Wednesday, 1 April 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Naval Air Transport Service Squadron (VR) 2 is established at Alameda, California, for operations in the Pacific. Japanese occupy Buka Island, Solomons.

            Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) torpedoes Japanese light cruiser Naka off Christmas Island, 10°00'S, 105°00'E.

            British submarine HMS Truant sinks Japanese merchant cargo ships Yae Maru and Shunsei Maru in Malacca Strait, 80 miles west-northwest of Penang, Malaya, 05°42'N, 98°57'E.

ATLANTIC—District patrol vessel YP-52 rescues 42 survivors of U.S. tanker Tiger, torpedoed by German submarine U-754 late the previous day. Coast Guard cutter Jackson (WPC-142) and Merritt, Chapman, and Scott salvage tug Relief take the damaged ship in tow (see 2 April).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—Air Corps Proving Ground becomes Proving Ground Command, with main base at Eglin Field.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Pacific War Council holds its first meeting at Washington, D.C.

NEW GUINEA—Japanese from Netherlands East Indies land at a number of points on Dutch New Guinea coast, from Sorong on NW tip to Hollandia, during period 1–20 April; landings are virtually unopposed.

BURMA—CinC India, visiting front, agrees to immediate withdrawal of Burma I Corps to Allanmyo area, N of Prome. Japanese continue to press in on Prome.

IRAQ—Dock construction project at Umm Qasr is begun after cargo of City of Dalhart is unloaded.

USSR—Stalemate exists along entire line. Germans of Army Group North are largely concerned during the month with extricating II Corps of Sixteenth Army from pocket SE of Staraya Russa.

US MARINE CORPS

Japanese occupy Buka Island, Solomons.

Tuesday, 31 March 1942

US NAVY

INDIAN OCEAN—Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) is damaged by depth charges off Christmas Island, 10°26'S, 105°41'E.

CARIBBEAN—Commander of Allied Forces Aruba and Curacao, Netherlands West Indies, is established (Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf).

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. tug Menominee and the barges that she is towing--Allegheny, Barnegat, and Ontario--are shelled by German submarine U-754 about 50 miles off the mouth of Chesapeake Bay at 37°34'N, 75°25'W. U-754 sinks Menominee and barges Allegheny and Barnegat; Ontario, with its dunnage cargo, remains afloat and provides a life preserver for the three men who had been on board each barge. Of Menominee's crew of 18 men, however, only two survive the U-boat's gunfire. Coast Guard lifeboat from the Metomkin Inlet station rescues the men from the barges while tanker Northern Sun rescues the tug crew's survivors. Later the same day, U-754 torpedoes unarmed U.S. tanker Tiger as the American vessel, en route to Norfolk, waits to embark a pilot. One crewman dies in the initial explosion; the surviving 36 men of the ship's complement, in addition to a six man Navy gun crew riding the ship as passengers, abandon the ship (see 1 and 2 April).

            Unarmed U.S. tanker T.C. McCobb, en route to Caripito, Venezuela from Buenos Aires, Argentina, is shelled, torpedoed, and sunk by Italian submarine Pietro Calvi at 07°10'N, 45°20'W; one crewman drowns and one is killed by shellfire (see 8 and 10 April and 16 May).

            Destroyer Roper (DD-147) and tug Acushnet (AT-63) rescue 124 survivors (including a newborn infant) of U.S. steamship City of New York, sunk by U-160 off Cape Hatteras on 29 March (see 12 April).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ARMY AIR FORCES—General Spaatz suggests that the now ‘task-less Eighth’ be made nucleus for AAFIB

US ARMY

BURMA—Chinese 200th Division makes contact with Chinese 22d Division N of Toungoo and withdraws N of Pyinmana as reserve. With loss of Toungoo, road to Mawchi is left undefended and Japanese, during next few days, overrun small Chinese garrison at Mawchi; continue E, forcing elements of Chinese T-55th Division back to Bawlake

US MARINE CORPS

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Monday, 30 March 1942

US NAVY

GENERAL—Pacific War Council representing United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, and China is established in Washington, D.C., to plan war policy.

PACIFIC—Joint Chiefs of Staff order Pacific Ocean divided into two commands: Pacific Ocean Areas (Admiral Chester W. Nimitz) and Southwest Pacific Area (Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur).

            Submarine Tambor (SS-198) damages Japanese transport Tatsuho Maru off Brown Atoll, 13°00'N, 157°30'E.

            Destroyer Phelps (DD-360), undergoing repairs in drydock at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, is damaged when a railroad crane falls into the drydock.

            Japanese forces occupy Christmas Island.

            Submarine Sturgeon (SS-187) sinks Japanese transport Choko Maru off Makassar City, Celebes, N.E.I., 05°39'S, 119°00'E.

ATLANTIC—Debris sighted by plane at 34°52'N, 69°58'W includes five empty life rafts; no survivors are sighted in the area of the last reported position of antisubmarine vessel Atik (AK-101), sunk on 26 March by German submarine U-123.

            PBY search of area in which U.S. steamship City of New York is torpedoed proves negative (see 31 March and 11April).

NORTH RUSSIA—U.S. freighter Effingham, straggling 90 miles astern of Murmansk-bound convoy PQ 13, is torpedoed and set afire by German submarine U-435 at 70°28'N, 35°44'E. The ship explodes and sinks; two men drown during the abandonment (see 2 and 4 April).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

UNITED STATES—Directives are drafted for General Mac- Arthur as Supreme Commander, SWPA, and for Rear Admiral Nimitz as CINCPOA, for submission to Allied governments concerned. SWPA is to include Australia, Philippines, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomons, and most of Netherlands East Indies. As Supreme Commander of SWPA, General MacArthur is to maintain positions in Philippines and bases in Australia; guard approaches to SWPA; halt enemy’s advance on Australia; protect communications within theater; support POA forces; and be prepared to take the offensive. POA comprises N, Central, and S Pacific, all under over-all command of Admiral Nimitz, and the first two under his direct command. As CINCPOA, Admiral Nimitz is to maintain communications between U.S. and SWPA; support operations in SWPA; and be prepared to take offensive action. In addition to SWPA and POA, Pacific Theater is to include Southeast Pacific Area— ocean stretches W of Central and South America. Pacific War Council is established in Washington. Inter-American Defense Board holds its first meeting in Washington.

BURMA—Chinese 200th Division withdraws from Toungoo under pressure. On Irrawaddy front, Burma I Corps TF falls back to Prome from Paungde area, leaving vehicles behind at Shwedaung. During night 30–31, Japanese attack Indian 63d Brigade at Prome and soon breach defenses, exposing right flank of Indian 17th Division.

ASCENSION ISLAND—First detachment of U.S. forces arrives to build airstrip on this small island, which lies about midway between South America and Africa.

US MARINE CORPS

Pacific Ocean divided into Pacific Ocean Areas under Adm Nimitz, and Southwest Pacific Area under Gen MacArthur.

Sunday, 29 March 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Fourth Defense Battalion, USMC, and VMF 212 arrive at Efate, New Hebrides.

ATLANTIC—U.S. steamship City of New York is torpedoed by German submarine U-160 about 40 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, 35°16'N, 74°25'W. Before the ship is torpedoed a second time, the Armed Guard, who man their gun stations promptly, manages to get 12 rounds off at the U-boat's periscope. A second torpedo sinks the ship, with the Armed Guard leaving only when the bridge is awash (see 30-31 March and 11 April).

            U.S. tanker Paulsboro is damaged in heavy seas off Overfalls Lightship; tug Allegheny (AT-19) is sent to her assistance.

            U.S. freighter Excelsior suffers engine breakdown off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina; tug Kewaydin (AT-24) is sent to tow the ship to Norfolk.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

BURMA—Going on the offensive to relieve pressure on Chinese at Toungoo and restore communications, TF of Burma I Corps attacks and clears Paungde, but its situation becomes precarious as Japanese establish themselves a few miles N at Padigon and on E bank of the Irrawaddy at Shwedaung.

US MARINE CORPS

Marines arrive at Efate, New Hebrides.

 

Saturday, 28 March 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—Attack on St. Nazaire concludes with HMS Campbelltown successfully ramming the caisson in the drydock area.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR—Units of I Bomber Command engaged in antisub operations are placed under operational control of Commander, Eastern Sea Frontier.

US ARMY

LUZON—Japanese, moving into position for all out offensive against Bataan, feint against I Corps and push in OPL of Sector D on II Corps front. Increasingly heavy air and artillery bombardment of Bataan is lowering efficiency of defense force as well as destroying badly needed materiel. Efforts to run the blockade and supply the garrison with necessary items have virtually failed, and supply situation is growing steadily worse.

BURMA—General Alexander, at request of General Stilwell, agrees to attack on Irrawaddy front. Reconnaissance elements of Burma I Corps clash with enemy at Paungde, SE of Prome.

US MARINE CORPS

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Friday, 27 March 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—Commander TF 39 (Rear Admiral John W. Wilcox), taking an unaccompanied walk on deck of his flagship, battleship Washington (BB 56), is washed overboard and disappears in a heavy sea. Rear Admiral Robert C. Giffen becomes taskforce commander upon Wilcox's death.

            Destroyer Greer (DD-145) proceeds to position indicated by Army plane and rescues five survivors from Panamanian freighter Equipoise, sunk the previous day by U-160; later, Greer picks up an additional eight survivors from the sunken Panamanian merchantman.

EUROPE—British raiding force begins attack on port facilities in German-held St. Nazaire, France; destroyer HMS Campbelltown (former U.S. destroyer Buchanan [DD 132]), reconfigured to resemble a German torpedo boat, is to ram the caisson of the only drydock on the French coast capable of handling the battleship Tirpitz.

PACIFIC—Submarine Gudgeon (SS-211) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Nissho Maru southeast of Kumun Island, 33°50'N,127°33'E.

            Japanese collier Yubari Maru is sunk by Dutch planes off Koepang, Timor.

            Japanese transport/cargo ship Kitano Maru is sunk by Japanese mine off Mabilao, Lingayen Gulf, 16°10'N, 120°24'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

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US ARMY

UNITED STATES—War Plans Division issues “Plan for Operations in Northwest Europe,” calling for small scale operation in autumn 1942 (SLEDGEHAMMER) as an emergency measure if Soviet forces show signs of collapsing or main Anglo-American invasion (ROUNDUP) in spring 1943 If SLEDGEHAMMER is not required. Build-up plan for the invasion is coded BOLERO.

BURMA—Chinese 200th Division continues to resist enemy onslaughts against Toungoo. On Irrawaddy front, Japanese are massing forces S of Prome. RAF planes withdraw from Akyab to India as result of heavy enemy bombing of Akyab.

FRANCE—British conduct combined operations against harbor installations at St. Nazaire, night 27–28. HMS Campbeltown (DD) rams main lock gate and lands troops who carry out demolitions.

US MARINE CORPS

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Thursday, 26 March 1942

US NAVY

UNITED STATES—Admiral Ernest J. King relieves Admiral Harold R. Stark as Chief of Naval Operations and thus becomes Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations; Vice Admiral Frederick J. Horne (Vice Chief of Naval Operations) and Vice Admiral Russell Willson (COMINCH Chief of Staff) are his principal assistants.

ATLANTIC—TF 39 (Rear Admiral John W. Wilcox), including battleship Washington (BB 56), carrier Wasp (CV-7), heavy cruisers Wichita (CA-45) and Tuscaloosa (CA-37), and eight destroyers, sails from Portland, Maine, for Scapa Flow, to reinforce the British Home Fleet (see 27 March).

            Commander Eastern Sea Frontier is given operational control of certain USAAF units for antisubmarine patrol duty in the Atlantic. Unity of command over Navy and USAAF units operating over water to protect shipping and conduct antisubmarine warfare is thus vested in the Navy.

            Antisubmarine vessel Atik (AK-101) is torpedoed and sunk with all hands by German submarine U-123 in the North Atlantic, 36°00'N, 70°00'W, after the "Q-ship's" gunfire damages the U-boat in a spirited encounter. Atik is the only U.S. Navy warship disguised as a merchantman that is lost to enemy action during World War II. Sistership Asterion (AK-100) will conduct a fruitless search for survivors (see 30 March).

            Unarmed U.S. tanker Dixie Arrow, bound for Paulsboro, New Jersey, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-71 about 12 miles off the Diamond Shoals Lighted Buoy, off the coast of North Carolina, 34°59'N, 75°33'W. The ship breaks in half and sinks. Destroyer Tarbell (DD-142), directed to the scene by a Coast Guard plane, rescues 22survivors; 11 merchant sailors either drown or burn to death, however, as the torpedo explosions set the ship's cargo of 86,136 barrels of crude oil afire.

            Panamanian freighter Equipoise is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-160 at 36°36'N, 74°45'W (see 27March).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—3 B‑17’s of 435th Reconnaissance Squadron, 19th Bomb Group, evacuate Philippine President Quezon and his family to Australia.

US ARMY

CELEBES—Japanese carrier force leaves Kendari for Indian Ocean.

BURMA—Continuing pressure against Chinese in Toungoo, Japanese seize the town as far as Railroad line. Chinese 22d Division, which has previously been ordered to Pyinmana-Yedashe area, N of Toungoo, to counterattack in support of Chinese 200th Division, arrives in position but fails to take the offensive.

US MARINE CORPS

Admiral King relieves Admiral Stark as Chief of Naval Operations.