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.