5 January 1942, Monday

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Submarine tender Canopus (AS-9) is damaged by bombs, Lilimbom Cove, Mariveles, P.I.

            Submarine Pollack (SS-180) torpedoes Japanese cargo ship Heijo Maru 80 miles east-southeast of Tokyo Bay, Honshu, 34°15'N, 140°08'E.

ATLANTIC—Convoy ON 49, escorted by TU 4.1.1, reaches its dispersal point without incident.

 

US ARMY AIR FORCE 

FAR EAST AF—B‑17’s from Malang stage through Samarinda during 4/5 Jan and attack shipping in Davao Bay. USFIA, which controls FEAF, is redesignated USAFIA, and General Brett assumes command.

 

US ARMY

LUZON—U.S. and Filipino troops complete withdrawal to new line extending along base of Bataan Peninsula from Dinalupihan on W to Hermosa on E. During night 5–6, withdrawal continues through Layac Junction, the funnel through which all roads into Bataan pass, final elements clearing it by 0200 after which the bridge is blown. Delaying position, called Layac line, is formed S of Layac Junction and manned by 71st and 72d Regiments of 71st Division (PA), U.S. 31st Infantry of Philippine Division, and 26th Cavalry (PS). 31st Infantry, the only completely U.S. regiment in the Philippines, has not yet been in action. Ration of Bataan defense force and of garrisons of fortified islands in Manila Bay is cut in half. Bataan echelon of hq is established on Bataan under Brigadier General Richard J. Marshall. Japanese continue daily air attacks on Corregidor and occasional attacks on other targets in Manila Bay area.

MALAYA—CinC Eastern Fleet moves hq from Singapore to Batavia, Java. General Percival, at conference in Segamat, plans for withdrawal into Johore. On Slim River front, Indian 11th Division repels enemy attack down railway.

AUSTRALIA—General Brett assumes duties as CG, U.S. Army Forces in Australia (USAFIA, previously USFIA).

BURMA—Hq of Indian 17th Division is established at Moulmein. Of 3 brigs that this division is to contain, only one—Indian 16th—is in Burma.

MIDDLE EAST—General Auchinleck is given responsibility for Iraq and Iran. Lt General E. P. Quinan’s forces in Iraq become British Tenth Army, corresponding to British Ninth Army under General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson in Syria.

USSR—Red Army lands reinforcements on Crimean coast near Eupatoria and Sudak in effort to break siege of Sevastopol naval base, but can make little headway against firm German resistance. On central front S of Kaluga, Soviet forces hold Belev, W of Oka River. Action on northern front along Volkhov River is indecisive.

 

US MARINE CORPS