Wednesday, 4 February 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Australian-New Zealand naval command is established (Vice Admiral H. Fairfax Leary). 

           Japanese reconnaissance flying boats (Toko Kokutai) contact and shadow allied force (Rear Admiral Karel W.F.M. Doorman, RNN) of four cruisers and accompanying destroyers (sighted the previous day by 1st Kokutai aircraft) attempting transit of Madoera Strait to attack Japanese Borneo invasion fleet. On the strength of that intelligence, Japanese naval land attack planes (Takao, Kanoya, and 1st Kokutais) bomb Doorman's ships, damaging heavy cruiser Houston (CA-30) (1st Kokutai) and light cruiser Marblehead (CL-12) (Kanoya Kokutai), 07°23'S, 115°47'E. Dutchlight cruisers De Ruyter and Tromp are slightly damaged by near-misses (1st Kokutai). Marblehead's extensive damage (only by masterful seamanship and heroic effort does she reach Tjilatjap after the battle) results in her being sent back to the United States via Ceylon and South Africa; despite the loss of turret III (one-third of her main battery), Houston, however, remains.

           Asiatic Fleet (Admiral Thomas C. Hart) ceases to exist organizationally (not formally abolished). Units of Asiatic Fleet are organized into Naval Forces, Southwest Pacific Area (Vice Admiral William A. Glassford).

           Submarine Sculpin (SS-191) torpedoes Japanese destroyer Sukukaze as the latter patrols off Staring Bay, south of Kendari, Celebes, 04°00'S, 123°00'E.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. tanker India Arrow is torpedoed, shelled, and sunk by German submarine U-103 about 20 miles southeast of Cape May, New Jersey, 38°48'N, 73°40'W. Two of her men perish when the ship is shelled; 24 drown when two lifeboats are swamped. Fishing skiff Gitana rescues the 12 survivors 12 miles off Atlantic City, New Jersey.

           Canadian armed merchant cruiser HMCS Alcantara comes across lifeboat from torpedoed U.S. tanker W.L. Steed (sunk by German submarine U-103 on 2 February) and rescues the three survivors she finds (see 6 and 12 February).

US ARMY AIR FORCE

 

US ARMY

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—USAFFE takes direct control of Panay and Mindoro garrisons, which were previously part of Visayan–Mindoro Force, established early in January under command of Brigadier General William F. Sharp.

LUZON—II Corps front is relatively quiet. In I Corps area, Japanese in Big Pocket repel still another tank-infantry attack. In South Sector, Scouts and tanks continue attack against Quinauan Pt and this time succeed in compressing enemy into small area at tip. In Anyasan–Silaiim sector, tank-infantry attacks against enemy still make slow progress. MADOERA STRAIT—U.S.–Dutch naval force of 4 cruisers and. 7 DD’s, under command of ReaRear Admiral Karel W. Doorman of Royal Netherlands Navy, sets out to attack enemy shipping off Balikpapan but is detected and attacked by enemy planes in Madoera Strait and abandons mission. USS Houston and USS Marblehead are damaged in the action.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES—Small Australian garrison of Ambon Island. (largely 2/21 Battalion) surrenders to Japanese.

LIBYA—13 Corps, British Eighth Army, completes withdrawal to line Gazala–Bir Hacheim and is fortifying it. Axis forces hold line Tmimi–Mechili. Lull ensues until summer during which both sides conduct harassing operations and prepare to renew offensive. British gradually relieve battle-weary forces with fresh troops as they become available.

US MARINE CORPS