Tuesday, 17 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Seabees (First Naval Construction Battalion) arrive at Bora Bora, Society Islands.

           Submarine Triton (SS-201) torpedoes and sinks Japanese gunboat No. 5 Shin'yo Maru off Nagasaki, Japan, 32°14'N,127°14'E.

           Japanese destroyer Ayanami is damaged when she fouls an uncharted reef 2.4 nautical miles off Durai, Anambas Islands.

ATLANTIC—Coastal minesweeper Detector (AMc-75) is accidentally sunk in collision with U.S. tanker Oswego 300 yards east-northeast of Finn's Ledge Buoy, at the entrance to the north channel at Boston, Massachusetts. There are no casualties.

           Coastal minesweeper Paramount (AMc-92) accidentally runs aground off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and is abandoned without loss. Coast Guard cutter Dione (WPG-107) provides assistance. Paramount is salvaged and returned to service.

           Destroyer Jacob Jones (DD-130) rescues 16 men from Brazilian steamship Buarque, that had been sunk by German submarine U-432 on 15 February; U.S. steamship Eagle rescues 16 more, thus accounting for all survivors.

           Coast Guard cutter Woodbury (WPC-155) rescues all hands (40 men) from mined tanker E.H. Blum. Both halves of the ship are later salvaged and rejoined, and E.H. Blum returns to active service.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

TENTH AF—Col Harry A Halverson becomes CO.

ELEVENTH AF—Colonel Lionel H Dunlap arrives from ZI and becomes CO of the Eleventh.

US ARMY

BORA BORA—U.S. Army units arrive.

LUZON—I Corps completely restores MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE without opposition as enemy continues to withdraw.

BURMA—Japanese maintain pressure against Indian 17th Division along Bilin River and continue outflanking attempts.

MIDDLE EAST—General Auchinleck is ordered to release a more divisions for action in Far East—British 70th and Australian 9th. Australian 9th Division is subsequently allowed to remain in Middle East.

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 16 February 1942

US NAVY

CARIBBEAN—Operation NEULAND begins with simultaneous attacks on Dutch and Venezuelan oil ports to disrupt production and flow of petroleum products vital to the Allied war effort; German submarine U-156 shells refinery on Aruba, N.W.I. and torpedoes and damages U.S. tanker Arkansas as she lies alongside Eagle Dock; a second torpedo misses the ship and runs up on the beach. There are no casualties among the 37 man crew. The enemy does not emerge from the action unscathed, however, for the explosion of a shell prematurely in a gun barrel injures two men on board U-156, which will receive permission to put in to Martinique (see 20-21 February).

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. tanker E.H. Blum blunders into U.S. minefield off Cape Henry, Virginia, 36°57'N, 75°52'W and is damaged by mine and breaks in half (see 17 February).

           Coast Guard cutter Calypso (WPG-104) rescues 42 survivors from Brazilian steamship Buarque, that had been sunk by German submarine U-432 the day before (see 17 February).

PACIFIC—Japanese planes bomb U.S. Timor-bound convoy, escorted by heavy cruiser Houston (CA-30) and destroyer Peary (DD 226); U.S. Army transport Miegs and U.S. freighter Mauna Loa are damaged by near-misses. On board the latter, one crewman is killed; of the 500 troops embarked, one is killed and 18 wounded. Houston's heavy antiaircraft fire saves the convoy from destruction, but the imminent fall of Timor results in the recall of the convoy and its routing back to Darwin (see 19 February).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

CARIBBEAN—German submarines attack Aruba Island., off coast of Venezuela.

LUZON—I Corps reduces salient in MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE to area 75 by 100 yards. In South Sector, enemy remnants from Silaiim Pt, attempting to escape northward, are detected about 7 miles from the point and destroyed in 2-day fight. In Manila Bay area, Japanese destroy section of pipeline on Cavite shore through which Fort Frank on Carabao Island. received fresh water. Distillation plant is put into operation at Fort Frank.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Withdrawal of British personnel and operational aircraft from Sumatra to Java is completed. Equipment is left behind at Oesthaven. Allied convoy bound for Timor is recalled to Darwin because of heavy attacks by Japanese planes.

US MARINE CORPS

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Sunday, 15 February 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Singapore surrenders to the Japanese.

           Japanese army paratroops secure vital oil refineries at Palembang, on southeast Sumatra, N.E.I.; enemy capture of this territory establishes sea and air control of the Karimata Channel and Gaspar Strait.

           Having proceeded through Gaspar Strait to the north of Banka and failed to contact the Japanese force (which has already reached Banka Strait), ABDA striking force (Rear Admiral Karel W.F.M. Doorman, RNN) is attacked by Japanese naval land attack planes (Genzan, Mihoro, and Kanoya Kokutais) as well as carrier attack planes from carrier Ryujo. Australian light cruiser HMAS Hobart is straddled, while near misses damage U.S. destroyers Barker (DD-213) and Bulmer (DD-222), which will need to retire to Australia for repairs.

           U.S. Army transport Meigs, U.S. freighters Mauna Loa and Portmar, and Australian coaster Tulagi, escorted by heavy cruiser Houston (CA-30), destroyer Peary (DD-226) and Australian corvettes HMAS Swan and HMAS Warrego sails from Darwin, Australia, for Timor (see 16 and 19 February).

ATLANTIC—Brazilian steamship Buarque is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-432 30 miles southwest of Cape Henry,36°35'N, 75°20'W (see 16 February).

           U.S. tanker Point Breeze suffers explosion in engine room that damages steering gear, forcing the ship to go aground off Throggs Neck, New York; one man is killed and one is blown overboard. Point Breeze later floats free and is towed to New York for repairs.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

SE ASIA—Japanese forces on Malay Peninsula capture Singapore.

US ARMY

LUZON—In II Corps area, Japanese attack in limited strength to ease pressure against troops withdrawing northward from I Corps sector. I Corps continues to make steady progress against salient in MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE.

SINGAPORE—Malayan campaign ends with surrender of Singapore, W anchor of Malay Barrier, to Japanese. General Percival meets with Japanese commander, General Tomoyuki Yamashita, and surrenders his forces (more than 64,000 troops—Indian, British, and Australian) unconditionally, effective at nightfall.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese invasion fleet enters river mouth near Palembang, Sumatra, and unloads troops despite repeated and costly attacks by aircraft from Palembang II airdrome. Dutch and RAF personnel withdraw from Palembang, where demolition of refineries is only partially completed. British personnel holding landing grounds in central and N Sumatra are ordered to W coast for withdrawal.

AUSTRALIA—Allied convoy with reinforcements for Koepang, Timor (Australian 2/4 Pioneer Battalion and U.S. 148th FA Regiment, less one Battalion), sails from Darwin. The units are to secure Penfoie airdrome, the only staging point on Timor for flights to Java.

BURMA—Indian 17th Division begins withdrawal behind Bilin River line, 46th Brigade abandoning Thaton. Japanese follow closely and try to outflank division.

US MARINE CORPS

Singapore surrenders.

Saturday, 14 February 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Submarine Sargo (SS-188) delivers ammunition to Polloc Harbor, Mindanao, P.I., and evacuates USAAF groundcrews (14th Bombardment Squadron).

           Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) torpedoes and sinks Japanese transport Amagisan Maru off Davao, P.I., 06°45'N,126°54'E.

           Admiral Thomas C. Hart, USN, is relieved as Commander in Chief Allied Naval Forces in Southwest Pacific by Vice Admiral Conrad E. L. Helfrich, RNN.

           Japanese army paratroopers assault Palembang, Sumatra. During ensuing Allied air attacks on Japanese invasion convoy, RAF Blenheims bomb and sink merchant ship Inabasan Maru off Palembang.

           ABDA Float orders task force (Rear Admiral Karel W.F.M. Doorman) to proceed and attack Japanese Palembang-bound expeditionary force. As Doorman's ships--two Dutch light cruisers, a Dutch flotilla leader, one British heavy cruiser, one Australian light cruiser, four Dutch destroyers and six American--heads toward its objective, Dutch destroyer Van Ghent runs aground on a reef north of Banka Island; irreparably damaged, she is scuttled; sistership Banckert takes off the crew (see 15 February).

           On request from local British naval authorities, light cruiser Boise (CL-47), at Ceylon en route to Bombay, India, for repairs following her grounding in Sape Strait on 21 January, provides her two SOCs (VCS 9) to augment routine RAF Catalina searches from the seaplane station at Kogalla, Ceylon. Boise's planes fly morning and evening search flights for the next three days.

           PBY (VP 73) accidentally bombs submarine Thresher (SS-200), returning from a war patrol, southwest of Oahu, T.H.

           Japanese submarine I-23 is last reported south of Oahu, T.H. She is not heard from again, and her fate is unknown.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

SEVENTH AF—A B‑17 flies photo reconnaissance of Wake Island.

US ARMY

LUZON—I Corps further reduces salient in MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE, which is now about half its original size.

ABDA COMMAND—Vice Admiral Conrad E. L. Helfrich of Royal Netherlands Navy succeeds Admiral Hart as commander of ABDA Combined Naval Striking Force.

SINGAPORE—Japanese continue to make main effort against W part of S Area and gain ground near Alexandra. Water supply of garrison is in danger of failing within a short time. Supplies of food and ammunition are also dwindling rapidly. British flotilla withdrawing from Singapore is attacked by enemy naval and air forces in approaches to Bangka Strait and suffers heavily. Boat carrying Rear Adm, Malaya, and Air Officer Commanding, Far East, is driven ashore on small deserted island where the men later perish.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese invade Sumatra, dropping paratroopers in Palembang area after air attack on Palembang Island airdrome. Small force defending airdrome (150 Dutch infantry and about 60 RAF ground defense gunners) is forced to withdraw toward W coast, Japanese having blocked road to town of Palembang. Allied naval TF moves N to engage enemy shipping in Bangka Strait but comes under heavy air attack and retires to base. Palembang- based aircraft are attacking enemy shipping in Bangka Strait and cannot be notified in time to intercept invasion force.

IRAQ—Siboney reaches Basra where American civilian construction force debarks and proceeds by lorry to Umm Qasr, hq of Iranian District engineer, to begin construction projects. Cargo does not arrive at Umm Qasr until end of month.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday, 13 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Chartered U.S. passenger ship President Taylor, transporting 900 troops to occupy Canton Island, runs aground on a reef off her destination, and becomes stranded.

ATLANTIC—Destroyer Ericsson (DD-440) accidentally sinks Icelandic trawler Greedir in collision off Hvalfjordur, Iceland.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

WESTERN HEMISPHERE—U.S. and Canada approve construction of U.S. Military Highway through Canada to Alaska.

CANTON ISLAND—U.S. detachment arrives.

LUZON—I Corps, after searching entire area of Big Pocket without finding any live Japanese, turns its full attention to the salient, Upper Pocket, in MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE. Elements released from the Big Pocket assault force join in the battle. In South Sector, troops complete destruction of enemy in Silaiim area.

SINGAPORE—Japanese further compress British on Singapore. Main thrusts are against W part of S Area; British forward units pull back, night 13–14, to cover Alexandra area, where main ordnance depot and ammunition magazine are located. All remaining British shipping—small ships and other light craft— sail from Singapore, night 13–14. Some personnel are withdrawn in these vessels among them Rear Adm, Malaya, and Air Officer Commanding, Far East.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Japanese overrun Bandjermasin, key point in SE Borneo.

US MARINE CORPS

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Thursday, 12 February 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Destroyer Whipple (DD-217) is damaged in collision with Dutch light cruiser De Ruyter, Prigi Bay, Java.

           USAAF B-17s bomb Japanese shipping off Surumi, damaging transport Kozui Maru and merchant cargo vessel Kinryu Maru.

           Auxiliary [survey vessel] Sumner (AG 32) completes survey work of Bora Bora, Society Islands and publishes Hydrographic Office Field Chart No.1 for those waters.

ATLANTIC—U.S. freighter Dixie Sword founders and sinks in Nantucket Sound, 41°35'N, 69°59'W.

           British freighter Raby Castle comes across lifeboat from torpedoed U.S. tanker W.L. Steed (sunk by German submarine U-103 on 2 February) and rescues the one survivor she finds; sadly, he will die on board on 15 February, of exposure.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ARMY AIR FORCES—General Arnold indicate that 16 Heavy Bomber groups, 3 Pursuit groups, and 8 photoreconnaissance squadrons will be sent to UK during 1942.

TENTH AF—Activated at Patterson Field.

EIGHTH AF—General Duncan, CG, requests that his force, inadequate for its intended mission under GYMNAST, be strengthened by several bomb and pursuit groups. This move, if carried out, would require diversion of units originally intended for other task forces.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Tenth Air Force is activated at Patterson Field, Ohio, and assigned to General Stilwell.

LUZON—I Corps regains important trail junction unopposed. In South Sector, Japanese try desperately to escape from Silaiim Pt; break through Philippine line, but are overtaken as they push N toward Silaiim River and are forced steadily toward the sea:

SINGAPORE—Japanese attack strongly at several points and make further gains. During night 12–13, beach defense forces on E and SE coasts are withdrawn to strengthen defense perimeter around town of Singapore. Supply situation is deteriorating rapidly.

MEDITERRANEAN—3 supply ships leave Alexandria (Egypt) for Malta, but all are lost to enemy before reaching destination.

ENGLISH CHANNEL—German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Prinz Eugen proceed from Brest up English Channel under attack by RAF and air arm of Royal Navy.

US MARINE CORPS

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Wednesday, 11 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine Shark (SS-174) is sunk by Japanese destroyer Yamakaze about 120 miles east of Menado, Celebes,01°45'N, 127°15'E. There are no survivors from Shark's 58 man crew.

CARIBBEAN—U.S. Army troops arrive at Curacao and Aruba, N.W.I., to assume occupation duty (with the cooperation of the British and Dutch governments) at this naval operating base whose primary mission will be port security, convoy routing, and protection of tankers transporting oil to U.S. ports.

ATLANTIC—PBM (VP 74) rescues nine survivors adrift in a lifeboat from British tanker San Arcadio, sunk by German submarineU-107 on 31 January.

EUROPE—Admiral William D. Leahy, USN (Retired), Ambassador to France, receives instructions from President Roosevelt that the U.S. government has learned that French ships are to be used to transport war materiel between France and Tunisia, and that unless the French government gives assurances that no military aid would go forward to any Axis power, and that French ships would not be used in the furtherance of Axis acts of aggression in any theater of war, the ambassador would be recalled to the United States "for consultation in a determination of American future policy with regard to the government of Vichy" (see 20-21 February).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

LUZON—I Corps makes substantial progress against Big Pocket, but enemy succeeds in withdrawing through gap on N side. In South Sector, Japanese fall back to Silaiim Pt, between Silaiim and Anyasan Rivers, under pressure.

SINGAPORE—Japanese gain further ground; drop appeals for the garrison to surrender.

BURMA—Additional enemy forces cross Salween in Paan area and engulf Battalion of Indian 46th Brigade.

US MARINE CORPS

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