US NAVY
ATLANTIC—U.S. tanker Comol Rico is torpedoed and
sunk by German submarine U-154 about 225 miles north of Puerto
Rico,20°46'N, 66°46'W; three merchant sailors perish in the explosion of the
torpedo (see 7 April).
Unarmed
U.S. tanker Byron D. Benson is torpedoed by German submarine U-552 approximately
eight miles off Currituck Inlet, North Carolina, 36°08'N, 75°32'W; fires, fed
by the ship's cargo of 91,500 barrels of crude oil, consume nine of the 37 man
crew. Antisubmarine vessel ["Q ship"] Asterion (AK-100),
nearby, reports the attack (see 5 April).
Russian
patrol boat rescues 11 men in lifeboat from U.S. freighter Effingham, sunk
by German submarine U-435 on 30 March; four of those rescued later die
of exposure. All told, 11 of the 34 man merchant crew perish, as does one of
the 9 man Armed Guard.
British
escort vessel HMS Copinsay attempts to tow the damaged U.S. freighter West
Irmo, torpedoed the previous day by German submarine U-505, but the
merchantman proves beyond saving. Copinsay hastens West Irmo's end
with a depth charge.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
—
US ARMY
LUZON—In II
Corps area, Japanese attack is again preceded by demoralizing artillery
bombardment in conjunction with air attacks. MAIN LINE OF RESISTANCE of Sector
D collapses as 41st Division withdraws again and 21st Division is forced from MAIN
LINE OF RESISTANCE to reserve line in front of Mt Samat. After nightfall,
Japanese regroup for assault on Mt Samat. Sector C has to refuse its left flank
because of enemy breakthrough. Luzon Force sends 2 regiments of Philippine
Div—31st (U.S.) and 45th (PS)—to support II Corps.
INDIAN OCEAN—Japanese naval force in Indian Ocean sinks British
cruisers Dorsetshire and Cornwall near Colombo, Ceylon.
MIDDLE EAST—Col Don G. Shingler is notified that he is to
head U.S. Iranian Mission, replacing General Wheeler. Iranian projects now have
top priority, and construction project at Umm Qasr, Iraq, is suspended.
US MARINE CORPS
—
No comments:
Post a Comment