Monday, 2 February 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Submarine Seadragon (SS-194) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Tamagawa Maru off Cape Bolinao, Luzon, P.I.,17°16'N, 119°48'E, but misses army cargo vessel Nisshu Maru in the same attack.

           Japanese minesweeper W.9 is sunk, and minesweepers W.11 and W.12 damaged, by Dutch mines off Ambon, N.E.I.,03°42'S, 128°10'E.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. tanker W.L. Steed is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-103 about 90 miles east of the mouth of the Delaware River, 38°25'N, 72°43'W. Exposure to the frigid weather will eventually kill 34 of the 38 man crew who survive the loss of the ship at the outset (see 4, 6, and 12 February).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

HAWAIIAN AF—VII Interceptor Command is activated in Hawaii, with General Davidson as commander. General Hale commands VII Bomber Command.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—General Stilwell is designated Chief of Staff to Supreme Commander, China Theater, and is directed by War Department to “increase the effectiveness of United States assistance to the Chinese Government for the prosecution of the war and to assist in improving the combat efficiency of the Chinese Army.”

LUZON—II Corps attacks to clear bridgehead, at first employing 31st Engr Battalion (PA) and then reinforcing with elements of 41st Infantry after opposition proves stubborn. Enemy completes withdrawal from bridgehead during night 2–3. In I Corps area, Armored platoon of 192d Tank Battalion and platoon of 1st Battalion, 45th Infantry, attempt unsuccessfully to reduce Big Pocket. In South Sector, Company C of 192d Tank Battalion assists Scouts in another attack on Quinauan Pt beachhead, but results are no more satisfactory. Other Scout Battalions 2d Battalion of 45th Inf; 3d and 1st Battalions of 57th Infantry) attack abreast to clear Anyasan–Silaiim sector, making slow progress except on left, where no opposition is met.

ERITREA—Personnel of U.S. North African Mission embarked on Siboney reach Massawa.

LIBYA—General Auchinleck orders British Eighth Army to hold Tobruk as a supply base for future offensive.

US MARINE CORPS

 

Sunday, 1 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—TF 8 (Vice Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.), formed around carrier Enterprise (CV-6) and TF 17 (Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher), formed around carrier Yorktown (CV-5), raid the Marshall and Gilbert Islands; TF 8 concentrates on Kwajalein and Wotje, with heavy cruiser Chester (CA-27) bombarding Maleolap atoll; TF 17 targets enemy installations on Jaluit, Makin, and Mili. TF 11 (Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.), formed around carrier Lexington (CV-2) supports the operations from the vicinity of Christmas Island.

           At Kwajalein, SBDs (VB 6 and VS 6) and TBDs (VT 6) from Enterprise sink transport Bordeaux Maru and damage light cruiser Katori, submarine I-23, minelayer Tokiwa, auxiliary netlayer Kashima Maru, auxiliary submarine chaserNo.2 Shonan Maru, submarine depot ship Yasukuni Maru, oiler Toa Maru, tanker Hoyo Maru, and army cargo ship Shinhei Maru; in the bombing of shore installations, Rear Admiral Yatsushiro Sukeyoshi (Commander Sixth Base Force) becomes the first Imperial Navy flag officer to die in combat when an SBD scores a direct hit on his headquarters. Off Wotje, gunfire from heavy cruisers Northampton (CA-26) and Salt Lake City (CA-25) sink gunboat Toyotsu Maru; destroyer Dunlap (DD-384) shells and sinks auxiliary submarine chaser No.10 Shonan Maru.

           Japanese retaliatory air attacks (Chitose Kokutai) on TF 8 result in damage to carrier Enterprise (near-miss of crash of land attack plane), 10°33'N, 171°53'E, and heavy cruiser Chester (by bomb dropped by carrier fighter), 08°45'N,171°33'E.

           Planes from Yorktown cause less damage, due to a paucity of targets at the objective; nevertheless, SBDs (VS 5) bomb and strafe gunboat Nagata Maru at Makin, while SBDs (VB 5) bomb and strafe cargo ship Kanto Maru at Jaluit. Rear Admiral Fletcher detaches three of his four destroyers to look for downed TBD (VT 5) reported in the water astern of TF 17. During the search, a Japanese reconnaissance flying boat (Yokohama Kokutai) attacks (but does not damage)destroyer Sims (DD-409). Soon thereafter, two F4Fs (VF 42) splash the flying boat. The TBD crew, however, is never found in the prevailing poor weather.

           Motor torpedo boats and USAAF P-40s repulse Japanese landing attempt on southwest Bataan. PT 32 damages Japanese minelayer Yaeyama off Subic Bay.

           Naval Base, Sydney, Australia, is established.

ATLANTIC—Seventh Naval District with headquarters at Key West, Florida, is reestablished.

CARIBBEAN—Naval Air Stations, St. Lucia, British West Indies, and British Guiana; and Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Antigua, British West Indies, are established.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—VIII Bomber Command is activated at Langley Field and VIII Interceptor Command at Selfridge Field.

FAR EAST AF—P‑40’s from Bataan bomb and strafe landing barges off Quinauan Point during 1/2 Feb. These strikes, in conjunction with naval and field artillery fire, cause considerable damage and casualties but fail to prevent the landings which take place S of the point, although the attempt to reinforce troops already on the point is thwarted.

US ARMY

GILBERT AND MARSHALL ISLANDS—Units of U.S. Pacific Fleet make surprise air and naval attacks on Japanese air and naval bases at Roi, Kwajalein, Wotje, Taroa, and Jaluit Islands in the Marshall group and Makin in the Gilbert group, severely damaging enemy shipping and aircraft facilities.

LUZON—II Corps prepares to attack in Sector C to clear enemy bridgehead from which Japanese continue to withdraw. I Corps continues efforts to reduce pockets S of MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE with negligible success.

           In South Sector, Scouts renew battle against Quinauan Pt beachhead but progress is still limited. Scout casualties by this time are estimated at 50 percent. Japanese reinforcements for Quinauan Pt are spotted, night 1–2, and attacked by remaining 4 P–40’s of FEAF, motor torpedo boats, and artillery and infantry weapons from shore. Enemy is forced to land instead in Anyasan–Silaiim area.

ERITREA—Placed under command of GHQ MEF.

LIBYA—General Ritchie orders general withdrawal of 13 Corps, British Eighth Army, to line Gazala–Bir Hacheim in order to avoid envelopment. Indian 4th Div; which reverts to 13 Corps command, completes withdrawal to Derna line during night 1–2.

USSR—Red Army continues powerful offensive throughout February but with diminishing success as German resistance stiffens with arrival of reinforcements. Further efforts to break through to Leningrad and Sevastopol are futile, but some success is achieved in other sectors. Soviet forces in the Crimea are reinforced.

NORWAY—Puppet government is established under Vidkun Quisling.

US MARINE CORPS

U. S. carrier task forces raid Japanese positions in Gilberts and Marshal Islands.

 

Saturday, 31 January 1942,

US NAVY 

GENERAL—Office of Procurement and Material is established in the office of the Under Secretary of the Navy; Vice Admiral Samuel M. Robinson, Chief of the Bureau of Ships, is named its director. He must build, from the ground up, inorganization that will assure the flow of vital materials essential to the production of ships, planes, and other munitions. He will instill in the production program the need for more production and greater speed, and will apply himself to breaking complex bottlenecks in production, settling conflicts in priorities, solving labor difficulties and curing the multitudinous ills besetting the Navy's production efforts.

PACIFIC—TF 11 (Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.), formed around carrier Lexington (CV-2), departs Pearl Harbor to cover the retirement of TF 8 (Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.) and TF 17 (Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher) from the Marshalls and Gilberts (see 1 February).

           Japanese troops land on Amboina Island, N.E.I.

           Destroyer Helm (DD-388) evacuates civilian radio operators and weather observers from Howland and Baker Islands; she is bombed by a Japanese reconnaissance flying boat (Yokohama Kokutai) off Baker, but is not damaged.

ATLANTIC—British tanker San Arcadio is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-107 at 38°10'N, 63°50'W (see 11February).

           British tanker Tacoma Star is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-109 at 37°33'N, 69°21'W; destroyer Roe (DD-418), on temporary duty with the Fifth Naval District defense forces due to the increase in ship sinkings off Cape Hatteras, is sent to rescue survivors.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ARMY AIR FORCES—General Eaker is designated CG, Bomber Command, USAFBI and ordered to proceed to UK.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—General Stilwell, in memo to General Marshall, estimates his needs for China assignment and requests that his staff and any forces that may join it be called a task force. War Department subsequently approves designation of Stilwell’s forces as U.S. Task Force in China.

LUZON—After air and artillery preparation, Japanese begin attack on II Corps in evening but are halted by corps fire. Enemy regiment concealed in bridgehead across Pilar River begins withdrawing under cover of darkness. I Corps continues battle against enemy pockets in sectors of 1st and 11th Divisions. The pockets are now cut off from supply. In South Sector, operations against enemy beachhead at Quinauan Pt continue with little change in positions. Japanese reinforcements are ordered to the area. 192d Tank Battalion (less one co) is sent to W coast to help reduce Quinauan Pt beachhead.

MALAYA—Malaya defense force completes withdrawal to Singapore Island at 0815 and blows causeway. For defense purposes, Singapore is divided into 3 sectors. Indian 3 Corps, under command of General Heath, consisting of Indian 11th and British 8th Divisions and corps troops, is responsible for N area. S Area, which includes Singapore town, is the responsibility of Maj General F. Keith Simmons, commander of Singapore Fortress troops, who has under his command in addition to fixed defenses, 1st and 2d Malayan Brigs and Strait Settlements Volunteer Force. W Area, under command of General Bennett, Commander AIF, is manned by Australians and Ind

44th Brigade, with attachments. Activity from this time until Japanese invasion is confined to artillery exchanges, air attacks, and patrolling. Chief targets for enemy planes are docks and Kalang airdrome.

BURMA—Moulmein garrison withdraws across the Salween to Martaban. 48th Brigade of Indian 19th Division arrives in Rangoon and is held in reserve. Another brief lull ensues in ground action as Japanese prepare for further attacks, infiltrating across the Salween and bombing and shelling Martaban.

ETHIOPIA—Great Britain recognizes independence of Ethiopia.

IRAN—Maj General John N. Greely, head of U.S. Military Mission to USSR, which is to advise and assist Russians on lend-lease matters, arrives at Basra, Iraq; from there proceeds to Tehran, Iran, where he establishes his HQ.

US MARINE CORPS

 

Friday, 30 January 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Japanese naval land attack planes (Genzan Kokutai) bomb Allied shipping at Keppel Harbor, Singapore, Straits Settlements; transport Wakefield (AP-21), waiting to embark passengers, is damaged by a bomb, as are British transports (ex-passenger liners) Duchess of Bedford and Empress of Japan and freighter Madura. Transport West Point (AP-23) is straddled and showered with fragments, but suffers no damage. She provides medical assistance to Wakefield. Both U.S. transports subsequently embark passengers that include dockyard workers from Singapore and their families, in addition to Royal Navy officers and enlisted men and a small RAF contingent. The ships will then proceed to Batavia, Java, N.E.I., and thence on to Colombo, Ceylon. 

ATLANTIC—Coast Guard cutter Alexander Hamilton (WPG-34), torpedoed by German submarine U-132 the previous day, is scuttled by gunfire of destroyer Ericsson (DD-440) off Reykjavik, Iceland.

           Unarmed U.S. tanker Rochester is torpedoed, shelled, and sunk by German submarine U-106 off the Chesapeake Lightship, 37°10'N, 73°58'W; three crewmen perish in the initial torpedo explosion. Destroyer Roe (DD-418) rescues the 29 survivors.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

HAWAIIAN AF—B‑17’s of TG 8.9 return to Hawaii, having completed a mission (began on 16 Jan 42) which afforded a pioneer look at the problem of air operations over vast Pacific areas, especially the problems of navigation and the servicing of aircraft.

US ARMY

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—General MacArthur takes control of all naval forces in the Philippines.

LUZON—In Sector C of II Corps, efforts to dislodge enemy from Pilar River bridgehead fail. Indecisive fighting continues along MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE. I Corps makes slow progress against enemy pockets behind MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE. While 1st Division attempts to reduce Little Pocket, elements of 11th and 45th Regiments attack Big Pocket from N and S, respectively. In South Sector, 3d Battalion of 45th Infantry, reinforced, continues to attack Quinauan Pt beachhead. 2d Battalion of same regiment, reinforced, supported by 88th FA battery, pushes slowly toward Silaiim River mouth.

MALAYA—British withdrawal to Singapore reaches its final stage. East Force is the first unit to cross causeway and is followed by Indian 11th Division and West Force. West Force delays withdrawal as long as possible in futile effort to recover 22d Brigade of Indian 9th Division. Remnants of this brigade are eventually ferried across Strait of Singapore. It is decided to withdraw Malaya Air Force to Netherlands East Indies except for a single squadron.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese invade Ambon (Amboina), second largest naval base in Netherlands East Indies, and are opposed by garrison of Dutch and Australians. Allied air and naval forces have already been withdrawn because of enemy air attacks.

BURMA—Japanese open strong attack on Moulmein and seize the airdrome.

US MARINE CORPS

 

Thursday, 29 January 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese land at Badoeng Island and Mampawan, Celebes.

           Minesweeper Quail (AM-15) bombards Japanese troop concentrations at Longoskawayan Point, Luzon. 

           Oiler Ramapo (AO-12) arrives at Bora Bora, Society Islands, to support survey operations being carried out by Sumner (AG 32), which had arrived at that place on 22 January (see 12 February).

INDIAN OCEAN—U.S. freighter Florence Luckenbach is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-64 about 15 miles east of Madras, India, 12°55'N, 80°33'E; there are no casualties among the 38 man crew and all hands reach Madras by lifeboat.

ATLANTIC—Coast Guard cutter Alexander Hamilton (WPG-34) is torpedoed by German submarine U-132 off Reykjavik, Iceland,64°10'N, 22°56'W (see 31 January).

           PBYs (VP 52) operating out of Natal, Brazil, are fired upon by British freighter Debrett owing to difficulty of mutual identification.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FAR EAST AF—B‑17’s, striking out of Palembang, hit Kuantan airfield scoring numerous hits on runways and hangars.

HAWAIIAN AF—VII Bomber Command is activated. B‑17’s of TG 8.9 fly from Canton Island to Palmyra.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Combined Chiefs of Staff establish ANZAC Area, covering ocean expanses between Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. This area is to be under U.S. naval command.

FIJI ISLANDS—U.S. troops arrive in islands.

LUZON—II Corps withstands further efforts of Japanese to breach MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE. In river Corps area, troops of 1st and 11th Divisions operate against Little and Big Pockets, respectively, in effort to determine their strength and disposition, and evoke sharp opposition. Scouts of 1st Battalion, 45th Infantry,, prepare to assist 11th Division in attack on Big Pocket. In South Sector, after half-hour artillery preparation augmented by fire of mine sweeper offshore, ad Battalion of 57th Infantry (PS) attacks and clears Longoskawayan Pt; enemy remnants are being mopped up. 3d Battalion of 45th Infantry (PS) continues to make slow and costly progress at Quinauan Pt. In Anyasan-Silaiim sector, Scouts of 2d Battalion, 45th Infantry, prepare for attack and are reinforced by 1st Battalion of Philippine Constabulary and 1st Battalion of 12th Infantry (PA), both of these having been relieved at Quinauan Pt. Company A of 57th Infantry is to guard West Road.

MALAYA—Withdrawal toward Singapore continues. Additional elements of British 18th Division arrive at Singapore; also, a sq of obsolete light tanks arrives from India, the only tanks to reach Malaya.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese occupy Pontianak, on W coast of Dutch Borneo.

IRAN—Great Britain and Soviet Union sign treaty of alliance with Iran, wherein Iran agrees to remain neutral; Britain and USSR promise to withdraw their troops from Iranian territory 6 months after hostilities with Axis cease. (Persian Corridor is to become principal route for movement of supplies to USSR.)

LIBYA—Axis main forces remain in Msus area, but elements pursue Indian 4th Division of British Eighth Army as it falls back slowly toward Derna line.

USSR—On central front, Red Army continues to deepen salient SW of Kaluga and reports capture of Sukhinichi.

US MARINE CORPS

 

Wednesday, 28 January 1942

US NAVY

INTERNATIONAL—Third Conference of Foreign Ministers of the American Republics at Rio de Janeiro is concluded. Despite the efforts of Argentina and Chile, Pan-American unity is preserved; within days, all Latin American nations that had not already done so (except Argentina and Chile) sever ties with Germany, Italy, and Japan.

PACIFIC—Japanese land on Rossel Island off New Guinea. 

ATLANTIC—PBO (VP 82) on an antisubmarine sweep astern of convoy HX 172 attacks a surfaced submarine in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland at 43°50'N, 53°50'E. Although pilot (Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class Donald F. Mason) reports "sighted sub, sank same" no U-boat is lost on this date.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

EIGHTH AF—Activated at Savannah AB, Col Asa N Duncan commanding. Originally designated as the air element of GYMNAST.

FAR EAST AF—B‑17’s from Malang and Palembang attack airfields at Kendari and Kuala Lumpur.

HAWAIIAN AF—B‑17’s of TG 8.9 fly unsuccessful antisubmarine mission from Canton Island.

US ARMY

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES—Rio Conference of American republics ends.

UNITED STATES—Eighth Air Force is activated at Savannah, Georgia, under Brigadier General Asa N. Duncan.

LUZON—In II Corps area, 41st Infantry completes movement into Sector C line, taking up positions between 31st and 51st Division elements. Japanese renew attack against corps in evening: some cross Tiawir River in front of Sector D, where they are halted; others attempt to move forward in Sector C without success. From W coast, in I Corps area, Japanese move eastward along corps’ MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE to 1st Division sector, where defense preparations are not yet completed; during night 28–29, Japanese breach MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE there and pour southward through gap. As the enemy force becomes divided in dense jungle, two pockets, called Little Pocket and Big Pocket, are formed, Little Pocket about 400 yards below MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE and Big Pocket nearly a mile behind MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE. In South Sector, Scouts of 2d Battalion, 57th Infantry, attack Longoskawayan Pt and advance two thirds of its length before artillery support is obstructed by Pucot Hill. 3d Battalion of 45th Infantry (PS) attacks enemy beachhead at Quinauan Pt, but jungle terrain and enemy make progress slow and costly. At night 3d Battalion is reinforced by Company B of

57th Infantry. In Anyasan-Silaiim sector, 17th Pursuit Sq and Philippine Constabulary elements push almost to coast of Anyasan Bay, but Constabulary, fearing counterattack, withdraws in confusion after dark.

MALAYA—East Force continues unopposed withdrawal toward Singapore. Japanese reach Benut and continue southward behind Indian 11th Division. Gap develops between the two brigs of Indian 9th Division withdrawing along Railroad; 22d Brigade becomes isolated from main body.

LIBYA—Indian 4th Division is authorized to withdraw from Benghazi since armored elements of 13 Corps, British Eighth Army, are too busily engaged to assist it. Indian 7th Brigade, the last to withdraw, finds its line of retreat blocked but breaks out to S and eventually makes its way back to Eighth Army.

US MARINE CORPS

 

Tuesday, 27 January 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Gudgeon (SS-211) torpedoes and sinks Japanese submarine I-73 240 miles west of Midway, 28°24'N,178°35'E. 

           Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) delivers ammunition to Corregidor, P.I., and evacuates naval and army pilots.

           USAAF B-17s bomb and damage Japanese seaplane carrier Sanuki Maru off Balikpapan, Borneo.

           Naval Air Station, Puunene, Maui, T.H., is established.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. tanker Francis E. Powell is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-130 about eight miles northeast of Winter Quarter Lightship, 37°45'N, 74°53'W; a Coast Guard boat from the Assateague Island station and U.S. tanker W. C. Fairbanks rescue the 28 survivors from the 32 man crew. U.S. tanker Halo is torpedoed and damaged by U-130 about 17 miles northeast of Diamond Shoals Lightship, 35°33'N, 75°20'W.

           U.S. steamship Coamo rescues 71 survivors of Canadian steamer Lady Hawkins that had been sunk by U-66 on 19 January.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

HAWAIIAN AF—B‑17’s of TG 8.9 return to Canton Island.

US ARMY

LUZON—In II Corps area, Japanese begin assault against MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE in afternoon. After feint down East Road, main attack is made against Sectors C and D. Sector C is thinly manned and in the process of being reinforced by 41st Infantry from Sector D. Japanese force the outposts back and get small advance group across Pilar River. In I Corps area, enemy renews efforts to break through MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE on W coast and is again brought to a halt by 91st Division (PA). In South Sector, General Wainwright sends 3d Battalion of 45th Infantry to Quinauan Pt and 2d Battalion of 57th Infantry to Longoskawayan Pt to dislodge or destroy enemy along SW coast. Meanwhile, after preparatory fire from all available guns is conducted against Longoskawayan Pt, infantry attacks but is unable to clear it. Scouts of 2d Battalion, 57th Infantry, relieve naval Battalion there during night 27–28. Japanese are contained but cannot be cleared from Quinauan Pt. Water-borne reinforcements for this position land short of objective, between Anyasan and Silaiim Rivers, before dawn and put beach defenders, 1st Battalion of 1st Philippine Constabulary, to flight. 17th Pursuit Sq, from reserve, and 2d Battalion of 2d Philippine Constabulary, from MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE to N, move against Japanese but are halted about 1,000 yards from shore. Japanese are ordered, upon reinforcing Quinauan beachhead, to drive to Mariveles.

MALAYA—General Percival, receiving permission from General Wavell to retire to Singapore at his discretion, decides to withdraw at once through Johore Bahru and across causeway to Singapore. Withdrawal is to be accomplished under cover of darkness and completed during night 30–31. East Force meets no opposition as it pulls back. While elements of Indian 11th Div’s Batu Pahat force fall back to Benut, the rest move to Ponggor River mouth, from which they are withdrawn by sea during the following nights. West Force fights local actions while retiring along main road and Railroad.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Singkawang II airfield, Borneo, under enemy attack, is ordered evacuated.

AUSTRALIA—General Barnes assumes command of base facilities in Australia.

LIBYA—As 13 Corps, British Eighth Army, prepares to counterattack in Msus area, enemy renews offensive, making main effort toward Benghazi while moving strong diversionary column toward Mechili.

USSR—On Donets front, Soviet forces seize important rail center of Lozovaya, W of Izyum.

US MARINE CORPS