On 1 -15 October 1941

US NAVY

1 October 1941, Wednesday

SOVIET UNION—, British, and Soviet representatives conclude three‑day conference in Moscow on aid to the Soviet Union.

UNITED STATES—Secretary of the Navy Knox approves "popular" names for naval combat aircraft: "Avenger" (Grumman TBF),"Buccaneer" (Brewster SB2A), "Buffalo" (Brewster F2A), "Catalina" (Consolidated PBY), "Coronado" (ConsolidatedPB2Y), "Corsair" (Vought F4U), "Dauntless" (Douglas SBD), "Devastator" (Douglas TBD), "Helldiver" (CurtissSB2C), "Kingfisher" (Vought OS2U/Naval Aircraft Factory OS2N), "Mariner" (Martin PBM), "Sea Ranger" (Boeing PBB patrol bomber), "Seagull" (Curtiss SO3C), and "Vindicator" (Vought SB2U). Names supplement the Navy’s letter‑number designations, which remain unchanged and continue to be used in correspondence. As can be seen, the name "Avenger" is assigned well before either Pearl Harbor (7 December 1941) or the slaughter of torpedo planes at the Battle of Midway (4‑6 June 1942). These two events are commonly believed to have motivated the assignment of this particular nickname to the TBF/TBM series. The name "Seagull" is also applied unofficially to the Curtiss SOC series which is in use in cruiser‑based observation squadrons. Ironically, the SO3C proves a failure in service, and the SOC it was designed to replace serves on.  

            Sale of War Savings Bonds to naval personnel is inaugurated on this date; under the direction of a Coordinator for War Savings Bonds, Supply Corps officers are designated as issuing agents and assigned to 28 major shore activities. Actual sales of the bonds will amount to $61,000,000‑‑over 50 in excess of the predicted sales.

2 October 1941, Thursday

UNITED STATES—President Roosevelt rejects Japanese Prime Minister Konoye's request to meet and discuss Pacific and Far Eastern questions.

ATLANTIC—Destroyer Winslow (DD‑359), in screen of convoy ON 20, is detached from TU 4.1.3 to proceed to the assistance of Dutch motor vessel Tuva, torpedoed by German submarine U‑575 at 54°16'N, 26°36'W. Although Winslow finds the freighter still afloat, the destroyer depth charges a "doubtful" submarine contact in the vicinity and upon her return is unable to locate any survivors. Winslow rejoins ON 20 the following morning. The Dutch freighter's crew, however, is apparently rescued by another ship, for the Lloyd's List of Shipping Losses: World War II lists only one man missing from among the complement of 35.

            Coast Guard cutter Campbell scuttles irreparably damaged British tanker San Florentino (torpedoed by German submarine U‑575 at 52°50'N, 34°40'W and 52°42'N, 34°51'W).

5 October 1941, Sunday

ATLANTIC—Destroyer Mayo (DD‑422), escorting convoy HX 152, after seeing Swedish motor vessel Kaaparen showing a string of lights for five minutes, thus jeopardizing the convoy, hails the offender and threatens to open fire if the practice is not stopped.

7 October 1941, Tuesday

ATLANTIC—TU 4.1.1 (Captain Marion Y. Cohen) assumes escort duty for convoy ON 22 at the MOMP. Although there are no U‑boat attacks on the convoy, ships of TU 4.1.1 carry out depth charges attacks on suspicious contacts (see 8 and 9October).

8 October 1941, Wednesday

ATLANTIC—Destroyer Dallas (DD‑199), in screen of convoy ON 22, depth charges a contact (later evaluated as "non‑submarine”) about 450 miles southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland, 58°54'N, 29°31'W.

            Oiler Salinas (AO‑19), with convoy HX 152, is damaged by heavy seas, and is convoyed to Iceland by destroyer Broome (DD‑210).

9 October 1941, Thursday

ATLANTIC—Destroyer Upshur (DD‑144), in screen of convoy ON 22, carries out depth charge attack (like Dallas's the previous day, evaluated as "non‑submarine") about 405 miles southeast of Cape Farewell, 56°47'N, 34°05'W.

10 October 1941, Friday

ATLANTIC—TG 14.3 (Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt), comprising carrier Yorktown (CV‑5), battleship New Mexico (BB‑40), heavy cruiser Quincy (CA‑39), light cruiser Savannah (CL‑42), and Destroyer Divisions 3 and 16, sails from Argentia, Newfoundland, for Casco Bay, Maine. Encountering heavy weather en route, Yorktown, New Mexico, Quincy, Savannah, and destroyers Rhind (DD‑404), Hammann (DD‑412), Anderson (DD‑411), Sims (DD‑409), Mayrant (DD‑402), Rowan (DD‑405), Hughes (DD‑410), and Trippe (DD‑403) will all suffer damage before the force reaches Casco Bay on 13 October.

PACIFIC—Captain Lester J. Hudson relieves Captain Richard E. Cassidy as Commander, South China Patrol, on board river gunboat Mindanao (PR‑8) at Hong Kong, B.C.C.

14 October 1941, Tuesday

ATLANTIC—German submarine U‑553 encounters convoy SC 48 and summons help (see 15‑18 October).

15 October 1941, Wednesday

ATLANTIC—German submarine U‑553 begins onslaught against convoy SC 48, torpedoing and sinking British motorship Silvercedar at 53°36'N, 30°00'W, and Norwegian freighter Ila at 53°34'N, 30°10'W, before the U‑boat is driven off by Canadian destroyer HMCS Columbia [ex‑U.S. destroyer Haraden (DD‑183)]. U‑432, U‑502, U‑558 and U‑568, followed by U‑73, U‑77, U‑101 and U‑751 converge on the convoy, and one of these boats, U‑568, torpedoes and sinks British steamer Empire Heron at 54°55'N, 27°15'W, before being driven off by British corvette HMS Gladiolus. Consequently, TU 4.1.4 (Captain Hewlett Thebaud), comprising four U.S. destroyers, is directed to proceed to SC 48'said as the west‑bound convoy it had been escorting, ON 24, is dispersed (see 16‑18 October).