Tuesday, 20 January 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Second Marine Brigade (Brigadier General Henry L. Larson, USMC) arrives at Pago Pago, Samoa, in transports Lurline, Matsonia, and Monterey, along with cargo ship Jupiter (AK-43) and ammunition ship Lassen (AE-3), to protect that portion of the important lifeline to Australia. Cover for the operation is provided by TF 8 formed around carrier Enterprise (CV-6) (Vice Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.) and TF 17 (Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher) formed around carrier Yorktown (CV-5). The two carrier task forces then set course for the Japanese-held Marshalls and Gilberts to carry out the initial raids on the enemy's defensive perimeter (see 1 February).

           Motor torpedo boat PT-31, damaged by grounding the day before, is burned by crew to prevent capture, 14°45'N,120°13'E.

           Submarine S-36 (SS-141) is damaged when she runs aground on Taka Bakang Reef, Makassar Strait, Celebes, N.E.I.,04°57'N, 118°31'E (see 21 January).

           Destroyer Edsall (DD-219) and Australian minesweeper HMAS Deloraine sink Japanese submarine I-124 off Darwin, Australia.

           Japanese gunboat Aso Maru and auxiliary minesweeper No.52 Banshu Maru are sunk by mines, Subic Bay, Luzon, P.I., 14°45'N, 120°17'E.

           Japanese merchant storeship Sendai Maru is damaged by unknown cause off mouth of Davao Gulf.

           Japanese convoy is reported in Makassar Strait, bound for Balikpapan, Borneo (see 21 January).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FAR EAST AF—General Brett, CG USAFIA, halts ferrying of aircraft from India to NEI. AAF has been sending Heavy Bombers to Java by way of Africa and India, but the Japanese are able to inflict prohibitive losses on AAF aircraft on the last stops of the route by interception from newly acquired airfields near Java.

US ARMY

LUZON—Japanese contain repeated attacks by Philippine Division (U.S- 31st and PS 45th Regiments) on W flank of II Corps while preparing for major assault to begin on 22d. After further fighting before Guitol, Japanese retire northward. In I Corps area, Japanese maintain pressure and continue infiltration into right flank from Mt. Silanganan.

MALAYA—British 53d Brigade counterattacks W of Yong Peng but is unable to recover lost ground. Muar force begins difficult withdrawal toward Yong Peng. Withdrawal of Segamat forces continues; during night 20–21, Australian 27th Brigade Group moves from Segamat River line to Yong Peng; Indian 9th Division pulls back to defensive position to E.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO—More than 100 Japanese carrier-based planes attack Rabaul, New Britain, causing serious damage. Kavieng, New Ireland, is also attacked by air but in much less strength.

BURMA—Japanese cross into Burma in force and begin assault on N Tenasserim, attacking 16th Brigade, Indian 17th Division, on Myawadi–Kawkareik road, near Thai border E of Moulmein, in conjunction with air attacks.

USSR—Mozhaisk, about 60 miles W of Moscow, falls to Soviet forces.

US MARINE CORPS