02/01 Tue. Invasion of the Marshall Islands continues as Marines land on Roi and Namur Islands, and Army troops land on Kwajalein Island under cover of heavy naval gunfire from battleships, cruisers and destroyers. Command designated Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, with headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, T. H., is established. Vice Admiral R. K. Turner, Commander Fifth Amphibious Force, is ordered to assume this command as additional duty. United States Naval Base, Finschhafen, New Guinea, is established. United States naval vessels damaged, Marshall Islands invasion: Destroyer ANDERSON (DD-411), by grounding, 09 d. 10' N., 167 d. 25' E. Destroyer HAGGARD (DD-555), by accidental explosion, 09 d. 00' N., 167 d. 00' E. Japanese naval vessel sunk: Destroyer UMIKAZE, by submarine GUARDFISH (SS- 217), Caroline Islands area, 07 d. 10' N., 151 d. 43' E. Submarine RO-39, by destroyer WALKER (DD-517), Marshall Islands area, 09 d. 24' N., 170 d. 32' E. 02/02 Wed. Roi and Namur Islands in the Marshall Islands are secured. United States naval vessels damaged: Battleships WASHINGTON (BB-56) and INDIANA (BB- 58), by collision, Marshall Islands operation, 07 d. 00' N., 167 d. 00' E. 02/03 Thu. Cruiser and destroyer gunfire supports landing of Army troops on Ebeye, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. United States naval vessels damaged: Destroyer CLAXTON (DD-571), by coastal defense gun, Solomon Islands area, 05 d. 49' S., 154 d. 39' E. Minesweeper CHIEF (AM-135), by grounding, Marshall Islands area, 09 d. 00' N., 167 d. 00' E. 02/04 Fri. Cruisers and destroyers (Rear Adm. W. D. Baker) bombard enemy installations at Paramushiro, Kurile Islands. 02/05 Sat. Submarine NARWHAL (SS-167), delivers supplies and evacuates certain personnel from near Libertad, Panay, P. I. Japanese submarine sunk: I-21, by destroyer CHARRETTE (DD-581) and destroyer escort FAIR (DE-35), Marshall Islands area, 06 d. 48' N., 168 d. 08' E. 02/06 Sun. German submarine sunk: U-177, by naval land-based aircraft (VB-107), South Atlantic area, 10 d. 35' S., 23 d. 15' W. 02/07 Mon. Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, is declared secured. Submarine NARWHAL (SS-167), delivers supplies and evacuates certain personnel from near Balatong Point, Negros, P. I. 02/08 Tue. United States naval vessel damaged: Destroyer LUDLOW (DD-438), by coastal defense gun, Italian area, 41 d. 28' N., 12 d. 30' E. 02/10 Thu. Aircraft from carrier task group (Rear Adm. S. P. Ginder) bomb enemy installations on Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands; similar strikes are made on 11 and 12 February. United States naval vessel damaged: LST 170, by horizontal bomber, eastern New Guinea area, 08 d. 39' S., 148 d. 27' E. Japanese naval vessel sunk: Destroyer MINEKAZE, by submarine POGY (SS-266), off Formosa, 23 d. 12' N., 121 d. 30' E. 02/11 Fri. United States naval vessels sunk: PT-279, by collision with PT-282, Solomon Islands area, 05 d. 30' S., 154 d. 15' E. 02/12 Sat. Marines land on Arno Atoll, Marshall Islands; this begins a series of "mopping-up" operations in minor atolls of the Marshall Islands. Japanese aircraft bomb and destroy supply concentrations on Roi Islands, Marshall Islands. United States naval vessel sunk: Submarine rescue vessel MACAW (ASR-11), by grounding, entrance to Midway Channel. 02/14 Mon. United States naval vessel damaged: Light cruiser ST. LOUIS (CL-49), by dive bomber, Bismarck Archipelago area, 06 d. 15' S., 153 d. 29' E. 02/15 Thu. United States Third Amphibious Force (Rear Adm. T. S. Wilkinson) lands New Zealand troops in the Green Islands off New Ireland. The operation is covered by cruisers, destroyers and Solomon Islands-based aircraft. Command designated Central Pacific Forward Area (Rear Adm. J. H. Hoover) is established; Rear Admiral Hoover flies his lag in the seaplane tender CURTISS (AV-4). Naval aircraft from Abemama, Gilbert Islands, bomb Wake Island. United States naval vessel damaged: Destroyer escort HERBERT C. JONES (DE-137), by radio controlled bomb, Anzio, Italy, 41 d. 27' N., 12 d. 35' E. Japanese submarines sunk: I-43, by submarine ASPRO (SS-309), Central Pacific area, 12 d. 42' N., 149 d. 17' E. RO-40, by destroyer PHELPS (DD-360) and minesweeper SAGE (AM-111), Marshall Islands area, 09 d. 50' N., 166 d. 35' E. 02/16 Wed. Aircraft from carrier group (Rear Adm. S. P. Ginder) bomb Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands. Japanese naval vessels sunk: Light cruiser AGANO, by submarine SKATE (SS-305), Central Pacific area, 10 d. 11' N., 151 d. 42' E. Submarine chasers Nos. 16 and 39, by Army aircraft, north of New Ireland, 02 d. 24' S., 150 d. 06' E. 02/17 Thu. Naval task force (Vice Adm. R. A. Spruance), which includes 9 carriers and 6 battleships, strikes Japanese installations and vessels at Truk, Caroline Islands; attack is repeated on 18 February. United States naval vessel damaged: Carrier INTREPID (CV-11), by aircraft torpedo, Truk, Caroline Islands, 07 d. 23' N., 153 d. 32' E. Japanese naval vessels sunk: Light cruiser NAKA, by carrier-based aircraft, Truk area, Caroline Islands, 07 d. 15' N., 151 d. 15' E. Training cruiser KATORI, by carrier-based aircraft and surface craft, Truk area, Caroline Islands, 07 d. 45' N., 151 d. 20' E. Destroyer MAIKAZE, by carrier-based aircraft and surface craft, Truk area, Caroline Islands, 07 d. 45' N., 151 d. 45' E. Destroyer OITE, by carrier-based aircraft, Truk area, Caroline Islands, 07 d. 40' N., 151 d. 45' E. Destroyer TACHIKAZE, by carrier-based aircraft, Truk area, Caroline Islands, 07 d. 40' N., 151 d. 55' E. Minesweeper No. 26, by aircraft, Rabaul, New Britain. Submarine I-11, by destroyer NICHOLAS, (DD-449), Marshall Islands area, 10 d. 34' N., 173 d. 31' E. Submarine chaser No. 24, by destroyer BURNS (DD- 588), 07 D. 24' N., 150 d. 30' E. 02/18 Fri. Marines and Army forces land on Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, in the Marshall Islands. Preliminary landings are made 17 February on several nearby islets. The operation is under the command of Rear Adm. H. W. Hill and is supported by naval gunfire and carrier-based aircraft. Destroyers bombard enemy positions at Kavieng, New Ireland, and Rabaul, New Britain. United States naval vessel sunk: Tug YT-198, by mine, Italian area, 41 d. 27' N., 12 d. 38' E. United States naval vessel damaged: Minesweeper PILOT (AM-104), by collision, Italian area, 40 d. 48' N., 14 d. 16' E. Japanese naval vessels sunk, Truk area, Caroline Islands: Destroyer FUMIZUKI, by carrier-based aircraft, 07 d. 24' N., 151 d. 44' E. Submarine chaser No. 29, by carrier-based NO. 29, by carrier-based aircraft, 07 d. 25' N., 151 d. 45' E. 02/19 Sat. Marines and Army troops supported by naval bombardment land on Eniwetok Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands. The operation is under the command of Rear Adm. H. W. Hill. (P)Army, Naval, and Marine land-based aircraft heavily attack airfield and other Japanese installations at Rabaul, New Britain. The area is repeatedly bombed, and after this date the enemy abandons air defense of Rabaul. Motor torpedo boats engage German convoy southeast of Elba. Allied cruiser and destroyer gunfire supports United States positions at Anzio, Italy. Japanese naval vessels sunk: Submarine chasers Nos. 22, 34, and 40 by Army aircraft, off New Ireland. 02/20 Sun. Carrier task group (Rear Adm. J. W. Reeves) bombs Japanese installations on Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands. United States naval vessel sunk: LST 348, by submarine torpedo, Italian area, 40 d. 57' N., 13 s. 14' E. Japanese naval vessel sunk: Submarine chaser No. 48, by Army aircraft, off New Ireland. 02/22 Tue. Marines land on Perry Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, under cover of naval bombardment and carrier-aircraft bombing; this operation completes United States control of Eniwetok Atoll. Destroyers bombard Japanese airstrips, pier area, and anchorages at Kavieng, New Ireland. Submarine RAY (SS-271), lays mines off Saigon, French Indochina. United States naval vessel sunk: PT-200, by collision with unknown object, off Long Island, N. Y., 41 d. 23' N., 71 d. 01; W. Japanese naval vessels sunk: Minelayer NATSUSHIMA, by destroyers, off New Ireland, 02 d. 40' S., 149 d. 40' E. Tug NAGAURA, by destroyers, off New Ireland, 06 d. 54' S., 148 d. 38' E. River gunboat FRANCIS GARNIER, by mine, South China Sea, 10 d. 30' N., 108 d. 00' E. [What the heck is this? LWJ] 02/23 Wed. Aircraft from fast carrier task force (Rear Adm. M. A. Mitscher) bomb Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam, in first strike against the Marianas Islands. 02/24 Thu. United States naval vessels damaged: Destroyer BUCHANAN (DD-484) and FARENHOLT (DD-491), by coastal defense gun, north of New Ireland, 02 d. 20' S., 151 d. 02' S. German submarine sunk: U-761, by United States naval land-based aircraft (VP-63 and VB-127), British aircraft and ships, off Gibraltar, 35 d. 55' N., 05 d. 45' W. 02/25 Fri. Destroyers bombard enemy positions at Kavieng, New Ireland and Rabaul, New Britain. 02/26 Sat. United States naval vessels sunk: PT-251, by coastal defense gun, Solomon Islands area, 06 d. 30' S., 155 d. 10' E. LST 349, by grounding, Italian area, 40 d. 55' N, 12 d. 58' W. 02/28 Mon. United States naval vessel damaged: Destroyer ABNER READ (DD-526), by grounding, eastern New Guinea area, 08 d. 44' S., 148 d. 27' E. 02/29 Tue. Destroyer task group (Rear Adm. W. M Fechteler) lands Army troops on Los Negros Island, Admiralty Islands. Destroyers bombard wharf area and buildings at Rabaul, New Britain.