07/01 Thu. Submarine GAR (SS-206) lands certain personnel on south coast of Timor, Netherlands East Indies. United States Operating Base, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, is established. Japanese submarine sunk: RO-101, by destroyer RADFORD (DD-446), Solomon Islands area, 08 d. 39' S., 157 d. 35' E. 07/02 Fri. Japanese cruiser, destroyers, and aircraft attack Rendova, Solomon Islands United States naval vessels lost: PT-153 and PT-158, by grounding, Solomon Islands area, 08 d. 20' S., 157 d. 15' E., beach and abandoned. 07/04 Sun. United States naval vessels damaged: Destroyer WILKES (DD-441), by grounding, North Africa area, 37 d. 18' N., 09 d. 51' E. 07/05 Mon. Cruisers and destroyers (Rear Adm. W. L. Ainsworth) bombard Vila, Kolombangara, and Bairoko Harbor, New Georgia, Solomon Islands. Marines and Army troops land at Rice Anchorage, New Georgia, Solomon Islands. United States naval vessel sunk: Destroyer STRONG (DD-467), by submarine torpedo, Solomon Islands area, 08 d. 05' S., 157 d. 15' E. 07/06 Tue. Battle of Kula Gulf is fought in the darkness as a task group consisting of 3 cruisers and 4 destroyers (Rear Adm. W. L. Ainsworth) engages 10 Japanese destroyers carrying troops and supplies to Kolombangara, Solomon Islands. One United States light cruiser and two Japanese destroyers are sunk. Cruiser and destroyer task group (Rear Adm. R. C. Giffen) bombards Kiska, Aleutian Islands. United States naval vessel sunk: Light cruiser HELENA (CL-50), by destroyer torpedoes, Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands, 07 d. 46' S., 157 d. 11' E. Japanese naval vessels sunk: Destroyer NIIZUKI, by naval gunfire, Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands area. Destroyer NAGATSUKI, grounded and abandoned, Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands area. 07/07 Wed. German submarine sunk: U-951, by Army aircraft, eastern Atlantic, 37 d. 40' N., 15 d. 30' W. 07/08 Thu. Naval aircraft bomb Vila, Kolombangara, Solomon Islands. German submarine sunk: U-232, by Army aircraft, off Portugal, 40 d. 37' N., 13 d. 41' W. 07/09 Fri. Destroyers bombard Munda, New Georgia, Solomon Islands. Submarine THRESHER (SS-200) lands personnel, stores, and ammunition on west coast of Negros, P. I. German submarine sunk: U-590, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-94), mouth of Amazon River, Brazil, 03 d. 22' N., 48 d. 38' W. 07/10 Sat. Allies invade Sicily. Troops land under cover of naval gunfire and aircraft. The overall commander is Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, USA; naval commander is Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham, RN. Western Naval Task Force (Vice Adm. H. K. Hewitt, USN) lands the United States Seventh Army (Lieutenant Gen. G. S. Patton, USA), and Eastern Naval Task Force (Vice Adm. Sir Bertram Ramsay, RN) lands British Eighth Army (British Gen. Sir B. L. Montgomery). Naval gunfire continues to support the forces ashore throughout the Sicilian campaign. United States naval vessels sunk, Sicily landings: Destroyer MADDOX (DD-622), by dive bomber, 36 d. 52' N., 13 d. 56' E. LST 313, by horizontal bomber, 37 d. 01 N., 13 d. 55' E. Minesweeper SENTINEL (AM-113), by dive bomber, 37 d. 06' N., 13 d. 55' E. United States naval vessels damaged, Sicily landings: Destroyer ROE (DD-418) and SWANSON (DD-443), by collision, 37 d. 03' N., 13 d. 36' E. Attack transport WILLIAM P. BIDDLE (APA-8), and LST-382 by collision, 36 d.41' N., 14 d. 23' E. LST 345 and submarine chaser PC-621, by collision, 37 d. 02 N., 14 d. 15' E. 07/11 Sun. United States cruiser and destroyer gunfire stops German tank attack on landing beaches near Gela, Sicily. United States naval vessels lost: LST 158, damaged by horizontal bomber, Licata, Sicily, beached and abandoned, 37 d. 05' N., 13 d. 55' E. United States naval vessels damaged, Sicily landings: Attack transport BARNETT (APA-5), and transport ORIZABA (AP-24), by horizontal bombers, and transport MONROVIA, (AP-54), by dive bomber, 37 d. 02' N., 14 d. 15' E. 07/12 Mon. Cruisers and destroyers (Rear Adm. A. S. Merrill) bombard Munda, New Georgia, Solomon Islands. German submarine sunk: U-506, by Army aircraft, near Portugal, 42 d. 30' N., 16 d. 30' W. Japanese submarine sunk: I-25, by destroyer TAYLOR (DD-468), Solomon Islands area, 08 d. 00' S., 157 d. 19' E. 07/13 Tue. Battle of Kolombangara is fought in the darkness off Kolombangara, Solomon Islands, as a task force, consisting of 3 cruisers and 10 destroyers (Rear Adm. W. L. Ainsworth), engages 1 Japanese cruiser and 5 destroyers escorting destroyer transports. One United States destroyer is sunk; two United States cruisers, one New Zealand cruiser and two United States destroyers are damaged. One Japanese cruiser is sunk. United States Naval Advanced Base, Gela, Sicily, is established. United States naval vessel sunk: Destroyer GWIN (DD-433), damaged by destroyer torpedo, Battle of Kolombangara, Solomon Islands, and scuttled by United States forces, 07 d. 41' S., 157 d. 27' E. United States naval vessels damaged, Battle of Kolombangara, Solomon Islands: Light cruiser HONOLULU (CL-48), by destroyer torpedo, 07 d. 31' S., 157 d. 19' E. Light cruiser ST LOUIS (CL-49), by destroyer torpedo, 07 d. 37' S., 157 d. 16' E. Destroyers WOODWORTH (DD-460), and BUCHANAN (DD-484), by collision, 07 d. 40' S., 157, 14' E. Japanese naval vessel sunk: Light cruiser JINTSU, by cruiser gunfire and destroyer torpedo, Battle of Kolombangara, Solomon Islands, 07 d. 38' S., 157 d. 06' E. German submarine sunk: U-487, by aircraft (VC-13) from escort carrier CORE (CVE-13), North Atlantic area, 27 d. 15' N., 34 d. 18' W. 07/14 Wed. Destroyers bombard Kiska, Aleutian Islands; bombardment is repeated on 125 July. Naval Operating Base, Adak, Aleutian Islands, is established. United States naval vessel damaged: Light cruiser BROOKLYN (CL-40), by mine, Sicilian area, 36 d. 57' N., 14 d. 06' E. German submarine sunk: U-160, by aircraft (VC-29) from escort carrier SANTEE (CVE-29), south of Azores Islands, 33 d. 45' N., 27 d. 13' W. 07/15 Thu. Submarine NARWHAL (SS-167) shells enemy airfield on Matsuwa Island, Kurile Islands United States naval vessel damaged: Minesweeper STAFF (AM-114), by mine, Sicilian area, 37 d. 17' N., 13 d. 30' E. German submarine sunk: U-159, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-32), Caribbean area, 15 d. 58' N., 73 d. 44' W. German submarine sunk: U-509, by aircraft (VC-29) from escort carrier SANTEE (CVE-29), south of Azores Islands, 34 d. 02' N., 26 d. 02' W. 07/16 Fri. German submarine sunk: U-67, by aircraft (VC-13) from escort carrier CORE (CVE-13), mid-Atlantic area, 30 d. 05' N., 44 d. 17' W. 07/17 Sat. Naval and Army aircraft attack Japanese shipping at Buin, Bougainville, Solomon Islands; one enemy destroyer sunk. Japanese naval vessel sunk: Destroyer HATSUYUKI, by naval land-based aircraft, Bougainville, Solomon Islands. 07/18 Sun. Naval and Army aircraft attack Buin-Kahile area, Bougainville, Solomon Islands. Naval airship K-74 is shot down by a German submarine in the Florida Straits; this is the only naval airship lost to enemy action. United States naval vessel sunk: LST 342, by submarine torpedo, Solomon Islands area, 09 d. 03' S., 158 d. 11' E. United States naval vessel damaged: Submarine chaser PC-562, by mine, Sicilian area, 37 d. 10' N., 12 d. 35' E. 07/19 Mon. German submarine sunk: U-513, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-74), off Brazil, 27 d. 17' S., 47 d. 32' W. 07/20 Tue. Land-based aircraft attack Japanese ships south of Choiseul Island, Solomon Islands; two enemy destroyers are sunk. United States naval vessels sunk: Submarine RUNNER (SS-275), Pacific Ocean area, reported as presumed lost. PT-166, by strafing, Solomon Islands area, 08 d. 15' S., 156 d. 53' E. Japanese naval vessels sunk: Destroyers KIYONAMI and YUGURE, by Naval and Army aircraft, off Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands. German submarine sunk: U-588, by Army aircraft, Bay of Biscay, 45 d. 10' N., 09 d. 42' W. 07/21 Wed. German submarine sunk: U-662, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-94), mouth of Amazon River, Brazil, 03 d. 36' N., 48 d. 46' W. 07/22 Thu. Naval task force consisting of 2 battleships, 5 cruisers, and 9 destroyers (Rear Adm. R. C. Giffen and Read Adm. R. M. Griffin) bombard Kiska area, Aleutian Islands. Japanese naval vessel sunk: Seaplane tender NISSHIN, by naval land-based aircraft, off New Georgia, Solomon Islands, 06 d. 33' S., 156 d. 10' E. 07/23 Fri. Patrol Squadron 63, the first United States naval aircraft squadron to operate from the United Kingdom, arrives in South Wales for antisubmarine patrol duty in the Bay of Biscay. German submarines sunk: U-527, by aircraft (VC-9) from escort carrier BOGUE (CVE-9), south of Azores Islands, 35 d. 25' N., 27 d. 56' W. U-613, by destroyer BADGER (DD-126), south of Azores Islands, 35 d. 32' N., 28 d. 36' W. U-598, by naval land-based aircraft (VB-107), off Brazil, 04 d. 05' S., 33 d' 23' W. 07/24 Sat. German submarine sunk: U-622, by Army aircraft, off Norway, 63 d. 27' N., 10 d. 23' E. 07/25 Sun. Destroyers and aircraft strike enemy positions at Munda, Solomon Islands. 07/26 Mon. United States naval vessel damaged: Destroyer MAYRANT (DD-402), by horizontal bomber, Palermo Sicily, 38 d. 16' N., 13 d. 20' E. German submarine sunk: U-759, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-32), Caribbean area, 18 d. 06' N., 75 d. 00' W. 07/27 Tue. Japanese naval vessels sunk: Submarine I-24, by submarine SCAMP (SS-277), off Admiralty Islands, 02 d. 50' S., 149 d. 01' E. Minelayer HIRASHIMA, by submarine SAWFISH (SS-276), off Kyushu, Japan, 32 d. 32 ' N., 127 d. 41' E. 07/28 Wed. Japanese complete evacuation of Kiska, Aleutian Islands, without detection by United States forces. (See 15 August 1943.) United States Naval Operating Base, Palermo Sicily, is established. Japanese naval vessels sunk: Destroyers ARIAKE and MIKAZUKI, by Army bombers, New Britain area. German submarines sunk: U-359, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-32), West Indies area, 15 d. 57' N., 68 d. 30' W. U-404, by United States Army and British aircraft, Bay of Biscay, 45 d. 53' N., 09 d. 23' W. 07/29 Thu. United States Advanced Amphibious Training Base, Appledore, England, is established. 07/30 Fri. German submarine lays mines of entrance to Chesapeake Bay. German submarines sunk: U-591, by naval land-based aircraft (VB-127), off Brazil, 08 d. 36' S., 34 d. 34' W. U-43, by aircraft (VC-29) from escort carrier SANTEE (CVE-29), mid-Atlantic area, 34 d. 57' N, 35 d. 11' W. U-375, by submarine chaser PC-624, off Tunisia, 36 d. 40' N., 12 d. 28' E. 07/31 Sat. Submarine GUARDFISH (SS-217) lands survey party on west coast of Bougainville, Solomon Islands. Submarine GRAYLING (S-209) lands supplies and equipment at Pucio Pt., Panay, P. I. German submarine sunk: U-199, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-74) and Brazilian aircraft, off Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 23 d. 54' S., 42 d. 54' W.