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

 

7 January 1942, Wednesday

US NAVY

GENERAL—Navy's authorized aircraft strength is increased from 15,000 to 27,500.

PACIFIC—Submarine Pollack (SS-180) torpedoes and sinks Japanese collier No.1 Unkai Maru south of Honshu, 34°27'N,139°59'E.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

  

US ARMY

LUZON—Siege of Bataan begins as U.S. and Filipino forces complete withdrawal from Layac line. North Luzon Force becomes I Philippine Corps, containing about 22,500 men of 1st 31st, 71st, and 91st Divisions (all PA), 26th Cavalry (PS), miscellaneous troops, and supporting weapons. Bataan Defense Force is renamed II Philippine Corps and consists of about 25,000 men of 11th, 21st 41st, and 51st Divisions (all PA), 57th Infantry (PS) of Philippine Division, and supporting weapons. Defense of Bataan as far S as Mariveles Mts is divided about equally between the

2 corps, Island Corps being responsible for W half and II Corps for E half. Service Command Area is located at S tip below Mariveles Mts and is the responsibility of Brigadier General A. C. McBride; in this area are 2d Division (PC)—organized on this date—provisional infantry units formed from air corps personnel, and provisional Battalion of Navy and Marine personnel. Defenses on Bataan are organized in depth: MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE extends from Mauban on W to Mabatang on E, a distance of 20 miles; OPL is disposed before the MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE; and rear line of defense, manned by USAFFE reserve (Philippine Division, less 57th Inf; tank group; SPM group), is being formed.

MALAYA—Japanese, in strong tank-infantry assault beginning before dawn, break through Slim River positions of Indian 11th Division and drive rapidly toward Kuala Lumpur, reaching positions a miles S of Slim village. Indian 3 Corps withdraws the Slim River line southward to Tanjong Malim, between village of Slim and road junction at Kuala Kubu. This action temporarily leaves Indian 11th Division ineffective as a fighting force. General Wavell arrives at Singapore.

BORNEO—Japanese in Sarawak reach frontier of Dutch West Borneo.

LIBYA—13 Corps, British Eighth Army, patrols to Agedabia and finds that enemy has withdrawn. Convoy arrives safely at Benghazi. Because of rough seas, this port is not put into full operation.

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

6 January 1942, Tuesday

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Second Marine Brigade (Brigadier General Henry L. Larsen, USMC) embarked in troop transports (former Matson Line passenger liners) Lurline, Monterey and Matsonia, and cargo ship Jupiter (AK-43) and ammunition ship Lassen (AE-3) sails from San Diego, California, for Pago Pago, American Samoa. Initial escort is provided by TF 17 (Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher), formed around carrier Yorktown (CV-5) (see 20 January).

            Japanese amphibious force lands at Brunei Bay, Borneo.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

 

US ARMY

LUZON—After destructive artillery exchanges in morning, Japanese having the advantage of air spotting, enemy attacks the overextended delaying line S of Layac Junction in force and makes limited penetration; enters Dinalupihan without opposition. Withdrawal of line begins during night 6–7. Japanese aerial bombardment of Corregidor ends except for nuisance raids. Enemy air attacks during first week of 1942 have resulted in little damage to fortifications.

MALAYA—On Indian 11th Division front, Indian 6/15 Brigade Group reaches Batang Berjuntai area and takes up defensive positions S of Selangor River. Kuantan force completes withdrawal from E Malaya through Jerantut during night 6–7; continues W in Raub area.

CHINA—Having accepted nomination of Chiang Kai-shek as Supreme Commander of an Allied China Theater, Chinese ask that a senior U.S. officer be sent to China to act as chief of the Generalissimo’s Allied staff.

LIBYA—British 1st Armored Division, which has recently arrived from U. K. and relieved 7th Armored Division of 13 Corps, British Eighth Army, reaches Antelat. Port at Derna opens to traffic.

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

5 January 1942, Monday

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine tender Canopus (AS-9) is damaged by bombs, Lilimbom Cove, Mariveles, P.I.

            Submarine Pollack (SS-180) torpedoes Japanese cargo ship Heijo Maru 80 miles east-southeast of Tokyo Bay, Honshu, 34°15'N, 140°08'E.

ATLANTIC—Convoy ON 49, escorted by TU 4.1.1, reaches its dispersal point without incident.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE 

FAR EAST AF—B‑17’s from Malang stage through Samarinda during 4/5 Jan and attack shipping in Davao Bay. USFIA, which controls FEAF, is redesignated USAFIA, and General Brett assumes command.

 

US ARMY

LUZON—U.S. and Filipino troops complete withdrawal to new line extending along base of Bataan Peninsula from Dinalupihan on W to Hermosa on E. During night 5–6, withdrawal continues through Layac Junction, the funnel through which all roads into Bataan pass, final elements clearing it by 0200 after which the bridge is blown. Delaying position, called Layac line, is formed S of Layac Junction and manned by 71st and 72d Regiments of 71st Division (PA), U.S. 31st Infantry of Philippine Division, and 26th Cavalry (PS). 31st Infantry, the only completely U.S. regiment in the Philippines, has not yet been in action. Ration of Bataan defense force and of garrisons of fortified islands in Manila Bay is cut in half. Bataan echelon of hq is established on Bataan under Brigadier General Richard J. Marshall. Japanese continue daily air attacks on Corregidor and occasional attacks on other targets in Manila Bay area.

MALAYA—CinC Eastern Fleet moves hq from Singapore to Batavia, Java. General Percival, at conference in Segamat, plans for withdrawal into Johore. On Slim River front, Indian 11th Division repels enemy attack down railway.

AUSTRALIA—General Brett assumes duties as CG, U.S. Army Forces in Australia (USAFIA, previously USFIA).

BURMA—Hq of Indian 17th Division is established at Moulmein. Of 3 brigs that this division is to contain, only one—Indian 16th—is in Burma.

MIDDLE EAST—General Auchinleck is given responsibility for Iraq and Iran. Lt General E. P. Quinan’s forces in Iraq become British Tenth Army, corresponding to British Ninth Army under General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson in Syria.

USSR—Red Army lands reinforcements on Crimean coast near Eupatoria and Sudak in effort to break siege of Sevastopol naval base, but can make little headway against firm German resistance. On central front S of Kaluga, Soviet forces hold Belev, W of Oka River. Action on northern front along Volkhov River is indecisive.

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

4 January 1942, Sunday

US NAVY

PACIFIC—USAAF  B-17s bomb Japanese warships in Malalag Bay, Davao, P.I., and damage heavy cruisers Myoko and Nachi.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FAR EAST AF—Fighters from Bataan attempt interception of bombing raid on Corregidor. The fighters, failing to intercept until the enemy airplanes are over the target, have little effect on the raid. Several fighters depart from Mindanao following the mission.

 

US ARMY

LUZON—Continuing strong attacks against E flank of Porac-Guagua line, Japanese overrun Guagua and continue along Route 7 to Lubao, cutting planned line of retreat of 11th Division (PA). 21st Division zone (W part of line) is relatively quiet. Withdrawal from line Porac–Guagua begins under cover of darkness, 4–5, with 21st Division covering for

11th. Some cut-off elements of 11th Division make circuitous withdrawal through San Jose, while others move down Route 7 and form OPL between Lubao and Santa Cruz.

MALAYA—Indian 11th Division is under constant air attacks as it prepares defensive positions along Slim River in W Malaya. Japanese force moves S along W coast to Selangor River, then E along the river, threatening communications line at Rawang. To meet this threat, Indian 6/15 Brigade Group starts toward Batang Berjuntai.

NEW BRITAIN—Japanese begin air offensive against Rabaul, strategic base in Bismarck Archipelago, garrisoned by 1,400 men (principally 2/22d Battalion of 8th Division, AIF; RAAF detachment; 100 men of NGVR; and a few RAN officers). Located at Rabaul are a fighter strip at Lakunai and a bomber strip at Vunakanu.

CHINA—Chinese halt enemy drive in Changsha area of Hunan Province.

 

US MARINE CORPS 

3 January 1942, Saturday

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Japanese collier Moji Maru is sunk by mine southwest of Hong Kong, B.C.C.

            Japanese merchant cargo ship Meiko Maru is sunk by accidental gasoline explosion off Hainan Island, 15°01'N,112°48'E.

ATLANTIC—Critical fuel states in the "shortlegged" flush-deck destroyers in the screen of convoy HX 167 prompts the adoption of the expedient of cargo ship Delta (AK-29) fueling destroyers Babbitt (DD-128) and Schenck (DD-159). Weather again worsens, however, preventing Leary (DD-158) from fueling; she is sent to Casco Bay to refuel.

            Light cruiser Omaha (CL-4) and destroyer Somers (DD-381) encounter two ships in succession that fail to answer challenges; Omaha sends armed boarding party each time to obtain information. The vessels prove to be Greek freighter Marika Protopapa and Norwegian merchantman Tercero. 

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

INTERNATIONAL—Roosevelt and Churchill announce creation of unified command in SW Pacific, with Gen Wavell as supreme commander of American, British, Dutch, and Australian (ABDA) forces in that area.

 

US ARMY

ALLIED STRATEGY—General Wavell, as supreme commander of ABDA forces, is directed to hold Malay Barrier (line Malay Peninsula–Sumatra–Java–Australia) and operate as far beyond the Barrier as possible in order to check Japanese advance; hold Burma and Australia; restore communications with the Philippines through Netherlands East Indies; maintain communications within theater.

LUZON—Japanese continue determined attacks on W flank of Porac-Guagua line, where 21st Division (PA) succeeds in halting enemy below Pio; exert strong pressure on E flank in vicinity of Guagua.

MALAYA—Indian 11th Division completes withdrawal to Slim River line. Because of threat to communications in W Malaya, Kuantan force on E coast, which had previously been ordered to hold airdrome until to January, begins fighting withdrawal at once. Newly formed and poorly trained Indian 45th Brigade, reinforced, and an Indian Pioneer Battalion (a labor unit) arrive at Singapore and concentrate in S Malaya.

BORNEO—Japanese invade Labuan Island., in Brunei Bay, without opposition. From there, detachment moves to mainland at Mempakul, thence to Weston on foot, and from Weston to Beaufort by rail.

 

US MARINE CORPS

 

2 January 1942, Friday

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Manila and Cavite, P.I., fall to the Japanese.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS—Japanese occupy Manila and Cavite naval base.

ALASKA DEFENSE COMMAND The 77th Bomb Squadron joins the 28th Composite Group and the 11th Pursuit Squadron joins the Provisional Interceptor Command, Alaska. Alaskan air strength is now 2 Pursuit and 3 bomb squadrons.

 

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Lt General Hugh A. Drum, tentatively selected for field command in China, arrives in Washington, D. C., where he confers with various military leaders and finds opinions as to role of U.S. in China widely divergent.

LUZON—Defenders complete successful withdrawal through San Fernando, final elements clearing the town at 0200 and organize delaying positions along 10-mile front from Porac to Guagua. Holding this line are 21st Division (PA) on W, its left flank covered by 26th Cavalry (PS) at San Jose, S of Porac, and 11th Division (PA) on E. Japanese attack W flank in vicinity of Porac in afternoon and force 21st Division to fall back. Meanwhile, Japanese E of the Pampanga succeed in crossing the river and move to San Fernando, where they join with Japanese from Angeles. Japanese occupation force moves into Manila. Japanese planes begin daily attacks on Corregidor.

MALAYA—Japanese force reaches Telok Anson via Perak River and goes ashore, greatly increasing threat to Indian 3 Corps. 1st Independent Company and Indian 3d Cavalry Sq defending this area are forced back through Indian 12th Brigade Group, which in turn comes under severe pressure. Although enemy attacks on Kampar position are still being contained, it is decided to withdraw to Slim River after nightfall because of precarious situation along coast. Japanese landing attempt at Kuala Selangor is frustrated by arty fire late in day.

LIBYA—Bardia garrison, under pressure of South African 2d Division and 1st Army Tank Brigade (30 Corps, British Eighth Army), surrenders early in day.

 

US MARINE CORPS

Manila and Cavite, P. I., fall to Japanese.