Wednesday, 31 December 1941

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Admiral Chester W. Nimitz assumes command of Pacific Fleet in ceremonies on board submarine Grayling (SS‑209) at Pearl Harbor.

            Japanese submarines shell Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii.

            While returning from attempting to aid destroyer Peary (DD‑226) (see 28 December), small seaplane tender Heron (AVP‑2) is damaged but fights off, over a seven‑hour span, a series of attacks by Japanese reconnaissance flying boats (Toko Kokutai) and land attack planes off Ambon, N.E.I. Heron shoots down one seaplane whose crew refuses rescue.

            Submarine rescue vessel Pigeon (ASR‑6) transports armed party [Lieutenant (j.g.) Malcolm M. Champlin, USNR] to Sangley Point which brings out Luzon Stevedoring Company lighter loaded with 97 mines and eight truckloads of aerial depth charges; Pigeon then tows the barge to a point four and a half miles off Sangley Point and capsizes it in 11fathoms of water. The sailors also destroy the aircraft repair shop at Cavite and one irreparable PBY.

            U.S. cargo/passenger ship Ruth Alexander, en route from Manila to Balikpapan, Borneo, is bombed and irreparably damaged by Japanese flying boat in Makassar Strait, N.E.I., 01°00'N, 119°10'W, one man is killed in the bombing. She sinks on 2 January 1942. Dutch Dornier 24 later rescues all 48 survivors.

            Japanese destroyer Yamagumo is damaged by mine off Lingayen. 

            Philippine steamships Magellanes and Montanes are scuttled, most likely at Manila.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE

 

US ARMY

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE—ARCADIA conferees order joint Australian-British-Dutch-American (ABDA) Command to be established under General Wavell of the British Army.

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—Evacuation of Manila is completed as rear echelon of USAFFE HQ leaves. North Luzon Force closes in final defense positions, Bamban-Arayat, before San Fernando and Plaridel, E of Calumpit bridge. On E flank, 91st Division (PA) goes into reserve S of Baliuag, leaving 71st Division (PA) to delay enemy briefly at Baliuag; both divisions then retire toward Calumpit bridge. Firm contact is made between North and South Luzon Forces in San Fernando area after latter crosses Calumpit bridge. General Jones is placed in command of all forces E of Pampanga River

MALAYA—Indian 11th Division now holds relatively well-organized defense position in W Malaya, with Indian 6/15 Brigade disposed on MLR at Kampar and Indian 28th Brigade Group to E. Japanese increase pressure against 28th Brigade Group. On E coast, Kuantan defense force completes concentration W of Kuantan R and destroys ferry.

CHINA—Joint Military Council is formed in Chungking.

AUSTRALIA—General Brett arrives from Chungking to take command of USFIA.

LIBYA—On Libyan-Egyptian frontier, South African 2d Division, assisted by 1st Army Tank Brigade of 30 Corps, British Eighth Army, attacks and penetrates Bardia fortress, on main road from Tobruk to Egypt.

USSR—Germans on southern front break off attacks on Sevastopol in order to counter Soviet thrusts from Kerch and Feodosia. On central front, Red Army troops seize Kaluga, SW of Moscow.

 

US MARINE CORPS