Tuesday, 13 January 1942

US NAVY 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

INTERNATIONAL—American and British CoSs formally adopt agreement to begin movement of American air forces to UK as soon as possible in order to intensify attack on Germany.

US ARMY

LUZON—On E flank of II Corps, 21st Infantry (PA) counterattacks at 0600 after artillery preparation and reduces part of salient on left flank of 57th Infantry (PS). Japanese are thus prevented from launching planned offensive in that area, but make progress to W against 51st Division (PA), forcing it back to MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE along Balantay River. Enemy column driving S in central Bataan, with task of turning corps’ left flank, is not yet in position for attack.

MALAYA—General Wavell again visits front and confers with commanding officers. Withdrawal of Indian 3 Corps into Johore reaches final stage; all vehicles are being moved through Segamat. Convoy with badly needed reinforcements reaches Singapore and unloads first echelon of British 18th Division (53d Brigade Group), AA units, and 50 Hurricane fighters with crews.

BURMA—Joint Military Council recommends construction of Ledo and Imphal roads.

USSR—Red Army has driven deep salient between German 2d Pz and 4th Armies on central front SW of Kaluga; deepens it with capture of Kirov.

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

Monday, 12 January 1942

US NAVY

GENERAL—Authorized enlisted strength of the U.S. Navy is increased to 500,000.

PACIFIC—Dutch army shore battery sinks Japanese minesweepers W.13 and W.14 off Tarakan, Borneo; destroyer Asagumo is damaged when she runs aground off Tarakan.

            Japanese submarine I-121 mines Clarence Strait, the body of water connecting Van Diemen Gulf and the Timor Sea, off Australia's northern territory, at the approaches to Darwin, the Asiatic Fleet's main logistics base (see 16 January).

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

 

US ARMY

LUZON—Japanese exert strong pressure against II Corps, particularly on W, while taking up positions for concerted assault. 51st Division (PA) is hard hit and gives ground, some of which is regained after reserves are committed. In center, Japanese push back OPL of 41st Division (PA). On E coast, Japanese regain positions on S bank of Calaguiman River; to meet threat there, 21st Infantry (PA) is released from reserve to assist 57th Infantry (PS). In I Corps area, Japanese detachment moves by boat and seizes undefended Grande Island.

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

11 January 1942, Sunday

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Carrier Saratoga (CV-3) is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-6, 500 miles southwest of Oahu, T.H., 19°00'N,165°00'W. 

            Naval Station Pago Pago, Samoa, is shelled by Japanese submarine.

            Japan declares war on the Netherlands; invasion of Netherlands East Indies begins as Japanese Central Force (Vice Admiral Hirose Sueto) lands Army 56th Regimental Combat Group and 2d Kure Special [Naval] Landing Force at Tarakan; naval paratroops (1st Yokosuka Special Landing Force) occupy Menado. Eastern Force (Rear Admiral Kubo Kuji) then follows up the airborne assault on Menado with 1st Special Landing Force going ashore at Menado and Kema, Celebes. These operations will secure control of the northern approaches to the Java Sea.

            U.S. Army transport Liberty Glo is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-166 about 10 miles southwest of Lombok Strait, 08°54'S, 115°28'E. Although destroyer Paul Jones (DD-230) and Dutch destroyer Van Ghent take the damaged ship in tow and beach her on the shores of Bali, Liberty Glo will be written off as a total loss.

            U.S. tankship Manatawny sinks in Manila Bay as the result of damage received on 13 December 1941.

ATLANTIC—Operation Paukenschlag ("roll of the kettledrums") descends upon the eastern seaboard of the U.S. like a "bolt from the blue." The first group of five German submarines takes up station off the east coast of the United States on this date. Over the next month, these boats (U-66, U-109, U-123, U-125 and U-130) will sink 26 Allied ships; the presence of the enemy off the eastern seaboard takes U.S. Navy antisubmarine forces by surprise (see 14 January and following).

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FAR EAST AF—B‑17’s, out of Malang, attack landing forces on island of Tarakan.

 

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Plan to dispatch U.S. V Corps, reinforced, and air and supply forces to N Ireland (MAGNET) is approved.

LUZON—In II Corps area, Japanese advancing down E coast of Bataan drive back OPL of 57th Infantry (PS), cross Calaguiman River, and after nightfall begin assault on MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE, forcing 57th Infantry to fall back a little. Fighting continues throughout night 11–12. Reserves are committed and 57th Infantry counterattacks, regaining most of lost ground by dawn of 12th. To W, another enemy column shifts W in sector of 41st Division (PA) and is contained by that division. Advance elements of still another column, pushing slowly S in central Bataan toward 51st Division (PA), reach, Orani River by morning.

MALAYA—Lull develops in ground action as Indian 3 Corps continues withdrawal into Johore, but enemy planes remain active and begin series of strikes against Muar.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese invade Netherlands East Indies at 2 points. Central assault force, with air support from Jolo Island., lands at rich oil center of Tarakan, off E coast of Dutch Borneo, while E assault force from Davao, Mindanao, invades Celebes at Menado and Kema. Naval paratroop force is dropped on airfield just S of Menado. Allied planes are unable to halt enemy, and the small Dutch garrisons are quickly overwhelmed. Japanese soon put Tarakan and Menado into use as air bases from which to support operations to S.

LIBYA-EGYPT—South African 2d Division of 30 Corps, British Eighth Army, attacks Sollum, just across Egyptian border, and captures it early on 12th. 13 Corps pursues Rommel’s forces toward El Agheila, a strong natural position.

USSR—Soviet forces continue to push westward on central front and cut N–S Rzhev–Brvansk Railroad line.

 

US MARINE CORPS

            Japanese begin invasion of Netherlands East Indies.

 

10 January 1942, Saturday

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Destroyer Paul Jones (DD-230) rescues survivors from Dutch steamships Camphuijs (sunk on 9 January by Japanese submarine I-158 at 04°40'S, 111°47'E) and Benkoelen (also sunk on the 9th by Japanese submarine I-165 at 04°50'S,112°50'E).

            Submarine Pickerel (SS-177) torpedoes and sinks Japanese gunboat Kanko Maru at mouth of Davao Gulf, off Cape San Augustin, P.I., 06°19'N, 125°54'E.

            Submarine Stingray (SS-186) torpedoes and sinks Japanese cargo ship Harbin Maru in South China Sea off the south coast of Hainan Island, 17°40'N, 109°20'E.

            Dutch submarine O-19 torpedoes and sinks Japanese army cargo ship Akita Maru and torpedoes merchant cargo ship Tairyu Maru at the mouth of the Gulf of Siam, 07°40'N, 102°50'E.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FAR EAST AF—Fighter units complete movement (begun 24 Dec 41) from various bases on Luzon to Bataan Peninsula.

 

US ARMY

LUZON—General MacArthur inspects Bataan defenses. Japanese make their first surrender demand, dropping it from the air. In II Corps area, Japanese force driving S along East Road splits, most of it moving W; both forces reach OPL along Calaguiman River below Samal and exert strong pressure against it. Enemy column pushing S in central Bataan is slowed by jungle terrain. In I Corps area, Japanese W assault force reaches Olongapo without opposition.

MALAYA—Indian 3 Corps abandons Port Swettenham and Kuala Lumpur while falling back to cover Port Dickson and Seremban area. Japanese planes, which since late December have been making night attacks on airdromes on Singapore, begin daylight raids on the airdromes.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—General Wavell, Supreme Commander of ABDA area, f lies to Java, where he confers with members of ABDA staff; establishes hq at Lembang,

10 miles N of Bandoeng.

BURMA—Commander of Indian 17th Division arrives in Burma to take charge of Tenasserim operations.

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

Prototype Rails Presentation 2026

 I presented a clinic at Cocoa Beach for Prototype Rails 2026 entitled "What's It Take To Move a Division."  A copy of that presentation can be found on Google Drive here:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JKoi8xajggUWle9Wr1Sa53TS7D6V1_9o/view?usp=sharing

In the clinic I used the movement of the 86th Infantry Division to Camp Cooke as an example.  I previously wrote about that move in 2019.  That post is here: https://northbaylines.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-blackhawks-move-west.html

It contains links to copies of the original movement memos and a spreadsheet version of the schedule and load out.

9 January 1942, Friday

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Pollack (SS-180) torpedoes and sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Teian Maru (ex-Yugoslav Tomislav)40 miles south-southwest of Inubozaki, Japan, 35°00'N, 140°36'E.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FAR EAST AF—B‑17’s, flying out of Kendari, strike shipping in Davao Bay. 

 

US ARMY  

LUZON—Japanese open assault on Bataan at 1500 From Dinalupihan-Hermosa area, 3 RCT’s with artillery support move forward, against II Corps on E and toward I Corps sector on W. None of the columns reaches the OPL. II Corps, defending Abucay line (from Mabatang on Manila Bay to Mt Natib) with 57th Infantry (PS) on E, 41st Division (PA) in center, and 51st Division (PA) on W, opens fire on enemy combat team driving down East Road and makes patrol contact with it. To W, another Japanese column advances unmolested down trail from Dinalupihan to vicinity of Album. In Island Corps area, enemy column from Dinalupihan is slowed only by demolitions while moving W along Route 7 toward Olongapo. Disposed along Island Corps’ Mauban line (Mt Silanganan on E to Mauban on Subic Bay) are Company K of 1st Infantry (PA); 31st FA Battalion of 31st Division (PA) organized as infantry; and 3d Infantry of 1st Division (PA). Additional troops are maintaining OPL to front.

MALAYA—General Percival issues instructions for withdrawal of Indian 3 Corps into Johore, where final stand before Singapore Naval Base is to be made. Corps begins withdrawal at once, executing demolition program as it goes. Indian 11th Division and line of communications troops are to delay enemy along two lines: one covering Seremban and Port Dickson, and the other covering Tampin and Malacca; Indian 9th Division is to clear Kuala Pilah and Tampin, respectively.

BORNEO—RAF planes from Malaya terminate action over Borneo with reconnaissance flight over Kuching.

CHINA—As consideration of the U.S. role in China continues in Washington, General Marshall decides to recommend against sending General Drum to China because of the small effort that is currently to be made there.

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

8 January 1942, Thursday

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-19 reconnoiters Pearl Harbor.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE  

UNITED KINGDOM—General Chaney designated CG USAFBI; continues as Chief SPOBS.

 

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—War Department orders that only Air Corps, AA, and service troops be sent to Australia, where emphasis will be placed on rapid build up of air forces.

LUZON—Front is quiet as Japanese regroup for drive on Bataan and U.S. and Philippine forces organize defense positions.

MALAYA—General Wavell visits Malayan front, where preparations are being made for withdrawal of Indian 3 Corps into Johore.

BORNEO—Japanese occupy Jesselton, British North Borneo.

 

US MARINE CORPS