TG 37.2 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) attacks Japanese convoy off Kavieng, New Ireland. Planes from carrier Bunker Hill (CV-17) and small carrier Monterey (CVL-26), bomb shipping escorted by cruisers and destroyers, damaging light cruiser Noshiro.
Destroyers Smith (DD-378) and Hutchins (DD-476) are damaged in collision off eastern New Guinea, 05°00'S, 146°00'E.
Tank landing ship LST-446 is damaged by accidental explosion, Solomon Islands, 06°15'S, 155°02'E.
Submarine Balao (SS-285) damages Japanese transport Kiyosumi Maru south of Truk, Caroline Islands, 04°32'N, 147°23'E.
Submarine Herring (SS-233), pursuing Japanese convoy spotted the previous day, sinks aircraft transport Nagoya Maru 220 miles south-southwest of Tokyo Bay, 32°10'N, 138°37'E. Counterattack by escorting destroyer Ikazuchi is unsuccessful.
Submarine Puffer (SS-268), in attack on Japanese convoy at the western entrance of the Mindanao Sea, sinks army cargo ship Ryuyo Maru about 40 miles south of Negros Island, 08°36'N, 122°52'E.
Submarine Ray (SS-271) sinks Japanese gunboat Okuyo Maru at mouth of Ambon Bay, N.E.I., 03°51'S, 128°04'E.
PBYs sink Japanese cargo ship Kanaiyama Maru near Lorengau, Admiralty islands, 02°03'S, 147°27'E.
Aerial minelaying operations in the Marshalls continue: four PB4Y-1s (VB 108), flying from Apamama, mine Enijun Channel, Maleolap; flying from Tarawa, three PV-1s (VB 137) mine the waters off Jaluit; two PBY-5s (VP 72) mine Jabor Anchorage, Jaluit.
Pacific
TF 76 (Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey) lands U.S. Sixth Army troops
(126th Regimental Combat Team, 32d Division, Reinforced) at Saidor, New
Guinea, in Operation MICHAELMAS. Insertion of American troops
at Saidor leap-frogs the Japanese garrison at Sio, 75 miles to the
east. U.S. cruisers and destroyers provide cover.
Submarine Finback (SS-230) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Isshin Maru in East China Sea about 30 miles northwest of Takara Jima, Nansei Shoto, 29°30'N, 128°50'E.
Aerial minelaying operations in the Marshalls continue: flying from Tarawa, five PV-1s (VB 137) and one PBY-5 (VP 72) mine Jabor Anchorage.
Japanese planes bomb advanced base on Apamama Atoll, demolishing one PB4Y; exploding ammunition in the burning aircraft damages two additional PB4Ys.
Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter Albert Gallatin is torpedoed and sunk by
Japanese submarine I-26 about 60 miles off the Arabian coast,
21°21'N, 59°58'E; there are no casualties among the complement
(including the 28-man Armed Guard, who remain at their posts until the
ship literally sinks beneath them). Norwegian tanker Britannia
rescues the survivors.
Submarine Kingfish (SS-234) attacks Japanese convoy northwest of Miri, Sarawak, Borneo, and sinks fleet tankers Bokuei Maru, 06°58'N, 112°02'E, and Ryuei Maru, 08°06'N, 112°30'E.
Submarine Raton (SS-270) damages Japanese fleet tanker Akebono Maru east of Mindanao, P.I., 08°18'N, 129°59'E.
Submarine Scorpion (SS-278) departs Midway for her fourth war patrol. She will rendezvous with Herring (SS-233) on 5 January, but will never be seen again.
Submarine Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese transport Saishu Maru south of Honshu, 33°44'N, 136°02'E.
Aerial minelaying operations in the Marshalls continue: seven PB4Y-1s (VB 108 and VB 109), flying from Apemama, mine the waters northwest of Enijun Island, off west side of Taroa, and outside lagoon off Kumaru Island, and strafe shipping anchored off Taroa; four PV-1s (VB 137), flying from Tarawa, mine southeast pass, Jaluit.
Japanese planes again bomb advanced base at Apamama, but inflict neither casualties nor serious damage to installations.
Atlantic
Destroyer Turner (DD-648) is sunk by internal explosion, three
miles north of Ambrose Lightship, New York Harbor. During efforts to
help the injured, a Coast Guard helicopter transports needed blood
plasma in the Navy's first operational use of the helicopter in
treating casualties.
Destroyer Somers (DD-381) sinks German blockade runner Weserland, 14°55'S, 21°39'W, and recovers 130 survivors.
Motor torpedo boat PT-145, damaged by grounding off Mindiri, 05°34'S, 146°10'E, is scuttled by motor torpedo boat PT-370. The latter suffers damage during the attempt to tow PT-145 out of the area.
Escort carrier Tripoli (CVE-64) is damaged by accidental gasoline fire, Naval Repair Base, San Diego, California.
Submarines Bluefish (SS-222) and Rasher (SS-269) attack Japanese convoy off coast of French Indochina. Bluefish sinks merchant tanker Hakko Maru, 07°10'N, 108°28'E; Rasher damages tanker Kiyo Maru (ex-Norwegian Vigrid), 06°44'N, 108°43'E (see 5 January 1945). Third ship in convoy, Konsan Maru, escapes unharmed. Rasher also carries out mining operation in waters off Cochin China the same day.
Submarine Cabrilla (SS-288) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship No.8 Tamon Maru off Cape Padaran, French Indochina, 11°05'N, 109°10'E.
Submarine Tautog (SS-199), despite presence of two escort vessels, sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Usa Maru off southern Honshu, 34°09'N, 136°50'E.
Aerial minelaying operations in the Marshalls continue: two PV-1s (VB 137) and one PBY-5 (VP 72), flying from Tarawa, mine southeast pass, Jaluit.
USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force), covered by RAAF Beaufighters, attack Japanese shipping in Tenau harbor, Timor, sinking army cargo ship Heimei Maru, 10°10'S, 123°35'E.
Atlantic
Light cruiser Omaha (CL 4) and destroyer Jouett (DD-
396) intercept German blockade runner Rio Grande about 55 miles
northeast of the coast of Brazil, 06°41'S, 25°36'W. Gunfire and
scuttling charges sink Rio Grande (see 8 January).
Aerial minelaying operations in the Marshalls continue: one PBY-5 (VP 72), flying from Tarawa, mines Schischmarov Strait, Wotje.
Japanese guardboat No.5 Fukuyoshi Maru is wrecked following attack by USAAF B-24, Wotje Atoll, Marshalls.
Atlantic
PBM-3S (VP 203) sights German blockade runner Burgenland and
summons light cruiser Omaha (CL 4) and destroyer Jouett
(DD-396). Gunfire and scuttling charges sink Burgenland,
07°29'S, 25°37'W.
Atlantic
Gunboat St. Augustine (PG-54) is sunk in collision with U.S.
merchant tanker Camas Meadows, 73 miles south- southwest of
Cape May, New Jersey, 38°01'N, 74°05'W.
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter William S. Rosecrans drags anchor during storm
south of Naples, Italy, and strikes a mine that starts a fire that
dooms the ship. She sinks later that afternoon but there are no
casualties to either the merchant complement or the 27-man Armed Guard,
who are all rescued by British naval vessels.
Submarine Kingfish (SS-234) attacks Japanese convoy southwest of Palawan, sinking merchant tanker No.3 Fushimi Maru, 09°27'N, 117°36'E.
Eight PB4Y-1s (VB 108 and VB 109), flying from Apemama, encounter bad weather that forces cancellation of their minelaying mission to the Marshalls.
USAAF B-25s sink Vichy French merchant ship Kai Ping, Ben Thuy, French Indochina.
Japanese cargo vessel Katsuragisan Maru is sunk by Japanese mine in northwest channel of Truk harbor, 07°30'N, 151°50'E.
Atlantic
Fleet tug Carib (ATF-82) stops and boards Spanish merchant ship
Monte Amiboto and removes a stowaway, an alleged German
internee in Argentina from the armored ship Admiral Graf Spee.
Destroyer Davis (DD-395) rescues 21 survivors of sunken German blockade runner Burgenland, 08°06'S, 26°45'W.
Aerial minelaying operations in the Marshalls continue: eight PB4Y-1s (VB 108 and VB 109), flying from Apemama, mine the waters off Wotje and then strafe enemy facilities on the island and shipping offshore; seven PBY-5s (VP 72), flying from Tarawa, mine Wotje anchorage and Schischmarov Strait.
Atlantic
Light cruiser Marblehead (CL-12) rescues 72 survivors of sunken
German blockade runner Rio Grande, 07°45'S, 33°00'W.
Destroyer Winslow (DD-359) rescues 35 survivors of sunken
German blockade runner Burgenland,08°14'S, 29°22'W.
Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) begins series of attacks on Japanese convoy about 70 miles north of Naha, Okinawa, sinking army cargo ship Asuka Maru, 27°30'N, 127°45'E, and merchant cargo ship Getsuyo Maru at 27°10'N, 127°28'E (see 11 January).
Submarine Steelhead (SS-280), in the midst of a "full- fledged typhoon," attacks Japanese convoy south of Honshu, sinking repair ship Yamabiko Maru, 31°28'N, 137°44'E.
Aerial minelaying operations in the Marshalls continue: two PBY-5s (VP 72), flying from Tarawa, mine Meichen Channel and Legediak Strait, Wotje.
Japanese planes again bomb advanced base at Apamama, but inflict neither casualties nor serious damage to installations.
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter Daniel Webster is damaged by German aerial
torpedo during air attack on convoy KMS 37 while en route from
Gibraltar to Augusta and Naples, 36°04'N, 00°14'W (see 11
January).
Submarine Sturgeon (SS-187) attacks Japanese convoy in approaches to Bungo Suido, sinking army cargo ship Erie Maru about 20 miles east of Saeki, Kyushu, 32°56'N, 132°02'E, and survives ensuing depth-charging by escorts.
Submarine Tautog (SS-199) damages Japanese ammunition ship Kogyo Maru off Honshu, 34°10'N, 136°56'E.
British submarine HMS Tally Ho sinks Japanese light cruiser Kuma (en route to conduct torpedo practice) 10 miles northwest of Penang, Malaya, 06°00'N, 39°00'E.
Aerial minelaying operations in the Marshalls continue: four PBYs (VP 72), flying from Tarawa, mine Meichen Channel and Schischmarov Strait, Wotje; Enibin and Torappu channels, Maleolap.
USAAF B-25Gs strike Japanese shipping and installations at Maleolap and Wotje, damaging destroyer Ushio.
Atlantic
Brazilian 10th Military Region forces take custody of 22 survivors of
German blockade runner Rio Grande who reach Fortaleza, Brazil.
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter Daniel Webster, damaged by German aerial torpedo
the previous day, reaches Oran under escort of British frigate HMS Barle;
rescue tug ATR-47 brings Daniel Webster into port where
she is subsequently written off as a total loss. There are no
fatalities among the ship's complement (which includes a 29-man Armed
Guard).
Submarine Albacore (SS-218) sinks Japanese gunboat No.2 Choko Maru about 350 miles southwest of Truk, 03°30'N, 147°27'E; she also damages motor gunboat Hayabusa-Tei No.4, under tow of No.12 Choko Maru, so badly that the smaller craft has to be scuttled, 03°37'N, 147°27'E.
Submarine Hake (SS-256) sinks Japanese aircraft transport Nigitsu Maru about 300 miles southeast of Okinawa, 23°15'N, 133°49'E.
Japanese army cargo vessel Kanjo Maru is sunk by USAAF mine in Takao harbor, Formosa, 22°37'N, 120°15'E.
Mediterranean
Naval Air Station, Port Lyautey, French Morocco, is established.
USAAF B-24 (5th Air Force) sinks Japanese transport Haguro Maru 35 miles northwest of New Hanover, 02°43'N, 149°25'E.
Thai ship Valaya is sunk by mine in Menam River, Thailand.
Atlantic
Brazilian minelayer Camocim while escorting convoy JT 19, picks
up the last 34 survivors (26 German and 8 Italian) of the three German
blockade runners sunk on 3, 4, and 5 January.
Submarine Scamp (SS-277) attacks Japanese convoy about 400 miles east-southeast of the Palaus, sinking fleet tanker Nippon Maru south of Sorol Island, 05°02'N, 140°50'E; Albacore (SS-218), nearby, sinks destroyer Sazanami, 05°30'N, 141°34'E; Guardfish (SS-217) sets upon same convoy attacked earlier by Scamp and sinks fleet tanker Ken'yo Maru 520 miles southeast of Palau, 05°23'N, 141°57'E.
Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) attacks Japanese convoy approximately 300 miles northeast of Okinawa, sinking fleet tanker Yamazuru Maru, 25°00'N, 132°00'E.
Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking transport Yamakuni Maru off Hachijo Jima, south of Honshu, 33°16'N, 139°30'E.
SBDs and TBFs, supported by Allied fighters, bomb Japanese shipping in Simpson Harbor, Rabaul, damaging destroyer Matsukaze and fleet tanker Naruto.
PBY-5 (VP 72) shot down attacking Jabor on 12 January is located and its crew rescued about 40 miles southwest of Jaluit.
USAAF B-25s strike Japanese shipping and installations at Wotje atoll, Marshalls, sinking guardboat Tama Maru.
USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) sink army cargo ship Gyoei Maru in South China Sea, 20°35'N, 113°44'E.
Atlantic
Destroyers Bulmer (DD-222) and Parrott (DD-218) damage
German submarine U-382, 560 miles west-northwest of Cape
Finisterre, Spain.
Fuel oil barge (self-propelled) YO-159, torpedoed the previous day by Japanese submarine RO-42, is scuttled by gunfire of submarine chaser PC-1138 (see 14 January).
Submarine Crevalle (SS-291) lays mines east of Saigon, French Indochina.
Submarine Thresher (SS-200), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks army cargo ship Toho Maru and merchant tanker Tatsuno Maru about 75 miles north of Luzon, 20°00'N, 120°51'E.
British submarine HMS Tally Ho sinks Japanese army cargo ship Ry_k_ Maru south of Port Blair, Andaman Islands, 10°03'N, 93°05'E.
USAAF B-25 sinks Vichy French coast patrol craft Ping Sung off Hongay, French Indochina.
Submarine Flier (SS-250) runs aground and is damaged as she transits channel at Midway Island; submarine rescue vessel Macaw (ASR-17) becomes stranded as she attempts to assist the stranded fleet boat (see 12 February).
Submarine Redfin (SS-272) damages Japanese destroyer Amatsukaze, 250 miles north of the Spratly Islands, 14°40'N, 113°50'E.
Submarine Seahorse (SS-304) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Nikko Maru southeast of the Marianas, 12°49'N, 150°19'E.
Submarine Sturgeon (SS-187) damages Japanese destroyer Suzutsuki in Bungo Channel, 32°15'N, 132°29'E but fails to hit the destroyer's charge, cargo vessel Azaki Maru. Submarine Swordfish (SS-193), despite presence of escort vessel, sinks Japanese gunboat Delhi Maru off Honshu, 34°04'N, 139°56'E.4
Submarine Whale (SS-239) attacks Japanese convoy and sinks army cargo ship Denmark Maru about 400 miles southeast of Okinawa, 23°09'N, 135°14'E; Seawolf (SS-197), nearby, damages transport Tarushima Maru, 23°00'N, 135°00'E, which Whale later finishes off, 22°50'N, 135°40'E.
PBYs attack Rabaul-bound Japanese convoy O-905, sinking army cargo ships Shunko Maru, 02°30'S, 149°42'E, and Hozugawa Maru and transport Meisho Maru about 45 miles northwest of New Hanover, 02°20'S, 149°42'E. Kosei Maru (see 17 January) and escorting submarine chasers Ch 24 and Ch 29 emerge unscathed.
U.S. forces sink Japanese submarine I-181 in Gidiagu Strait.
Atlantic
TBF (VC 13) from escort carrier Guadalcanal (CVE-60) sinks
German submarine U-544 in mid-Atlantic, 40°30'N,
37°20'W.5
U.S. freighter Sumner I. Kimball, straggling from New York-bound convoy ON 219, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-960 in the North Atlantic, 52°35'N, 35°00'W. There are no survivors from either the 40-man merchant complement or the 29-man Armed Guard.
Japanese sources indicate guardboat No.6 Shinko Maru is sunk, but offers no location other than "South Seas area." The only naval air activity on this day that may have been responsible for the loss of a ship the size of No.6 Shinko Maru is a raid by PB4Y aircraft upon Kusaie in the Carolines.
Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) attacks Japanese convoy, gunboat Delhi Maru off west coast of Palawan, 00°18'N, 118°37'E.
USAAF B-24s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Chiburi Maru 80 miles east of Manus, 02°27'S, 148°58'E, and No.9 Fukei Maru at 02°00'S, 149°00'E.
Atlantic
Airship K 36 crashes in a fog on the lee side of Ilha de Cabo Frio,
Brazil.
Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Shoyu Maru off west coast of Palawan, 00°18'N, 118°37'E.6
Submarine Flasher (SS-249) sinks Japanese oiler Yoshida Maru about 140 miles west-southwest of Marcus Island, 23°50'N, 151°28'E.
PB4Y-1 (VB 108), to simulate minelaying operations, sows unfuzed 100-pound bombs in Mellu, Gegibu and Onemak channels, Kwajalein.
USAAF A-24s and P-40s bomb Japanese installations at Jaluit, sinking merchant tanker No.1 Nanyu Maru.
USAAF B-24 (5th Air Force) sinks Japanese cargo vessel Kaishu Maru at Manus, Admiralty Islands.
Submarine Gar (SS-206) attacks Japanese convoy on the New Guinea-to-Palau route, sinking army cargo ship K_y_ Maru about 50 miles south-southwest of Palau, 06°40'N, 134°17'E.
Submarine Seadragon (SS-194) damages Japanese stores ship Irako northwest of Truk, 08°04'N, 152°40'E.
Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) lands men and equipment in northeast Borneo.
USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese transports Menado Maru and Kuzan Maru 140 miles southeast of Swatow, China, 22°10'N, 118°15'E.
USAAF B-25s sink transport Ogashima Maru at Namu Atoll, Marshalls, 08°07'N, 168°00'E.
USAAF planes sink Japanese dredge Jintsu Maru at 03°04'S, 142°10'E.
Atlantic
Tank landing ship LST-228 sinks after running aground off the
Azores, 38°39'N, 27°12'W.
Submarine Seahorse (SS-304) attacks Japanese convoy on the Palau-Hollandia track, sinking army transport Ikoma Maru and cargo ship Yasukuni Maru 280 miles east- southeast of Palau, 03°19'N, 137°02'E.
British submarine HMS Tally Ho sinks Japanese cargo ship No.67 Daigen Maru at 03°15'N, 100°40'E.
Oiler Cache (AO-67) is torpedoed by Japanese submarine RO-37 about 155 miles southeast of San Cristobal, Solomons, 12°08'S, 164°33'E. Destroyer Buchanan (DD-484) then sinks RO 37 about 130 miles east-southeast of San Cristobal, 11°47'S, 164°17'E.
Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking merchant tankers Seinan Maru and Koshin Maru about 120 miles north of Labuan, Borneo, 07°22'N, 115°05'E.
USAAF B-25s and P-38s attack Japanese shipping in Lorengau harbor, Manus, Admiralties, sinking auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 40, 01°50'S, 147°20'E, and damaging cargo vessel No.3 Kurebame Maru.
Atlantic
Tank landing craft LCT-582 sinks after running aground, Azores.
Mediterranean
Elements of the British First Army and U.S. Third Army (Major General
Lucian K. Truscott, USA) land on the Italian coast at Anzio, in Operation
SHINGLE; naval commander is Rear Admiral Frank K. Lowry. Initial
landings progress as scheduled with little opposition, and the troops
are landed with small loss. Enemy opposition, however, will mount over
the ensuing weeks, and naval gunfire support will prove crucial to
troops holding the beachhead. Off Anzio, minesweeper Portent
(AM-106) is sunk by mine, 41°24'N, 12°44'E; infantry landing
craft LCI-20 is sunk by aircraft.
Submarine Gar (SS-206), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks transport Taian Maru about 75 miles south of Palau, 05°45'N, 134°45'E.
Submarine Snook (SS-279) sinks Japanese gunboat Magane Maru about 175 miles north-northwest of Chichi Jima, 29°49'N, 140°08'E.
USAAF B-25s (14th Air Force) attack Japanese convoy off Foochow, China, sinking army cargo ship Panama Maru, 27°15'N, 120°45'E.
USAAF B-24s (10th Air Force) sink Japanese cargo ship Seikai Maru in Mergui harbor, 12°26'N, 98°36'E.
PB4Ys damage cargo ship Ogashima Maru south of Kwajalein, 08°14'N, 168°02'E; deemed beyond salvage, Ogashima Maru is scuttled by auxiliary minesweeper No.5 Tama Maru. PB4Ys also sink auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 14 70 miles east-southeast of Eniwetok, 11°10'N, 163°25'E.
USAAF B-25s bomb Japanese shipping and harbor installations at Manus, sinking transport Heiwa Maru and auxiliary minelayer Tatsu Maru, and damaging auxiliary minelayer Matsu Maru.
USAAF B-25s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese ship Liu Hsing in Lishen Bay, China, 26°58'N, 120°04'E.
Submarine Sturgeon (SS-187) attacks Japanese convoy in eastern approaches to Bungo Suido, sinking army cargo ship Chosen Maru, 32°28'N, 132°23'E.
Japanese planes bomb U.S. shipping in Dreger Bay, New Guinea, damaging freighter John Muir at 06°32'08"N, 147°53'05"E, with one direct hit and at least four near-misses that injure 2 of 42 merchant sailors, one of the 28-man Armed Guard and 13 of the 40 Construction Battalion stevedores embarked to work cargo.
Mediterranean
Tank landing craft LCT-185 founders and sinks in heavy weather
off Bizerte, Tunisia.
German planes attack invasion shipping off the Anzio beachhead: bombs damage destroyer Plunkett (DD-431), 41°15'N, 12°37'E, and minesweeper Prevail (AM-107), 41°00'N, 12°00'E; aerial torpedo damages destroyer Mayo (DD-422), 41°24'N, 12°43'E;
During German air raid on Allied shipping at Naples, Italy, U.S. freighter F.A.C. Muhlenberg is damaged by bomb and by near-miss of bomb; ship's crew and port firefighting crews extinguish the fires thus started. Of the ship's complement, 6 of 46 merchant sailors die; 1 of the 31-man Armed Guard perishes in the blaze.
Arctic
German submarines attack Murmansk-bound convoy JW 56A. U.S. freighter Penelope
Barker is torpedoed and sunk by U-278 about 115 miles from
North Cape, Norway, 72°23'N, 23°10'E; 10 merchant sailors and 5
Armed Guard men (of the 43-man merchant complement and the 28-man Armed
Guard, respectively) perish in the explosions. British destroyer HMS Savage
rescues the survivors (see 26 January).
Japanese cargo ship Nanshin Maru sinks after running aground on a shoal off Miyagiken peninsula, 35°31'N, 133°09'E.
Mediterranean
Off Anzio, motor minesweeper YMS-30 is sunk by mine,
41°23'N, 12°45'E; submarine chaser PC-676 is damaged by
near-miss of bomb.
Motor torpedo boat PT-110 is sunk by depth charge explosion following collision with motor torpedo boat PT-114, Ablingi Harbor, New Britain, 06°17'S, 150°09'E; PT-114 is damaged.
Escort carriers Suwanee (CVE-27) and Sangamon (CVE-26) are damaged in collision while en route to the Marshalls.
Submarine Crevalle (SS-291) sinks Japanese gunboat Busho Maru in South China Sea, about 175 miles southeast of Cape St. Jacques, French Indochina, 08°30'N, 109°10'E.
Submarine Hake (SS-256) sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayer Shuko Maru off Ambon, N.E.I., 05°50'N, 126°00'E.
Submarine Skipjack (SS-184) sinks Japanese destroyer Suzukaze 140 miles northwest of Ponape, Carolines, 09°00'N, 157°27'E, and transport Okitsu Maru 150 miles northwest of Ponape, 09°22'N, 157°26'E.
British submarine HMS Templar damages Japanese light cruiser Kitakami southwest of Penang, Malaya, 04°54'N, 98°28'E.
Mediterranean
Off Anzio, mines sink Infantry landing craft LCI-32 and damage
tank landing ship LST-422. During German air raid on shipping
off the invasion beaches, U.S. freighter John Banyard is
damaged by near-miss of aerial bomb. While there are no casualties to
those on board (including the 27-man Armed Guard), the ship will later
be written off as a total loss. Off Nettuno, a German fighter plane
crashes into freighter Hilary A. Herbert shortly before the
freighter is further damaged by the near-miss of a bomb. Beached to
prevent her loss, Hilary A. Herbert is later repaired and
returned to service.
Arctic
German submarines continue attacks against Murmansk- bound convoy JW
56A. U.S. freighter Andrew G. Curtin is torpedoed and sunk by U-716,
73°25'N, 25°16'E; two of the merchant crew and one Armed Guard
sailor (of the 43-man merchant complement and the 28-man Armed Guard,
respectively) perish. British destroyer HMS Inconstant rescues
the survivors.
Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter Walter Camp is torpedoed and sunk by German
submarine U-532 at 10°00'N, 71°40'E; all hands (40
merchant crew, 28 Armed Guards and one passenger) survive. British
light cruiser HMS Danae rescues them four and a half days
later.
Submarine Thresher (SS-200) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking transport Kosei Maru and merchant cargo ship Kikuzuki Maru about 70 miles southwest of Formosa, 22°11'N, 119°12'E.
Mediterranean
German air opposition to landings at Anzio begins to increase;
submarine chaser SC-534 is damaged by near- miss of bomb.
Adverse weather conditions there cause damage to one large infantry
landing craft (LCI[L]) and eleven tank landing craft (LCT).
USAAF B-24 (13th Air Force) and USN PBYs sink Japanese transport Neikai Maru south of Kavieng, 03°45'S, 150°38'E; midget submarine Ha.49, carried on board Neikai Maru, is lost as well.
Atlantic
PB4Y-1 (VB 103) sinks German submarine U-271 off Limerick,
Eire, 53°15'N, 15°52'W.
Mediterranean
Off Anzio, motor torpedo boat PT-201--that has Lieutenant
General Mark Clark, Commanding General of the U.S. Fifth Army, on
board--is damaged by friendly fire from minesweeper Sway
(AM-120); submarine chaser SC-534 is damaged by near-miss of
bomb.
Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) lays mines off southeastern coast of Borneo.
Submarine Tambor (SS-198) attacks Japanese convoy in the Nansei Shoto, sinking merchant cargo ship Shuntai Maru north of Okinawa, 27°51'N, 128°24'E.
During Japanese bombing raid on U.S. shipping off Cape Cretin, New Guinea, freighter George Sterling is damaged by near-miss, 06°41'S, 147°52'E. There are no fatalities among complement (including the 26-man Armed Guard).
Mediterranean
German planes bomb U.S. shipping off the invasion beaches at Anzio and
Nettuno; off the former place, rescue tug ATR-1 is damaged by
near-miss of bomb, 41°27'N, 12°40'E. freighter Alexander
Martin is damaged by strafing but there are no fatalities among the
ship's complement (including the 24-man Armed Guard). Off Nettuno,
freighter Samuel Huntington is sunk by bombs; three merchant
sailors die in the explosions, one will die of his wounds later. Her
survivors are rescued by tank landing craft LCT-277. There are
no casualties among the 39-man Armed Guard; the ship will later be
written off as a total loss. LCT-198 rescues survivors from
British light AA cruiser HMS Spartan [along with HMS Dido and
HMS Delhi, among others.]
During preinvasion bombardment of Wotje, Marshalls, destroyer Anderson (DD-411) is damaged by shore battery, 09°33'N, 170°18'E.
SBDs and F6Fs from TG 52.8, comprising carriers Enterprise (CV-6), Yorktown (CV-10) and Bunker Hill (CV- 17) and small carrier Belleau Wood (CVL-24) sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 18 and Cha 21 at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshalls; auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 14, Cha 19, and Cha 28 at Mili; and damage cargo vessel Katsura Maru at Eniwetok. Destroyer Phelps (DD-360) subsequently finishes off the crippled enemy merchantman.
Battleships Washington (BB 55), Indiana (BB 58) and Massachusetts (BB 59) and destroyers Ingersoll (DD- 652), Knapp (DD-653), Caperton (DD-650), and Cogswell (DD-651) bombard Japanese installations at Kwajalein. Battleship North Carolina (BB 55) sinks transport Eiko Maru off west coast of Roi, 09°10'N, 167°20'E (see 14 February).
Destroyer Burns (DD-588) sinks Japanese transport Akibasan Maru and guardboat Nichiei Maru off Ujae Atoll, Marshalls.
Navy SBDs and TBFs, supported by Allied fighters, bomb Japanese shipping at Rabaul, sinking water supply ship Iwata Maru and damaging auxiliary vessel Juzan Maru, 04°12'S, 152°12'E.
TG 31.8 (four destroyers, three high speed transports, and two motor torpedo boats) lands 30th New Zealand Battalion and U.S. Navy personnel on the Green Islands, north of Bougainville, to locate areas suitable for airstrips and landing beaches. The reconnoitering force is recovered the next day.
Submarine Seahorse (SS-304) attacks Japanese convoy on the Palau-Rabaul track, sinking army cargo ship Toko Maru southeast of Palau, 06°10'N, 138°14'E.
Submarine Spearfish (SS-190) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking transport Tamashima Maru about 400 miles north- northeast of Saipan, 21°15'N, 149°18'E.
Aircraft from fast carrier group TG 58.3 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) bomb aircraft and airfield facilities at Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshalls. Attacks by this carrier group continue on the first three days of February and afterward by Rear Admiral Samuel P. Ginder's carrier group TG 58.4 through 7 February. TG 58.3 aircraft and destroyer Harrison (DD-573) sink Japanese auxiliary netlayer Katsura Maru off Eniwetok.
U.S. air strike on Nauru, in support of the Marshalls operations, sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 25 and Cha 33.
Cargo ship Enceladus (AK-80) is damaged by storm, Solomons, 08°09'N, 157°38'E.
Submarine Trigger (SS-237) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine depot ship Yasukuni Maru northwest of Truk, 09°21'N, 147°02'E, and damages destroyer Michisio, 09°50'N, 147°06'E.
Submarine Tullibee (SS-284) sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayer Hiro Maru north-northwest of Saipan, 15°23'N, 145°35'E.
USAAF B-24 sinks Japanese guardboat Seisho Maru off Celebes.
Japanese plane carries out high-level bombing raid on U.S. shipping in Langemak Bay, New Guinea; freighter Stephen Crane is damaged by bomb that glances off her stack and explodes in the water nearby. One Army passenger is killed; 22 men (including one merchant seaman and one of the 29-man Armed Guard) are injured.
Naval Base, Finschhafen, New Guinea, is established.
Invasion of the Marshalls continues as Marines land on Roi and Namur and Army troops land on Kwajalein under cover of heavy naval gunfire from battleships, cruisers and destroyers. During this day, heavy cruiser Louisville (CA-28) is damaged by richocheting 8-inch shell from heavy cruiser Indianapolis (CA-35), 09°00'N, 167°00'E; destroyer Anderson (DD-411) is damaged when she runs aground in northern Kwajalein lagoon, 09°10'N, 167°25'E; destroyer Haggard (DD-555) is damaged by accidental explosion, off northwestern end of Kwajalein, 09°00'N, 167°00'E; destroyer Colahan (DD- 658) is damaged when she runs aground on a coral reef at the north end of Enubuj Island, Kwajalein, 08°52'N, 167°38'E; battleships Washington (BB 56) and Indiana (BB 58), operating in TG 58.1, are damaged in collision, 07°00'N, 167°00'E; and minesweeper Chief (AM-135) is damaged by grounding, Marshalls, 09°00'N, 167°00'E.
Japanese naval vessels destroyed in the preinvasion shelling and bombing at Kwajalein include auxiliary submarine chaser No.11 Fuji Maru and guardboats Kikyo Maru, Meiho Maru, Palau Maru, Takeura Maru, and Yamashiro Maru.
Destroyers Guest (DD-472) and Hudson (DD-475) sink Japanese submarine I-171, 15 miles west of Buka Island, 05°37'S, 154°14'E.
Submarine Guardfish (SS-217) attacks Japanese convoy heading for Truk's south pass, just off the reef, and sinks destroyer Umikaze, 07°11'N, 151°44'E.
Submarine Hake (SS-256) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Nanka Maru and transport Tacoma Maru off northeast coast of Halmahera, 01°32'N, 128°50'E.
Submarine Seahorse (SS-304) attacks Japanese convoy on the Palau-Rabaul track, sinking transport Toei Maru about 175 miles south of Woleai, 04°24'N, 143°15'E.
USAAF B-24s damage Japanese ship Hakka Maru, 02°43'S, 141°28'E, as she is en route from Hollandia to Aitape.
Mediterranean
German planes carry out torpedo attack on convoy UGS 30, freighter Richmond
P. Hobson is damaged at 36°40'N, 01°10'E. There are no
casualties among the crew (including the Armed Guard) and the ship
reaches Port Said, Egypt, on 10 February. Freighter Edward Bates
is torpedoed 65 miles from Oran, 36°34'N, 01°14'E, and is
abandoned; one of the 46-man merchant complement iskilled, but there
are no casualties among the 38-man Armed Guard or the seven passengers.
Destroyer Walker (DD-517) sinks Japanese submarine RO-39 10 miles east of Wotje, Marshalls, 09°24'N, 170°32'E.
Submarine Plunger (SS-179) attacks Japanese convoy south of Honshu, and sinks merchant cargo ships No.5 Toyo Maru and No.8 Toyo Maru off Kushimoto, 33°29'N, 135°59'E, and survives resultant depth-charging.
Japanese transport Katsura Maru sinks after running aground off Futsing, China, 25°37'N, 119°47'E.
Submarine Tambor (SS-198) attacks Japanese convoy in East China Sea, sinking fleet tanker Goyo Maru and merchant fleet tanker Ariake Maru about 200 miles southeast of Shanghai, 28°53'N, 124°19'E. Although damaged by depth charges from escort vessels, the submarine remains on patrol.
PBYs and USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) attack Japanese convoy west of New Hanover and sink cargo ship Nichiai Maru, 03°27'S, 149°32'E.
Europe
USAAF planes (8th Air Force) bomb German naval base at Wilhelmshaven,
sinking accommodation ship Monte Pasqual and damaging
minesweepers M 18 and M 19.
Destroyers bombard Sarine Plantation, northwest coast of Bougainville, Solomon Islands; destroyer Claxton (DD- 571) is damaged by return fire from Japanese shore battery, 05°49'S, 154°39'E.
Destroyer Charrette (DD-581) and destroyer escort Fair (DE-35) sink Japanese submarine I-175, 100 miles north of Jaluit, Marshalls, 06°48'N, 168°08'E.
PV-1s sink Japanese water tanker Goryu Maru off Emidj Island, Jaluit, 06°00'N, 169°44'E.
USMC PB4Ys (VMD 154) reconnoiter Truk in the first general reconnaissance of that important Japanese fleet base by U.S. planes.
Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) delivers supplies and evacuates certain personnel from near Libertad, Panay, P.I.
British submarine HMS Stonehenge sinks Japanese ship No.2 Koryo Maru north of Sumatra.
USAAF B-24s and B-25s (14th Air Force) attack convoy in South China Sea, sinking gunboat Rozan Maru and merchant cargo ships Lushan Maru and Seikyo Maru off Swatow, China, 22°00'N, 116°00'E.
USAAF B-25s sink Fatsumi Maru off Wewak.
Atlantic
PB4Y-1 (VB 107) sinks German submarine U-177 west of Ascension
Island, 10°35'S, 23°12'W.
Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) delivers supplies and evacuates certain people from near Balatong Point, Negros, P.I.
Escort carrier White Plains (CVE-66) and destroyer Caldwell (DD-605) are damaged in collision while transferring people at sea, Marshalls area.
Mediterranean
Destroyer Ludlow (DD-438) is damaged by dud shell from German
shore battery off Anzio, Italy.
Atlantic
Light cruiser Marblehead (CL-12) rescues the survivors of
German submarine U-177, sunk by PB4Y (VB 107) on 6 February.
Mediterranean
Destroyer Ludlow (DD-438) is damaged by shore battery fire off
Anzio, 41°28'N, 12°30'E.
Tank landing ship LST-170 is damaged by horizontal bomber, off eastern New Guinea, 08°39'S, 148°27'E.
Submarine Hake (SS-256) attacks Japanese mine/netlayer Wakatake, escorting a convoy to Manokwari, 01°43'N, 129°30'E, but achieves no damage. Wakatake's depth charge counterattack is also unsuccessful.
Submarine Pogy (SS-266) sinks Japanese destroyer Minekaze and merchant cargo ship Malta Maru, 85 miles north-northeast of Formosa, 23°20'N, 121°30'E.
Submarine Spearfish (SS-190) damages Japanese transport Tatsuwa Maru southwest of Formosa, 21°53'N, 119°13'E.
PBY sinks Japanese fishing boat Inawa Maru off Wewak.
Japanese fishing vessel Kirishima Maru is damaged by mine off Moulmein.
Japanese cargo ship Waka Maru is sunk by "sea trouble" near Bokai Bay, western Korea, 35°40'N, 126°20'E.
Submarine Gudgeon (SS-211) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Satsuma Maru (previously damaged by Chinese B-25s off Wenchow, China, at 28°01'N, 121°30'E), 27°38'N, 121°15'E.
U.S. aircraft damage Japanese guardboat Miyo Maru off Leyte, P.I.
Japanese flying boats bomb and destroy supply concentrations on Roi Island, Marshalls; tank landing craft LCT-346 and LCT-347 are damaged.
Submarine rescue vessel Macaw (ASR-17), stranded at entrance to Midway Channel since 16 January, slips off the reef and sinks.
Submarine Tambor (SS-198) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Ronsan Maru in East China Sea about 40 miles southwest of Amami O Shima, 27°45'N, 128°42'E.
British submarine HMS Stonehenge sinks Japanese netlayer Choko Maru off west coast of Malaya, 05°46'N, 99°52'E.
USAAF B-25 aircraft attack Japanese fishing boats operating in Tonkin Gulf, sinking No.12 Kainan Maru and damaging No.11 Kainan Maru, 20°44'N, 107°02'E.
Submarine Robalo (SS-273) conducts unsuccessful attack on Japanese army cargo ships Minryu Maru and Sekino Maru (see 14 February).
USAAF A-20s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese army cargo ship Yoshino Maru and motor sailboat Tok_n Maru (in tow of the cargo ship) off Aitape, 03°20'S, 143°00'E.
USAAF B-25s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese cargo ship Shoka Maru and damage Kokoku Maru off Hainan Island, 18°35'N, 108°30'E; USAAF and Chinese aircraft sink fishing vessel Meiji Maru off the China Coast, 26°40'N, 121°40'E.
Mediterranean
Tank landing craft LCT-220 founders in heavy weather and sinks
off Anzio.
Light cruiser St. Louis (CL-49), covering the unopposed landing at Pakonian Plantation, west side of Green Island, is damaged by bomb dropped by Japanese dive bomber, 06°15'S, 153°29'E.
Submarine Flasher (SS-249) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Minryo Maru (which had escaped Robalo's attack the day before) off Cape Santiago, Luzon, 13°43'N, 120°39'E, and tanker Hokuan Maru, 13°44'N, 120°29'E.
Submarine Snook (SS-279) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Nittoku Maru southwest of Tsushima, Japan, 33°48'N, 128°50'E.
British submarine HMS Tally Ho sinks Japanese submarine UIT 23 (ex-Italian Reginaldo Giuliani) off Penang, Malaya, 04°25'N, 100°09'E.
PBY damages Japanese cargo ship Mitsu Maru and forces her aground east of Sepik, New Guinea. Allied air attacks subsequently destroy Mitsu Maru.
USAAF B-25 aircraft sink Japanese ship Satsuma Maru off Wenchow, 28°00'N, 121°30'E.
Salvage of Eiko Maru (sunk on 30 January) by U.S. Navy divers yields a large number of Japanese charts of the Pacific area and other intelligence material.
Naval aircraft from Abemama, Gilbert Islands, bomb Wake Island.
Submarine Aspro (SS-309) sinks Japanese submarine I-43, transporting sailors from the Sasebo Special Landing Force to Truk, 280 miles east-southeast of Guam, 10°23'N, 150°23'E.
Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese guardboat No.3 Taiyo Maru off Rabaul, New Britain, 04°00'N, 150°10'E.
Submarine Snook (SS-283) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship No.2 Hoshi Maru off south coast of Korea, 34°23'N, 128°23'E.
Submarine Steelhead (SS-280) damages Japanese cargo ship Enju Maru 110 miles from Chichi Jima.
Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) attacks Japanese convoy east of Mindanao, P.I., sinking army cargo ship Odatsuki Maru east of Dinagat Island, 09°30'N, 127°00'E (see 16 February 1944).
British submarine HMS Tally Ho sinks German-manned Italian cargo submarine UIT-23, 04°53'N, 100°15'E.
USAAF B-25s and A-20s damage auxiliary netlayer Matsu Maru at Rabaul.
USAAF B-25s (14th Air Force) sink Vichy French patrol craft Ping Sang off Hongay, French Indochina, 21°00'N, 107°22'E.
Mine laid by 14th Air Force B-24s on 10 February sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Ryoka Maru off entrance to Yangtze River, 31°16'N, 121°46'E; a mine also sinks merchant cargo ship Hoshi Maru off south coast of Korea, 34°27'N, 128°45'E;
Mediterranean
Off Anzio, destroyer escort Herbert C. Jones (DE-137) is
damaged by radio-controlled bomb, 41°27'N, 12°35'E, and large
infantry landing craft LCI(L)-2 is damaged by mine,
41°24'N, 12°43'E. Bomb holes freighter Elihu Yale; the
explosion start fires that spread to tank landing craft LCT-35
alongside, destroying that vessel as well. Firefighting efforts by
fleet tug Hopi (ATF-71) ultimately prove successful but Elihu
Yale is later written off as a total loss. Two of the 40-man Armed
Guard perish in the attack, as do three of the 45-man merchant
complement and seven of the 182 stevedores working cargo. Tank landing
craft LCT-152 rescues survivors from Elihu Yale and LCT-35.
Destroyer Phelps (DD-360) and minesweeper Sage (AM-111) sink Japanese submarine RO-40, 45 miles northwest of Kwajalein, Marshalls, 09°50'N, 166°35'E.
Submarine Skate (SS-305) sinks Japanese light cruiser Agano 170 miles north of Dublon Island, Truk, 10°10'N, 151°40'E.
Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) continues pursuit of convoy engaged the previous day, and sinks Japanese army cargo ship Chojo Maru off Sarangani Island, 09°15'N, 127°05'E.
USAAF B-25s (38th and 345th Bomb Groups) carry out succession of attacks on Japanese convoy off New Hanover and Kavieng, sinking submarine chaser Ch 39, auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 16, and transport Sanko Maru, 02°24'S, 150°06'E.
Japanese transport Sanko Maru is sunk by aircraft off New Hanover Island, 02°24'S, 150°06'E.
Mediterranean
Destroyer Hilary P. Jones (DD-427) is damaged by near- miss of
bomb off Anzio.
SB2Cs and TBFs from carrier Bunker Hill (CV-17) and TBFs from small carrier Cowpens (CVL-25) sink Japanese light cruiser Naka 35 miles west of Truk, 07°15'N, 151°15'E, while battleships New Jersey (BB-62) and Iowa (BB-61), heavy cruisers Minneapolis (CA-36) and New Orleans (CA-32) and destroyers Radford (DD-446) and Burns (DD-588) sink training cruiser Katori northwest of Truk, 07°45'N, 151°20'E, after she had been damaged by planes from carriers Yorktown (CV-10), Intrepid (CV- 11) and Bunker Hill (CV-17) and small carrier Cowpens. TG 50.3 gunfire sinks destroyer Maikaze 40 miles northwest of Truk, 07°45'N, 151°20'E. Destroyer Burns (DD-588), detached from TG 50.9, sinks Japanese submarine chaser Ch 24 west of Truk, 07°24'N, 150°30'E.
TF 58 planes sink Japanese destroyer Oite (carrying survivors of light cruiser Agano sunk the day before), 07°40'N, 151°45'E; destroyer Tachikaze, 07°40'N, 151°55'E; armed merchant cruiser Akagi Maru, 07°54'N, 151°25'E; auxiliary submarine depot ship Heian Maru; aircraft transport Fujikawa Maru; transports Rio de Janeiro Maru, Kiyozumi Maru, Aikoku Maru, Gosei Maru, Hanakawa Maru, Hokuyo Maru, Amagisan Maru, and Kensho Maru; Matsutani Maru, 07°23'N, 151°05'E; Momokawa Maru, 07°20'N, 151°53'E; Reiyo Maru, 07°25'N, 151°45'E; San Francisco Maru, 07°22'N, 151°54'E; Seiko Maru, 07°22'N, 151°45'E; Taiho Maru, 07°22'N, 151°34'E; Zukai Maru,07°46'N, 150°27'E; No.6 Unkai Maru; Yamagiri Maru, 07°23'N, 151°51'E; fleet tankers Fujisan Maru, Hoyo Maru (damaged on 4 November 1943 by submarine Scorpion), Shinkoku Maru, and No.3 Tonan Maru; water carrier Nippo Maru, 07°20'N, 151°40'E; auxiliary vessel Yamakisan Maru, 07°25'N, 151°45'E; army cargo ships Nagano Maru and Yubai Maru; merchant cargo ship Taikichi Maru; and motor torpedo boat Gyoraitei No.10, 07°31'N, 151°59'E.
TF 58 aircraft damage Japanese destroyers Shigure and Matsukaze, submarines I 10 and RO 37, target ship Hakachi, repair ship Akashi, ammunition ship Soya, seaplane tender Akitsushima, and auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 20.
Destroyer Nicholas (DD-449) sinks Japanese submarine I-11 northwest of the Marshalls, 10°34'N, 173°31'E.
Submarine Cero (SS-225) sinks Japanese transport Jozan Maru between Truk and New Ireland, 00°53'N, 146°26'E.
Submarine Sargo (SS-188), in attack on Japanese convoy about 150 miles northeast of Palau, sinks ammunition ship Nichiro Maru and damages oiler Sata, 08°50'N, 135°40'E.
Submarine Tang (SS-306) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking army cargo ship Gyoten Maru and merchant tanker Kuniei Maru about 130 miles west-northwest of Truk, 08°00'N, 149°17'E, and survives depth-charging by escorts (escort vessel Amakusa, submarine chaser Ch 31, auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 24 and auxiliary minesweeper Hagoromo Maru are screening the merchantmen).
Navy SBDs and TBFs bomb Japanese shipping in Keravia Bay, near Rabaul, sinking minesweeper W.26 (which had been damaged previously, 2 November 1943, and had been beached at that time to prevent her loss), guardboat No.2 Fuku Maru, and army cargo ship Iwate Maru.
USAAF B-25s attack Japanese ships going to the aid of convoy attacked north of New Hanover the day before (see 16 February), damaging Kashi Maru and forcing her to be run aground to prevent sinking.
USAAF P-40s attack Japanese shipping at Jaluit atoll, damaging cargo ship Chosen Maru.
Japanese merchant tanker Zuih_ Maru is damaged by mine downstream from Woosung, China.
TF 58 (Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance) repeats strike on Japanese installations and vessels at Truk; TF 58 planes sink destroyer Fumizuki, 07°24'N, 151°44'E; submarine chaser Ch 29, 07°25'N, 151°45'E; and motor torpedo boat Gyoraitei No.10, 07°31'N, 151°59'E.
Destroyer Squadron 23 (TG 39.4) (Captain Arleigh A. Burke) bombards Japanese positions at Kavieng; destroyer Squadron 12 (Captain Rodger W. Simpson) shells Rabaul, Japanese installations on the Crater Peninsula, and bivuoac and supply areas at Vunapope and Cape Gazelle.
British submarine HMS Trespasser sinks Japanese gunboat Eifuku Maru off Burma, 07°55'N, 93°03'E.
USAAf B-25s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese transport Shinsoku Maru south of Takhow Island, Wenchow, China, 28°23'N, 121°51'E.
U.S. aircraft sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 17 off Kavieng, 02°30'S, 150°30'E.
Japanese cargo ship Gokenzan Maru is stranded and sunk off northwestern Hokkaido, 44°01'N, 141°38'E.
Mediterranean
Heavy German air attacks, as well as artillery fire, continue on
beachhead at Anzio on an almost daily basis; harbor tug YT-198
is sunk by mine off Anzio, 41°27'N, 12°38'E. Elsewhere in the
Mediterranean theater, tank landing craft LCT-205 capsizes in
Gulf of Tunis, while being towed; tank landing craft LCT-340 is
stranded by heavy weather at Pantelleria, Italy. Heavy weather also
damages large infantry landing craft LCI(L)-211, resulting in
her being towed to Palermo, Italy; and minesweeper Pilot
(AM-104) is accidentally rammed by U.S. merchant ship Samuel Ashe
and damaged off Naples, Italy, 40°48.7'N, 14°16.5'E.
USAAF, USN and USMC land-based aircraft bomb airfield and other Japanese installations at Rabaul. The area has been repeatedly pounded, and after this date theJapanese abandon air defense of Rabaul.
Submarine Cero (SS-225) attacks Japanese cargo ship No.18 Shinsei Maru while en route to Palau, 03°34'N, 136°36'E, but does not score any damage on her quarry.
Submarine Grayback (SS-208) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taikei Maru southwest of Takao, Formosa, 21°48'N, 119°50'E; subsequently, Grayback sinks army cargo ship Toshin Maru, 21°46'N, 120°06'E, which had arrived on the scene and rescued Taikei Maru's survivors.
Submarine Jack (SS-259) attacks Japanese convoy of six tankers shepherded by escort vessel Shimushu in South China Sea about 300 miles west of Luzon, sinking merchant tankers Kokuei Maru and Nanei Maru, 14°34'N, 114°11'E; Nichirin Maru, 15°40'N, 115°48'E; and Ichiyo Maru 15°46'N, 115°57'E.
USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) sink auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 34 west of Kavieng, 02°45'S, 150°47'E; B- 25s, A-20s, and P-38s (5th Air Force) wipe out Japanese convoy O-902 off Kavieng, sinking submarine chasers Ch 22 and Ch 40, 03°04'S, 150°42'E, and cargo vessels No.1 Shinto Maru and Shinkiku Maru, 02°46'N, 150°42'E.
USAAF B-24s and B-25s sink Japanese cargo vessel Ebon Maru at Kusaie.
USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese cargo ship Tairyu Maru and damage auxiliary submarine chaser Chikuzen Maru in Formosa Strait, 25°25'N, 121°30'E.
Japanese cargo ship Kogen Maru is sunk in collision in Kii Channel, 35°00'N, 135°00'E.
Mediterranean
Motor torpedo boats engage German convoy southeast of Elba.
Light cruiser Philadelphia (CL-41) arrives off Anzio to provide gunfire support; she is thrice under shore battery fire but suffers no damage in the encounters.
Destroyer Madison (DD-425) conducts unsuccessful hunt for enemy submarine believed off Anzio.
Submarine Pogy (SS-266) sinks Japanese cable layer Nanyo Maru about 100 miles east of Formosa, 24°12'N, 123°20'E, and merchant cargo ship Taijin Maru northeast of Formosa, 24°14'N, 123°17'E.
USAAF B-24 damages Japanese cargo vessel Tasmania Maru northwest of Wewak.
Mediterranean
Tank landing ship LST-348 is sunk by German submarine U-410,
40 miles south of Naples, Italy, 40°57'N, 13°14'E.
LCT-340 founders and sinks in heavy weather off coast of Algeria, 36°49'N, 01°55'E.
USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) strike Japanese five-ship convoy (evacuating 751st Air Group maintenance people to Japan, via Palau) off New Hanover, sinking auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 38 and Cha 48, 02°30'S, 149°55'E, transport Kokai Maru and gunboat Kowa Maru, 02°30'S, 150°15'E, and damaging tug Nagaura, which, after effecting repairs, rescues some of the survivors of the two Marus and continues on her voyage north (see 22 February).
Submarine Cero (SS-225) damages Japanese army cargo ship Hasshu Maru north of New Guinea, 00°10'S, 139°45'E.
British submarine HMS Tally Ho sinks Japanese army cargo ship No.6 Taigen Maru in Strait of Malacca, 04°00'N, 101°00'E.
Marines land on Parry Island, Eniwetok Atoll, under cover of naval bombardment and carrier-aircraft bombing; this operation completes U.S. control of Eniwetok Atoll. Infantry landing craft LCI-365, LCI-440, and LCI-442 are damaged by friendly fire.
TG 39.4 (Captain Arleigh A. Burke) bombards Japanese airstrips, pier area, and anchorages at Kavieng; destroyers Charles Ausburne (DD-570), Dyson (DD-572), and Stanly (DD-478) sink Japanese minelayer Natsushima off New Ireland, 02°40'S, 149°40'E; the same three destroyers, joined by Conway (DD-507) and Spence (DD-512), sink tug Nagaura about 160 miles northwest of Kavieng, 00°54'S, 148°38'E. Other Japanese ships sunk during this action include auxiliary submarine chaser No.8 Tama Maru and small cargo vessels Choryu Maru and No.9 Tokuyama Maru. Destroyer Division 45 sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayer Kyosei Maru in Isabel Channel, New Hanover.
Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese repair ship Yamashiro Maru off Truk, 07°13'N, 151°38'E.
Submarine Puffer (SS-268), despite presence of escort vessel, sinks Japanese army transport Teiko Maru (ex- French passenger liner D'Artagnan) about 120 miles northwest of Kuching, Borneo, 03°10'N, 109°15'E.
Submarine Ray (SS-271) lays mines off Saigon, French Indochina.
Submarine Tang (SS-306), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks gunboat Fukuyama Maru about 60 miles southwest of Saipan, 15°14'N, 144°55'E.
Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 29 is sunk by mine (possibly laid by submarine Silversides (SS-236) on 4 June 1943) near Kavieng.
Navy SBD and TBF aircraft pound Japanese shipping in Keravia Bay, Rabaul, sinking guardboats No.2 Fuku Maru and No.2 Tenjin Maru, army cargo ship Taisho Maru, merchant tanker Takatori Maru, and damaging minelayer Nasami.
Vichy French river gunboat Francis Garnier is sunk by mine sown by USAAF planes (14th Air Force) in South China Sea off Cape St. Jacques, French Indochina, 10°30'N, 108°00'E.
Atlantic
Motor torpedo boat PT-200 is sunk in collision with unknown
object off Long Island, N.Y., 41°23'N, 71°01'W.
Mediterranean
Five German E-boats approach Anzio beachhead during the night, but all
are driven off without inflicting any damage. Submarine chaser PC-621
claims destruction of one E-boat and drives another ashore.
German submarine U-969 attacks convoy GUS 31 off the coast of Algeria, irreparably damaging U.S. freighters Peter Skene Ogden and George Cleeve, 37°18'N, 06°59'E; other than one fatality on board the former, there are no casualties to the American ships. Both ships are towed and beached to facilitate salvage: Peter Skene Ogden at Herbillon and George Cleeve to Bone, Tunisia. Both are later written off as total losses.
Submarine Balao (SS-285), in attack on Japanese convoy about 35 miles north of Biak, New Guinea, sinks army cargo ship Nikki Maru, 00°11'S, 135°00'E.
Submarine Cod (SS-224) sinks Japanese fleet tanker No.3 Ogura Maru off Halmahera, 04°23'N, 129°05'E.
Submarine Plunger (SS-179), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks transport Kimishima Maru about 200 miles northwest of Chichi Jima, 30°11'N, 140°49'E.
Submarine Pogy (SS-266) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking merchant cargo ship Horei Maru, 26°20'N, 126°11'E, and damaging merchant tanker Teikon Maru, 26°22'N, 126°16'E, about 60 miles west of Okinawa.
Submarine Snook (SS-279) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking transport Kayo Maru about 120 miles north- northwest of Chichi Jima, 28°49'N, 141°13'E.
Submarine Sunfish (SS-281) and planes from carrier Yorktown (CV-10) sink Japanese collier Shinyubari Maru about 40 miles west of Saipan, 15°23'N, 145°03'E.
Submarine Tang (SS-306) sinks Japanese repair ship Yamashimo Maru west of Saipan, 14°45'N, 144°32'E. The cataclysmic explosion of the enemy auxiliary damages Tang, but not badly enough to prevent the boat from remaining on patrol.
Japanese gunboat Eiko Maru is sunk by aircraft north of Saipan, 15°12'N, 144°52'E, as she proceeds to the position of the loss of Fukuyama Maru that had been sunk by Tang (SS-306) on 22 February.
Japanese cargo ship Gyoko Maru is destroyed by accidental explosion in Naha harbor, Okinawa, 26°13'N, 127°40'E.
Indian Ocean
U.S. tanker E.G. Seubert, in convoy PA 69, is torpedoed and
sunk by German submarine U-510 about 200 miles fromAden,
13°45'N, 48°56'E; three of the 27-man Armed Guard (including
its commander) perish, as do three of the ship's merchant complement.
Australian minesweeper HMAS Tamworth and Indian Navy corvette
RINS Orissa rescue survivors.
Submarine Grayback (SS-208) sinks Japanese oiler Nanho Maru about 20 miles east of Formosa, 24°20'N, 122°25'E, and damages transport Asama Maru, 24°15'N, 122°19'E. Escort vessel Shimushu's counterattack is ineffective.
Submarine Pogy (SS-266) bombards phosphate plant on Rasa Island.
Submarine Sand Lance (SS-381) is damaged by ice and heavy seas, Kurils.
Submarine Tang (SS-306), in attack on Japanese convoy west of Saipan, sinks merchant cargo ship Echizen Maru, 15°45'N, 143°29'E.
USAAF B-25s, P-40s, and P-38s hit targets of opportunity along the Yangtze, damaging Japanese guardboat Yoko Maru.
U.S. aircraft sink Japanese transport No.2 Shunzan Maru off Kusaie, Carolines, 05°20'N, 162°58'E.
British submarine HMS Tally Ho damages Japanese torpedo boat Kari in Strait of Malacca.
Atlantic
PBY-5As (VP-63), employing Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) gear, and a
PV-1 (VB-127), together with RAF Catalina (No. 202 Squadron) bomb
German submarine U-761 as she attempts to transit the Straits
of Gibraltar, 35°55'N, 05°45'W. British destroyers HMS Anthony
and HMS Wishart rescue the 51 survivors who abandon their badly
damaged U-boat after scuttling her to avoid capture. U-761 is
the first U-boat destroyed through the employment of MAD equipment.
Open lighter YC-523 sinks after grounding off Portsmouth, N.H.
Destroyer Squadron 12 (Captain Rodger W. Simpson), en route to bombard Kavieng and its airstrips, shipping, and fortifications, encounters Japanese army cargo ship Tatsugiko Maru. In the ensuing action, destroyers Farenholt (DD-491), Buchanan (DD-484), Lansdowne (DD- 486), Woodworth (DD-460), and Lardner (DD-487) sink the enemy freighter at 02°46'N, 150°42'E. Japanese shore batteries subsequently give DESRON 12 a warm reception, damaging Buchanan and Farenholt, 02°20'S, 151°02'E.
Submarine Hoe (SS-258) attacks Japanese convoy at the mouth of Davao Gulf, 75 miles south of Davao, P.I., sinking fleet tanker Nissho Maru, 05°50'N, 126°00'E and damaging fleet tanker Kyokuto Maru, 05°38'N, 126°00'E, south of Davao Gulf.
Submarine Rasher (SS-269) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Ryusei Maru, 07°55'S, 115°15'E and merchant cargo ship Tango Maru, 07°41'S, 115°10'E off north coast of Bali.
Submarine Tang (SS-306) continues pursuit of Japanese convoy engaged the previous day, and sinks fleet tanker Choko Maru west of Saipan, 15°46'N, 144°10'E.
Mediterranean
Tank landing craft LCT-26 founders and sinks in heavy weather
off Anzio, Italy, 41°04'N, 13°30'E.
Submarine Grayback (SS-208) is damaged by land-based Japanese naval aircraft, East China Sea, 25°47'N, 128°45'E.8
Motor torpedo boat PT-251 runs aground during action with Japanese barges in southern Empress Augusta Bay;and is then sunk by shore battery, Solomons, 06°30'S, 155°10'E.
USAAF B-25s (14th Air Force) attack shipping in port of Tourane, French Indochina, sinking Vichy French surveying vessel Astrolabe and dredging ship Gilmot, 16°04'N, 108°13'E. Vichy officials consider Astrolabe a total loss, given the absolute impossibility of raising her with the means available in French Indochina.
Mediterranean
Tank landing ship LST-349 sinks after running aground off south
coast of Italy, 40°55'N, 12°58'E; LCT-36 sinks after
grounding off Naples.
Submarine Trout (SS-202) sinks Japanese cargo ship Aki Maru east of Formosa, 22°40'N, 131°50'E. Submarine Grayback (SS-208) sinks Japanese cargo ship Ceylon Maru in the East China Sea, 31°50'N, 127°45'E.
Covered by large infantry landing craft LCI(L)-24, Army units carry out unopposed occupation of the Magine Islands.
Mediterranean
Light cruiser Philadelphia (CL-41) carries out seven gunfire
support missions off Anzio.
Submarine Sand Lance (SS-381) sinks Japanese transport Kaiko Maru just east of Musashi Wan, off Paramushiro, Kurils, 50°20'N, 155°26'E, but is later damaged when she runs aground off Paramushiro.
Submarine Balao (SS-285), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks army cargo ship Akiura Maru and transport Sh_h_ Maru about 90 miles northwest of Manokwari, New Guinea, 00°06'N, 132°53'E.
Destroyer Division 44 (Commander James R. Pahl) bombards wharf areas and installations at Rabaul.
PB4Y-1s (VB 108, VB 109, VD 3), flying from Apamama and staging through Kwajalein and Roi, carry out low-level bombing raid on Japanese installations on Wake Island.
Submarine Rock (SS-274), while making a night surface attack on a convoy of three Japanese freighters, is damaged by surface gunfire off Nansei Shoto Islands, 25°33'N, 130°42'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.
Submarine Sargo (SS-188) attacks Japanese convoy and damages army cargo ship Uchide Maru about 120 miles west of Palau, 08°57'N, 132°52'E (see 1 and 2 March 1944).
Submarine Trout (SS-202) attacks Guam-bound Japanese convoy about 625 miles east of Formosa. She sinks army transport Sakito Maru southeast of Okinawa, 22°40'N, 131°50'E, and damages transport Aki Maru, but Trout is later sunk, most probably by Japanese destroyer Asashimo, 22°40'N, 131°45'E.9
USAAF B-25s sink Japanese merchant tow boat Choka Maru on the Yangtze near Chiuhsienchen.
USAAF B-24s damage Japanese cargo ship Narita Maru 45 miles east of Hollandia.
Mediterranean
Tank landing ship LST-197 is damaged by shore battery off
Anzio.
Japanese army cargo ship Uchide Maru, damaged by submarine Sargo (SS-188) the previous day, is abandoned. Her crew transfers to torpedo boat Sagi and Patrol Boat No.31 (see 2 March).
Atlantic
Destroyer escort Bronstein (DE-189) sinks German submarine U-603
in the North Atlantic, 48°55'N, 26°10'W, and teams with
destroyer escorts Thomas (DE-102) and Bostwick (DE-103)
to sink U-709 at 49°10'N, 26°00'W.
After submarine Burrfish (SS-312) attacks Japanese army cargo ship Shinkyo Maru without success, submarine Picuda (SS-382) sinks Shinkyo Maru about 200 miles southwest of Truk, 06°22'N, 148°27'E; escort vessel Amakusa's counterattack upon Picuda is unsuccessful.
Japanese army cargo ship Uchide Maru sinks as the result of damage inflicted by submarine Sargo (SS-188) on 29 February.
Navy SBDs and TBFs damage small Japanese cargo vessel Ransei Maru south of Keravia, Rabaul.
Pacific
TF 94 (Rear Admiral Wilder D. Baker), comprising light cruiser Richmond
(CL-9) and eight destroyers, begins two-day sweep of the Kurils.
Adverse weather, however, not only results in the cancellation of the
scheduled bombardments of Japanese positions in the Musashi Wan area
but causes damage to the ships. The poor weather plays no favorites:
Japanese minelayer Shirakami is sunk in collision with army
transport Nichiran Maru in a gale south of Urup Island,
45°30'N, 150°00'E; Japanese supply ship No.2 Ten-Yo Maru
is sunk by storm south of Paramushiro, 50°17'N, 155°55'E.
Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) damages Japanese river gunboat Karatsu (ex-Luzon (PR-7)) in Sulu Sea, 08°55'N, 123°20'E; ironically, Karatsu had been engaged in hunting down an enemy submarine at the time.
Submarine Rasher (SS-269) attacks Japanese convoy in Celebes Sea, sinking army transport Nittai Maru about 290 miles northwest of Waisile, Halmahera, 03°18'N, 123°56'E. Ironically, one of the escorts for the convoy is Patrol Boat No.103 (ex-minesweeper WHICH).
Submarine Sand Lance (SS-381) attacks Japanese convoy and sinks transport Akashisan Maru west of Uruppu, Japan, 46°00'N, 149°10'E; later that same day, however, the submarine accidentally sinks Soviet cargo ship Belorussia at 46°28'N, 149°18'E, mistaking the ship for an earlier victim Akashisan Maru.
British submarine HMS Sea Rover sinks Japanese army cargo vessel No.1 Matsu Maru in Strait of Malacca, 04°56'N, 100°17'E.
TF 74 (Rear Admiral Victor A. C. Crutchley, RN), composed of Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire, U.S. light cruisers Phoenix (CL-46) and Nashville (CL-43) and four U.S. destroyers, bombards Japanese shore batteries and positions on Hauwei and Norilo Islands in the Admiralty Islands (see 6 and 7 March).
Light cruiser Richmond (CL-9) and destroyers Luce (DD- 522), Kimberly (DD-521), Isherwood (DD-520), Sproston (DD-577), Wickes (DD-578), Picking (DD-685), William D. Porter (DD-579), and Young (DD-580) are all damaged by heavy weather during sweep of the Kurils (see 3 March).
Submarine Bluefish (SS-222) attacks Japanese convoy in the South China Sea, sinks oiler Ominesan Maru about 300 miles west of Miri, Sarawak, 05°29'N, 108°46'E, and survives ensuing depth-charging by escorts.
Submarine Peto (SS-265) attacks Japanese convoy, and sinks army cargo ship Kay_ Maru 75 miles west-northwest of Hollandia, 01°28'S, 138°40'E. Escorts (one of which is submarine chaser Ch 34) depth-charge Peto but do not inflict damage.
Japanese submarine I-10 is damaged by depth charges (attacker unknown), 06°10'N, 177°50'E.
Japanese army transport Ryoyo Maru is damaged when struck by a huge wave and driven aground off Matsuwa Jima, Kurils, 48°04'N, 153°16'E (see 22 May).
Submarine Rasher (SS-269), still pursuing same Japanese convoy attacked on 3 March, damages cargo ship Ryuwa Maru.
Submarine Nautilus (SS-168), in attack on Japanese convoy about 420 miles north-northwest of Saipan, sinks transport (ex-hospital ship) America Maru, 22°19'N, 143°54'E, and survives counterattack by torpedo boat Otori.
Mediterranean
Convoy UGS 33, bound from New York to Alexandria, Egypt, strays into
Allied minefield off Tunis. U.S. freighter Daniel Chester French
is sunk by mines at 37°18'N, 10°22'; four Armed Guard sailors
(of the 28- man detachment), nine of the merchant crew (of 44 men) and
24 of the 86 Army passengers perish with the ship. British rescue tug Charon,
steamer Thelma, and tug Rescue pick up the surviving
crew and passengers. Freighter Virginia Dare is irreparably
damaged at approximately 37°18'N, 10°22'E. There are no
casualties (including among the 28-man Armed Guard) (see 8 March).
Japanese shore battery sinks motor torpedo boat PT-337, Hansa Bay, New Guinea, 04°09'S, 144°50'E; PBY (VP 34) rescues survivors on 11 March.
USAAF B-24s (10th Air Force) mine waters off Koh Chang, Thailand, harbor; mines sink merchant cargo ship Juy_ Maru, 13°10'N, 100°50'E.
Submarine
British submarine HMS Sea Rover, in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks transport Sh_bu Maru in Strait of Malacca, 03°38'N, 99°12'E.
PBY sinks Japanese fishing boat No.5 Ebisu Maru off Tadji, 03°10'S, 142°13'E.
USAAF P-38s sink Japanese fishing boat No.38 Taigyo Maru off Aitape.
U.S. aircraft sink Japanese guardboat No.2 Nanshu Maru off Duke of York Isle, St. George Channel, 04°12'S, 152°30'E.
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter Virginia Dare, irreparably damaged by Allied
mine on 6 March off Tunis, breaks up after encountering heavy weather;
she is subsequently written off as a total loss.
PBYs bomb Japanese shipping off Hollandia, sinking the previously damaged Hasshu Maru and small cargo ships Yashima Maru and No.12 Genei Maru, and damaging Tenryu Maru.
USAAF B-25s bomb Japanese installations and dock area, Simpson Harbor, Rabaul, sinking small cargo vessels Mankei Maru and Kinka Maru.
USAAF B-24 sinks small Japanese cargo vessel No.1 Kissho Maru off Greenwich Island.
Atlantic
Naval Air Facility (Lighter than Air), Santa Cruz, Brazil, is
established.
Destroyer escort Leopold (DE-319) is torpedoed by German submarine U-255, 650 miles west of Scotland.
Mediterranean
Destroyer Edison (DD-439) sinks German submarine U-450
off Anzio, 41°11'N, 12°27'E..
U.S. freighter Clark Mills is damaged by mine off North African coast, 37°18'N, 10°13'E; beached off Bizerte,the ship is later written off as a total loss. There are no casualties to either the merchant crew, passengers, or the 42-man Armed Guard.
Submarine chaser SC-700 is destroyed and fuel oil barge YO-44 is damaged by fire, Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands.
PBY bombs and sinks Japanese army cargo ship Hasshu Maru (see 21 February) off Hollandia, New Guinea.
Atlantic
Destroyer escort Leopold (DE-319) irreparably damaged by German
submarine U-255, 650 miles west of Scotland, on 9 March, is
scuttled by destroyer escort Joyce (DE-317).
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter William B. Woods is torpedoed and sunk by German
submarine U-952 approximately 47 miles off Palermo, Sicily,
38°43'N, 13°50'E; one of the 28-man Armed Guard and 51 of the
407 Army troops being transported in the ship perish. There are no
casualties among the 43-man merchant complement. Escorting Italian
destroyer escort Aretusa provides no help.
Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Tsukikawa Maru, west of Halmahera Island, 01°25'S, 128°14'E. Japanese minelayer Wakatake and army aircraft carry out ineffective counterattack on Bowfin, which attacks, unsuccessfully, Asaka Maru, which is rescuing Tsukikawa Maru's survivors.
Japanese cargo ship Daitoku Maru is sunk in collision with cargo ship No.6 Daiboshi Maru in the Sea of Japan, 40°10'N, 137°41'E.
Mediterranean
Commander Cruiser Division 8 breaks flag in French light cruiser Emile
Bertin and takes operational command of Emile Bertin, Gloire,
Georges Leygues, and Duguay-Trouin for training
purposes (see 24 March1944).
USAAF aircraft sink German submarines U-380 and U-410, Toulon, France.
Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese army cargo ship No.3 Okinoyama Maru north of New Guinea, 01°15'S, 133°20'E.
PBYs attack Japanese convoy en route to Hollandia, sinking motor sailboat Hosho Maru.
Mediterranean
Submarine chaser PC-624 is damaged when she runs aground three
miles east of Palermo, Sicily.
Light cruisers Philadelphia (CL-41) and Brooklyn (CL-40) provide gunfire support off Anzio; they repeat the missions on the 13th. On both occasions they encounter shore battery fire without damage.
Submarine Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Ry_a Maru and transport Shojin Maru about 20 miles west of Rashuwa Island, Kurils, 47°38'N, 152°38'E.
PBYs bomb Japanese shipping off Pelillo Island, 02°09'S, 140°19'E, sinking small cargo ship Hara Maru.
Indian Ocean
U.S. tanker H.D.Collier is torpedoed and shelled by Japanese
submarine I-26 at 21°30'N, 66°11'E, and abandoned; of
the 28-man Armed Guard, 12 perish in the action (see 16-17 March).
Atlantic
TBF (VC 95) from escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9), along with
destroyer Hobson (DD-464), destroyer escort Haverfield
(DE-393), Canadian armed merchant cruiser HMCS Prince Rupert,
and British Flying Fortress (No.220 Squadron) sink German submarine U-575,
North Atlantic,46°18'N, 27°34'W.
Japanese seaplane carrier Sanuki Maru is damaged by mine, 10°31'N, 105°04'E.
Japanese cargo ship Fuki Maru is sunk, by stranding, off east coast of Honshu, near Fukushima, 37°29'N, 141°35'E.
15 March, Wed. Atlantic Destroyer escort McAnn (DE-179), coordinating her operations with USN and USAAF planes, rescues survivors of a crashed B-17 off coast of Brazil, 01°31'N, 32°35'W.
Pacific
USAAF B-25s sink small Japanese cargo vessel Konpira Maru off
Hollandia.
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter China Mail is damaged by bomb fragments during
German air raid on Naples, Italy. There are no casualties among the
ship's complement, which includes 13 Armed Guard sailors.
Submarine Lapon (SS-260) carries out unsuccessful attack on Japanese seaplane tender Kunikawa Maru, 18°14'N, 117°44'E.
Submarine Silversides (SS-236) attacks Japanese convoy and sinks army cargo ship K_fuku Maru about 225 miles southeast of Palau, 05°00'N, 136°46'E.
Submarine Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese destroyer Shirakumo and army cargo ship Nichiren Maru off east coast of Hokkaido, southeast of Kushiro harbor, 42°18'N, 145°11'E; destroyers Kamikaze and Namikaze conduct unsuccessful hunt for Tautog.
PBYs (and later USAAF B-24s) attack Japanese convoy north of Hollandia, damaging submarine chaser Ch 35 and cargo ships Taiei Maru, Yakumo Maru, and Teshio Maru (see 19 March).
Indian Ocean
U.S. tanker H.D.Collier, torpedoed and shelled by Japanese
submarine I-26 on 13 March, sinks; British ship Empire Raja
rescues 14 survivors (see 17 March).
Mediterranean
PBY-5As (VP 63) employ MAD gear to detect German submarine U-392
as the enemy boat attempts to transit the Straits of Gibraltar; the
PBYs bomb the U-boat, and British frigate HMS Affleck and
destroyer HMS Vanoc depth charge her. Affleck delivers
the coup de grace to sink U-392 at 35°55'N, 05°41'W.
Mediterranean
Off Anzio, destroyers Madison (DD-425) and Eberle (DD-
430) make sound contact 25 miles southwest of the port; five-hour
search yields no result. Tank landing craft LCT-277 is damaged
in air raid.
During German air raid on the port of Naples, Italy, U.S. freighter James Guthrie is damaged by bomb; there are no casualties among the ship's company.
German submarine U-371 attacks Naples-bound convoy SNF 17 about 30 miles north-northeast of Bougie, Algeria, and torpedoes U.S. freighter Maiden Creek, 37°08'N, 05°27'E. Initially, the ship is abandoned, but is reboarded and prepared for towing. U-371 again torpedoes Maiden Creek, the resulting explosion killing six merchant seamen and two of the 29-man Armed Guard.
Destroyer MacKenzie (DD-614) joins three British escort vessels for submarine hunt off Philippeville, with no results.
Indian Ocean
Last survivors of U.S. tanker H.D.Collier, torpedoed and
shelled by Japanese submarine I-26 on 13 March 1944, are
rescued by steamship Karagola.
Atlantic
Aircraft (VC 6) from escort carrier Block Island (CVE- 21),
along with destroyer Corry (DD-463), and destroyer escort Bronstein
(DE-189) sink German submarine U-801 west of the Cape Verdes,
16°42'N, 30°26'W.
TG 74.5 (Captain Kenmore M. McManes) commences bombardment of Japanese installations in Wewak area, New Guinea (see 19 March).
Submarine Lapon (SS-260) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking transport Hokoroku Maru about 250 miles southwest of Hong Kong, 19°24'N, 116°50'E.
Submarine Rock (SS-274) is damaged by depth charges off North Borneo, 07°25'N, 115°20'E, but remains on patrol.
Submarine Picuda (SS-382) conducts unsuccessful attack against Japanese cargo ship Kasuga Maru, 12°33'N, 141°08'E.
Large infantry landing craft LCI(L)-330 is accidentally rammed by freighter Richard Mosczowski off Koli Point, Guadalcanal. The latter suffers damage in the encounter.
USAAF B-25s bomb Japanese installations on Ponape, sinking small cargo vessel No.2 Kasuga Maru.
Japanese cargo ship Shinten Maru is damaged by mine off Kaimana, 03°40'S, 133°47'E.
Japanese motor torpedo boats Gyoraitei No.402 and Gyoraitei No.453 are sunk by British aircraft off Boronga, Burma.
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter Maiden Creek, torpedoed the previous day by
German submarine U-371 about 30 miles north- northeast of
Bougie, Algeria, is towed into Bougie where she is beached to
facilitate salvage. Subsequently, however, she is swept off the beach
by a storm and breaks up in the heavy weather, a total loss.
Atlantic
U.S. tanker Seakay, in Avonmouth, England-bound convoy CU 17,
is torpedoed by German submarine U-311 at 51°10'N,
20°20'W, and abandoned. One Armed Guard sailor perishes in the
abandonment; destroyer escort Reeves (DE-156) rescues
survivors. Escort ships scuttle the irreparably damaged tanker with
shells and depth charges.
USAAF B-24s, B-25s, A-20s, and P-38s (5th Air Force) destroy four-ship Japanese convoy 50 miles northwest of Wewak, sinking cargo ships Yakumo Maru and Taiei Maru and their escorts, auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 47 and Cha 49, 02°55'S, 143°40'E.
USAAF planes sink Japanese ship Kaen Maru off Wuhu, China.
U.S. freighter Oriental is damaged by mine east of Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 15°31'36"S, 167°17'49"E, but makes port under own power; there are no casualties among the ship's complement, which includes a 28-man Armed Guard.
Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter John A. Poor is torpedoed and sunk by German
submarine U-510 at 13°58'N, 70°30'E; 25 of the 43-man
merchant complement perish with the ship, as do 9 of the 30-man Armed
Guard (see 20 March).
Atlantic
TBF and FM-2 aircraft (VC 6) from escort carrier Block Island
sink German submarine U-1059, Atlantic area, 13°10'N,
33°44'W.
Mediterranean
Submarine chaser PC-545, on patrol west of Anzio, sinks a
German E-boat.
TF 37, including four battleships, two escort carriers, and destroyers (Rear Admiral Robert M. Griffin) bombards Kavieng, New Ireland.
Submarine Angler (SS-240) evacuates 58 people, including women and children, from the west coast of Panay, P.I.
Submarine Picuda (SS-382) sinks Japanese victualling stores ship H_k_ Maru about 40 miles north of Yap, Carolines, 10°09'N, 138°10'E.
Submarine Pollack (SS-180) sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayer Hakuy_ Maru about 30 miles northeast ofTorishima, 30°53'N, 140°42'E. Accompanying submarine chaser Ch 44 carries out unsuccessful counterattack on Pollack.
Japanese submarine chaser Ch 35, sent out from Hollandia to rescue survivors of cargo ships Yakumo Maru and Taiei Maru and auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 47 and Cha 49, sunk by USAAF planes the previous day, finds no trace of the four lost ships.
USAAF planes sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 62 130 nautical miles east of Hollandia, New Guinea, 02°55'S, 143°40'E.
U.S. aircraft sink Japanese guardboats Kaiun Maru and No.2 Taiho Maru off southern tip of Rabaul.
Indian Ocean
Survivors (who include 21 Armed Guard sailors) of U.S. freighter John
A. Poor that had been sunk by German submarine U-510 the
previous day, are rescued by British freighter Fort Worth.
U.S. aircraft sink Japanese transport Atsu Maru, north of New Guinea.
Submarine Tunny (SS-282) damages Japanese tanker Iro west of the Palaus, 07°22'N, 132°08'E.
Tank landing craft LCT-315 is sunk by explosion of undetermined origin, Eniwetok Atoll. The blast levels buildings and tents nearby.
Submarine Tunny (SS-282) sinks Japanese submarine I-42 six miles southwest of Angaur, Palaus, 06°40'N, 134°03'E.
Atlantic
Naval Air Facility, Dunkeswell, England, is established.
District patrol craft YP-331 founders and sinks in heavy weather off Key West, Florida, 24°56'30"N, 81°57'35"W.
USAAF B-24s bomb Wake Island, sinking Japanese motor torpedo boat Gyoraitei No.4.
Mediterranean
ComCruDiv 8 reports results of his inspection of French naval vessels:
he considers Emile Bertin, Montcalm, and Georges
Leygues ready for independent or joint duty; Duguay-Trouin,
however, an older ship, is deemed as needing repairs. French battleship
Lorraine, also inspected, is deemed in very good materiel
condition; with a brief period of training and target practice, she is
deemed ready for combatant service.
Submarine Pollack (SS-180) attacks Japanese convoy, and sinks submarine chaser Ch 54, about 50 miles north of Muko Jima, Bonins, 28°44'N, 141°45'E.
Atlantic
Oiler Salamonie (AO-26) is accidentally rammed by U.S. tug Joseph
O'Brien, and damaged, off the Naval Supply Depot, Bayonne, New
Jersey.
Japanese guardboat No.3 Tenjin Maru is sunk by U.S. aircraft off Mapia Island, Dutch New Guinea, 02°00'N, 135°00'E.
Japanese army cargo ship Shimotsuki Maru is sunk by mine off Murotozaki.
Motor torpedo boats PT-121 and PT-353 are mistakenly sunk by friendly bomber, Bismarck Archipelago, 05°17'S, 151°01'E.
Submarine Hake (SS-256) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Yamamizu Maru about 75 miles south of Borneo, 03°53'S, 109°42'E.
Submarine Rasher (SS-269), in attack on Japanese convoy in the Java Sea, sinks army cargo ship Nichinan Maru about 50 miles north of Bali, 07°27'S, 115°55'E.
RAAF Catalinas sink Japanese merchant cargo vessel Shinsei Maru in Banda Sea north of Dowalger Island, 07°44'S, 130°02'E
Mediterranean
Destroyer Livermore (DD-429) provides gunfire support at Anzio.
Motor torpedo boat PT-207 is damaged by naval gunfire off Anzio-Nettuno, Italy, 41°27'N, 12°40'E.
Allied force of American and British motor torpedo boats and British motor gunboats (Commander Allen, RN) destroys six German ferry barges off Vada Rocks, Corsica. U.S. motor torpedo boats PT-208, PT-214 and PT-218 participate in the battle.
Submarine Barb (SS-220) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Fukusei Maru off Rasa Island, 24°25'N, 131°11'E.
Submarine Silversides (SS-236) sinks Japanese cargo ship Kairyu Maru off Manokwari.
British submarine HMS Truculent, in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks army cargo ship Yasushima Maru in Strait of Malacca, 03°38'N, 100°50'E.
Submarine Haddo (SS-255) damages Japanese army cargo ship Nichian Maru in South China Sea, 17°42'N, 109°57'E.
Submarine Tunny (SS-282) damages Japanese battleship Musashi off Palau, 07°30'N, 134°30'E.
Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter Richard Hovey is torpedoed by Japanese submarine
I-26 at 16°40'N, 64°30'E, and abandoned. I-26
then surfaces and after shelling the ship and setting her afire (Richard
Hovey sinks subsequently), fires upon the lifeboats and rafts,
killing one Armed Guard sailor. The Japanese submarine then rams and
sinks one of the boats before taking four POWs and clearing the area
(see 2 and 14 April).
Mediterranean
Destroyer John D. Ford (DD-228) is damaged when accidentally
rammed by British armed trawler HMS Kingston Agate while
departing Gibraltar, British Crown Colony.
Destroyers Ericsson (DD-440) and Kearny (DD-432), along with submarine chasers PC-626, PC-556, and PC-558, and four British destroyers--HMS Laforey, HMS Tumult, HMS Hambledon, and HMS Blencathra--begin submarine hunt 30 miles northeast of Palermo, Sicily. Their efforts culminate in the sinking of German submarine U-223, 38°48'N, 14°10'E.
TF 58 planes sink destroyer Wakatake; repair ship Akashi; fleet tankers Ose, Sata, Iro, Akebono Maru, and Amatsu Maru; submarine chaser Ch 6; auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 22, Cha 26, Cha 53, and No.5 Showa Maru; Patrol Boat No.31; netlayer No.5 Nissho Maru; aircraft transport Goshu Maru; transports Gozan Maru, Nagisan Maru, Raizan Maru, Ryuko Maru, and No.18 Shinsei Maru; tankers Amatsu Maru and Asashio Maru; guardboats Ibaraki Maru and No.2 Seiei Maru; salvage vessel Urakami Maru; torpedo transport and repair ship Kamikaze Maru; army cargo ships Chuyo Maru, Kibi Maru, and Shoei Maru; army tanker No.2 Unyo Maru; and army cargo ships Bichu Maru (outside Palau harbor) and Teisho Maru (in the channel west of Palau), and, at Angaur, small craft No.3 Akita Maru, Chichibu Maru, Yae Maru, Toku Maru, Kiku Maru, Hinode Maru, Yamato Maru, Ume Maru, and Akebono Maru. TF 58 planes damage submarine chaser Ch 35, netlayer Shosei Maru, tanker No.2 Hishi Maru, and army cargo ship Hokutai Maru at Palau, 07°30'N, 134°30'E.
Submarine Tunny (SS-282), while on lifeguard duty off the Palaus, is attacked accidentally by TBF from carrier Yorktown (CV-10) 07°40'N, 134°00'E. Damage suffered in the friendly fire encounter forces Tunny to terminate her patrol.
Submarine Darter (SS-227), despite presence of one escort vessel, sinks Japanese army cargo ship Fujikawa Maru about 175 miles northwest of Manokwari, New Guinea, 01°50'N, 133°00'E.
Submarine Picuda (SS-382) attacks Japanese convoy, and sinks transport Atlantic Maru about 90 miles south- southwest of Guam, 12°20'N, 145°55'E.
Submarine Stingray (SS-186) attacks Japanese convoy and sinks transport Ikushima Maru about 350 miles north- northwest of Saipan, 20°43'N, 143°04'E.
Japanese minelayer Nasami is damaged by aircraft off Rabaul.
Mediterranean
Destroyer Eberle (DD-430) provides gunfire support off Anzio.
TF 58 aircraft sink Japanese guardboat Hakko Maru, Palaus.
Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese cargo ship Minami Maru at Kaito Daito Jima, 25°57'N, 131°19'E.
Japanese minelayer Nasami sinks as the result of damage suffered off Rabaul, New Britain, on 30 March.
Mediterranean
Convoy UGS 36 is attacked by German torpedo bombers off Algiers; tank
landing ship LST-526 is damaged when low- flying enemy plane
knocks off radio antenna. U.S. freighter Jared Ingersoll is
torpedoed; destroyer escort Mills (DE-383) and British tug Mindful
rescue the crew (including the 29-man Armed Guard) from the sinking
ship. After one attempt to quell the fires consuming the ship fails, Mills
places a firefighting party on board which succeeds in its attempt; the
destroyer escort then assists in towing Jared Ingersoll out of
danger. Beached off Algiers, the freighter is subsequently returned to
service.
Submarine Hake (SS-256) damages Japanese tanker Tarakan Maru in South China Sea, 01°58'N, 106°20'E.
TU 57.10.9, composed of destroyer escort Sanders (DE-40), tank landing ship LST-127 and infantry landing craft LCI-346 and LCI-449 occupies Mejit Island, Marshalls. The small Japanese force that opposes the occupation is wiped out by gunfire support provided by the LCIs.
USAAF B-24s and B-25s bomb Truk, sinking small Japanese vessel No.3 Akebono Maru.
Mediterranean
Submarine chaser PC-621 is damaged by aerial mine, and harbor
tug YT-207 is damaged by near-miss from shore battery off
Anzio.
Indian Ocean
British freighter Samcalia rescues 25 survivors of U.S.
freighter Richard Hovey that had been torpedoed, shelled, and
sunk by Japanese submarine I-26 on 29 March (see 14 April).
Transport Kenmore (AP-162) is damaged by grounding, Nawiliwili, T.H.
Submarine Pollack (SS-180), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks army cargo ship Tosei Maru about 325 miles south of Yokohama, Japan, 30°14'N, 139°44'E.
Japanese submarine I-169 is sunk by accidental flooding during PB4Y bombing of Truk; efforts to save trapped crewmen (the last of whom live until 7 April) prove unsuccessful.
Other Japanese losses include provision ship Sapporo Maru sunk as the result of near-miss of bomb; and army cargo ships Choun Maru and Iwakuni Maru sunk by USAAF B-24 or B-25 aircraft at Rabaul.
5 April, Wed. --
Pacific
Harbor tug YT-247 is swamped, founders and sinks while in tow
of tug Sunnadin (ATO-28) en route from Pearl Harbor to Palmyra,
425 miles south by west of Oahu, 14°14'N, 158°59'W.
PB4Y (VB 109) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 46 off Moen island, Truk, 07°26'N, 151°52'E.
TBMs and FM-2s (VC 66) damage Japanese submarine I-45, 650 miles northeast of Majuro, 14°27'N, 176°37'E.
Japanese army cargo ship Tenryu Maru is sunk by aircraft at Rabaul.
Japanese transport Hsing Yun Maru is sunk by USAAF mine in the Yangtze River near Chinkiang, 32°05'N, 119°56'E.
Mediterranean
Infantry landing craft LCI-34 is damaged by shore battery off
Anzio.
U.S. motor torpedo boats engage German E-boats and a flak ship south of Vada Rocks, sinking one E-boat; flak ship later explodes as the result of gunfire damage. Enemy shore batteries take the motor torpedo boats under fire but inflict no damage.
Submarine Pampanito (SS-383) is damaged by depth charges off the Marianas, 12°46'N, 143°49'E, but remains on patrol.
Submarine Scamp (SS-277) is damaged by bomb from Japanese floatplane off Mindanao, 05°02'N, 126°07'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.
Atlantic
Destroyer Champlin