US NAVY
PACIFIC—Battle off Balikpapan (Battle of Makassar
Strait) occurs when four U.S. destroyers (Commander Paul H. Talbot) (DesDiv 59)
attack Japanese Borneo invasion convoy. Destroyer John D. Ford (DD-228)
is damaged by gunfire(01°20'N, 117°01'E) but sinks transport Tsuruga Maru; destroyer
Parrott (DD-218) sinks transport Sumanoura Maru; destroyers Paul
Jones (DD-230) and Pope (DD-225) sink transport Tatsukami Maru; Paul
Jones sinks cargo ship Kuretaki Maru; Parrott sinks Patrol Boat
No.37, 00°10'N, 118°00'E. USAAF B-17s and Dutch Martin 139s and Brewster
339s bomb invasion shipping, sinking transports Nana Maru and Jukka
Maru, 00°10'N, 118°00'E.
Naval
battalion (Commander Francis J. Bridget) drives Japanese troops back to
Longoskawayan and Quinauan Points on Bataan Peninsula.
Japanese
land at Kendari, Celebes; Kavieng, New Ireland; and Subic Bay.
Submarine
tender Canopus (AS-9) is damaged by bombs, Lilimbom Cove, Mariveles.
Submarine Swordfish
(SS-193) sinks Japanese gunboat Myoken Maru north of Kema, Celebes,
01°26'N, 125°08'E.
CARIBBEAN—Submarine S-26 (SS-131) is accidentally
rammed and sunk by submarine chaser PC-460 in Gulf of Panama,
08°13'N,79°21'E. PC-460 rescues three survivors. Despite a search by the
patrol craft and the other three submarines in company, S-21 (SS-126), S-29
(SS-134) and S-44 (SS-155), no other survivors are found; 46 men
lose their lives in the mishap.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
UNITED STATES—Special Court of Inquiry on Pearl Harbor,
headed by Supreme Court Justice Owen J Roberts, places main responsibility for
the 7 Dec 41 disaster on Adm Kimmel and General Short, accusing them of neglecting
to heed attack warning, failing to confer with each other, and taking only
minimum precautions.
US ARMY
LUZON—II
Corps begins disengaging and withdrawing combat troops. Japanese maintain
intense pressure on Philippine Division and attack covering force, but bulk of
troops withdraw successfully. Situation in I Corps area deteriorates rapidly.
1st Division, exhausted by prolonged fighting along MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE and
critically in need of supplies and ‘ammunition, remains under pressure.
Additional strength is applied against Japanese roadblock on West Road without
avail. In Service Command Area Japanese cannot be ousted from Quinauan and
Longoskawayan Pts. Sailors and marines succeed, however, in regaining Pucot
Hill and driving enemy back to Longoskawayan and Lapiay Pts.
MALAYA—Outline plan for withdrawal to Singapore is issued.
Hard fighting continues at Batu Pahat. Japanese are approaching Kluang, in Indian
9th Division sector. Additional units (Australian MG Battalion and about 2,000 Australian
reinforcements, many of whom are poorly trained) arrive at Singapore.
MAKASSAR STRAIT—Battle of Makassar Strait, first big naval
battle of the war, occurs early in morning when 4 U.S. DD’s strike at enemy
shipping off Balikpapan, Borneo, with good effect.
NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—The first of a small group of U.S.
P–40’s reaches Java from Australia.
NEW GUINEA—Allied forces evacuate Lae and Salamaua, which
are threatened by Japanese.
AUSTRALIA—Combined Chiefs of Staff order Darwin area
incorporated into ABDA Command.
BURMA—Rear elements of Mergui garrison arrive at Rangoon.
Moulmein is now threatened.
LIBYA—British Eighth Army’s 13 Corps prepares to
counterattack or, if enemy cannot be contained, to fall back on line
Derna–Mechili as Axis offensive halts briefly.
USSR—Soviet forces on Donets front in the Ukraine break
through enemy positions in Izyum area and capture Barvenkova, about 40 miles E
of Lozovaya; in Valdai Hills sector to N, deepen salient between Cholm and
Rzhev to vicinity of Velikie Luki, where Germans are firmly established.
US MARINE CORPS
Japanese land at Kavieng, New Ireland.
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