Thursday, March 26, 2026

Friday, 27 March 1942

US NAVY

ATLANTIC—Commander TF 39 (Rear Admiral John W. Wilcox), taking an unaccompanied walk on deck of his flagship, battleship Washington (BB 56), is washed overboard and disappears in a heavy sea. Rear Admiral Robert C. Giffen becomes taskforce commander upon Wilcox's death.

            Destroyer Greer (DD-145) proceeds to position indicated by Army plane and rescues five survivors from Panamanian freighter Equipoise, sunk the previous day by U-160; later, Greer picks up an additional eight survivors from the sunken Panamanian merchantman.

EUROPE—British raiding force begins attack on port facilities in German-held St. Nazaire, France; destroyer HMS Campbelltown (former U.S. destroyer Buchanan [DD 132]), reconfigured to resemble a German torpedo boat, is to ram the caisson of the only drydock on the French coast capable of handling the battleship Tirpitz.

PACIFIC—Submarine Gudgeon (SS-211) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Nissho Maru southeast of Kumun Island, 33°50'N,127°33'E.

            Japanese collier Yubari Maru is sunk by Dutch planes off Koepang, Timor.

            Japanese transport/cargo ship Kitano Maru is sunk by Japanese mine off Mabilao, Lingayen Gulf, 16°10'N, 120°24'E.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

US ARMY

UNITED STATES—War Plans Division issues “Plan for Operations in Northwest Europe,” calling for small scale operation in autumn 1942 (SLEDGEHAMMER) as an emergency measure if Soviet forces show signs of collapsing or main Anglo-American invasion (ROUNDUP) in spring 1943 If SLEDGEHAMMER is not required. Build-up plan for the invasion is coded BOLERO.

BURMA—Chinese 200th Division continues to resist enemy onslaughts against Toungoo. On Irrawaddy front, Japanese are massing forces S of Prome. RAF planes withdraw from Akyab to India as result of heavy enemy bombing of Akyab.

FRANCE—British conduct combined operations against harbor installations at St. Nazaire, night 27–28. HMS Campbeltown (DD) rams main lock gate and lands troops who carry out demolitions.

US MARINE CORPS

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