Submarine Stingray (SS-186) lands supplies at Tawi Tawi, P.I.
U.S. freighter John M. Clayton is damaged by bomb dropped by Japanese plane, and catches fire off Blue Beach, Mindoro; four of the 29-man Armed Guard sailors die of the resultant burns.[1]
USAAF planes sink Japanese ships No.7 Taiko Maru and No.3 Taiwan Maru off Masinloc, P.I.
Japanese cargo vessel Kyokko Maru is sunk by mine (laid by British submarine HMS Tradewind on 30 October 1944), off Mergui, 12°26'N, 98°39'E.
Submarine Aspro (SS-309) damages Japanese landing ship Shinshu Maru south of Formosa Strait, 22°42'N, 119°14'E (see 3 January).
Submarine Becuna (SS-319) sinks Japanese ship Daian Maru east of Madoera Island, 05°50'S, 113°12'E.
USAAF A-20s and P-38s (Fifth Air Force) attack Japanese shipping off San Fernando, Luzon, sinking Coast Defense Vessel No.138, transport Meiryu Maru, army cargo ship Shirokawa Maru, merchant cargo ships Taishin Maru, Hakka Maru, Hishikata Maru and Koryu Maru, 16°37'N, 120°19'E.
Occupation of Fais Island (see 1 January) continues. Occupying force destroys Japanese radio station found there. Interrogation of natives and Japanese prisoners reveals that Fais had never been used to base ships.
Leading groups of U.S. fleet units bound for Lingayen Gulf make daylight passage of Surigao Strait, where they come under attack from Japanese planes. Oiler Cowanesque (AO-79) is damaged by kamikaze, 08°56'N, 122°49'E, motor minesweeper YMS-53 by near-miss of bomb.
USAAF B-25s (13th Air Force) on a shipping sweep off Davao, sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 10, 07°04'N, 125°37'E.
British submarine HMS Shakespeare and Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa.1damage each other in surface gun action east of Nancowry Strait.
Escort carrier Sargent Bay (CVE-83) and destroyer escort Robert F. Keller (DE-419) are damaged in collision during mail delivery exercise, Philippine Islands area.
Motor minesweeper YMS-53 is damaged by near-miss of bomb off Luzon.
Submarine Kingfish (SS-234), attacking Japanese convoy in the Bonins, sinks Japanese army cargo ship Shoto Maru and merchant cargo ships Yaei Maru and Shibazono Maru 200 miles north of Chichi Jima, 30°29'N, 142°03'E.
Atlantic
U.S. freighter Henry Miller, in Hampton Roads-bound convoy GUS 63, is torpedoed and damaged by German submarine U-870 22 miles southwest of Cape Spartel, 35°51'N, 06°24'W; Coast Guard-manned frigate Brunswick (PF-68) takes off most of the crew and armed guard (there are no casualties in either group). The ship, with a reduced crew, reaches Gibraltar under her own power the following day; she is, however, later declared a constructive total loss.
USAAF planes damage Japanese submarine chasers Ch 17, Ch 18, Ch 23, Ch 37, and Ch 38 off San Fernando, Luzon.
Fais Island is formally occupied (see 1 and 3 January).
Japanese army vessel No.15 Horikoshi Maru is sunk by mine off northeast shore of Mukai Jima.
Atlantic
Car float YCF-59, fills with water while in tow of rescue tug ATR-57 while en route from New York to Philadelphia and is beached in Delaware River.
TF 92 (Rear Admiral John L. McCrea), three light cruisers and nine destroyers, bombards Japanese installations (airfield and fish canneries) at Suribachi Wan, Paramushiro, Kurils.
Destroyer escort Edwin A. Howard (DE-346) is damaged in collision with destroyer escort Leland E. Thomas (DE-420) off Mindanao, 09°48'N, 127°15'E.
Minelayer Monadnock (CM-9) is damaged by grounding off Ilin Island Luzon, 12°22'N, 121°01'E.
Submarine Cavalla (SS-244) sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayers Kanko Maru and Shunsen Maru in Java Sea, 05°00'S, 112°16'E.
Destroyer escort Brackett (DE-41) shells Japanese installations on Taroa, Marshalls.
PB4Y-1s (VPB 111) sink Japanese midget submarine Ha.71 two miles southwest of Chichi Jima.
Kamikazes attack minesweeping group, sinking high speed minesweeper Long (DMS-12), 16°12'N, 120°11'E, and damaging high speed minesweeper Southard (DMS-10), 16°11'N, 126°16'E, and high speed transport Brooks (APD-10), 16°20'N, 120°10'E. Destroyer Walke (DD-723), on detached duty covering the minesweeping operations, 16°40'N, 120°10'E, is attacked by four enemy aircraft; one crashes the ship's bridge, drenching it with burning gasoline and mortally wounding Walke's commanding officer, Commander George F. Davis. Davis nevertheless remains at his post, conning his ship amidst the wreckage and rallying his crew. Carried below only when assured that his ship would survive, he dies of his wounds within hours. He is subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
As a consequence of the kamikaze attacks, TF 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) shifts its focus from Formosa to begin operations against Japanese airfields and shipping in Luzon area. In South China Sea off northern Luzon, Navy carrier-based planes sink army cargo ship Kyodo Maru and merchant tankers No.1 Nanko Maru and 8 Iyasaka Maru and 6 Kyoei Maru and 10 Nanshin Maru and 10 Kyoei Maru and No.3 Kyoei Maru.
Submarine Besugo (SS-321) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Nichei Maru in Gulf of Thailand 06°45'N, 102°55'E. Coast Defense Ship No.17 carries out ineffective countermeasures.
Submarine Sea Robin (SS-407) attacks Japanese convoy, and sinks fleet tanker Tarakan Maru east of Hainan Island 19°45'N, 111°25'E.
USAAF aircraft sink auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 64 off Poulo Condore Island 08°55'N, 106°30'E, and merchant tanker No.3 Iyasaka Maru off Cape St. Jacques, French Indochina.
Mediterranean
U.S. freighter Isaac Shelby is damaged by mine when she straggles from Naples-bound convoy NV 90; fortunately, there are no casualties to either the merchant complement or the 12-man Armed Guard. The ship, however, is later declared a total loss.
Destroyers Charles Ausburne (DD-570), Braine (DD-630), Russell (DD-414), and Shaw (DD-373) sink Japanese destroyer Hinoki, 50 miles west-southwest of Manila Bay, 14°30'N, 119°30'E.
Submarine Picuda (SS-382) damages Japanese army tanker Munakata Maru 28 miles northwest of Fukikaku, Formosa, 25°42'N, 121°08'E. Munakata Maru puts in to Keelung for repairs (see 21 January).
Submarine Spot (SS-413) sinks Japanese guardboat No.2 Nichiei Maru in the Inland Sea, 31°20'N, 123°40'E.
USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force), attacking Japanese convoy in the South China Sea, sink stores ship Shinsei Maru in Formosa Strait, 22°40'N, 118°45'E.
Infantry landing craft (gunboat) LCI(G)-404 is damaged by suicide swimmers, Yoo Passage, Palaus.
Submarine Balao (SS-285) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Daigo Maru southwest of Korea, 34°28'N, 122°39'E.
Coordinated submarine attack group, TG 17.21 (Commander Charles E. Loughlin) attacks Japanese convoy off northwest coast of Formosa. Barb (SS-220) sinks merchant cargo ships Anyo Maru, 24°34'N, 120°37'E, and Shinyo Maru, 24°55'N, 120°26'E (which explodes violently, forcing Barb deep and tearing off deck gratings); and merchant tanker Sanyo Maru, 24°37'N, 120°31'E, and damages army cargo ship Meiho Maru, 24°25'N, 120°29'E; Picuda (SS-382) damages cargo ship Rashin Maru, 24°41'N, 120°40'E; and Queenfish (SS-393) damages tanker Manju Maru, 24°25'N, 120°28'E. In the confusion generated by TG 17.21's attack, merchant tanker Hikoshima Maru runs aground in Tungshiao Bay.
Submarine Piranha (SS-389) damages auxiliary netlayer No.2 Shinto Maru in the Nansei Shoto, 29°55'N, 130°05'E.
Japanese ship No.22 Seikai Maru is sunk by mine off Haha Jima.
Cargo ship Malay Maru is damaged by mine (laid by British submarine HMS Stoic on 3 June 1944) off west coast of Malaya, 05°57'N, 100°14'E.
Europe
U.S. freighter Blenheim is damaged by explosion of German rocket bomb at Antwerp, Belgium; Armed Guard quarters are wrecked and there are 20 casualties among the 44 merchant sailors, 25 Armed Guard and one passenger on board at the time.
TF 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) supports the landings at Lingayen Gulf with attacks on Japanese airfields and shipping in the Formosa, Ryukyus, and Pescadores Islands areas. Off Formosa, TF 38 planes sink Coast Defense Vessel No.3 north of Keelung, 27°10'N, 121°45'E; submarine chaser Ch 61, 22°40'N, 120°04'E; and fleet tanker Kuroshio Maru, merchant tanker Kaiho Maru, and cargo ship Fukuyama Maru south of Formosa; and small cargo vessel No.21 Ume Maru off Keelung; cargo ship Hisagawa Maru, 23°04'N, 119°51'E. They damage escort vessel Yashiro, oiler Kamoi, and escort destroyer Miyake and cargo ship Tainan Maru off Takao; Coast Defense Vessel No.9, Coast Defense Vessel No.13, and Coast Defense Vessel No.60 off Saei; auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 161 in Formosa Strait; minesweeper W.102 and auxiliary submarine chaser No.22 Nitto Maru off Keelung; and auxiliary submarine chaser Kinsui Maru north of Formosa.
Japanese merchant tanker Hikoshima Maru sinks as the result of damage inflicted by submarine Barb (SS-220) and beaching the previous day, 24°37'N, 120°31'E.
Dutch submarine HNMS O 19 sinks gunboat No.1 Shinko Maru off Tandjung Puting, Borneo, Banten Bay, 03°41'S, 111°57'E.
Other Japanese shipping casualties include merchant tanker No.4 Nanshin Maru sunk by aircraft off northwest tip of Luzon; merchant cargo ship No.9 Hokoku Maru is sunk by aircraft off Ishigaki Jima; auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 216 damaged by aircraft off Paishatun.
Atlantic
U.S. freighter Jonas Lie, in New York-bound convoy ON 277, is torpedoed by German submarine U-1055 at the entrance to the Bristol Channel, 51°43'N, 05°25'W. The ship, abandoned, later sinks on 14 January.
Off west coast of Luzon, high speed transport Clemson (APD-31) and battleship Pennsylvania (BB-38) are damaged in collision, 16°20'N, 120°10'E. Clemson is also accidentally rammed the same day by attack transport Latimer (APA-152), 16°20'N, 120°10'E; oiler Guadalupe (AO-32) is damaged in collision with Nantahala (AO-60), 20°06'N, 121°34'E; tank landing ship LST-567 is damaged in collision with LST-610, 16°20'N, 120°10'E.
Submarine Puffer (SS-268) sinks Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.42 and damages Coast Defense Vessel No.30 in the East China Sea, 26°45'N, 126°11'E.
Merchant vessel No.2 Seikai Maru is damaged by aircraft off Mukai Jima.
Pacific
Off Luzon, high speed transport Belknap (APD-34) is damaged by kamikaze, 16°20'N, 120°10'E; tank landing ships LST-270 and LST-918 are damaged by shore battery, 16°20'N, 120°10'E; and tank landing ship LST-700 is damaged by friendly fire, 16°43'N, 119°58'E.
U.S. destroyer gunfire sinks Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa.10, south of Vigan, 17°20'N, 120°00'E. Auxiliary minesweeper No.56 Banshu Maru and auxiliary submarine submarine chaser Hakuyo Maru are scuttled as blockships at south entrance of Manila Bay, Luzon.
During hunter-killer operations near Yap, destroyer Evans (DD-552) and destroyer escort McCoy Reynolds (DE-440) bombard Japanese defenses; they repeat the operation the following day.
Destroyer escort Brackett (DE-41) extracts party of Marshallese scouts from Jaluit, where they had been landed on 9 January to determine the condition of the garrison there.
Japanese submarines commence operation KONGO, employing suicide torpedoes [kaitens]; I 36 launches kaitens that damage ammunition ship Mazama (AE-9) and infantrylanding craft LCI-600 at Ulithi (see 12, 20 and 23 January).
Japanese merchant cargo ship Kinsei Maru is sunk by marine casualty in Osaka Bay, Japan.
Other Japanese casualties include Coast Defense Vessel No.2 damaged by aircraft (location unspecified); and auxiliary vessel Keishu Maru damaged by aircraft off Longhai.
Off the west coast of Luzon, kamikazes damage destroyer escorts Richard W. Suesens (DE-342) and Gilligan (DE-508), 16°20'N, 120°10'E; attack transport Zeilin (APA-3), 15°23'N, 119°25'E; and tank landing ship LST-700, 14°04'N, 119°25'E; suicide pilots target U.S. merchant ships, damaging freighters Elmira Victory (there are no casualties to either the merchant complement or the 27- man Armed Guard) 16°11'N, 120°20'E (friendly fire also accounts for damage to the ship); Otis Skinner, on board which Armed Guard sailors contribute to fire- fighting efforts, 14°42'N, 119°35'E; Edward M. Wescott off the west coast of Luzon (10 of the 25-man Armed Guards are wounded by flying debris); Kyle V. Johnson, (on board which 129 of 506 Army troops, being transported, die) at 15°12'N, 119°30'E; and David Dudley Field at Subic Bay (Armed Guard gunfire deflects the kamikaze so that it only strikes the ship a glancing blow). Friendly fire accounts for damage to high speed transport Sands (APD-13) and tank landing ships LST-710 and LST-778, 15°00'N, 119°30'E.
Operation KONGO continues; submarine I 47 launches kaitens that damage U.S. freighter Pontus H. Ross off Hollandia, New Guinea, 02°33'S, 140°06'W; there are no casualties among the merchant sailors or the 27-man Armed Guard. Efforts by submarines I 53 at Kossol Roads, Palau; I 56 at Manus, in the Admiralties; and by I 58 at Apra Harbor, Guam, are not unsuccessful (see 20 and 23 January).
Destroyer escort Fleming (DE-32) sinks Japanese submarine I 362 320 miles north-northeast of Truk, 12°08'N, 154°27'E.
Open lighter YC-912 founders in heavy weather, North Pacific Ocean.
Mediterranean
Ex-USAAF aircraft rescue boat P 584, under administrative control of Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and manned by a navy crew, is destroyed by explosion at Leghorn, Italy, injuring 11 sailors.
Motor torpedo boat PT-73, damaged by grounding, 13°50'N, 120°10'E, is beached and abandoned.
Army freight supply vessel FS 41 breaks loose from her moorings at Amchitka, Alaska, in heavy weather, and demolishes 300 feet of an Army dock; fleet tug Sarsi (ATF-111) is sent from Adak to go to the ship's assistance.
USAAF P-51s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese army cargo ship Akatsuki Maru in the Yangtze between Wuhu and Kiukiang, 29°00'N, 116°00'E.
Atlantic
U.S. freighter Martin Van Buren, in Nova Scotia-bound convoy BV 141, is torpedoed by German submarine U-1232 at 44°27'N, 63°26'W; 3 of the 27-man Armed Guard (members of a 5-inch gun crew) perish when blown overboard. Despite salvage efforts, the ship subsequently drifts ashore and is written off as a total loss.
Europe
U.S. freighter Michael de Kovats is damaged by explosion of German V-2 rocket bomb at Antwerp, Belgium; none of the 27-man Armed Guard are casualties.
Escort carrier Hoggatt Bay (CVE-75) is damaged by accidental explosion of bombs as aircraft (VC 88) lands on board as the ship operates off west coast of Luzon, 17°01'N, 119°20'E.
TF 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) attacks Japanese shipping and aircraft off Formosa and the China coast. Carrier planes sink destroyer Hatakaze and fast transport T.14 at 22°37'N, 120°15'E; fleet tanker Mirii Maru and army cargo ship Enoshima Maru off Takao; destroyer Tsuga off Mako, 23°33'N, 119°33'E; and damage auxiliary minelayer Maroshima off Formosa and army cargo ships Beiju Maru and Yoshun Maru off Keelung.
TF 38 planes sink Japanese salvage ship Horei Maru, San Fernando, Luzon.
Japanese auxiliary minesweeper No.1 Kyo Maru is sunk by mine (laid by British submarine HMS Porpoise on 9 January), south of Penang, Malaya, 05°18'N, 100°20'E;
Japanese merchant cargo ship No.5 Kujyo Maru is sunk by aircraft southwest of Paramushiro Island Kurils.
Japanese river gunboat Narumi is damaged by USAAF aircraft near Hankow, China.
Destroyer Swanson (DD-443) bombards Rota Island; she repeats the operation the following day.
Mediterranean
Destroyers Boyle (DD-600) and McLanahan (DD-615) support British and American light craft, including U.S. motor torpedo boats, in a night interdiction operation aimed at enemy coastwise shipping.
RAF Spitfire sights one large and one small enemy destroyer west of Portofino, Italy; PT-313 and British MTB 378 engage a southbound convoy of five flak lighters, sinking one and damaging another. The presence of the destroyers, however, results in the operation being discontinued.
Atlantic
Destroyer escorts Otter (DE-210), Hubbard (DE-211), Hayter (DE-212), and Varian (DE-798) sink German submarine U-248 at 47°43'N, 26°37'W.
U.S. freighter Marina is damaged by mine outside of swept channel to Le Havre, France; there are no casualties.
Mediterranean
Non-rigid airship ZPNK 123 is accidentally deflated at Port Lyautey, French Morocco; the envelope is damaged beyond repair.
Submarine Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese fast transport T.15 off southern Kyushu, 31°09'N, 130°29'E.
British submarine HMS Stygian sinks small Japanese cargo vessel Nichinan Maru off Perak, 05°42'N, 98°57'E.
Japanese cargo ship Minka Maru is sunk by mine on Yangtze, above Kiukiang, China.
Mediterranean
Tank landing ship LST-906, which had been aground at Leghorn, Italy, since 18 October 1944, is refloated.
Tank landing ship LST-219 is damaged by grounding off west coast of Luzon, 16°10'N, 120°22'E;
Tank landing ship LST-752 is damaged in collision off Leyte, 11°11'N, 125°05'E.
Infantry landing craft (gunboat) LCI(G)-396 is damaged by mine, Palaus.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Reizan Maru (previously damaged on 31 August 1944 by 14th Air Force planes) is sunk by mine in upper Yangtze.
British submarine HMS Supreme damages Japanese auxiliary netlayer Agata Maru south of Ross Island Andaman Islands.
Europe
Hungary surrenders to the allies.
Naval Technical Mission in Europe (Commodore Henry A. Schade) is established with headquarters in Paris, France.
Pacific
Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) lands supplies on south coast of Mindanao, P.I.
Submarine Spot (SS-413) sinks Japanese merchant fishing boat Tokiwa Maru, 34°45'N, 124°10'E.
Submarine Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese torpedo recovery vessel Shuri Maru at southern end of Tsushima Strait, 33°37'N, 128°40'E.
Operation KONGO concludes with Japanese submarine I 48 carrying out unsuccessful Kaiten attack on U.S. shipping at Ulithi (see 23 January).
TF 38 planes sink fleet tankers Eiho Maru and Manjo Maru; cargo ship Kuroshio Maru; army cargo ships Enoura Maru, Asaka Maru and 2 Nichiyo Maru and Teifu Maru; army tankers Shincho Maru and 3 Hoei Maru and 5 Hoei Maru, and Yamazawa Maru; fishing boat Brunei Maru; cargo vessels Daijo Maru and Yayoi Maru; and damage destroyers Kashi and Sugi, landing ships T.114 and T.143, merchant cargo ship Yulin Maru and water supply vessel Nikko Maru off Takao, Formosa; planes from carrier Yorktown (CV-10) and small carrier Cabot (CVL-28) sink merchant tanker Munakata Maru at Keelung; TF 38 planes damage destroyer Harukaze off Mako.
USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese salvage vessel Haruta Maru at Hong Kong, 22°20'N, 114°10'E.
Submarine Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Zuiun Maru, 33°33'N, 129°33'E;
Japanese army cargo ship Shoshin Maru is sunk by gunfire, 23°48'N, 125°16'E.
Landing craft LCT-253 founders and sinks in heavy weather en route to Tarawa.
Atlantic
U.S. freighter George Hawley, in convoy TBC 43, is torpedoed and irreparably damaged by German submarine U-1199 off the Isle of Wight, 49°53'N, 05°44'W.
Japanese submarine chaser Ch 42 is damaged by mine off Chichi Jima.
Japanese river gunboat Saga is sunk by aircraft at Hong Kong.
British submarine HMS Spirit sinks Japanese ship Ryushin Maru in Java Sea, 06°02'S, 110°41'E.
Pacific
Destroyer escort Conklin (DE-439), supported by sisterships Corbesier (DE-438) and Raby (DE-698) sinks Japanese submarine I 48 (fresh from her unsuccessful kaiten mission to Ulithi), 25 miles off Yap, 09°45'N, 138°20'E.
Submarine Barb (SS-220) enters Namkwan harbor, China, and despite her claim that she sinks three ships, "probably" sinks a fourth, and damages two more, she actually destroys only a single vessel, merchant cargo ship Taikyo Maru, 27°04'N, 120°27'E.
Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) delivers supplies to east coast of Mindanao.
Submarine Sennet (SS-408) sinks Japanese guardboat No.7 Kainan Maru in Hangchow Bay, China, 30°00'N, 120°16'E.
Mines laid by RAF Liberators the previous day sink Japanese merchant tanker No.1 Hozan Maru and cargo ship Nikkaku Maru south of Sembilan Island Sumatra, 04°08'N, 98°15'E.
Navy land-based planes flying from the Philippines bomb Japanese shipping at Keelung, Formosa, sinking merchant cargo ship Beiju Maru and damaging cargo ship Taizatsu Maru, 25°09'N, 121°45'E.
Dock landing ship Shadwell (LSD-15) is damaged by aerial torpedo, P.I., 09°01'N, 123°45'E.
Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Shunyo Maru is sunk by aircraft off Corregidor.
Submarine Atule (SS-403) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship No.1 Taiman Maru in the central Yellow Sea, 36°47'N, 123°59'E.
Submarine Blackfin (SS-322) sinks Japanese destroyer Shigure 160 miles east of Khota Baru, Malaya, 06°00'N, 103°48'E, and teams with Besugo (SS-321) to damage merchant tanker Sarawak Maru off east coast of Malay Peninsula, 06°00'N, 103°45'E (see 19 March).
Submarine Guardfish (SS-217) mistakenly sinks salvage vessel Extractor (ARS-15) in Philippine Sea, 15°44'N, 133°29'E.
Europe
German planes bomb Antwerp, Belgium, damaging U.S. freighter Alcoa Banner; she is later written off as a total loss.
Submarine Silversides (SS-236), despite presence of auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 90 and Cha 168, sinks Japanese army cargo ship Malay Maru, 31°18'N, 130°08'E.
Mediterranean
Destroyer McLanahan (DD-615) shells German command post and then silences shore battery on the Italian Riviera.
Submarine Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese merchant sail fishing boat No.11 Naga Maru, 30°00'N, 136°20'E.
Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Hakko Maru is sunk by aircraft off Corregidor;
Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.13 Kyo Maru is sunk by mine off Bengeri Point.
Japanese merchant cargo ship No.1 Tamon Maru is sunk by mine [laid by submarine Dace (SS-247) on 16 December 1944] off Gambir Island French Indochina, 13°36'N, 109°18'E.
Submarine Bergall (SS-320) sinks Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa.102 in Lombok Strait, 08°34'S, 115°50'E.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Ryuzan Maru is sunk by USAAF mine off Hankow, China, 29°46'N, 116°52'E; cargo ship Hsin Yang Maru is sunk by USAAF mine (laid by 14th Air Force B-24 on 19 January ) off Kiukiang, China, 29°55'N, 115°20'E.
Japanese transport Nagatsu Maru is damaged by mine off Chichi Jima.
Atlantic
U.S. freighter Ruben Dario is torpedoed and damaged by German submarine, most likely U-852, off Saint George's Channel, 52°27'N, 05°21'W. There are no casualties among the 27-man Armed Guard.
Landing craft repair ship Amycus (ARL-2) and medium landing ship LSM-135 are damaged when accidentally bombed by SBD, Lingayen Gulf, 16°20'N, 120°10'E.
Cargo ship Serpens (AK-97) is sunk by explosion of undetermined origin off Guadalcanal; the blast damages submarine chasers PC-588, SC-1039, and SC-1266; motor minesweeper YMS-281; and district patrol craft YP-514.
Destroyer Lardner (DD-487) is damaged when she runs aground off Ngesebus Island Palau.
Submarine Picuda (SS-382) attacks Japanese convoy in Formosa Strait, sinking army cargo ship Clyde Maru about 50 miles northwest of Keelung, 25°20'N, 121°06'E.
USAAF B-25s sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.10 Takunan Maru off Chichi Jima, 27°45'N, 142°00'E.
Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.47 is damaged by aircraft, 20°45'N, 142°00'E.
Destroyer Burns (DD-588) sinks Japanese guardboat No.2 Hokoku Maru off Ojae, 08°42'N, 167°44'E.
Submarine Bergall (SS-320) damages Japanese storeship Arasaki, 08°26'S, 115°40'E.
Submarine Threadfin (SS-410) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship I ssei Maru off southern Honshu, 33°30'N, 135°34'E, but although damaged by depth charges fromescorts, 33°20'N, 135°30'E, remains on patrol.
British submarine HMS Tantalus sinks Japanese fishing boat No.12 Taisei Maru in northern approaches to Bangka Strait, 01°26'S, 105°01'E.
Submarine Boarfish (SS-327) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Enki Maru 50 miles southeast of Tourane, French Indochina, 14°55'N, 109°01'E, and damages cargo ship Taietsu Maru, which is run aground (see 1 February) 14°56'N, 109°00'E.
Submarine Pargo (SS-264) damages Japanese escort vessel Manju, 11°51'N, 109°12'E.
Submarine Spadefish (SS-411) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese ship Nanshin Maru in Yellow Sea west of Ch'uja Kundo, Korea, 34°14'N, 122°36'E.
Motor torpedo boat PT-338, irreparably damaged by grounding (see 27 January) is destroyed by demolition squad off Semimara Island Luzon, 12°06'N, 121°23'E.
USAAF B-25s (Far Eastern Air Force) sink Japanese escort destroyer Ume and damage destroyer Shiokaze and escort destroyer Kaede west of Takao, Formosa, 22°30'N, 12°00'E.
Japanese small cargo vessel No.4 Kiri Maru is sunk by mine off Cape Tavoy, Burma, 13°32'N, 98°10'E.
USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force), directed to the scene by Boarfish (SS-327), complete the destruction of grounded Japanese cargo ship Taietsu Maru (damaged by Boarfish and run aground the previous day), off the coast of French Indochina, 14°56'N, 109°00'E.
Motor torpedo boats PT-77 and PT-79 are damaged by friendly fire west of Mindoro, 13°55'N, 120°36'E.
USAAF P-51s sink Japanese landing ship T.115 in Luzon Straits, 20°00'N, 121°00'E, and damage escorting submarine chaser Ch 28.
Japanese netlayer No.16 Nissho Maru is sunk by mine west northwest of Mokpo, Korea, 35°00'N, 125°00'E.
USAAF B-29s (20th Bomber Command) bomb Japanese shipping and harbor facilities at Singapore, damaging oiler Shiretoko, 01°20'N, 103°50'E.
British submarine HMS Spark sinks Japanese towboat No.203 Katsura Maru and damages motor sailboats Nanyo Maru, Nampo Maru and No.80 Tachibana Maru off Jabara, 06°41'S, 110°32'E.
Japanese tanker No.26 Nanshin Maru is sunk by mine, 30°05'N, 135°15'E.
Submarine Hardhead (SS-365) sinks Japanese merchant tanker No.19 Nanshin Maru, 05°40'N, 103°17'E.
USAAF B-24 attacks Japanese tanker Yashima Maru and forces her aground, damaged, off Flores Island.
Japanese merchant tanker No.3 Kinyu Maru is sunk by aircraft off Phantiet, French Indochina.
Japanese river gunboat Karatsu [ex-Luzon (PR-7)] is scuttled as blockship at Manila.
Minesweeper W.102 (ex-HMS Waglan) is damaged (cause unspecified) north of Haitan Island 25°40'N, 119°50'E.
Merchant tanker No.3 Nanryu Maru is sunk by aircraft off Takao, Formosa.
Pacific
Submarine Barbel (SS-316) is sunk by Japanese naval aircraft in South China Sea, between Borneo and Palawan, 07°49.5'N, 116°47.5'E.3
Submarine Pargo (SS-264) bombards Woody Island east of Tourane, French Indochina, destroying Japanese weather station and radio equipment, administration building, a jetty, and several fishing boats.
Submarine Spadefish (SS-411) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Tairai Maru in the Yellow Sea off the west coast of Korea, 37°18'N, 125°22'E.
Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.6 is damaged by marine casualty; and minesweeper W.29 is damaged by mine off Chichi Jima.
Mediterranean
Motor torpedo boats PT-308 and PT-313, on a routine patrol from Leghorn, Italy, sight two south-bound KT ships and one escort and engage them a half mile northwest of the swept channel off Portovenere, claiming at least one KT ship sunk.
Submarine Spadefish (SS-411) sinks Japanese merchant passenger/cargo ship Shohei Maru off Port Arthur, Korea, 38°46'N, 121°28'E.
Navy PB4Ys attack Japanese convoy in the Sakishima- Okinawa area, sinking small cargo ship No.77 Ume Maru.
USAAF planes sink Japanese cargo ship No.3 Kinyu Maru at 12°50'N, 109°23'E.
Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.12 is damaged by aircraft, 36 miles northwest of Chichi Jima.
Japanese tanker Obi Maru is sunk by mine laid by USAAF B-29 (20th Bomber Command) on 25 January in Johore Strait, 01°09'N, 103°36'E.
Japanese battleship/carrier Ise is damaged by mine, Singapore.
Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter Peter Silvester is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-862 in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Australia, 34°19'S, 99°37'E; 7 of the 26-man Armed Guard perish with the ship.
Europe
U.S. freighter Henry B. Plant, in Antwerp-bound convoy TAM 71, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-245 at 51°19'24"N, 01°42'30"W; 7 of the 28-man Armed Guard perish in the abandonment. British minesweeper HMS Hazard and HM Trawler Sir Lancelot rescue survivors.
Destroyer escort Thomason (DE-203) sinks Japanese submarine RO 55 off Iba, Luzon, 15°27'N, 119°25'E.
Submarine Bergall (SS-320), attacking Japanese convoy off east coast of French Indochina, sinks Coast Defense Vessel No.53 and damages merchant tanker Toho Maru near Cam Ranh Bay, 11°56'N, 109°18'E.
Submarine Guavina (SS-362), attacking a Japanese convoy, sinks merchant tanker Taigyo Maru 250 miles south of Saigon, French Indochina, 06°45'N, 106°00'E.
Submarine Parche (SS-384) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Okinoyama Maru, 29°09'N, 129°45'E.
Submarine Ronquil (SS-396) damages Japanese army cargo ship Kuretake Maru, 31°46'N, 140°17'E.
British submarine HMS Subtle sinks small Japanese cargo vessel Nanei Maru, 07°28'N, 94°56'E.
Mediterranean
Motor torpedo boats PT-303 and PT-304, and British MTB 422, patrolling from Golfe Juan, France, engage southbound enemy convoy off Savona, Italy, sinking at least two vessels.
Motor torpedo boat PT-308, in company with two British motor torpedo boats, operating from Leghorn, Italy, attack three northbound flak lighters off Point Moneglia. The MTBs draw fire while PT-308 scores damage on one flak lighter. A second allied attack is unsuccessful.
Pacific
TF 92 (Rear Admiral John F. McCrea), comprising three light cruisers and seven destroyers, sorties from Attu, bound for Matsuwa Island.
Submarine Pampanito (SS-383) attacks Japanese convoy in Gulf of Siam, sinking gunboat Eifuku Maru off Cape Camau, French Indochina, 07°05'N, 104°50'E.
Japanese landing ship T.143 is run aground and abandoned southeast of the Pescadores Islands, 23°30'N, 119°40'E.
PV-1 sinks small Japanese cargo vessel No.177 Nanshin Maru in Flores Sea west of Maumere.
Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.61 is damaged by mine [laid by submarine Ray (SS-271) on 22 February 1944°], 10 miles off Cape St. Jacques, French Indochina,10°10'N, 106°55'E.4
Indian Ocean
U.S. freighter Cape Edmont rescues one boatload of survivors from sunken freighter Peter Silvester, sunk on 6 February by German submarine U-862 (see 27 February).
Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.33 and escort destroyer Mikura are damaged in collision in Formosa Straits, 23°51'N, 117°52'E.
Pacific
TF 92 (Rear Admiral John F. McCrea), comprising three light cruisers and seven destroyers, arrives off Matsuwa Island Kurils, to conduct bombardment, but encounters heavy weather that would make high-speed retirement impossible; the operation is accordingly cancelled and the ships return to Attu on 14 February.
Marianas-based USAAF B-29s carry out extended search missions to look for Japanese guardboats in the path of TF 58 as it steams toward Japan, augmented by Tinian- based PB4Ys and planes from the carriers. These searches will be repeated on 12 and 14 February.
Tank landing ship LST-577, torpedoed by Japanese submarine RO 50 while in a reinforcement convoy proceeding from Hollandia to Leyte, 08°05'N, 126°17'E, is scuttled by destroyer Isherwood (DD-520). RO 50 is damaged by gunfire in the encounter with U.S. ships.
Fleet tug Takelma (ATF-113) is damaged by collision east of Leyte, P.I., 10°50'N, 125°25'E.
Submarine Batfish (SS-310) sinks Japanese submarine RO 112 off Camiguin, P.I., 18°53'N, 121°50'E.
Submarine Burrfish (SS-312) is damaged by depth charges and aerial bombs off Bonins, 27°51'N, 141°55'N, but remains on patrol.
Japanese escort destroyer Miyake is damaged by aircraft, 19°08'N, 108°15'E.
Japanese fast transport T.13 is damaged by aircraft, Bonins.
USAAF aircraft sink Japanese cargo vessel Shoto Maru, Saigon, French Indochina.
Mediterranean
Destroyer McLanahan (DD-615), while withdrawing from bombardment mission off Italian Riviera, is damaged by near-misses from German shore battery at San Remo, Gulf of Genoa.
Japanese merchant ship Shinko Maru is sunk by aircraft, 26°57'N, 120°25'E.
Pacific
Although submarine Sennet (SS-408) is damaged by gunfire of Japanese guardboat [No.8 Kotoshiro Maru or No.3 Showa Maru], south of Japan, she administers the coup de grace to No.8 Kotoshiro Maru after the enemy patrol craft had already been damaged by Lagarto (SS-371) and Haddock (SS-231), 30°00'N, 136°30'E. Haddock then sinks No.3 Showa Maru, which had already been damaged by Lagarto and Sennet, 30°00'N, 136°30'E.
Submarine Batfish (SS-310) sinks Japanese submarine RO 113 off Babuyan Islands, P.I., 19°10'N, 121°23'E.
RAAF Liberator sinks Japanese motor sailship No.24 Sakura Maru in Lesser Sundas.
Japanese shore batteries also sink support landing craft LCS-26 and LCS-49 off Luzon.
Mines damage destroyers Radford (DD-446) and LaVallette (DD-448) as they support the sweeping of a channel into Mariveles harbor, 14°25'N, 120°30'E.
Destroyer Halford (DD-480) is damaged in collision with U.S. merchant vessel H.E. Stephenson.
Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.9 in Yellow Sea, 34°48'N, 125°28'E.
Submarines Haddock (SS-231), Lagarto (SS-371), and Sennet (SS-408) damage Japanese guardboat No.3 Kanno Maru south of Japan, 29°50'N, 135°31'E.
Submarine Hawkbill (SS-366) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 4 and Cha 114 (ex-Dutch B-1 class patrol boat) in Java Sea, 08°28'S, 115°45'E.
Japanese army cargo ship No.1 Yamanami Maru is sunk by mine west of Kyushu; hospital ship Hikawa Maru is damaged by mine in Singapore Strait.
Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Tatsui Maru is damaged by aircraft, 27°35'N, 121°16'E.
Arctic Convoys
U.S. freighter Horace Gray is torpedoed by German submarine U-711 at the entrance to Kola Inlet, 69°21'N, 33°43'W. Beached the following day, Horace Gray will subsequently be determined a total loss. There are no casualties to either the merchant complement or the 28- man Armed Guard.
TF 58 planes sink Japanese guardboats No.3 Choyo Maru and No.2 Santoku Maru off southern Japan, 30°00''N, 141°00'E, and 30°00'N, 143°00'E, respectively.
Aircraft damage Japanese fast transport T.16 off Iwo Jima.
Japanese auxiliary minesweeper No.3 Taihei Maru is damaged by aircraft off Yonaguni Island.
Fire support vessels and carrier-based aircraft begin three-day prelanding bombardment and bombing of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands. Destroyers Ingraham (DD-694) and Barton (DD-722) are damaged in collision off Iwo, 31°45'N, 141°54'E.
TF 92 (Rear Admiral John L. McCrea) bombards Japanese installations at Kurabu Zaki, Paramushiro, Kurils.
Army forces, preceded by naval bombardment and attack by army aircraft, land on Corregidor, Luzon; 503d Parachute Infantry are air-dropped onto the main plateau while the 3d Battalion, 24th RCT is lifted to the island in navy medium landing craft (LCM). Support landing craft (large) [LCS(L)] and infantry landing craft (rocket) [LCI(R)] provide covering fire close-in. Motor torpedo boats also support the operation, at one point rescuing stranded army paratroopers. Submarine chaser PC-1119 is damaged by shore battery, off Luzon, 14°23'N, 120°35'E.
Special gunfire support unit of six destroyers (Captain Robert W. Cavenaugh) is formed to provide naval gunfire support for the conquest of Corregidor. Between 16 and 28 February, this unit will deliver pin-point fire that proves a considerable help to the final elimination of Japanese troops on the island.
Support landing craft LCS(L)-7 is sunk by Japanese assault demolition boats off entrance to Mariveles harbor.
Submarine Sennet (SS-408) sinks Japanese minelayer Naryu southeast of Honshu, 32°10'N, 135°54'E, but is damaged by depth bombs from enemy aircraft.
Oiler Patuxent (AO-44) is damaged by internal explosion from gasoline vapors.
Coast Guard lighthouse tender Bramble (WAGL-392) is damaged by grounding on Lockwood Rock, Wrangell Narrows, Aleutians (see 17 February).
Japanese army cargo ship No.23 Ryoyu Maru is sunk by aircraft, 14°36'N, 109°06'E.
PB4Y-1 (VPB-117) sinks Japanese army cargo ship I ida Maru in Cape St. Jacques harbor, French Indochina, 10°20'N, 107°06'E.; Japanese merchant cargo ships sunk on this date: No.3 Seikai Maru, by aircraft, Central Pacific (exact location unspecified); Kaian No.10, by aircraft, Yangtze River, Wuhu, China; and No.2 Nagaoka Maru, by aircraft, off Hachijo Jima. Japanese naval vessels damaged on this date: Coast Defense Vessel No.47, by aircraft, Yokohama, Japan; escort destroyer Amakusa, by aircraft, east of Izu Oshima; auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 211, Cha 225, and Cha 236, by aircraft, Shimoda, Japan; and auxiliary minesweeper Hagoromo Maru, by aircraft, 10 miles south of Miyake Jima. USAAF B-24 damages small Japanese cargo vessel No.23 Yoshitomo Maru off Qui Nhon, French Indochina.
USAAF P-51s sink Japanese auxiliary powered sailing vessel Minsui Maru in Yangtze between Wuhu and Hankow.
Mediterranean
Motor torpedo boat PT-303 and two British motor torpedo boats, operating out of Leghorn, Italy, engage two southbound enemy barges off Vernazza with doubtful results.
Atlantic
Destroyer Edison (DD-439) is damaged when accidentally rammed by British merchant tanker Benedick in New York harbor.
Light cruisers Phoenix (CL-46) and Boise (CL-47), along with three destroyers, provide call-fire support for continuing operations on Corregidor. Light cruiser Cleveland (CL-55) and destroyers O'Bannon (DD-450) and Taylor (DD-468) bombard the Ternate area, south shore of Manila Bay. Fleet tug Hidatsa (ATF-102) is damaged by mine in Mariveles harbor, Luzon, 14°25'N, 120°30'E.
Destroyer Haynesworth (DD-700) sinks Japanese guardboat No.36 Nanshin Maru southwest of Mikimoto light and auxiliary submarine chaser Wafu Maru off Omaezaki Light.
Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) sinks Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.56 five miles east of Mikura Jima, central Honshu, 33°53'N, 139°43'E. Bowfin and aircraft sink guardboat No.26 Nanshin Maru southwest of Mikimoto light, 30°05'N, 135°15'E.
British submarine HMS Statesman attacks Japanese convoy off Ujong Tamiang, 04°26'N, 98°16E, sinking motor sailships No.3 Matsujima Maru and 19 Nippon Maru and 17 Nanyo Maru and No. 14 Nippon Maru.
Minesweeper Champion (AM-314) is damaged by horizontal bomber, 26°00'N, 128°00'E.
Coast Guard cutter Atalanta (WPC-102), en route to assist lighthouse tender Bramble (WAGL-389) (damaged by grounding the previous day) collides with and damages mail boat Neptune near Steamer Point Light, Aleutians. District patrol craft YP-251 escorts the damaged Neptune to Naval Section Base, Ketchikan, while Atalanta, undamaged, continues on her mission.
District patrol craft YP-94, returning from landing supplies on Chirikof Island runs aground at the southern end of Tugidak and Sitkinak Islands; rescue tug ATR-68 is dispatched from Kodiak, Alaska, to render assistance, while air-sea rescue coordination succeeds in rescuing all hands (see 23 February ).
USAAF B-24s (5th Air Force), on an antishipping sweep over the South China Sea, sink Japanese landing ship T.114 off southern coast of Formosa, 23°04'N, 120°30'E.
Japanese army cargo vessel Yamashio Maru is sunk by aircraft, Yokohama harbor.
Japanese merchant tanker No.28 Nanshin Maru is sunk by aircraft, 30°00'N, 138°30'E.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Daibi Maru is sunk, by aircraft, off Chichi Jima.
Japanese submarine chaser Ch 47 is damaged by aircraft, 32°45'N, 111°56'E.
During diving operations in West Loch, Pearl Harbor, on the wreckage of tank landing ships sunk in the ammunition explosions in that area in 1944, Boatswain's Mate Second Class Owen F. P. Hammerberg risks his own life to save two fellow divers trapped while tunnelling under a wrecked LST. Although Hammerberg's efforts are successful, he suffers mortal injuries in a cave-in, to which he succumbs 18 hours later. For his heroism, Hammerberg is awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
Europe
Motor torpedo boat PT-605 is sunk by striking submerged object off Ostend, Belgium.
Atlantic
U.S. freighter Michael J. Stone, in convoy UGS 72, is torpedoed by German submarine U-300 27 miles from Gibraltar, 35°55'N, 05°53'W. There are no casualties on board and the damaged freighter reaches her destination under her own power.
Pacific
Battleship Washington (BB-56) and destroyer Hailey (DD-556) are damaged in collision off Iwo Jima.
Destroyer Waldron (DD-699) is damaged when she intentionally rams Japanese guardboat at 29°27'N, 141°34'E. Dortch (DD-670) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Ayukawa Maru northwest of Iwo Jima, 27°35'N, 121°16'E, but is damaged by gunfire in the encounter.
Light minelayer Gamble (DM-15) is damaged by kamikaze, 24°55'N, 141°08'E.
High speed transport Blessman (APD-48) is damaged by horizontal bomber, 25°05'N, 141°10'E.
TF 58 planes sink Japanese gunboat No.2 Hiyoshi Maru at Futami, Chichi Jima, 27°05'N, 142°11'E.
Destroyers Barton (DD-722), Ingraham (DD-694) and Moale (DD-693) sink Japanese guardboats No.35 Nanshin Maru west of Torishima, 30°00'N, 137°30'E; No.3 Kyowa Maru south of Honshu, 31°00'N, 137°30'E; and No.5 Fukuichi Maru off Torishima, 30°00'N, 141°00'E.
Army troops covered by USMC aircraft are landed on the northwest coast of Samar and on Capul Island P.I., to insure control of San Bernardino Strait.
Japanese merchant ship Zuiho Maru is sunk by aircraft in Yangzte River near Kiukiang, China.
Off Iwo Jima, light cruiser Biloxi (CL-80) is hit by friendly fire, 25°47'N, 141°15'E; destroyer Bradford (DD-545) collides with uncharted submerged wreckage, 24°45.8'N, 141°19.44'E; attack transports Napa (APA-157) and Logan (APA-196) are damaged in collision, 24°46'N, 141°19'E; tank landing ship LST-779 and medium landing ship LSM-216 are damaged by mortar fire.
Submarine Guavina (SS-362), attacking Japanese convoy rounding Cape Padaran, French Indochina, damages merchant tanker Eiyo Maru, 11°22'N, 109°22'E.
Submarine Hawkbill (SS-366), attacking Japanese convoy about 175 miles northwest of Singapore, sinks merchant cargo ship Daizen Maru, 00°42'S, 106°18'E. Although Hawkbill claims sinking one other cargo vessel, the two ships in company with the lost freighter, Kanto Maru and Nankai Maru, survive unscathed.
Submarine Pargo (SS-264) sinks Japanese destroyer Nokaze off Cape Varella, French Indochina, 12°48'N, 109°38'E; destroyer Kamikaze, in company with Nokaze at the time of Pargo's attack, unsuccessfully counterattacks with depth charges.
Submarine Pintado (SS-387) is damaged by aerial bomb, Gulf of Siam, 07°25'N, 111°56'E, but remains on patrol.
Japanese army ship Rozan Maru is sunk by mine below Taku, China.
Japanese cargo vessel No.34 Kashiwa Maru is sunk by mine off Surabaya.
Off Iwo Jima, kamikazes sink escort carrier Bismarck Sea (CVE-95), 24°36'N, 141°48'E, and damage carrier Saratoga (CV-3), 24°56'N, 142°01'E (Saratoga is also hit by a bomb); escort carrier Lunga Point (CVE-94), 24°40'N, 141°44'E; tank landing ships LST-477, 24°40'N, 141°44'E, and LST-809, 24°08'N, 142°06'E; and net cargo ship Keokuk (AKN-4), 24°36'N, 141°48'E. Small carrier Langley (CVL-27) is damaged by bomb. Japanese mortar fire damages tank landing ship LST-390, 24°46'N,141°19'E. Collisions account for damage to destroyer Williamson (DD-244) and oiler Suamico (AO-49), 24°39'N, 142°01'E; destroyer Bradford (DD-545) and tank landing ship LST-812; attack cargo ship Yancey (AKA-93) and heavy cruiser Pensacola (CA-24), 24°46'N, 141°19'E. Heavy weather damages medium landing ship LSM-43.
Tank landing craft LCT-175 founders and sinks in heavy weather, 04°27'N, 133°40'E.
Destroyer Renshaw (DD-499) is torpedoed by Japanese submarine RO 43 south of Siquijor Island P.I., 24°36'N, 141°48'E. RO 43 escapes a ten-hour search by destroyers Waller (DD-466) and Shaw (DD-373) around Siquijor Island.
Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.72 and Coast Defense Vessel No.150 are damaged in collision off Wenchow, China.
Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Tairiku Maru in Yellow Sea off west coast of Korea, 35°24'N, 125°23'E.
Japanese merchant tanker Eiyo Maru, damaged by submarine Guavina (SS-362) the previous day, sinks off Cape Padaran, French Indochina, 11°22'N, 109°22'E.
Japanese cargo ship Fukusei Maru sinks after running aground off Cape Shirazaki, Honshu, 41°00'N, 142°00'E.
Submarine Becuna (SS-319), despite presence of two escort vessels, sinks Japanese merchant tanker Nichiyoku Maru off Cape Padaran, French Indochina, 11°28'N, 109°06'E.
Japanese fleet tanker No.2 Tatekawa Maru is damaged by USAAF mine (laid by 20th Air Force B-29s) and runs aground in Padaran Bay; USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) complete the destruction of No.2 Tatekawa Maru later that day, 11°08'N, 108°44'E.
Japanese submarine chaser Ch 41 is damaged by aircraft, 10°15'N, 107°15'E.
Japanese army ship Ikuta Maru is sunk by aircraft, Rabaul, New Britain.
Off Iwo Jima, shore batteries damage tank landing ships LST-684 and LST-792, 24°46'N, 141°19'E and medium landing ships LSM-46 and LSM-47; operational casualties damage hospital ship Solace (AH-5), motor minesweeper YMS-361, and medium landing ship LSM-92; as well as submarine chaser PC-877 and tank landing ship LST-716, 24°46'N, 141°19'E; friendly fire damages submarine chaser PCS-1461, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.
Submarine Hammerhead (SS-364) intercepts Japanese convoy, sinks escort vessel Yaku 15 miles south of Cape Varella, French Indochina, 12°42'N, 109°30'E, and eludes counterattack by Coast Defense Ship No.31.
District patrol craft YP-94, aground and damaged off Tugidak and Sitkinak Islands, Aleutians, since 17 February, breaks in two and sinks.
USAAF B-25s (Fifth Air Force) on antishipping sweep off French Indochina, attack Japanese convoy HI-88-G and sink submarine chaser Ch 35, and damage submarine chaser Ch 20 and small tanker No.35 Nanshin Maru off Cape Padaran, 10°15'N, 107°31'E.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Bizan Maru is damaged by aircraft, 23°14'N, 116°49'E.
Mediterranean
Conversion of tank landing ships into seatrain LSTs is completed at Palermo, Sicily. LST-32 is to ferry roling stock from Bizerte, Tunisia, to Reggio, Italy; LST-140 is to ferry rolling stock from Oran, Algeria, to Marseilles, France.
Open lighter YC-693 is struck from the Naval Vessel Register this date.[5]
Europe
U.S. freighter Jane G. Swisshelm is damaged by explosion of V-2 rocket at Antwerp, Belgium. Only three men of the combined complement of 8 officers, 36 enlisted men, 27 Armed Guards and one passenger report any injuries.
U.S. freighter Henry Bacon, straggling from Scotland-bound convoy RA 64, is sunk by German planes after her Armed Guard puts up a stiff fight against a large number of attacking aircraft, 67°00'N, 07°00'E. Seven of the 26-man Armed Guard die in battle. British destroyers HMS Opportune, HMS Zest and HMS Zambesi rescue the survivors.
Off Iwo Jima, destroyers Heywood L. Edwards (DD-663) and Bryant (DD-665) are damaged by collision, 24°47'N, 141°25'E; heavy weather damages destroyer Moale (DD-693), 25°00'N, 141°00'E, and medium landing ships LSM-202 and LSM-241. Tank landing ship LST-792 is damaged by shore battery fire, 24°46'N, 141°19'E. Operational casualties account for damage to high speed minesweeper Howard (DMS-7) and submarine chaser SC-1027.
Submarine Lagarto (SS-371) sinks Japanese submarine I 371 and merchant cargo ship Tatsumomo Maru off Bungo Suido, Kyushu, 32°40'N, 132°33'E.
Submarine Trepang (SS-412) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Uzuki Maru north-northeast of Mikizaki, 32°40'N, 132°33'E.
Japanese cargo vessel Kyuryu Maru is damaged by mine (laid by RAF planes) off Bangkok, Thailand 13°45'N, 100°35'E; she is later abandoned as a total loss and scuttled.
Japanese escort destroyer Nomi is damaged by aircraft, four miles south of Wanshan Island.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Yulin Maru sinks after running aground near Qui Nohn, French Indochina, 13°48'N, 109°14'E.
Europe
German submarine U-3007 is sunk by USAAF aircraft, Bremen, Germany.
Destroyer Harrison (DD-573) is damaged by storm south of Honshu, 33°00'N, 141°00'E.
Off Iwo Jima, collisions account for damage to tank landing ship LST-121 (accidentally rammed by medium landing ship LSM-140), 24°46'N, 141°19'E; tank landing ship LST-928 [successive collisions with tank landing ships LST-764 and LST-713 and attack transport Fayette (APA-43)], 24°46'N, 141°19'E; submarine chaser PC-578 (with medium landing ship LSM-207), 24°46'N, 141°19'E; and attack transport President Adams (APA-19) (with tank landing ship LST-370), 24'46'N, 141°19'E. Friendly fire damages seaplane tender Hamlin (AV-15), 24°46'N, 141°19'E; Japanese shore battery damages infantry landing craft LCI-760.
Motor minesweeper YMS-275 is damaged by mine off the Carolines, 07°20'N, 134°35'E.
Destroyers Hazelwood (DD-531) and Murray (DD-576) sink Japanese guardboats No.1 Fuji Maru and Koki Maru, 31°06'N, 141°00'E, and guardboat No.5 Seiun Maru off Tori Jima, 31°00'N, 141°00'E.
Submarine Flasher (SS-531) sinks Japanese cargo vessel Koho Maru near Hainan, 20°01'N, 111°19'E; USAAF B-24 attacks escorting submarine chaser Ch 21 while she is rescuing Koho Maru's survivors, but does not damage her.
Submarine Hoe (SS-258) attacks Japanese convoy and sinks escort vessel Shonan south of Hainan Island 17°05'N, 110°05'E.
Submarine Piper (SS-409) sinks Japanese guardboat No.3 Hosen Maru and sinks merchant cargo ship Koho Maru, 20°04'N, 111°22'E.
British submarine HMS Trenchant attacks Japanese convoy in South Malacca Strait, sinking cargo vessel No.9 Akiyama Maru, 03°07'N, 99°56'E; Japanese army aircraft bomb Trenchant but she escapes unharmed.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Kazusa Maru is sunk by aircraft off Miyake Jima; Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa 14 is damaged.
Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 208 is damaged by aircraft, location unspecified.
Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.5 Miyatake Maru is damaged by aircraft, off Shirahama.
Off Iwo Jima, storm damages heavy cruiser San Francisco (CA-38), destroyers Colahan (DD-658), Halsey Powell (DD-686), Benham (DD-796), John W. Weeks (DD-701), Stephen Potter (DD-538), and Preston (DD-795); attack cargo ship Muliphen (AKA-61) is damaged in collision with heavy cruiser Salt Lake City (CA-25), 24°46'N, 141°19'E. Tank landing ships LST-760 and LST-884 are damaged by shore battery fire, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.
On Iwo Jima, Pharmacist's Mate Second Class George E. Wahlen, USNR, attached to a rifle company in the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines, retrieves a wounded leatherneck from in front of his company's lines and carries him to safety. Wahlen, wounded in the left eye before he accomplishes this heroic act, will continue to discharge his duties with similar courage over succeeding days (see 28 February and 2 March).
Light cruiser Pasadena (CL-65), 31°20'N, 141°15'E, and destroyer Porterfield (DD-682), 33°10'N, 143°30'E, are damaged by gunfire from Japanese guardboat that penetrates task group formation south of Honshu.
Minesweeper Saunter (AM-295) is damaged by mine off El Fraile island Luzon, 14°17'N, 120°38'E.
Planes (VC 82) from escort carrier Anzio (CVE-57) sink Japanese submarines I 368, 35 miles west of Iwo Jima, 24°43'N, 140°37'E, and RO 43, 50 miles west-northwest of Iwo, 25°07'N, 140°19'E.
Destroyer escort Finnegan (DE-307) sinks Japanese submarine I 370 120 miles south of Iwo Jima, 22°45'N, 141°27'E.
USAAF planes sink Japanese tanker No.9 Takasago Maru at 20°01'N, 111°44'E.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Zuisho Maru is damaged bygunfire, near Hong Kong.
Europe
U.S. freighter Nashaba, bound for Ghent, Belgium, in convoy TAM 91, sinks after striking a mine in the Schelde estuary, 51°22'18"N, 02°55'25"E. There are no casualties among the 27-man Armed Guard.
Submarine Blenny (SS-324), attacking Japanese convoy off French Indochina, sinks merchant tanker Amato Maru off Cape Padaran, 11°58'N, 109°18'E.
Submarine Scabbardfish (SS-397) sinks Japanese guardboat No.6 Kikaku Maru, 100 miles northeast of Keelung, Formosa, 25°45'N, 123°20'W.
Japanese merchant vessel No.2 Suma Maru is sunk by aircraft 80 miles off Amoy, China.
Indian Ocean
British escort carrier HMS Activity rescues one boatload of survivors (20 men) from sunken freighter Peter Silvester, sunk on 6 February by German submarine U-862 in the Indian Ocean (see 10 March).
Europe
German submarine U-327 is sunk by PB4Y-1 (VPB 112), and British escort vessels HMS Labuan, HMS Loch Fada and HMS Wild Goose, English Channel, 49°46'N, 05°47'W.
Atlantic
Destroyer Bainbridge (DD-246) is damaged by paint locker explosion, 350 miles north of Puerto Rico.
Off Iwo Jima, destroyer Bennett (DD-473) is damaged by aircraft bomb, 24°46'N, 141°19'E; destroyer Terry (DD-513) by shore battery, 24°48'N, 141°33'E and medium landing ship LSM-42, by mortar fire; collisions account for damage to submarine chaser PCS-1461 (with small craft), 24°46'N, 141°19'E, and tank landing ships LST-641 and LST-787, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.
On Iwo Jima, as the 3d Battalion, 27th Marines, battles a Japanese counterattack, Pharmacist's Mate First Class John H. Willis is wounded while administering first aid to casualties. Although evacuated to an aid station, he sneaks away, returning to the front lines and resuming his duties with his assigned platoon. Going to the aid of a wounded man in a shell hole, Willis is treating the casualty when enemy troops lob hand grenades into the position. Willis throws out eight in succession, but a ninth explodes in his hand killing him. His courageous actions, witnessed by his platoon, prompt them to repulse the Japanese thrust. For his conspicuous gallantry, Willis is awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
Elsewhere on Iwo, Pharmacist's Mate Second Class George E. Wahlen, USNR, voluntarily rushes to the aid of an adjacent platoon that has suffered heavy casualties, treating 14 men before returning to his own unit. He braves heavy mortar and rifle fire to do so, actions that, together with that performed on 26 February, establish him as a hero in the eyes of the marines he serves (see 2 March).
USAAF B-24s attack Japanese convoy in Okinawa area, sinking motor sailship No.7 Kokoku Maru.
Atlantic
Destroyer escort Fowler (DE-222) and French L'Indiscret sink German submarine U-869 off Morocco, 34°30'N, 08°13'W.
USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese transport Hokuhi Maru off Mako, Pescadores, 23°35'N, 119°35'E.
Army troops supported by naval gunfire and USAAF planes land on Lubang Island P.I.
Task unit consisting of destroyer Cony (DD-508), destroyer escort Formoe (DE-509), minesweepers Sentry (AM-299) and Salute (AM-294) and two infantry landing craft (LCI), begin minesweeping and reconnaissance of Baler Bay and Casiguran Sound, Luzon, to investigate a possible fleet anchorage and determine composition of Japanese forces in the vicinity. Army scouts and interpreters are embarked for use ashore.
Submarine Kete (SS-369) departs Guam for second war patrol. Contact will be maintained with her until 20 March, but she is never seen again.[6]
Off Iwo Jima, destroyers Terry (DD-513) and Colhoun (DD-801) are damaged by shore battery fire, 24°47'N, 141°21'E; medium landing ship LSM-59 by operational casualty.
Submarine Sterlet (SS-392) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Tateyama Maru, 34°11'N, 139°44'E.
USAAF B-24s attack Japanese convoy, damaging tanker Terushima Maru and cargo vessel Kashima Maru, 19°51'N, 108°50'E.
USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese merchant vessel tanker Eisho Maru in Tonkin Gulf, 18°32'N, 108°11'E.
Japanese merchant ship Daishin Maru is sunk by aircraft off Manila.
Japanese merchant vessel cargo ship Eijo Maru is sunk by grounding in Shihtao Bay, off Shantung Peninsula, 36°09'N, 120°30'E.
Japanese army cargo ship Daia Maru is damaged by aircraft.
Europe
U.S. freighter Robert L. Vann, in convoy ATM 76, sinks after striking a mine off Ostend, Belgium, 51°22'N, 02°53'E. There are no casualties among the 27-man Armed Guard.
Destroyers (DesDiv 109) bombard Japanese positions on Parece Vela Reef in the Philippine Sea.[7]
Off Iwo Jima, light cruiser Biloxi (CL-80) is damaged by shore battery fire; destroyer Bennett (DD-477), by dud bomb or torpedo; collisions account for damage to attack cargo ship Stokes (AKA-68), 24°46'N, 141°19'E; tank landing ship LST-247 [with attack cargo ship Selinur (AKA-41)], 24°46'N, 141°19'E; tank landing ship LST-224 [successive collisions with support landing craft LCS-52 and tank landing ship LST-634], 24°46'N, 141°19'E; tank landing ship LST-642 [with tank landing ship LST-784], 24°46'N, 141°19'E; and attack transport Berrien (AP-62); cargo ship Hercules (AK-41) is damaged when she runs aground; tank landing craft LCT-1029 sinks.
Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) sinks Japanese transport Chokai Maru northeast of Miyake Jima, 33°50'N, 139°22'E.
British submarine HMS Terrapin attacks Japanese Penang-to-Singapore convoy in Malacca Straits, 03°28'N, 101°00'E, sinking small cargo vessel Sanko Maru.
PB4Y-2 (VPB-119) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking transport/ferry Nichirin Maru in East China Sea about 180 miles east by south of Wenchow, China, 27°12'N, 124°42'E.
Japanese transport Kasei Maru is sunk by unknown causes off Shiogama, northern Honshu.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Sekiyo Maru is sunk by aircraft off Nansei Shoto.
Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.13 is damaged by aircraft, 19°47'N, 124°04'E.
USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese landing ship T.143 off Mako, Pescadores, 23°35'N, 121°35'E.
Mediterranean
Seatrain tank landing ship LST-32 (see 23 February) is damaged when she strikes a submerged wreck at Reggio Calabria on her first lift of 20 railroad cars from Bizerte.
Attack transport Bolivar (APA-34) is damaged by shore battery off Iwo Jima, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.
On Iwo Jima, Pharmacist's Mate Second Class George E. Wahlen, USNR, wounded in the back the day before and having already performed heroic acts treating casualties on 26 and 28 February, is wounded a third time as he treats fallen shipmates. Unable to walk, he crawls 50 yards to render aid to a wounded marine. For this and previous acts of valor, Wahlen will be awarded the Medal of Honor.
Elsewhere on Iwo, Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Jack Williams, USNR, while serving as an aid man with a marine rifle company, is thrice wounded as he goes to treat a casualty. Although in a partial state of shockf rom his wounds, the corpsman shields the marine with his own body as he administers medical care first to the wounded man and then to himself. Instead of going to the rear, Williams remains at the front and tends a second wounded marine. As he finally stuggles to the rear to have his own hurts treated, the corpsman is hit a fourth time, and killed. For his unwavering determination to carry out his mission, Williams is awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
Submarine Sea Robin (SS-407) sinks Japanese transport Suiten Maru off Malang, Java, 06°34'S, 113°01'E.
Submarine Trepang (SS-412) sinks Japanese gunboat No.2 Nissho Maru off southern Honshu, near Mijake Jima, 34°05'N, 139°54'E.
Submarine Tuna (SS-203) lands supplies on northeast coast of Borneo.
USAAF B-24 sinks Japanese cargo vessel No.1 Yaei Maru in Tonkin Gulf, 20°10'N, 109°31'E.
RAAF planes lay mines (70% U.S.-made, 30% British) in Yulinakin Bay, Hainan Island; Japanese oiler Hario hits one and sinks off Cape Bastian, 18°10'N, 109°40'E.
Japanese merchant tanker No.1 Iyasaka Maru is sunk by aircraft off Hainan Island.
Submarine Baya (SS-318) attacks Japanese convoy HI-98, sinking merchant tanker Palembang Maru off Cape Varella, French Indochina, 12°50'N, 109°30'E (see 5 March).
Submarine Tilefish (SS-307) sinks Japanese fishing vessel Shiko Maru off Setsuko Saki, 28°15'N, 129°08'E.
British submarine HMS Clyde sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Kiku Maru off western Sumatra.
British submarines HMS Trenchant and HMS Terrapin sink Japanese submarine chaser Ch 8 in central Malacca Strait, 04°04'N, 110°35'E.
USAAF planes (14th Air Force) lay mines in Yangtze River; Japanese ship Wan Shih Maru is sunk north of Shanghai.
RAAF Venturas attack Japanese convoy off Soembawa Island sinking small cargo vessels No.3 Kiri Maru and No.4 Matsu Maru, 08°17'S, 118°56'E.
Submarine Bashaw (SS-241) attacks same Japanese convoy (HI-98) vexed by Baya (SS-318) the day before, sinking oiler Ryoei Maru and army tanker Seishin Maru off Tourane, French Indochina, 16°47'N, 108°41'E.
Submarine Peto (SS-265) is damaged by aerial bombs in South China Sea off Hainan, 20°57'N, 111°56'E, but remains on patrol.
Submarine Sea Robin (SS-407), attacking Japanese convoy in the Java Sea, sinks gunboat Man-yo Maru, 05°50'S, 113°46'E, auxiliary netlayer Nagara Maru, 05°23'S, 114°00'E, and merchant cargo ship Shoyu Maru, 05°23'S, 114°60'E.
Submarine Tilefish (SS-307) damages Japanese minesweeper W.15 off Akuke Jima, Japan, 29°36'N, 129°45'E. Although run aground by No.51 Banshu Maru to facilitate her salvage, W.15 is later regarded as a total loss.
TF 58 planes sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 224 off Mako, Pescadores.
USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) attack Japanese convoy SAYU-02, sinking auxiliary submarine chasers Kasuga Maru and Ujina Maru and merchant cargo ship Shoto Maru off coast of French Indochina, 15°32'N, 108°37'E.
USAAF B-24 (13th Air Force) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 110 in Sape Strait, southeast of the Celebes, 08°36'S, 119°19'E.
Support landing craft LCS-127 sinks after grounding off San Clemente Island California.
USAAF B-24 (possibly a Navy PB4Y) sinks Japanese salvage vessel Toei Maru east of Sanmen Wan, 29°00'N, 122°00'E.
USAAF planes attack Japanese convoy at 20°00'N, 112°30'E, and although the airmen believe that they sink a "destroyer," their quarry, actually Coast Defense Vessel No. 207, survives undamaged.
Japanese army vessel tanker Rikko Maru is stranded and sunk near Keelung, Formosa, 25°09'N, 121°44'E.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Hokusui Maru is sunk (most likely by drifting Japanese mine) off Otabe, Hokkaido, 41°27'N, 140°15'E.
Japanese merchant cargo ship No.22 Suma Maru is damaged by aircraft, four miles northwest of Fukikaku Light.
TG 89.9, comprising aviation supply ship Tackle (IX-217) and fleet tug Moreno (ATF-87), departs Naples for Odessa, USSR, with supplies for American POWs liberated from German camps by Soviet troops.
Pacific
Navy task unit completes its work in the Baler Bay-Casiguran Sound area, having found both bodies of water to afford excellent anchorages; it encounters no mines in Casiguran Sound but sweeps 98 in Baler Bay. Not more than 100 Japanese troops are determined to be in the vicinity.
Japanese submarine chaser Ch 51 is damaged by aircraft off Hachijo Jima.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Enkei Maru is damaged, most likely by marine casualty, 30°42'N, 128°20'E.
Europe
Submarine chaser PC-564 engages German minesweepers M 412, M 432, M 442 and M 452 and nine smaller craft off Chaussey. The Germans are bound for the port of Granville, France (see 9 March).
Pacific
Covered lighter YF-926, being towed to Pearl Harbor, T.H., founders in heavy weather and sinks.
USAAF aircraft sink Japanese landing ship T.143 off Formosa, 23°35'N, 121°35'E.
Japanese guardboat No.3 Daikoku Maru is sunk by U.S. aircraft east of Ogari Jima.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Toyo Maru is sunk by aircraft off Hankow, China.
USAAF aircraft (5th Air Force) sink Japanese merchant cargo ship I shima Maru, 22°34'N, 114°53'E.
USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.69 southeast of Hainan Island 19°02'N, 111°50'E (see 16 March).
Navy PBMs bomb Japanese convoy, sinking cargo vessel No.21 Yusen Maru off Chinman Tao, 24°27'N, 118°19'E.
USAAF B-24s (10th Air Force) attack Japanese shipping in Andaman Sea, sinking cargo vessel Hoyo Maru, 13°00'N, 98°00'E.
USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese shipping at Hong Kong, sinking guardboat Hyushin Maru off St. John Island 21°42'N, 112°44'E.
USAAF P-51s (14th Air Force) attack Japanese shipping in the Yangtze, off Hankow, sinking cargo vessel Toyo Maru (ex-Chinese Tang Yang), 30°33'N, 114°17'E.
Japanese cargo vessel Kwan-Shan Maru is sunk by mine off Kiangyin, China, 31°55'N, 120°16'E.
Europe
Submarine chaser PC-564, outgunned and badly damaged, manages to outrun the German force engaged late on 8 March and is grounded on the French coast at Pierre de Herpin light. French fishing boats arrive to help the wounded, and the next day, PC-564 is towed into St. Malo harbor. Shortly after PC-564 is knocked out of action, German raiding party attacks Granville, demolishing installations, releasing German POWs held there, and sinking small British freighters Kyle Castle, Nephrite, and Parkwood, and Norwegian merchantman Heien. The Germans seize collier Eskwood and tow her to Jersey, in the Channel Islands. German minesweeper M 412 runs aground and is blown up when it is realized that extricating her from her predicament is impossible in the time allowed.
Pacific
PB4Y carries out unsuccessful attack on submarine chaser Ch 21, 22°23'N, 115°03'E.
Submarine Kete (SS-369) attacks Japanese Kagoshima-to-Naha convoy north of Okinawa, sinking transport Keizan Maru and army cargo ships Sanka Maru and Dokan Maru about 100 miles northwest of Amami O Shima, 29°48'N, 128°02'E; Coast Defense Vessel No.44 and auxiliary minesweeper No.2 Shinto Maru carry out ineffective countermeasures.
USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese army tanker Seishin Maru off Tourane, French Indochina, 16°01'N, 108°10'E.
Indian Ocean
Submarine Rock (SS-274) rescues the last 15 survivors from U.S. freighter Peter Silvester, sunk on 6 February by German submarine U-862 (see 13 February).
USAAF heavy bombers (Eighth Air Force) sink German submarines U-2515 and U-2530 during raid on Hamburg, Germany.
PB4Y-1 (VPB 103) sinks German submarine U-681 southwest of the Scilly Islands, 49°53'N, 06°31'W.
Pacific
Army troops landed on 10 March take Zamboanga, Mindanao
Japanese land attack planes [FRANCES], flying direct from Kanoya, Japan, attack U.S. fleet anchorage at Ulithi; one FRANCES damages carrier Randolph (CV-15), 10°01'N, 139°40'E, another crashes into Sorlen Island. Salvage vessel Current (ARS-22) is damaged by collision with Randolph during fire-fighting operations.
Submarine Segundo (SS-398) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Shori Maru off Shori Island southern Korea, 34°25'N, 127°54'E.
PBM-3D (VPB 28) attacks Japanese convoy in South China Sea, sinking water carrier Wayo Maru about 40 miles southeast of Macao, 21°31'N, 112°28'E.
USAAF B-25s bomb Japanese shipping off Tourane, French Indochina, sinking motor sailships Kinsei Maru, Namikiri Maru and No.3 Hinode Maru.
Japanese merchant trawler Koko Maru is sunk by USAAF mine in Yangtze River, 31°22'N, 121°34'E.
USAAF B-24s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.66 and transport Masajima Maru in South China Sea east of Swatow, 23°30'N, 117°10'E.
Army barge PSB 111 runs aground on northeast side of Seguam Island Aleutians, but is pulled free by fleet tug Sarsi (ATF-111).
PVs (VPB 151) begin operating from Iwo Jim's Motoyama Airfield No.1, thus bringing Japanese guardboats operating off the home islands within range of rocket-firing planes.
Submarine Bream (SS-243) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Keihin Maru, 05°41'S, 114°03'E.
Submarine Rock (SS-274) lands supplies on Lombok Island N.E.I.
Submarine Trepang (SS-412) sinks Japanese guardboat Kaiko Maru off Inubosaki, 35°40'N, 141°00'E.
British submarine HMS Spirit sinks Japanese auxiliary sailing vessel Ryuho Maru off Massalambo Island 05°34'S, 114°26'E.
USAAF B-24 on antishipping sweep off south China coast sinks Japanese army ship No.3 Taisei Maru, 03°35'N, 112°10'E.
USAAF B-29s (274 strong) pound Osaka; Japanese merchant cargo ships Shiraume Maru and Shirogane Maru are sunk in the fire bomb raid that lays waste to the heart of the city.
USAAF B-24s damage Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 235 off Mako, Pescadores.
Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Yatsushiro Maru is damaged by aircraft, south of Wenchow, China.
Attacks against Japanese convoy KAI-311 continue, and USAAF B-24s and B-25s sink small cargo vessel No.15 Gokoku Maru off south China coast.
USAAF B-24 sinks small Japanese cargo vessel No.3 Taisei Maru off Hong Kong.
Navy aircraft sink small Japanese cargo vessel No.1 Taiki Maru and damage guardboat No.1 Shinya Maru, 27°10', 132°09'E.
Coastal yacht Amethyst (AMc-3) is damaged in collision with U.S. merchantman Platte Park 150 miles northwest of San Francisco.
TF 92 (Rear Admiral John L. McCrea), consisting of light cruisers Richmond (CL-9), Concord (CL-10) and Trenton (CL-11) and seven destroyers, bombards Japanese installations on Matsuwa, Kurils.
Submarine Bream (SS-243) is damaged by depth charges off North Borneo, 05°36'N, 114°33'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.
USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese convoy YUMO-01, which had departed Hong Kong the day before, but while the attack upon cargo ship Tatsumiya Maru proves unsuccessful, the Liberators damage one of the escorts, Coast Defense Vessel No.36, 23°03'N, 116°52'E.
USAAF B-24 sinks Japanese auxiliary powered sailing vessel Hoseki Maru in Tonkin Gulf, 18°34'N, 108°37'E.
Japanese submarine chaser Ch 21 is damaged by marine casualty off the south end of Namoa Island.
Japanese netlayer Wakamiya Maru is damaged by marine casualty off Keelung, Formosa.
Mediterranean
Destroyer Parker (DD-604) and three British destroyers carry out anti-shipping sweep in the Gulf of Genoa, but encounter no enemy vessels.
Atlantic
Submarine Lancetfish (SS-296) is sunk by accidental improper operation of torpedo tube doors, Boston (Massachusetts) Navy Yard.
Transported in medium landing craft (LCM) and one submarine chaser (SC), and supported by gunfire from three destroyers, two LCI(R), three LCS(L) and 2 LCI(M), Army troops (a reinforced company) land on Basilan Island Sulu Archipelago, P.I.
Tank landing ship LST-928 is damaged, by grounding, off Iwo Jima, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.
Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.69 sinks while in tow, eight miles off Hong Kong, 22°00'N, 113°40'E, as the result of damage inflicted by USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) on 8 March.
Japanese guardboat No.19 Gokoku Maru is sunk by U.S. aircraft, Kikaiga Jima, Japan.
Japanese merchant tanker No.1 Nanryu Maru is sunk by aircraft, 29°09'N, 122°01'E.
Europe
LCVPs (TG 122.5.1) ferry 2,500 army troops across the Rhine River.
Pacific
Submarine Sealion (SS-315) sinks Bangkok-bound Thai oiler Samui off Trengganu coast, 05°18'N, 103°23'E.
Submarine Spot (SS-413) attacks Japanese Keelung-to-Shimonoseki convoy TAMO-49 escorted by escort vessel Ikina, Coast Defense Vessel No. 41 and minesweeper W.17, sinking army cargo vessel Nanking Maru off Yushiyama Island 25°28'N, 120°10'E, and damaging cargo ship I komasan Maru, which is beached off Matsu Island 26°07'N, 119°57'E, to permit salvage. Spot is damaged, however, by gunfire from one or more of the escorts. Later that day, USAAF B-25s further damage Ikomasan Maru (see 26 March).
PB4Y attacks Japanese convoy TAMO-49, damaging cargo vessel Kitakata Maru, 29°09'N, 122°07'E.
U.S. freighter Oliver Kelly, while proceeding through Surigao Strait, is damaged by what is most likely a dud torpedo; Japanese midget submarine activity during this month is recorded from bases on the coast of Cebu.
Japanese transport Ken'Yo Maru is sunk by aircraft, Kagoshima Bay.
Japanese cargo ship Mansei Maru is sunk by USAAF mine in the Yangtze, near Shanghai, 31°19'N, 121°42'E.
USAAF B-29s (20th Air Force) bomb Kobe, Japan, damaging Japanese submarine I 158 and cargo vessels Enkei Maru and Teika Maru (ex-Cap Varella).
TG 78.3 (Rear Admiral Arthur D. Struble) lands Army troops (40th Division, less one RCT) on Iloilo, off the southeast coast of Panay, under covering fire of light cruiser Cleveland (CL-55) and three destroyers (TU 74.2.2); the troops encounter only token resistance.
PV-1s (VPB 128), on the basis of reports from Filipino guerillas, bomb two Japanese midget submarines in Davao Gulf.
Tank landing ship LST-635 is damaged by grounding, P.I., 11°05'N, 125°05'E.
Submarine Balao (SS-285) sinks Japanese merchant trawler No.2 Daito Maru, 35°00'N, 123°51'E.
Submarine Springer (SS-414), attacking Japanese convoy, sinks fast transport T.18 and damages minesweeper W 17 near Mutsure Jima, Ryukyus, 26°38'N, 127°12'E.
Submarine Trigger (SS-237) sinks Japanese army cargo ship No.3 Tsukushi Maru northwest of Okinawa, 28°05'N, 126°44'E.
TF 58 planes sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.43 Yusen Maru 45 miles southwest of Satamisaki Light; planes from carrier Hornet (CV-12) sink merchant vessel No.1 Nansei Maru and damage Tokuho Maru and Asahi Maru in Yamakawa harbor.
Japanese landing ship T.137 is damaged by aircraft, Yaene, Hachijo Jima.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Taiju Maru is sunk by aircraft, off Hime Jima.
Japanese ship Koichi Maru is damaged by aircraft, Amachi harbor, Kochi-Ken.
Atlantic
Destroyer escorts Menges (DE-320), Mosley (DE-321), Pride (DE-323), and Lowe (DE-325) sink German submarine U-866, northwest Atlantic, 43°18'N, 61°08'W.
Pacific
TF 58 (Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) pounds airfields on Kyushu, and shipping at Kure and Kobe, Honshu, destroying incomplete Japanese submarine I 205 in drydock, and damaging battleships Yamato Hyuga and Haruna; carriers Ikoma, Katsuragi, Ryuho and Amagi; small carrier Hosho; escort carrier Kaiyo; heavy cruiser Tone, light cruiser Oyodo, submarines I 400 and RO 67, auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 229 at Kure; and escort destroyer Kaki at Osaka.
Japanese planes single out carriers for attack: off Shikoku, Wasp (CV-18) is bombed, 32°16'N, 134°05'E. while friendly fire hits Essex (CV-9), 32°10'N, 134°20'E. On board Franklin (CV-13) damaged off Kyushu, 32°01'N, 133°57'E, as the ship is rocked by a succession of explosions, Lieutenant Commander Joseph T. O'Callaghan, ChC, the carrier's Roman Catholic chaplain, ministers to wounded and dying men irregardless of faith or creed, organizes and leads fire-fighting parties, directs the jettisoning of ammunition and the flooding of a magazine, and mans a hose to cool hot, armed bombs rolling on the listing deck. O'Callaghan's courage and fortitude inspires his shipmates. Elsewhere on board, Lieutenant (j.g.) Donald A. Gary calms anxious shipmates trapped in a smoke-filled compartment and after repeated tries through dark, debris-filled passageways manages to find a way to escape. Later, he organizes and leads fire- fighting parties in the blazing inferno of the hangar deck, and then enters number three fireroom to raise steam in one boiler in the face of extreme hazards. O'Callaghan and Gary will be awarded Medals of Honor.
Submarine Balao (SS-285) attacks Japanese convoy MOTA- 43, sinking troopship Hakozaki Maru and damaging transport Tatsuharu Maru off the Yangtze estuary about 90 miles north-northwest of Shanghai, 33°10'N, 122°10'E, and sinking merchant fishing vessels No.1 Katsura Maru and 1 Eiho Maru and No.2 Eiho Maru, 34°40'N, 122°55'E.
Submarine Bluefish (SS-222) damages Japanese guardboat No.1 Shinya Maru, 31°35'N, 137°50'E.
PV-1s (VPB 128) bomb and damage Japanese midget submarine at Cebu; strike is repeated the next day.
Japanese river gunboat Suma is sunk by USAAF mine (laid by 14th Air Force planes on 4 March ), in the Yangtze, 51 miles above Kiangyin, China, 32°00'N, 120°00'E. Mine also claims merchant ship Kozan Maru, on the Yangtze below Chinkiang, 32°05'N, 119°56'E.
USAAF mine also sinks Japanese merchant tanker Sarawak Maru, repaired after her brush with Besugo (SS-321) on 24 January 1945, 10 miles off Horsburgh Light, Singapore, 01°25'N, 104°36'E.
Japanese merchant vessel Mikawasan Maru is sunk by aircraft off Iyo.
Japanese escort destroyer Shinnan is damaged by aircraft, 33°47'N, 131°35'E.
Japanese landing ship T.105 is damaged by aircraft, near Ujina.
Japanese merchant vessel Rashu Maru is damaged by aircraft, off Uzaki, Hyogo prefecture.
Japanese merchant cargo ship Teiritsu Maru is damaged by aircraft, 34°16'N, 13°03'E.
Europe
U.S. freighter Hadley F. Brown, in convoy TAG 12, is damaged by mine at entrance to Schelde Estuary, 51°22'N, 02°53'E. There are no casualties among the 27-man Armed Guard, and the ship reaches Flushing under tow soon thereafter.
Pacific
TF 92 (Captain John M. Worthington) (six destroyers) sorties from Attu to proceed to Paramushiro to bombard Japanese installations in the Suribachi Wan area. Heavy ice, however, will cause a cancellation of the operation.
Off Japan, carrier Enterprise (CV-6) is damaged by friendly fire, 30°01'N, 134°30'E, and destroyer Halsey Powell (DD-686) is crashed by kamikaze at 30°27'N, 134°28'E. TF 38 planes sink Japanese guardboat No.1 Kochi Maru east of Honshu.
Submarine Blenny (SS-324) attacks Japanese convoy HI-88I off coast of French Indochina, sinking merchant tankers No.21 Nanshin Maru and Hosen Maru, and fishing boat Yamakuni Maru about 40 miles south of Cam Ranh Bay, 11°18'N, 108°57'E (see 21 March).
Submarine Devilfish (SS-292) is damaged by suicide plane off Volcano Islands, 25°36'N, 137°30'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.
Submarine Perch (SS-313) lands men on east coast of Borneo.
Japanese army ship No.1 Genzan Maru is sunk by aircraft off coast of French Indochina.
USAAF B-25s attack Japanese convoy, sinking store ships Heishin Maru and Fukusei Maru, and damaging torpedo boat Hatsukari off Tungshan, China, 23°42'N, 137°15'E.
Japanese Gyoraitei No.219 is damaged by aircraft, Toba, 30°06'N, 122°22'E.
Arctic
German submarines attack convoy JW 65 off Kola Inlet; U-995 torpedoes U.S. freighter Horace Bushnell 24 miles east of Kilden Light, 69°23'N, 35°17'W. Heavy seas prevent British destroyer HMS Orwell from beaching the crippled ship, but the warship embarks the freighter's survivors (including the entire 27-man Armed Guard). Russian tugs later beach the merchantman, which is subsequently declared a total loss. U-968 torpedoes freighter Thomas Donaldson about five miles off Kilden Island 68°26'30"N, 33°44'20"W. British corvettes HMS Bamborough Castle, HMS Oxlip, and HMS Honeysuckle rescue survivors; attempt to tow the ship to safety fails and she sinks a half mile from Kilden Island.
Patrols land on Guimaras Island across Iloilo Strait from Iloilo, Panay, and find it clear of Japanese troops.
Two U.S. motor torpedo boats, supported by a British destroyer, attack enemy shipping in Sarawak harbor.
Japanese convoy HI-88I comes under attack off coast of French indochina. Submarine Baya (SS-318) sinks auxiliary netlayer Kainan Maru off Cam Ranh Bay, 12°00'N, 109°17'E, and although damaged by depth charges, 11°55'N, 109°18'E, remains on patrol. USAAF B-25s (Fifth Air Force) sink submarine chaser Ch 33, cable layer Tateishi, and cargo vessels No.1 Motoyama Maru and 2 Fushimi Maru and No.6 Takasago Maru and damage submarine chaser Ch 9 off Nha Trang, 11°50'N, 109°18'E. Surviving vessels, the damaged Ch 9 and merchant tanker No.30 Nanshin Maru take refuge at Nha Trang and are assigned to convoy HI-88-J.
Japanese gunboat Okitsu is damaged by U.S. aircraft near Cape Hung Hua.
Japanese aircraft attack American shipping in Lingayen Gulf. During the ensuing antiaircraft barrage, friendly fire damages U.S. freighter Ransom A. Moore; there are, however, no casualties among the merchant crew or the 27-man Armed Guard.
Tank landing ship LST-727 is damaged by grounding off Iwo Jima, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.
Submarine Perch (SS-313) sinks Japanese Communication Vessel No. 463 en route to Balikpapan, 01°03'S, 117°20'E.
Japanese submarine chaser Ch 23 is damaged by mine at mouth of Yangtze River.
Covered lighters YF-724 and YF-725 founder and sink in heavy weather 380 miles off the Farallones.
Europe
German submarines attack Wales-bound convoy TBC 102 and Ghent, Belgium-bound convoy BTC 103. In the former, U-399 torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter John R. Park, 49°56'N, 05°26'W (all hands are rescued by U.S. freighter American Press); in the latter, what is most likely U-11