US NAVY
PACIFIC—Seaplane tender Tangier (AV‑8), oiler Neches
(AO‑5), and four destroyers sail for Wake Island.
Japanese
reconnaissance flying boats (Yokohama Kokutai) bomb Wake Island.
Johnston
Island is shelled by Japanese submarine I 22; although one shell
lands astern and another passes over her forecastle, transport William Ward
Burrows (AP‑6) is apparently unseen by the enemy submariners. She is not
hit and escapes.
Kahului,
Maui, T.H., is shelled by Japanese submarine from the Second Submarine
Squadron. Possible candidates for having carried out the shelling are
I 2, I 3, I 4, I 5, I 6, or I 7.
Philippine
steamship Vizcaya is scuttled in Manila Bay.
ATLANTIC—TU 4.1.2 (Commander Fred D. Kirtland) clears
Reykjavik for the MOMP, escorting convoy ON 45; destroyer Sturtevant (DD‑240),
escorting cargo vessel Alchiba (AK‑23), depth‑charges sound contact at
62°05'N, 24°15'W (see16 December).
Destroyer Benson
(DD‑421), detached from TU 4.1.3 and convoy HX 163 at the MOMP, searches
for survivors of steamer Nidardal, reported sinking at 56°07'N, 21°00'W
(later amended to 56°07'N, 23°00'W) (see 16 December).
Convoy ON
43, struggling through rough seas and high winds, being escorted by TU 4.1.6
(Commander John S. Roberts), is dispersed.
UNITED STATES—Admiral Ernest J. King is offered the post of
Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet. He accepts (see 18, 20 and 30 December).
US ARMY AIR FORCE
US ARMY
PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—General Brereton receives permission to
withdraw the few remaining B–17's to Darwin (Australia). Air defense of the
Philippines is left to a few fighters.
MALAYA—Indian 3 Corps remains under strong pressure on W
coast. During night 15–16, Indian 11th Division begins withdrawal from Gurun
positions to Muda River Garrison of Penang Island fortress, opposite
Butterworth, prepares to withdraw as RAF abandons Butterworth airdrome.
USSR—On central front N of Moscow, Red Army takes Klin, on
rail line to Leningrad.
US MARINE CORPS
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