Monday, 2 February 1942

US NAVY 

PACIFIC—Submarine Seadragon (SS-194) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Tamagawa Maru off Cape Bolinao, Luzon, P.I.,17°16'N, 119°48'E, but misses army cargo vessel Nisshu Maru in the same attack.

           Japanese minesweeper W.9 is sunk, and minesweepers W.11 and W.12 damaged, by Dutch mines off Ambon, N.E.I.,03°42'S, 128°10'E.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. tanker W.L. Steed is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-103 about 90 miles east of the mouth of the Delaware River, 38°25'N, 72°43'W. Exposure to the frigid weather will eventually kill 34 of the 38 man crew who survive the loss of the ship at the outset (see 4, 6, and 12 February).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

HAWAIIAN AF—VII Interceptor Command is activated in Hawaii, with General Davidson as commander. General Hale commands VII Bomber Command.

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—General Stilwell is designated Chief of Staff to Supreme Commander, China Theater, and is directed by War Department to “increase the effectiveness of United States assistance to the Chinese Government for the prosecution of the war and to assist in improving the combat efficiency of the Chinese Army.”

LUZON—II Corps attacks to clear bridgehead, at first employing 31st Engr Battalion (PA) and then reinforcing with elements of 41st Infantry after opposition proves stubborn. Enemy completes withdrawal from bridgehead during night 2–3. In I Corps area, Armored platoon of 192d Tank Battalion and platoon of 1st Battalion, 45th Infantry, attempt unsuccessfully to reduce Big Pocket. In South Sector, Company C of 192d Tank Battalion assists Scouts in another attack on Quinauan Pt beachhead, but results are no more satisfactory. Other Scout Battalions 2d Battalion of 45th Inf; 3d and 1st Battalions of 57th Infantry) attack abreast to clear Anyasan–Silaiim sector, making slow progress except on left, where no opposition is met.

ERITREA—Personnel of U.S. North African Mission embarked on Siboney reach Massawa.

LIBYA—General Auchinleck orders British Eighth Army to hold Tobruk as a supply base for future offensive.

US MARINE CORPS