea Frontier (Rear Admiral John L. Hall) is established.
Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter Deer Lodge, torpedoed by German submarine U-607 about 60 miles east of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the previous day, sinks at 33°46'S, 26°57'E. Two merchant seamen are lost with the ship, but the survivors (37 civilians and an 18-man Armed Guard) are rescued by South African minesweeper Africana (13 men) and British trawler Havorn (32 men) (see 20 February).
Heavy cruiser HMAS Australia and three U.S. destroyers of TF 44.3 operate south of Australia to cover passage of five-ship convoy transporting the 30,000 troops of the 9th Australian Division to Sydney.
Submarine Grampus (SS-207) damages Japanese transport Keiyo Maru, 05°04'S, 152°18'E.
German auxiliary cruiser Michel (Schiffe 28) arrives at Singapore; the next day she turns over to the Japanese the merchant and Armed Guard sailors she had captured when she sank U.S. freighter Sawokla on 29 November 1942.
Submarine Gato (SS-212) torpedoes Japanese ammunition ship Hibari Maru off eastern Bougainville, 06°27'S, 156°05'E. Hibari Maru is beached off Buin (see 28 February).
Submarine Grampus (SS-207) torpedoes Japanese transport/aircraft ferry Keiyo Maru, 04°55'S, 152°26'E.
Submarine Runner (SS-275) is damaged by aerial bomb off the Palaus, 07°35'N, 134°25'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.
USAAF B-17s bomb Japanese shipping off Buin, Bougainville, damaging transport Tokai Maru, 06°45'S, 155°50'E.
Atlantic
Submarine Blackfish (SS-221) torpedoes and sinks German patrol craft VP 408 (ex-trawler Haltenbank), 43°30'N, 002°54'W, but is damaged by depth charges from what she reports as two converted trawlers, and is forced to terminate her patrol.
Submarine Albacore (SS-218) torpedoes and sinks Japanese destroyer Oshio about 140 miles north-northwest of Manus, Admiralty Islands, 00°50'S, 146°06'E. Albacore escapes damage in the resultant depth-charging by an accompanying enemy warship.
Submarine Halibut (SS-232) torpedoes and sinks Japanese transport Shinkoku Maru about 450 miles north of Ponape, Carolines, 15°09'N, 159°30'E.
Japanese auxiliary patrol vessel Yoshida Maru is damaged by mine (probably laid by submarine Sunfish (SS-281) between 14-17 December 1942), 34°28'N, 137°20'E.
Japanese army cargo ship Aragane Maru sinks as the result of damage inflicted by gunfire from heavy cruiser Indianapolis (CA 35) and destroyers Coghlan (DD-606) and Gillespie (DD-609) off Attu, 53°05'N, 171°22'E.
Atlantic
German submarines sight New York-bound convoy ON 166, which is escorted by Coast Guard cutters Spencer (WPG-36) and Campbell (WPG-32), one British and four Canadian corvettes. During the night of 20-21 February, Coast Guard cutter Spencer (WPG-36) depth charges U-604.
USAAF B-24 locates German prize tanker Hohenfriedberg 500 nautical miles southwest of Cape Finisterre; consequently, British heavy cruiser HMS Sussex intercepts and sinks the Axis vessel.
Indian Ocean
Hospital ship Atlantis rescues the last 10 survivors of U.S. freighter Deer Lodge, torpedoed by German submarine U-607 about 60 miles east of Port Elizabeth, South Africa on 16 February.
Submarine Sawfish (SS-276) damages Japanese oiler Ose off Oagari Jima, 29°29'N, 132°48'E.
Submarine Thresher (SS-200) attacks Japanese convoy northeast of Soembawa Island, N.E.I., damaging army cargo ship Kuwayama Maru, 07°53'N, 119°13'E (see 22 February).
Dutch submarine O 24 sinks Japanese merchant motor vessel Bandai Maru off Salang Island, 07°50'N, 098°09'E.
Atlantic
Battle to protect ON 166 from German submarines begins as U-332 and U-603 torpedo and sink Norwegian motor tanker Stigstad; U-92 torpedoes British steamer Empire Trader (she will be scuttled by Canadian corvette HMCS Dauphin). Coast Guard cutter Campbell (WPG-32), British corvette HMS Dianthus and Canadian corvette Dauphin, aided by flying boats, temporarily drive off U-332, U-454, and U-753 threatening the merchantmen. Coast Guard cutter Spencer (WPG-36) sinks German submarine U-225 at 51°25'N, 27°28'W.
U.S. freighter Rosario, steaming in convoy ON 167, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-664 at 50°13'N, 24°48'W. Fourteen of the 17-man Armed Guard, and 14 of 44 merchant crewmen are picked up by British rescue ship Rathlin; the rest perish with the ship.
British merchantman Penrith Castle rescues 15 merchant seamen and 13 Armed Guard sailors, survivors of freighter Roger B. Taney, that had been sunk by U-225 on 7 February (see 20 March).
Battle to protect convoy ON 166 in the North Atlantic continues. British rescue ship Stockport rescues Empire Trader's survivors; German submarine U-92 torpedoes Norwegian motor tanker Nielson Alonso (which is again torpedoed by U-92 and then by U-753, but is eventually scuttled by Polish destroyer Burza); U-606 torpedoes a trio of merchantmen: U.S. freighters Chattanooga City at 46°54'N, 34°30'W, and Expositor at 46°52'N, 34°26'W, as well as British steamer Empire Redshank. Chattanooga City sinks. Canadian corvette HMCS Trillium rescues all hands (including the 21-man Armed Guard) from Chattanooga City as well as 34 of 41 merchant sailors (two of whom die of their wounds) and the entire 21-man Armed Guard from Expositor. Trillium scuttles Empire Redshank. U-606's opportunity to savor her triple play is short-lived, for Canadian corvette HMCS Chilliwack and Polish destroyer Burza depth charge U-606 and drive her to the surface, where Coast Guard cutter Campbell (WPG-32) rams and sinks her at 47°44'N, 33°43'W. Campbell, damaged in the encounter, is taken in tow by Burza.
German submarines locate Curacao, N.W.I.-bound convoy UC 1; four U.S. destroyers comprise part of the escort force (see 23 February).
Pacific
District patrol craft YP-72 sinks after grounding off Spruce Cape entrance to Kodiak, Alaska.
Japanese army cargo ship Kuwayama Maru sinks off Soembawa Island as the result of damage inflicted by submarine Thresher (SS-200) the previous day, 07°53'N, 119°13'E.
German submarines attack Curacao, N.W.I.-bound convoy UC 1, which is shepherded by four U.S. destroyers, two British frigates and three corvettes. Despite the proximity of the Anglo-American escort force, U-382 torpedoes Dutch motor tanker Murena; U-202 torpedoes British tankers Empire Norseman and British Fortitude, and U.S. tanker Esso Baton Rouge, the last-named ship at 31°15'N, 27°22'W. British sloop HMS Totland rescues Esso Baton Rouge's survivors, who include 24 of the 25-man Armed Guard and 41 of the 43-man merchant complement.
District patrol craft YP-336 sinks after running aground, Delaware River.
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter Nathanael Greene, en route to join Algiers-bound convoy MKS 8, is first torpedoed by German submarine U-565 about 40 miles northeast of Oran, 35°56'N, 00°05'N, and then is hit with an aerial torpedo during an air attack, forcing her abandonment. British minesweeper HMS Brixham takes on board 26 survivors directly from the sinking ship, and plucks others from the water. Brixham tows the ship out of further danger, transferring the tow to rescue tug Restive, which beaches Nathanael Greene off Oran, where salvage vessel Redwing (ARS-4) saves 400 of the 1,300 tons of cargo. Nathanael Greene will be written off, however, as a total loss. Of her complement, four merchant sailors die in the initial explosion but the Armed Guard (16 men) survives intact.
Atlantic
Carrier Ranger (CV-4) launches USAAF P-40s off Accra, Gold Coast, for further transfer to the North African theater in her second such ferry mission of 1943.
PBM-3 (VP 74) sights Italian submarine Barbarigo attacking Spanish merchantman Monte Igueldo, 04°46'S, 31°55'N, and attacks the enemy submersible, which comes to the surface and fights it out with the flying boat. Neither side, however, inflicts damage on the other.
Defense of convoy ON 166 continues; German submarine U-604 is damaged by depth charges from Coast Guard cutter Spencer (WPG-36) or corvettes HMCS Chilliwack, HMCS Rosthern or HMCS Trillium. U-621 conducts unsuccessful attack on Spencer.
Submarine Grampus (SS-207) possibly damages Japanese minesweeper W 22 off Kolombangara, Solomons.
Submarine Plunger (SS-179) torpedoes Japanese oiler Iro 130 miles west of Jaluit, 06°09'N, 167°18'E; Katori Maru tows the crippled ship to Kwajalein for repairs.
USAAF B-24s (10th Air Force) sink Japanese cargo vessel Asakasan Maru 95 miles southeast of Rangoon, Burma, 15°53'N, 97°40'E.
Japanese cargo ship Kashii Maru is sunk in collision with Kasagisan Maru off Shimoda, Honshu, 34°39'N, 138°58'E.
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter Daniel Carroll, in convoy TE 16, is torpedoed by German submarine U-371 off the coast of Algeria, 37°05'N, 04°02'30"E, but is towed by a British tug to Algiers, arriving there the following day; she suffers no casualties to either her merchant crew or her 27-man Armed Guard or 30 passengers.
Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Annette Island, Alaska, is established.
Atlantic
Atlantic Convoy Conference meets in Washington, D.C.
U.S. freighter Wade Hampton, straggling from convoy HX 227, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-405 at 59°55'N, 35°55'E; British corvette HMS Vervain rescues 41 merchant seamen and 26 Armed Guard sailors (see 3 March 1943). Lost with Wade Hampton are Soviet motor torpedo boats RPT 1 (ex-PT-85) and RPT 3 (ex-PT-87), lend-lease craft being carried as deck cargo.
U.S. freighter Fitz John Porter, in Bahia, Brazil-to-Trinidad convoy BT 6, is torpedoed by German submarine U-518, 12°25'S, 36°55'E, and abandoned. While there are no casualties among the merchant sailors, one Armed Guard seaman is blown overboard and lost. Brazilian minelayer Carioca rescues the survivors, and Fitz John Porter sinks the following evening.
Submarine Permit (SS-178) damages Japanese army cargo ship Tsurushima Maru off northeast coast of Honshu, 39°00'N, 141°54'E.
Submarine Thresher (SS-200) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Toen Maru in southern Makassar Strait, 03°29'S, 117°17'E.
Atlantic
German submarine U-759's attack on U.S. freighter Meriwether Lewis, straggling from convoy HX 227, fails, but U-634, summoned to the scene by U-759, torpedoes the U.S. merchantman at 62°10'N, 28°25'W. After Meriwether Lewis breaks in two, U-634 sinks the after part of the ship with gunfire. Despite a two-day search by Coast Guard cutter Ingham (WPG-35), however, no trace of the freighter's crew (44 merchant sailors and a 25-man Armed Guard) is ever found.
Submarine chaser SC-1024 is sunk in collision off North Carolina.
Japanese guardboat Choei Maru is sunk by U.S. aircraft, off Vella Lavella, Solomons.
Submarine Halibut (SS-232) torpedoes Japanese naval auxiliary Nichiyu Maru about 170 miles south of Guam, 10°25'N, 145°25'E. Nichiyu Maru reaches Apra harbor under tow, but deemed beyond salvage by 17 June, never resumes active service (see 12 and 25 June 1944).
Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter Harvey W. Scott, bound for Iran in convoy DN 21, is torpedoed by German submarine U-160 off the coast of South Africa, 31°54'S, 30°37'E; first boatload of survivors (there are no casualties among the 42 merchant sailors or the 19-man Armed Guard) reaches shore (see 4 March).
Atlantic
British destroyer HMS Beverly rescues last survivor of freighter Wade Hampton, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-405 on 28 February.
U.S. freighter Staghound, proceeding independently from New York to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is torpedoed and sunk by Italian submarine Barbarigo in the South Atlantic off the coast of Brazil, 16°44'S, 36°33'E (see 4 March).
Japanese merchant cargo ship Hokuto Maru is sunk by mine south of Muroran, 39°30'N, 142°08'E.
Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter Harvey W. Scott, torpedoed by German submarine U-160 off the coast of South Africa, the previous day, sinks; a second boatload of survivors reaches shore safely (see 6 March).
Atlantic
Survivors from U.S. freighter Staghound, torpedoed and sunk by Italian submarine Barbarigo in the South Atlantic off the coast of Brazil the day before, are rescued by Argentine steamship Rio Colorado. There are no casualties among the 59-man merchant complement or the 25-man Armed Guard.
Submarine Tambor (SS-198) lands men, ammunition, and currency at Pagadian Bay, Mindanao, P.I.
Atlantic
Escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9) begins escort of convoy duty in North Atlantic. This is first time a ship of her type is assigned antisubmarine operations as primary duty; she will operate in support of convoy HX 228 until 14 March.
German submarine U-255 attacks Loch Ewe, Scotland-bound convoy RA 53, torpedoing U.S. freighter Executive and freighter Richard Bland at 72°45'N, 11°40'E; the former is abandoned without orders, with the survivors (one Armed Guard sailor and four merchant seamen are lost with the ship) being rescued by British trawlers HMS St. Elstan and HMS Northern Pride. Executive is scuttled. Richard Bland although damaged by a dud torpedo that nevertheless passes clean through the ship, remains with the convoy; she has suffered no casualties (see 10 March).
Submarine Sawfish (SS-176) damages Japanese army cargo ship Clyde Maru southeast of Toizaki, 31°04'N, 131°48'E.
Submarine Triton (SS-201) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kiriha Maru about 145 miles northwest of the Admiralties, 00°37'N, 145°30'E. Triton, which reports her success on 11 March, is never heard from again.
Indian Ocean
Last boatload of survivors from U.S. freighter Harvey W. Scott, torpedoed by German submarine U-160 off the coast of South Africa on 3 March, reaches shore safely.
Atlantic
German submarines locate convoy SC 121; escort group (Commander Paul R. Heineman) consists of Coast Guard cutter Spencer (WPG-36), destroyer Greer (DD-145), two Canadian corvettes, a British corvette and a rescue ship. Operations against this convoy will continue until 11 March.
Submarine Tautog (SS-199) lays mines off southeast coast of Borneo.
Atlantic
PBY-5 (VP 53) sinks German submarine U-156, West Indies area, 12°18'N, 54°39'W.
Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter James B. Stephens, independently bound for Durban, is torpedoed by German submarine U-160 off the coast of South Africa, 28°53'S, 33°18'E; one Armed Guard sailor drowns in the abandonment after the ship breaks in two. The forward half ultimately sinks while under tow toward Durban; the after half is scuttled with gunfire (see 11 and 14 March).
Submarine S-32 (SS-137) is damaged by Japanese depth charges off Holtz Bay, Attu Island, Aleutians.
Atlantic
Battle to protect convoy SC 121 continues (see 6 March 1943) as Coast Guard cutters Bibb (WPG-31) and Ingham (WPG-35) and destroyer Babbitt (DD-128) reinforce the escorts. Babbitt proves her worth this day as she helps keep U-boats down. Despite the efforts of the escorts, however, German submarine U-409 torpedoes U.S. freighter Malantic at 59°30'N, 24°00'W, which is abandoned in a gale; 19 merchant seamen, five Armed Guard sailors and the ship's sole passenger perish in the attempt to reach British rescue vessel Melrose Abbey. Malantic will sink the next day.
German submarine U-510 carries out series of attacks on ships of convoy BT 6, which is escorted by destroyer Borie (DD-215), gunboats Courage (PG-70) and Tenacity (PG-71) and two submarine chasers, off Cayenne, French Guayana. U-510 torpedoes U.S. freighters George G. Meade, Mark Hanna, James Smith, Thomas Ruffin and James K. Polk at 07°11'N, 52°30'W. George G. Meade suffers no casualties to either her merchant crew or the Armed Guard, and returns to service; Mark Hanna is abandoned by most of the crew, submarine chaser PC-592 rescuing the men while a portion of the complement remains on board to prepare the ship to be towed; after repairs, she returns to active service. James Smith suffers the loss of six merchant sailors and five Armed Guard seamen in the initial explosion, and is partially abandoned, with submarine chaser PC-592 rescuing a portion of the crew. The ship, however, will be towed to Trinidad by British tug Zwarte Zee and will eventually re-enter active service. Thomas Ruffin is partially abandoned, with Courage and PC-592 rescuing crewmen (four of the ship's merchant complement and two of the 15-man Armed Guard are killed); the ship will eventually be written off as a total loss. James K. Polk (one Armed Guard sailor is killed when the ship is torpedoed--the only casualty) is partially abandoned, with PC-592 serving as the rescuing agent; the master and a volunteer crew rig tarpaulins and with those makeshift sails proceed some 360 miles. Eventually towed to Trinidad and thence to Mobile, Alabama, James K. Polk will be written off as a total loss.
U.S. freighter Puerto Rican, straggling from convoy RA 53, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-586 at 66°44'N, 10°41'W'; of the 40-man merchant complement and 25-man Armed Guard, only one man of the former will survive the abandonment in the below-freezing environment in which the sinking takes place (see 12 March).
10 March, Wed.
Pacific
Acting on intelligence that 18 Japanese in a lifeboat (survivors from Battle of the Bismarck Sea) had drifted ashore on Kiriwina in the Trobriand Islands, motor torpedo boat PT-114 captures the enemy soldiers and takes them to Milne Bay the following day.
USAAF B-24 (5th Air Force) damages Japanese fleet tanker Kaijo Maru south of Buton Passage, Celebes, 04°45'S, 123°10'E; Kaijo Maru is run aground on Landaila Reef, where she is abandoned (see 17 March and 23 September).
Atlantic
Light cruiser Savannah (CL-42) and destroyer Eberle (DD-430) intercept German blockade runner Karin (ex-Dutch Kota Nopan) in the South Atlantic 400 miles west northwest of Ascension Island, 07°00'S, 21°00'W. Boarding party from Eberle, while attempting to retrieve intelligence documents, suffers seven killed and two wounded when scuttling charges explode on board Karin. Savannah takes on board the German survivors as POWs.
German submarine U-185 attacks convoy KG 123, torpedoing U.S. tanker Virginia Sinclair at 20°11'N, 74°04'W, and freighter James Sprunt at 19°49'N, 74°38'W. Submarine chaser SC-742 rescues all but seven of Virginia Sinclair's complement, but James Sprunt, laden with general cargo and explosives, disintegrates, killing all hands (44 merchant sailors and the 25-man Armed Guard) and showering nearby ships with debris.
German submarines attack convoy HX 228; U-221 torpedoes U.S. freighter Andrea F. Luckenbach at 51°04'N, 29°40'W. Explosion of the after magazine blows off the stern and kills 10 of the 28-man Armed Guard outright. British oiler Appleleaf rescues 17 Armed Guard sailors and 46 of the 55-man merchant complement. U-444 torpedoes freighter William C. Gorgas at 51°35'N, 28°30'W; British destroyer HMS Harvester rescues the 27-man Armed Guard and 33 of the 43-man merchant complement, but is herself later torpedoed and sunk by U-432. Ultimately, only four Armed Guard sailors and eight merchant seamen from William C. Gorgas survive Harvester's sinking, rescued by Free French-manned British corvette HMS Aconit. U-757 administers the coup de grace to William C. Gorgas.
German submarine U-255 torpedoes U.S. freighter Richard Bland, straggling from convoy RA 53, at 66°48'N, 14°15'W; the ship breaks in two. During the abandonment in rough seas, 17 of the 26-man Armed Guard and 19 of 42-man merchant complement perish. Survivors are rescued (27 by British destroyer HMS Impulsive); the forward portion of the ship is eventually towed to Iceland and salvaged.
Open lighter YC-1278 is destroyed off Atlantic Coast.
Indian Ocean
German submarine U-182 torpedoes U.S. freighter Richard D. Spaight in the Mozambique Channel, 28°00'S, 37°00'E; after the freighter is abandoned, the U-boat completes the work of destruction with gunfire, then questions and aids the crew before clearing the area. Two boats of survivors (42 of 43 merchant sailors and the entire 24-man Armed Guard survive) reach Richards Bay, South Africa (within three days), Cape St. Lucia, and Cuanalobi Beach (five days later).
British light cruiser HMS Nigeria rescues 30 survivors of U.S. freighter James B. Stephens, torpedoed by German submarine U-160 off the coast of South Africa on 8 March 1943; British trawler HMS Norwich City rescues 19 (see 14 March).
Atlantic
German submarines begin gathering to attack convoy UGS 6, which is being shepherded by seven U.S. destroyers (Captain Charles Wellborn, Jr.). Champlin (DD-601) sinks U-130 (which had first sighted UGS 6), 37°10'N, 40°21'W.
HMS Quadrant rescues ten survivors from sunken U.S. freighter City of Flint after 46 days on a lifeboat. Survivors include 3 Naval Armed Guards (see 25 January and 28 January).
Destroyer Belknap (DD-251) rescues seven Armed Guard sailors, survivors from freighter Jonathan Sturges, along with three Dutch seamen from torpedoed motorship Madoera, both merchantmen the victims of U-707 on 23 February 1943 (see 6 April).
Sole survivor of U.S. freighter Puerto Rican, torpedoed and sunk on 9 March by German submarine U-586 as the former straggled from convoy RA 53, is rescued by British trawler HMS St. Elstan.
Submarine Sunfish (SS-281) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Kosei Maru near Tokara Jima, Ryukyus, 29°04'N, 129°17'E.
Dutch submarine O 21 sinks Japanese cargo ship Kasuga Maru off Port Blair, Andaman Islands, 11°40'N, 92°50'E.
USAAF B-17s bomb Japanese convoy off Wewak, sinking cargo vessel Momoyama Maru; submarine Greenling (SS-213) witnesses attacks.
Atlantic
German submarine U-68 attacks Aruba-bound convoy GAT 49, and torpedoes U.S. tanker Cities Service Missouri, at 14°10'N, 74°40'W. Destroyer Biddle (DD-151) rescues survivors, who include the 11-man Armed Guard.
Mediterranean
German submarine U-172 torpedoes U.S. freighter Keystone, straggling from convoy UGS 6, at 38°10'N, 37°58'W. The initial explosion kills one Armed Guard sailor and a merchant seaman; these are the only casualties suffered by the ship, which is abandoned. Portuguese steamship Sines rescues the survivors.
Indian Ocean
Off Durban, South Africa, SAAF crash boat rescues 13 survivors of U.S. freighter James B. Stephens, torpedoed by German submarine U-160 on 8 March.
Pacific
Submarine Trigger (SS-237) attacks Japanese convoy about 150 miles northwest of the Admiralties, damaging transport Florida Maru, 00°00'N, 145°00'E, and sinking army cargo ship Momoha Maru, 00°02'S, 145°05'E.
Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, French Frigate Shoals, T.H., is established.
Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese victualling stores ship Hyuga Maru west of the Marianas.
Submarine S-32 (SS-137) damages Japanese submarine RO 103 off Silipuaka Island, 52°54'N, 173°13'E.
Mediterranean
Vice Admiral H. Kent Hewitt becomes Commander Naval Forces Northwest African Waters.
Atlantic
SBDs (VC 29) from aircraft escort vessel Santee (AVG-29) attack German submarine, 07°15'S, 29°15'W.
German submarine U-172, stalking convoy UGS 6, torpedoes U.S. freighter Benjamin Harrison at 39°09'N, 24°15'W. Precipitately abandoned, the ship is scuttled by gunfire of destroyer Rowan (DD-405), which rescues three survivors. Freighter Alan A. Dale rescues the remainder.
German submarines attack convoy HX 229 as it proceeds toward the British Isles; U-758 torpedoes U.S. freighter James Oglethorpe at 50°00'N, 36°00'W; 13 merchant seamen, 15 Armed Guard sailors and two passengers are rescued by British corvette HMS Pennywort. U-435 torpedoes freighter William Eustis at 49°57'N, 37°06'W; British destroyer HMS Volunteer rescues the entire crew (which includes a 30-man Armed Guard). Both "Liberties" remain afloat (see 17 March ).
Submarine Kingfish (SS-234) damages Japanese transport Tenryugawa Maru in Formosa Strait, 24°32'N, 120°15'E.
Submarine Tautog (SS-199) inflicts further damage to Japanese fleet tanker Kaijo Maru, driven aground and abandoned on 10 March (see 23 September).
Atlantic
Destroyer Upshur (DD-144), from convoy ON 170, having joined the escort force for convoy SC 122 the previous day, helps turn away U-boats attempting to stalk the merchantmen.
German submarine U-167 attacks convoy UGS 6 and damages U.S. freighter Molly Pitcher about 500 miles west of Lisbon, Portugal, 38°21'N, 19°54'W; destroyer Champlin (DD-601) which, along with destroyer Rowan (DD-405) and merchantman William Johnson rescues survivors, attempts, unsuccessfully, to scuttle the crippled freighter with a torpedo. U-521 finishes off Molly Pitcher later the same day. Two of the 24-man Armed Guard and two merchant seamen perish in the sinking.
German U-boat operations against convoy HX 229 continue: U-91 administers the coup de grace to U.S. freighters James Oglethorpe, torpedoed by U-758 the previous day, and the abandoned William Eustis, torpedoed the day before by U-435. Lost with the former are the 31 men who had remained on board. U-91 also torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter Harry Luckenbach at 50°38'N, 34°46'W; British corvette HMS Pennywort is the only escort vessel that sights Harry Luckenbach's survivors but, already crammed with 108 men retrieved from other sunken ships from HX 229, is unable to recover them. Harry Luckenbach is thus lost with all hands (54 merchant sailors and a 26-man Armed Guard). U-600 torpedoes and sinks freighter Irenee Du Pont at 50°36'N, 34°30'W with the loss of 6 of the 26-man Armed Guard, 1 of 9 Navy passengers and six of the 49-man merchant complement; Dutch merchantman Tekoa rescues 55 survivors, Canadian destroyer HMCS Mansfield 16 (one of whom dies of wounds). British corvette HMS Anemone fails to scuttle Irenee Du Pont with gunfire and a depth charge; it thus falls to U-91 to finish off the battered "Liberty."
Pacific
Submarine Kingfish (SS-234) sinks Japanese army hospital ship Takachiko Maru in Formosa Strait, 26°00'N, 122°18'E.
Submarine Sawfish (SS-276) damages Japanese guardboat Shinsei Maru, southeast of Japan, 32°54'N, 152°11'E.
Submarine Wahoo (SS-238), operating in the Yellow Sea, sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Zogen Maru just east of Dairen, Kwantung Peninsula, Manchukuo, 38°29'N, 122°19'E, and damages merchant cargo ship Kowa Maru, 38°27'N, 122°18'E.
USAAF A-20s damage Japanese submarine I-176 as she is unloading at Lae, New Guinea. I-176, however, is able to continue her voyage to Rabaul.
Atlantic
German U-boat onslaught against Atlantic convoys continues: U.S. freighter Mathew Luckenbach departs convoy HX 229, believing her chances greater of completing the voyage independently than in company with other ships, but runs afoul of U-527 in the vicinity of SC 122. U-527 torpedoes Mathew Luckenbach at 54°20'N, 25°07'W; Coast Guard cutter Ingham (WPG-35) rescues the freighter's entire complement (42 merchant sailors and a 26-man Armed Guard). Subsequently, U-523 administers the coup de grace to Mathew Luckenbach. With the loss of Mathew Luckenbach and Greek freighter Carras (a straggler from SC 122) to U-533 on this date, German U-boats will break off operations against SC 122 and HX 229 and conclude what is regarded as the largest convoy battle of the war. Despite the valiant efforts of the escorts, the merchantmen suffer heavy losses.
Mediterranean
[May 19th according to some sources]
Axis planes bomb shipping in Oran harbor; U.S. freighter Examiner is damaged by near-misses
that kill one Armed Guard sailor [Rafael Santiago] and wound six (an additional Armed Guard
sailor is killed on shore during the raid).
Merchant casualties amount to three crewmen wounded on board ship and one killed while ashore.
Atlantic
Brazilian merchantman Baje rescues 27 survivors of freighter Roger B. Taney, that had been sunk by U-225 on 7 February.
District patrol craft YP-438 sinks after running aground on submerged breakwater at entrance to Port Everglades, Florida.
Pacific
Submarine Sawfish (SS-276) sinks Japanese guardboat Shinsei Maru in the northern Pacific, 32°55'N, 152°11'E.
Submarine Scamp (SS-277) damages Japanese merchant cargo ship Seinan Maru off Tomari, 41°06'N, 141°26'E.
Submarine Trigger (SS-237) damages Japanese gunboat Choan Maru off the Admiralties, 03°44'N, 144°12'E, with a dud torpedo.
Pacific
Submarine Finback (SS-230) damages Japanese transport (ex-aircraft tender) Sanuki Maru south of the Carolines, 07°40'N, 139°48'E.
Submarine Scamp (SS-277) damages Japanese transport Manju Maru off east coast of Honshu, 41°45'N, 142°14'E.
Submarine Wahoo (SS-238), operating in the Yellow Sea off Korea, sinks Japanese merchant cargo ships Hozan Maru, 38°11'N, 124°33'E and Nittsu Maru, 38°05'N, 124°33'E.
Submarine Tambor (SS-198) damages Japanese transport Bugen Maru in the Sulu Sea, off Negros, P.I., 08°58'N, 123°08'E.
Atlantic
USAAF aircraft (1st Antisubmarine Squadron) sink German submarine U-524 north of Canary Islands, 30°15'N, 18°13'W.
USAAF heavy bombers raid Wilhelmshaven U-boat pens, sinking German tanker Eurosee.
Submarine Kingfish (SS-234) is damaged by depth charges off Formosa, 26°20'N, 121°55'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.
Submarine Whale (SS-239) sinks Japanese transport Ken'yo Maru about 130 miles northwest of Saipan, 17°20'N, 145°00'E; one of Whale's torpedoes circles back toward her, forcing the boat to "go deep" but then heads back and hits the target.
Atlantic/Mediterranean
Naval Station and Naval Air Facility are established at Arzeu, Algeria; Advanced Amphibious Training Bases are established at Port Lyautey, Morocco, and at Nemours, Tenes, Beni Saf, and Mostaganem in Algeria.
PBYs and USAAF B-24s bomb Nauru Island, South Pacific.
Atlantic
Naval Operating Facility, Belem, Brazil, is established.
Escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9) operates in support of convoy SC 123; her aircraft keep U-443 and U-415 down and prevent their attacking the convoy.
Atlantic
Naval Air Facility, Natal, Brazil, and Naval Operating Facilities at Victoria, Florianopolis, Fortaleza, Maceio, Recife, Rio Grande do Sul, Santos, and Sao Luiz, Brazil, are established.
Coast Guard cutter CG-85006 (ex-motor boat Catamount) is sunk by explosion off Long Island, New York.
Japanese cargo ship Funakawa Maru is stranded off Shiraya Zaki and sinks, 41°22'N, 141°22'E.
Submarine Gudgeon (SS-211) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Toho Maru in Makassar Strait, 00°00'N, 118°18'E, and damages tanker Kyoei Maru, 00°54'N, 119°01'E.
Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese auxiliary cable ship Yamabato Maru south of Kyushu, 30°26'N, 129°41'E.
Atlantic
German submarine U-160 torpedoes U.S. freighter William Pierce Frye, straggling from convoy HX 230, at 56°57'N, 26°15'W. Heavy seas have previously damaged most of her lifeboats, and the only serviceable one is swamped; life rafts and floats drift away from the ship. One tank landing craft (LCT) being carried as deck cargo breaks free as the ship sinks, but only seven men reach it (see 3 April).
USAAF B-17s bomb Japanese convoy off Kavieng, sinking merchant cargo ship Kokoko Maru.
Atlantic
Naval Operating Facility, Grondal, Greenland, is established.
Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland, is established.
District patrol craft YP-235 is sunk by explosion of undetermined origin, Gulf of Mexico.
Submarine Shad (SS-235) torpedoes Italian blockade runner Pietro Orseolo, 44°37'N, 02°18'W, shortly after the Italian ship had reached the Bay of Biscay and her escort of four German destroyers.
Submarine Pickerel (SS-177) sinks Japanese submarine chaser Ch 13 southeast of Shiriyasaki, Japan, 40°03'N, 141°58'E, but is afterwards sunk by minelayer Shirakami and auxiliary subchaser Bunzan Maru off northern Honshu.
USAAF B-17s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese transport Florida Maru in Kavieng harbor, 02°35'S, 150°49'E. B-17s and B-24s damage heavy cruiser Aoba and destroyer Fumizuki off Kavieng.
Japanese destroyer Kazagumo is damaged by mine, Kahili Bay, Bougainville.
Atlantic
German submarine U-155 torpedoes and sinks U.S. tanker Gulfstate off Key West, Florida, 24°22'N, 80°27'W. USCG plane rescues three survivors, district patrol craft YP-351 15; 34 merchant seamen and 9 Armed Guard sailors perish with the ship.
British destroyer HMS Shikari rescues seven survivors (five merchant seamen and two Armed Guard sailors) from U.S. freighter William Pierce Frye, sunk by German submarine U-160 on 29 March. Thirty-five merchant seamen have perished, as have 22 of the 24-man Armed Guard.
Submarine Porpoise (SS-172) sinks Japanese whaling ship Koa Maru near Eniwetok atoll, 13°10'N, 162°05'E.
Submarine Finback (SS-230) inflicts further damage upon Japanese troopship Suwa Maru (previously damaged by Tunny (SS-282) on 28 March and beached) off Wake Island, 19°20'N, 166°35'E (see 27 July).
Atlantic
German submarine U-563 torpedoes U.S. tanker Sunoil, a straggler from convoy HX 231, at 58°16'N, 38°00'W. Armed Guard gunfire forces the attacker to submerge, but U-563 torpedoes and finishes off the ship later the same day. British destroyer HMS Vidette, sent from HX 231 in response to the tanker's distress call, never locates any survivors; Sunoil is lost with all hands (43 merchant seamen and a 26-man Armed Guard).
Atlantic
German submarine U-336 picks up six survivors (four merchant seamen and two Armed Guard sailors) from U.S. freighter Jonathan Sturges, torpedoed and sunk by U-707 on 23 February 1943. These men (who will ultimately be interned at a POW camp near Bremen, Germany) will be the last of Jonathan Sturges's survivors to be rescued.
Gulf of Mexico
German submarine U-185 attacks Mobile, Alabama-bound convoy GTMO 83, torpedoing and sinking U.S. freighter John Sevier at 20°35'N, 74°00'W. Destroyer Bennett (DD-473) rescues all hands (39 merchant seamen, 17-man Armed Guard, and one passenger)
Submarine Grayling (SS-209) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese cargo ship Lima Maru off Mindoro, 13°20'N, 121°33'E.
Submarine Trout (SS-202) lays mines near Sarawak, Borneo.
Submarine Tunny (SS-282), despite presence of escort vessel, torpedoes Japanese victualling stores ship Kosei Maru about 250 miles northwest of Truk, 08°50'N, 147°06'E. Attempt to tow the damaged vessel fails, and Kosei Maru sinks en route to Truk.
Submarine Pickerel (SS-177) sinks Japanese cargo ship Fukuei Maru near Shiriya Zaki, Honshu, 41°00'N, 142°00'E.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Toyo Maru is sunk by aircraft, Rabaul, 05°04'N, 139°43'E.
Pacific
Submarine Drum (SS-228) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking army cargo ship Oyama Maru about 180 miles north-northwest of Kavieng, New Ireland, 00°32'N, 150°05'E.
Submarine Grayling (SS-209) in attack on Japanese convoy off Mindoro, sinks army cargo ship Shanghai Maru about ten miles east of Dumali Point, 13°11'N, 121°45'E.
Submarine Tautog (SS-199) attacks Japanese convoy in Buton Passage, off southeastern Celebes, sinking army cargo ship Penang Maru, 05°31'S, 123°06'E. Tautog then sinks destroyer Isonami as the enemy warship attempts to rescue Penang Maru's survivors 05°26'S, 123°04'E.
Atlantic
U.S. freighter Edward B. Dudley, straggling from United Kingdom-bound convoy HX 232, is torpedoed by German submarine U-615 in the North Atlantic, 53°00'N, 38°00'W, but the torpedo that hits the freighter is a dud. U-615 stalks her quarry (see 11 April).
U.S. freighter James W. Denver, straggling from convoy UGS 7, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-195 in the North Atlantic, 28°46'N, 25°40'W. All hands (42 merchant seamen, one passenger and 25 Armed Guards) survive the loss of the ship and set sail for the coast of Africa (see 18 and 24 April, and 4, 6 and 16 May).
U.S. freighter Matt W. Ransom, steaming in Casablanca-bound convoy UGS 6A, is mined at 33°59'N, 07°51'W. All hands (42 merchant seamen, 2 passengers and 28 Armed Guards) abandon ship, rescued by submarine chasers PC-471 and PC-481; the master and six men, however, return to the damaged ship and take her to Gibraltar under her own power.
USAAF B-17s and B-24s (5th Air Force) bomb Japanese shipping in Hansa Bay, sinking army cargo ship Sydney Maru, 03°18'S, 143°38'E.
USAAF B-17s (5th Air Force) bomb Japanese shipping in Hansa Bay, sinking army cargo ship India Maru, 03°18'S, 143°38'E.
Atlantic
District patrol craft YP-453 sinks after grounding on Bahamas Bank.
PBY (VP 83) sinks Italian submarine Archimede off coast of Brazil, 03°23'S, 30°28'W.
German submarine U-262 makes contact with convoy HX 233, whose escort (Commander Paul R. Heineman) includes Coast Guard cutters Spencer (WPG-36) and Duane (WPG-33), a Canadian destroyer, two Canadian and three British corvettes. Escorts will drive off U-262 the next day.
Japanese ex-whale factory ship Nissho Maru is sunk by unknown agent about 160 miles east of Formosa, 23°36'N, 124°18'E.
Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Amaho Maru off Yerimozaki, Hokkaido, 42°04'N, 143°22'E.
Atlantic
While escorting convoy HX 233, Coast Guard cutter Spencer (WPG-36) attacks German submarine U-175, which had located the convoy on the night of 16-17 April after U-262 had been driven off, and sinks her at 48°50'N, 21°20'W.
Submarine Drum (SS-228) sinks Japanese ammunition ship Nisshun Maru about 200 miles north-northwest of Mussau Island, Bismarck Archipelago, 01°55'N, 148°24'E. Submarine chaser Ch.18 rescues survivors, who include a number of Army prostitutes among them.
Atlantic
Spanish merchantman Cabo Huertas rescues 11 survivors from U.S. freighter James W. Denver, sunk by German submarine U-195 in the North Atlantic on 11 April (see 24 April, and 4, 6 and 16 May).
Open lighter YC-891 founders while in tow of harbor tug Mauvila (YT-328) off Key West, Florida.
Arctic
German planes bomb Allied shipping at Murmansk, USSR, damaging U.S. freighter Thomas Hartley.
Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) sinks Japanese depot ship No.5 Banshu Maru, 26°15'N, 139°35'E.
Navy planes bomb Japanese shipping off Buin, Bougainville, damaging cargo vessel Shirogare Maru.
Submarine Scorpion (SS-278) sinks Japanese gunboat No.1 Meiji Maru off east central coast of Honshu, 37°10'N, 141°25'E.
USAAF aircraft sink Japanese cargo ship Kosei Maru north of Wewak, 03°30'S, 143°30'E.
USAAF planes sink Japanese ship Nojima Maru north of Kiska.
Japanese transport/cargo ship Sumerusan Maru is sunk by accidental explosion, Surabaya, Java, 03°30'S, 143°30'E.
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter Michigan, steaming in convoy UGS 7, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-565 off the coast of North Africa, 36°01'N, 01°25'W. All hands (37 merchant seamen, 23 Armed Guards and the one passenger) survive; some remain in the boats to help rescue survivors (Senegalese soldiers) from French steamship Sidi-Bel-Abbes, also torpedoed and sunk by U-565, thus preventing the toll in human life from the loss of that Allied vessel from being much larger. Michigan's survivors are rescued by British escort trawlers HMS Stella Carina and HMS Foxtrot, and transferred thus to sloop HMS Felixstowe, in which they are transported to Oran.
Submarine Stingray (SS-186) mines waters off Wenchow, China.
Admiral Koga Mineichi is appointed Commander in Chief Japanese Combined Fleet.
Atlantic
Destroyer Swanson (DD-443) drives German submarine U-129 away from NG convoy in the Greater Antilles.
Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter John Drayton is torpedoed by Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci off the coast of South Africa, 34°00'S, 34°40'E, and abandoned. Leonardo da Vinci then surfaces, finishes off the freighter with gunfire, and temporarily detains a member of the crew on board for questioning before returning him to his shipmates (see 23 and 27 April and 21 May).
Submarine Stingray (SS-186) mines waters off Wenchow, China.
Dutch submarine O 21, despite presence of escort vessel, sinks Japanese army cargo ship Yamazato Maru in Malacca Straits, 03°28'N, 99°47'E.
Japanese aircraft bomb airfield at Funafuti, Ellice Islands.
Atlantic
PBYs (VP 84), flying from bases in Iceland and Greenland, drive off German U-boats threatening convoy HX 234.
Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) sinks Japanese Patrol Boat No.39 off east central coast of Formosa, 23°45'N, 122°45'E, while the enemy warship is screening the towing of the wrecked Nisshin Maru.
District patrol craft YP-422 founders after grounding on Tumbo Reef, three miles southeast of entrance to North Bulari Passage, New Caledonia.
Atlantic
U.S. freighter Robert Gray, straggling from convoy HX 234, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-306 in the North Atlantic at 57°30'N, 43°00'W, with all hands (39-man merchant complement and a 19-man Armed Guard).
U.S. freighter Santa Catalina, bound for Basra, Iraq, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-129 at 30°59'N, 70°57'W, and abandoned (see 24 April).
Indian Ocean
Swedish merchant ship Oscar Gorthon rescues 11 survivors from U.S. freighter John Drayton, sunk by Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci in the Indian Ocean on 21 April 1943 (see 27 April and 21 May).
Submarine Runner (SS-275) damages Japanese army hospital ship Buenos Aires Maru south of Hong Kong, 21°41'N, 116°24'E.
Atlantic
British freighter Campana rescues 15 survivors from U.S. freighter James W. Denver, sunk by German submarine U-195 in the North Atlantic on 11 April (see 4, 6 and 16 May).
Swedish motor vessel Venezia rescues all hands (57 merchant seamen, 28-man Armed Guard and 10 passengers) from U.S. freighter Santa Catalina, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-129 the previous day.
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter Samuel Parker is damaged by fire on board gasoline lighter moored alongside, Tripoli harbor. There are no casualties to the merchant crew. Armed Guard, or Egyptian stevedores working cargo.
Atlantic
District patrol craft YP-47 is sunk in collision with motor minesweeper YMS-110 in Ambrose Channel, off Staten Island, New York.
Mediterranean
Naval Station, Mers el Kebir, Morocco, is established.
U.S. freighter Lydia M. Child is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-178 about 100 miles east of Sydney, Australia, 33°08'S, 153°24'E; Australian minesweepers HMAS Warrambool and HMAS Deloraine rescue the entire crew (including the 21-man Armed Guard).
Atlantic
PV-1 (VB 125) providing coverage for convoy SC 128 off Halifax sinks German submarine U-174, North Atlantic, 43°35'N, 56°18'W.
Indian Ocean
British destroyer HMS Relentless rescues 14 survivors from U.S. freighter John Drayton, sunk by Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci in the Indian Ocean on 21 April (see 21 May).
Atlantic
Escort group formed around escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9) and four destroyers drives off five German submarines against convoy HX 235. Another group of U-boats threatens convoy ONS 5, which is protected by British escort vessels and PBYs (VP 84) (see 29 April).
Atlantic
German submarine U-404 attacks carrier, misidentified as Ranger (CV-4), in screen of convoy ONS 4. Although U-404's Korvettenkapitan Otto von Bulow claims to have heard four detonations, leading the German Navy to credit him with Ranger's destruction, U-404's intended victim, however, is British escort carrier HMS Biter, which emerges unscathed from the encounter. The "sunken" Ranger will prove, much to the Germans' distress, a very potent adversary (see 5 October).
PBY (VP 84) damages German submarine U-528 as it threatens convoy ONS 5.
U.S. freighter McKeesport, in convoy ONS 5, is torpedoed by German submarine U-258 at 60°52'N, 34°20'W, and abandoned. British trawler HMS Northern Gem rescues all hands: 43 merchant seamen (one of whom dies subsequently) and the 25-man Armed Guard. British frigate HMS Tay scuttles McKeesport with gunfire.
Submarine Scorpion (SS-278) sinks Japanese guardboat No.5 Ebisu Maru east of Japan, 37°24'N, 154°40'E.
Submarine Snook (SS-279) lays mines off Saddle Island, China.
U.S. freighter Phoebe A. Hearst is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-19 about 240 miles southeast of Suva, Fiji Islands, 19°48'S, 176°44'E (see 1, 5 and 14 May).
Atlantic
Atlantic Fleet turns over responsibility for convoys between Halifax and United Kingdom to British and Canadian naval forces.
PBY rescues eight survivors from U.S. freighter Phoebe A. Hearst, torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-19 about 240 miles southeast of Suva the day before (see 5 and 14 May).
Pacific
Submarine Gar (SS-206) sinks Japanese guardboat No.12 Jimbo Maru in Makassar Strait, 00°41'S, 117°50'E.
Submarine Stingray (SS-186) attacks Japanese convoy off Wenchow, China, sinking army transport Tamon Maru about 12 miles off Nanki Shan, 27°18'N, 121°38'E.
U.S. freighter William Williams is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-19 near Suva, Fiji Islands, 20°09'S, 178°04'W. There are no casualties among the 40-man merchant crew and the 15-man Armed Guard; the latter remains on board with a fire-fighting crew to battle the blaze in two compartments (see 4 and 7 May).
Atlantic
U.S. tanker Livingston Rowe, loaded with aviation gasoline, catches fire at Recife, Brazil, near warehouses containing ammunition and dynamite; prompt firefighting efforts by crews of U.S. and British naval vessels in the harbor, from U.S. Navy and U.S. Army shore establishments, and from Brazilian army, naval, and civilian organizations prevent a major catastrophe.
Coast Guard cutter CG-58012 is destroyed by explosion off Manomet Point, Massachusetts.
Atlantic
Tank landing craft LCT-23 is destroyed by explosion of undetermined origin off Algiers, Morocco.
Submarine Seal (SS-183) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking fleet tanker San Clemente Maru about 50 miles southeast of Palau, 06°30'N, 130°30'E.
Net tender Catalpa (YN-5) begins towing damaged U.S. freighter William Williams, torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-19 near Suva on 2 May (see 7 May).
Atlantic
German submarine attacks on ships of convoy ONS 5 continue: U.S. freighter West Maximus is torpedoed and sunk by U-264 at 55°00'N, 43°00'W; during the abandonment, one sailor of the 21-man Armed Guard drowns, while five of the 39-man merchant complement are lost with the ship. British trawler HMS Northern Spray rescues the survivors (who also include two Army passengers).
Portuguese fishing trawler Albufeira rescues 11 survivors from U.S. freighter James W. Denver,torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-195 in the North Atlantic on 11 April (see 16 May).
Submarine Sawfish (SS-276), despite proximity of escort vessel, sinks Japanese gunboat Hakkai Maru off Ise-Wan, Honshu, Japan, 34°11'N, 137°41'E.
Submarine Snook (SS-279) attacks Japanese merchant shipping in the Yellow Sea, sinking cargo ships Kinko Maru, 38°39'N, 122°35'E, and Taifuku Maru, 38°38'N, 122°39'E.
Twenty-three survivors from U.S. freighter Phoebe A. Hearst, torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-19 about 240 miles southeast of Suva on 30 April, reach Tofua Island; motor minesweeper YMS-89 picks them up and transfers them to Tongatabu (see 14 May).
Atlantic
German submarine attacks upon ships of convoy ONS 5 continue: U.S. freighter West Madaket is torpedoed by U-707 at 54°47'N, 44°12'W, and abandoned. British frigate HMS Pink rescues the 39-man merchant complement and the 22-man Armed Guard and then scuttles the crippled vessel with depth charges.
Atlantic
U.S. freighter Samuel Jordan Kirkwood, bound for Bahia, Brazil, is torpedoed by German submarine U-195 in the South Atlantic at 15°00'S, 07°00'W, and abandoned (see 7 May 1943).
Fourteen survivors from U.S. freighter James W. Denver, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-195 in the North Atlantic on 11 April 1943, reach Port Etienne (see 16 May 1943).
Covered lighter YF-575 founders after grounding off Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Submarine Snook (SS-279) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ships Tosei Maru and No. 3 Shinsei Maru in the Yellow Sea, 36°05'N, 123°21'E.
Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese merchant passenger/cargo ship No.5 Tamon Maru off Benten Zaki, Honshu, 40°05'N, 141°53'E.
Net tender Catalpa (YN-5), escorted by minesweeper Dash (AM-88), brings damaged U.S. freighter William Williams, torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-19 on 2 May 1943, into Suva, Fiji Islands.
Vichy French steamship Gouverneur General Pasquir is sunk by mine off coast of French Indochina, 20°14'N, 107°00'E.
Atlantic
U.S. freighter Samuel Jordan Kirkwood, torpedoed by German submarine U-195 in the South Atlantic the previous day, sinks (see 16 May 1943).
Submarine Plunger (SS-179) sights Japanese Saipan-bound convoy about 60 miles northwest of Truk (see 9-11 May 1943).
USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Tomioka Maru and army cargo ship Sumida Maru, Madang harbor, New Guinea, 05°12'S, 145°50'E.
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter Pat Harrison is mined in Gibraltar Bay; she is later written off as a total loss. One merchant seaman dies in the incident, but there are no casualties among the 26-man Armed Guard or the two Army security officers.
Allied forces occupy Sfax, Tunisia, capturing Italian water tanker Pro Patria.
Submarine Pogy (SS-266) damages Japanese transport Uyo Maru off Iwaki, Japan, 37°05'N, 141°06'E.
Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ships Takao Maru and Jimmu Maru off Kone Zaki, northeastern Honshu, 38°57'N, 141°49'E.
Atlantic
Light cruiser Marblehead (CL-12), on patrol in the South Atlantic, rescues the crew of a crashed USAAF B-26, 06°42'S, 21°35'W.
Mediterranean
Organized German and Italian resistance in North Africa ceases. Although resistance on land has ended, opposition from air attacks continues. Axis planes bomb Allied shipping in harbor at Bone, Algeria. A fragment from a near-miss ignites a portion of the cargo (7,000 tons of drummed gasoline) on board U.S. freighter Daniel Huger; although the efforts to fight the blaze (initially conducted by two Merchant Marine cadet-midshipmen and a volunteer) are ultimately successful (aided by efforts of a well-equipped British firefighting party), one merchant sailor and one of the 27-man Armed Guard perish in the attack.
Submarine Plunger (SS-179) attacks Japanese convoy tracked since the day before, sinking merchant passenger/cargo ship Tatsutake Maru and damaging transport Kinai Maru about 200 miles east of Saipan, 14°29'N, 149°00'E; the latter is abandoned. Torpedo boat Hiyodori is damaged in collision with Tatsutake Maru and Kinai Maru, probably during the rescue of survivors.
Submarine Grayback (SS-208) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking collier Yodogawa Maru about 125 miles northwest of Kavieng, 00°47'S, 149°02'E.
Submarine Plunger (SS-179) finishes off abandoned Japanese transport Kinai Maru, damaged the day before east of Saipan, 14°29'N, 149°00'E.
Submarine Gudgeon (SS-212), despite her quarry's being skillfully camouflaged and moored close inshore, sinks Japanese army cargo ship Sumatra Maru off Bulusan, Luzon, 12°43'N, 124°08'E.
Submarine Steelhead (SS-280) lays mines off Erimo Zaki, Japan.
Mediterranean
Advanced Amphibious Training Base, Bizerte, Tunisia, is established.
Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter Cape Neddick, bound for Suez, via Durban, South Africa, is torpedoed by German submarine U-195 in the South Atlantic at 23°21'S, 01°22'W; she eventually reaches Walvis Bay, South Africa, under her own power. There are no casualties among the 51-man merchant complement or the 25-man Armed Guard.
Battleship Idaho (BB 42) and destroyer Phelps (DD-360) silence enemy batteries on Attu, permitting U.S. Army artillery units to move up at Holtz Bay.
Atlantic
German submarine U-176 attacks convoy DM 69 in the Greater Antilles, sinking U.S. tanker Nickeliner and Cuban-registry tanker Mambi, 21°25'N, 76°40'W, and eludes destroyer escort Brennan (DE-13), eight submarine chasers, and a blimp. There are no casualties on board Nickeliner (23 merchant sailors, seven Armed Guards and one passenger), whose survivors are rescued by a Cuban submarine chaser.
Mediterranean
USAAF aircraft sink Italian submarine Mocenigo at Cagliari, Sardinia.
Enemy resistance in North Africa ends with surrender of German and Italian forces in Tunisia.
USMC TBFs (VMSB 143) damage Japanese army cargo ship Houn Maru and force her aground off Tonolei, Bougainville, 06°48'N, 155°49'E, a total loss.
Minesweeper Dash (AM-88) rescues 25 survivors from U.S. freighter Phoebe A. Hearst, torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-19 about 240 miles southeast of Suva on 30 April 1943. With this recovery, all hands from the lost freighter (including the 16-man Armed Guard) are accounted for.
Atlantic
PBY (VP 84) sinks German submarine U-657 threatening convoy ONS 7, North Atlantic area, 60°10'N, 31°52'W.
European
USAAF B-17s and B-24s bomb harbor installations at Kiel, Germany, sinking submarine