Tuesday, 23 December 1941

US NAVY

UNITED STATES—U.S.‑British War Council composed of President Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Churchill, and their chief naval, military, and civilian advisers meets for the first time in Washington, D.C. 

PACIFIC—Wake Island (Commander Winfield S. Cunningham) is captured by naval landing force (Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi) that overcomes gallant resistance offered by the garrison that consists of marines, sailors, volunteer civilians (Contractors Pacific Naval Air Bases) and a USAAF radio detachment. Japanese Patrol Boat No. 32 and Patrol Boat No. 33 (old destroyers converted to high speed transports) intentionally run ashore to facilitate landing of troops, are destroyed by marine shore batteries (1st Defense Battalion). Planes from carriers Hiryu and Soryu, as well as seaplane carrier Kiyokawa Maru provide close air support for the invasion. Open cargo lighter YCK 1 is lost to Japanese occupation of the atoll, as are civilian tugs Pioneer and Justine Foss, and dredge Columbia.

           Uncertainty over the positions of and number of Japanese carriers and reports that indicate Japanese troops have landed on the atoll compel Vice Admiral William S. Pye, Acting Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet, to recall TF 14(Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher) while it is 425 miles from its objective.

           Palmyra Island is shelled by Japanese submarines I 71 and I 72.

           Unarmed U.S. tanker Montebello is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I 21 about four miles south of Piedras Blancas light, California, 35°30'N, 121°51'W. I 21 machine‑guns the lifeboats, but miraculously inflicts no casualties. I 21 later also shells unarmed U.S. tanker Idaho near the same location.

           Japanese submarine I 17 shells unarmed U.S. tanker Larry Doheny southwest of Cape Mendocino, California,40°00'N, 125°00'W, but the American ship escapes.

           USAAF B‑17s bomb Japanese ships in Lingayen Gulf and off Davao, damaging minesweeper W.17 and destroyer Kuroshio off the latter place. USAAF P‑40s and P‑35s strafe landing forces in San Miguel Bay, Luzon, damaging destroyer Nagatsuki.

           Submarine Seal (SS‑183) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Soryu Maru off Vigan, Luzon, 17°35'N, 120°12'E.

           Japanese troops land at Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo. Off the invasion beaches, Dutch submarine K XIV torpedoes and sinks transport Hokkai Maru, army transport Hiyoshi Maru, and damages army cargo ship Nichiran Maru and transport Katori Maru.

ATLANTIC—TU 4.1.4 (Commander Richard E. Webb) assumes escort duty for convoy HX 166; the ships reach their destination without being attacked by U‑boats.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FEAF—4 B‑17’s take off from Del Monte shortly after midnight during 22/23 Dec and bomb shipping in Lingayen Gulf. 12 P‑40’s and 6 P‑35’s strafe forces landing in San Miguel Bay. FEAF comes under control of newly-created USFIA. General Brereton, Commanding General, receives orders establishing HQ FEAF at Darwin.

 

US ARMY

WAKE—Japanese naval force arrives off Wake about 0200 and puts ashore about 1,500 personnel of Special Naval Landing Force. Garrison holds out for about ii hours before being overwhelmed. TF 14, the relief force, after reaching point a little more than 400 miles from Wake, is recalled shortly before surrender of the island and retires toward Midway, the last American base remaining between Hawaii and the Philippines.

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—On Luzon, General Douglas MacArthur decides to evacuate Manila and withdraw to Bataan to make a delaying stand. During night 23–24, enemy invasion force of 7,000 men arrives in Lamon Bay from the Ryukyus. Enemy invasion force sails from Mindanao for Jolo Island, Sulu Archipelago.

MALAYA—Indian 3 Corps completes withdrawal of all W coast forces behind Perak R, night 23–24. Japanese planes, which so far have concentrated on airfields, begin intensive action against forward areas.

BORNEO—Japanese convoy is detected heading toward Kuching, Sarawak.

CHINA—Japanese begin drive on Changsha, Hunan Province.

BURMA—Japanese open series of strong air attacks on Rangoon, beginning battle for air supremacy that is to last until late February 1942. Exodus of civilian laborers hampers port operations in Rangoon.

LIBYA—Because of supply difficulties, which increase as pursuit progresses westward, elements of 13 Corps, British Eighth Army, are forced to remain in place. However, Indian 4th Division seizes Barce, on coast, and forward elements Of 7th Armored Division force enemy to retire from Antelat to Agedabia.

 

US MARINE CORPS

WAKE—Wake Island surrenders to Japanese.