The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War IIJanuaryChapter V: 1943 * 1 January, Fri. Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) evacuates 29 civilians from Teop Island, Solomons. Submarine Porpoise (SS-172), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks merchant cargo ship Renzan Maru off northeastern coast of Honshu, 39œ11'N, 142œ02'E. Submarine Trigger (SS-237) damages Japanese transport Shozan Maru 35œ55'N, 140œ55'E. Japanese army cargo ship Osaka Maru is damaged by mine, 16 miles off Ambon, N.E.I. Mediterranean * 2 January, Sat. U.S. Army I Corps (Lieutenant General Robert Eichelberger) captures Buna, New Guinea, significantly reducing the threat to Port Moresby. Submarine Argonaut (SS-166) sinks Japanese guardboat Ebon Maru, Bismarck Sea, 04œ30'S, 151œ30'E. Submarine Spearfish (SS-190) damages Japanese army cargo ship Akagisan Maru off New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, 03œ30'S, 151œ30'E. * 3 January, Sun. * 4 January, Mon. * 5 January, Tue. USAAF B-17s and B-24s bomb Japanese shipping at Rabaul, New Guinea. Atlantic * 6 January, Wed. PBY sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Montreal Maru near Kiska, Aleutians, 53œ28'N, 177œ52'E. USAAF B-24s sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Kotohira Maru off Holtz Bay, Attu, 53œ00'N, 173œ10'E. USAAF B-17s and B-24s bomb Japanese shipping at Rabaul, New Britain, sinking army cargo vessel Keifuku Maru and damaging destroyer Tachikaze and cargo vessel Kagu Maru. USAAF aircraft damage Japanese torpedo boat Tomozuru off Kai Island, Banda Sea. Atlantic District patrol craft YP-492 is sunk in collision with YP-6713 off eastern Florida. * 7 January, Thu. Mediterranean * 8 January, Fri. Atlantic * 9 January, Sat. Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) sinks Japanese transport Yoshinogawa Maru just east of Kieta, Bougainville, 06œ13'S, 156œ00'E; even though she is damaged early in the engagement, Yoshinogawa Maru depth-charges Nautilus, but the latter escapes unharmed. Submarine Searaven (SS-196) damages Japanese army cargo ship Yubae Maru, 07œ38'N, 134œ12'E. Submarine Tautog (SS-199) damages Japanese light cruiser Natori southeast of Ambon, 04œ07'S, 128œ32'E. Atlantic German submarine U-124 continues assault on convoy TB 1, begun shortly before midnight the day before, about 100 miles northeast of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana. U-124 torpedoes freighters Collingsworth and Minotaur at 07œ12'N, 55œ37'W; each ship sinks four minutes after being struck. Tanker Broad Arrow sinks as the result of damage received in U-124's initial attack. Submarine chaser PC-577 rescues survivors from all four ships sunk by the U-boat. Of the Armed Guards on the four merchantmen, only one sailor of the eight-man guard on board Broad Arrow survives; five of the 18-man Armed Guard perish in the abandonment of Birmingham City; Collingsworth's detachment loses four of 24 men; Minotaur's 15-man Armed Guard, however, survives intact. * 10 January, Sun. Destroyer Shaw (DD-373) is damaged by grounding, Bulari Passage, New Caledonia. Motor torpedo boats PT-27 and PT-28 are damaged by storm, Dora Harbor, Unimak Island, Aleutians. Submarine Trigger (SS-237) sinks Japanese destroyer Okikaze off Yokosuka, 35œ02'N, 140œ12'E. RAAF Hudsons and Catalinas damage Japanese army cargo ship Brazil Maru off Lae. Navy planes attack the same convoy later but do not achieve any damage. Mediterranean Norwegian freighter Dalvanger rescues 21 men from U.S. freighter Collingsworth, torpedoed and sunk by U-124 the previous day while in convoy TB 1. * 11 January, Mon. Submarine Trout (SS-202) damages Japanese oiler Kyokuko Maru off Miri, 04œ24'N, 113œ51'E. * 12 January, Tue. Motor torpedo boat PT-28 is damaged by grounding during storm, Dora Harbor, Unimak Island, Aleutians. Submarine Guardfish (SS-217) sinks Patrol Boat No.1 about 10 miles southwest of the Tingwon Islands, located just southwest of the northern tip of New Hanover, Bismarck Archipelago, 02œ51'S, 149œ43'E. New Zealand corvette scuttles hulk of motor torpedo boat PT-43 off Guadalcanal. District patrol vessel YP-183 sinks after running aground off west coast of Hawaii, T.H. * 13 January, Wed. Submarine Triton (SS-201) damages Japanese oiler Maru north of the St. Matthias Island group, 00œ26'S, 148œ40'E. Submarine Whale (SS-239) sinks Japanese collier Iwashiro Maru about 40 miles north of Kwajalein, 09œ54'N, 167œ07'E. Atlantic * 14 January, Thu. Pacific Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) hits Japanese Toa Maru with dud torpedo off Bougainville, 05œ13'S, 155œ09'E. Submarine Pike (SS-173) is damaged by bombs and depth charges off Ichie Saki, southern Honshu; she is forced to terminate her patrol. Submarine Searaven (SS-196) attacks Japanese convoy northwest of the Palaus, sinking the sole escort, auxiliary submarine chaser No.1 Ganjitsu Maru, and army cargo ship Shiraha Maru, 09œ12'N, 130œ38'E. Motor torpedo boat PT-28, previously damaged, is abandoned, Dora Harbor, Unimak Island, Aleutians. Japanese naval auxiliary Shoan Maru is damaged by aircraft off Saipan. SOCs (VCS Detachment RINGBOLT) locate and illuminate Japanese destroyers for PT-boats; the planes also bomb and strafe the enemy ships. * 15 January, Fri. Japanese attempt to reinforce their troops in the Solomons begins as first group of ships--Section A-- three transports accompanied by destroyer Shigure, departs Truk for Bougainville. The soldiers are being transferred from China (see 17, 19, and 20 January). USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese convoy, sinking army cargo ship Nichimei Maru and damaging army cargo ship Moji Maru, about 200 miles south-southwest of Rangoon, Burma, 13œ30'N, 97œ30'E. Unknown to the aviators, Nichimei Maru is transporting Allied POWs, 500 of whom are lost. * 16 January, Sat. Submarine Growler (SS-215) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking army passenger-cargo ship Chifuku Maru 11 miles north of Waton Island, 04œ00'S, 151œ55'E, and survives escorts' counterattacks. * 17 January, Sun. Section B of Japanese Solomons reinforcement convoy sails from Truk, bound for the Shortlands. Submarine Finback (SS-230) damages Japanese merchant cargo ship Yachiyo Maru off Tanega Shima, 30œ33'N, 132œ25'E. Submarine Searaven (SS-196) torpedoes Japanese ship Gokoku Maru just off Palau, but the "fish" that hits proves a dud, 07œ52'N, 134œ02'E. Submarine Whale (SS-239) damages Japanese troopship Heiyo Maru northeast of Truk, 10œ13'N, 151œ25'E. SOC (VCS Detachment RINGBOLT) on night patrol locates Japanese submarine by lightning flash and attacks her, but the bomb fails to detonate. * 18 January, Mon. Submarine Silversidess (SS-236) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Genyo Maru about 90 miles southwest of Truk, 06œ19'N, 150œ15'E, but is damaged by depth charges from escorting warship and is forced to terminate her patrol. USAAF B-24 sinks Japanese transport Senzan Maru off Kavieng, 03œ29'S, 149œ02'E; submarine chaser Ch 16 rescues survivors. USAAF B-17s and P-39s sink Japanese cargo vessel Yamafuku Maru off Shortland Island. Japanese collier Tokachi Maru is sunk by Japanese mine west of Surubaya, Java, N.E.I., 06œ50'S, 112œ12'E. U.S. tanker Mobilube is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-21 off coast of New South Wales, Australia, 33œ57'S, 157œ20'E; Australian minesweeper HMAS Kapunda provides assistance as the tanker remains afloat. Other than three men killed in the initial explosion, no other members of the ship's complement (that includes an 11-man Armed Guard) perish. Mobilube is towed to Sydney by salvage tug St. Aristell, but is eventually declared a total loss. * 19 January, Tue. Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) encounters Section A of the Japanese Solomons reinforcement convoy, and sinks army cargo ship Myoho Maru, 05œ38'S, 156œ20'E. Section C of the reinforcement convoy, meanwhile, departs Truk (see 20 January). Submarine Greenling (SS-213) damages Japanese army cargo ship Shinai Maru north of Rabaul, 01œ35'S, 150œ57'E. Submarine Haddock (SS-231) attacks Japanese convoy off south coast of Honshu, damaging transport Shunko Maru, 34œ13'N, 136œ59'E. Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) damages Japanese destroyer Akizuki 270 miles west of Tulagi, 05œ55'S, 156œ20'E. Submarine Spearfish (SS-190) en route to Pearl Harbor after completing her patrol, is damaged by aerial bombs off the Gilberts, 04œ44'N, 175œ28'E. Atlantic * 20 January, Wed. First destroyer escort type ship, Brennan (DE-13), is commissioned at Mare Island, California, Navy Yard. Mediterranean Atlantic * 21 January, Thu. Submarine Gato (SS-212) encounters Section B of Japanese Solomons reinforcement convoy and damages army transport Kenkon Maru just east of Kieta, Bougainville, 06œ12'S, 155œ51'E; escorts scuttle the ship to hasten her sinking. Submarine Pollack (SS-180) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Asama Maru off Kushiro, Japan, 42œ41'N, 145œ37'E. USAAF B-24 damages Japanese light cruiser Natori off Ambon. Atlantic * 22 January, Fri. USAAF B-17s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Tetsuzan Maru in Rabaul harbor; 30 landing craft on board are lost, 04œ15'S, 152œ10'E. U.S. freighter Peter H. Burnett is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-21 about 500 miles east of Newcastle, Australia, 32œ54'S, 159œ32'E, and abandoned; other than one sailor of the 26-man Armed Guard who dies of injuries received in the explosion, there are no casualties. When I-21 withdraws, the freighter is reboarded (see 24 January). * 23 January, Sat. District patrol craft YP-577 is destroyed by explosion of undetermined origin, Great Lakes, Illinois. Pacific Japanese submarine I-8 bombards Canton Island. Japanese planes bomb U.S. shipping in Milne Bay, New Guinea; fragments from near-misses damage freighter Stephen Johnson Field. One Armed Guard sailor and one merchant crewman are injured; there are no other casualties among the 23-man Armed Guard and 43 merchant seamen. Atlantic * 24 January, Sun. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) damages Japanese destroyer Harusame eleven miles west of Wewak, New Guinea, 03œ23'S, 143œ34'E. High speed minesweeper Zane (DMS-14) recovers one boatload of crewmen from torpedoed freighter Peter H. Burnett and then proceeds to aid the stricken merchantman. Zane then tows the freighter to Sydney, Australia, for repairs. Japanese light cruiser Nagara is damaged by marine casualty off Anatahan Island. Atlantic Survivors of U.S. tanker Brilliant, which had broken in two on 20 January, are rescued by Canadian minesweeper from the after portion of the ship. Of the 54 men on board, 31 merchant seamen are saved; 13 of the Armed Guard survive. * 25 January, Mon. German submarine U-575 torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter City of Flint, straggling from Casablanca-bound convoy UGS 4, about 300 miles south of the Azores, 34œ47'N, 31œ40'W; 4 of 24 Armed Guard sailors are lost (see 28 January). * 26 January, Tue. Submarine Grayling (SS-209) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Ushio Maru in Verde Island Passage, north of Mindoro, P.I., 13œ26'N, 121œ16'E. Submarine Gudgeon (SS-211) is damaged by depth charges in the Banda Sea, 03œ59'S, 127œ54'E, but remains on patrol. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) attacks Japanese convoy about 270 miles north of Dutch New Guinea and torpedoes and sinks army cargo ships Buyo Maru and No.2 Fukuei Maru, 02œ00'N, 139œ14'E. After dispatching the freighters, which are serving as transports, Wahoo (Lieutenant Commander Dudley W. Morton) surfaces to recharge her batteries and mans her guns. Firing her 4-inch gun at the largest of the craft draws Japanese return fire from automatic weapons. As Morton later writes, "We then opened fire with everything we had." Subsequently, Wahoo pursues and torpedoes armed merchant cruiser Ukishima Maru, 02œ37'N, 139œ42'E, and army cargo ship Pacific Maru, 02œ30'N, 139œ44'E (see 27 January). * 27 January, Wed. Japanese ship No.2 Choko Maru rescues about 1,000 survivors of army cargo ship Buyo Maru, sunk the previous day by submarine Wahoo (SS-238). Japanese destroyer Karukaya is damaged off Takao, Formosa, by marine casualty. Submarine I-27 is damaged by marine casualty off Penang, Malaya. Atlantic U.S. freighter Charles C. Pinckney, a straggler from convoy UGS 4, is torpedoed by German submarine U-514 about 200 miles southwest of the Azores, 36œ37'N, 30œ55'W. When U-514 surfaces nearby, Armed Guard gunners hold fire until well within range, at which point they open up and score hits on their assailant, driving her off for the time being (see 28 January). * 28 January, Thu. Portuguese destroyer Lima rescues 48 survivors from sunken U.S. freighter City of Flint. (see 12 March) * 29 January, Fri. New Zealand corvettes HMNZS Kiwi and HMNZS Moa sink Japanese submarine I 1 off Kamimbo Bay, Guadalcanal, 09œ13'S, 159œ40'E. Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Nichiun Maru off southeast tip of Bougainville, Solomons, 06œ22'S, 156œ04'E, despite proximity of escorting submarine chaser Ch 22. Atlantic * 30 January, Sat. Japanese submarine I-10 torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter Samuel Gompers 115 miles from Amadee Lighthouse, New Caledonia, 24œ28'S, 166œ20'E; one of the 17-man Armed Guard dies, and three of the 43-man merchant complement perish in the sinking. French fishermen and U.S. Army crash boat P 111 rescue the survivors. Naval Station, Akutan Harbor, Fox Island, Alaska, is established. Floating dry dock YFD-220 founders and sinks in heavy weather off California coast. Atlantic * 31 January, Sun. February * 1 February, Mon. To deny the Japanese "Tokyo Express" access to the channel between Savo Island and Cape Esperance, light minelayers Tracy (DM-19), Montgomery (DM-17) and Preble (DM-20) sow 255 mines in those waters. The three ships clear the mining area as Japanese men-of-war are only 12,000 yards away and closing (see 2 February). Two waves of aircraft from Henderson Field (TBFs, SBDs, F4Fs, and USAAF P-38s, P-39s, and P-40s) attack Japanese destroyer force (Rear Admiral Hashimoto Shintaro), en route to evacuate Japanese troops from Guadalcanal (Operation KE), damaging Makinami (Hashimoto's flagship). U.S. motor torpedo boats later attack the Japanese force, but in that action PT-111 and PT-37 are sunk by gunfire from destroyer Kawakaze; a Japanese floatplane sinks PT-123. Hashimoto's force extracts 4,935 soldiers. Submarine Tarpon (SS-175) sinks Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship Fushimi Maru about 20 miles south of Omai Zaki, 34œ08'N, 138œ11'E. Japanese torpedo boat Kari is damaged by aircraft, Rangoon, Burma. * 2 February, Tue. USAAF B-17s and P-39s sink Japanese cargo vessel Keiyo Maru off the Shortlands. USAAF B-24s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese cargo vessel Kenkoku Maru while en route from Kokope to New Guinea, between Lolobau Island and New Britain, 04œ58'S, 151œ12'E. Atlantic * 3 February, Wed. Caribbean Open lighters YC-886 and YC-887 founder and sink in heavy weather, Guantanamo, Cuba. Pacific Atlantic German submarine U-255 attacks convoy RA 52 600 miles northeast of Iceland, torpedoing U.S. freighter Greylock, 70œ50'N, 00œ48'W; there are no casualties, British escort trawler HMS Lady Madeleine rescues all hands. * 4 February, Thu. Submarine Tunny (SS-282) damages Japanese transport Tatsuwa Maru in the South China Sea, 21œ30'N, 113œ42'E. Atlantic * 5 February, Fri. Atlantic Forty survivors in boat from U.S. freighter Cape Decision, sunk by U-105 on 27 January, reach safety at Barbados (see 10 February). * 6 February, Sat. USAAF planes sink Japanese cargo ship Gisho Maru, 04œ30'S, 151œ30'E. Atlantic Mediterranean * 7 February, Sun. Submarine Growler (SS-215) is damaged by accidental ramming of Japanese storeship Hayasaki and gunfire from the same vessel, 70 miles northwest of Rabaul, 03œ34'S, 151œ09'E. During this action, Growler's commanding officer, Commander Howard W. Gilmore, is mortally wounded. Rather than further hazard his ship, he orders Growler taken down. For his gallantry, Gilmore is awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously. Hayasaki is damaged in the encounter; Growler is forced to terminate her patrol. Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) is damaged when mistakenly attacked by USAAF B-17, 150 miles north of New Ireland, 00œ12'N, 152œ00'E, and terminates her patrol as a result. Submarine Trout (SS-202) damages Japanese tanker Nisshin Maru off Miri, 04œ31'N, 114œ52'E. Atlantic German submarine U-160 torpedoes and U.S. freighter Roger B. Taney, en route to Bahia, Brazil, 22œ00'S, 07œ00'W. Three crewmen perish in the explosion of the initial torpedo, but the rest of the 47-man merchant complement and the sole passenger survive, in addition to the 17-man Armed Guard (see 28 February and 20 March). * 8 February, Mon. Submarine Tunny (SS-282) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Kusuyama Maru off southwest coast of Formosa about 55 miles west of Takao, 22œ40'N, 119œ12'E. Japanese cargo ship Shotoku Maru is sunk by storm near Hinomizaki, Honshu, 35œ26'N, 132œ38'E. Atlantic Swiss freighter Caritasi rescues 14 survivors of U.S. freighter Charles C. Pinckney, sunk on 28 January 1943 by U-514; eight of the 27-man Armed Guard survive their ordeal, as do six merchant sailors. * 9 February, Tue. Submarine Tarpon (SS-175) sinks Japanese transport Tatsuta Maru 42 miles east of Mikura Jima, 33œ45'N, 140œ25'E. Japanese submarine I-21 sights U.S. freighter Starr King one day out of Sydney, Australia, and begins pursuit of the freighter (see 10 and 11 February). Atlantic * 10 February, Wed. Japanese submarine I-21 continues pursuit of U.S. freighter Starr King and torpedoes her, 34œ15'S, 154œ20'E; there are no casualties among the merchant crew or Armed Guard. Australian destroyer HMAS Warramunga rescues survivors but has to abandon attempt to tow the crippled freighter when a line fouls her port screw. Starr King, however, sinks that night. Atlantic Thirty-seven survivors in boat from U.S. freighter Cape Decision, sunk by U-105 on 27 January, reach St. Barthelemy, French West Indies. * 11 February, Thu. Submarine Grayling (SS-209) damages Japanese army cargo ship Hoeizan Maru off Corregidor, 14œ16'N, 120œ28'E. * 12 February, Fri. Oiler Salamonie (AO 26) is damaged in collision with merchant vessel Uruguay, 36œ54'N, 49œ29'W. * 14 February, Sun. Submarine Runner (SS-275) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese cargo vessel Tokyo Maru north of Biak, New Guinea, 07œ31'N, 134œ21'E. Submarine Thresher (SS-200) damages Japanese submarine I-62 off the Lesser Sundas, 06œ05'S, 105œ47'E. Submarine Trout (SS-202) sinks Japanese gunboat Hirotama Maru at south entrance to Makassar Strait, 04œ11'S, 117œ45'E. Return fire from the enemy warship in the last phases of the action fought on the surface wounds seven sailors. PB4Ys (VB 101) strafe and damage ammunition ship Hitachi Maru off Buin, Bougainville, 06œ48'S, 155œ50'E; USAAF B-17s bomb shipping at Buin as well, completing the destruction of Hitachi Maru. * 15 February, Mon. Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese stores ship Suruga Maru in Bougainville Strait, 06œ27'S, 156œ02'E. Submarine Pickerel (SS-177) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking cargo vessel Tateyama Maru off the east coast of Honshu, 39œ18'S, 142œ08'E. USAAF aircraft sink Japanese cargo ship Kokoku Maru in the Bismarck Sea, 05œ32'S, 150œ09'E. Atlantic * 16 February, Tue. Pacific Submarine Triton (SS-201) departs Brisbane for her sixth war patrol. She will never be seen again (see 6 March). Atlantic Indian Ocean * 17 February, Wed. Atlantic/Mediterranean Indian Ocean * 18 February, Thu. Heavy cruiser HMAS Australia and three U.S. destroyers of TF 44.3 operate south of Australia to cover passage of five-ship convoy transporting the 30,000 troops of the 9th Australian Division to Sydney. Submarine Grampus (SS-207) damages Japanese transport Keiyo Maru, 05œ04'S, 152œ18'E. German auxiliary cruiser Michel (Schiffe 28) arrives at Singapore; the next day she turns over to the Japanese the merchant and Armed Guard sailors she had captured when she sank U.S. freighter Sawokla on 29 November 1942. * 19 February, Fri. Submarine Gato (SS-212) torpedoes Japanese ammunition ship Hibari Maru off eastern Bougainville, 06œ27'S, 156œ05'E. Hibari Maru is beached off Buin (see 28 February). Submarine Grampus (SS-207) torpedoes Japanese transport/aircraft ferry Keiyo Maru, 04œ55'S, 152œ26'E. Submarine Runner (SS-275) is damaged by aerial bomb off the Palaus, 07œ35'N, 134œ25'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol. USAAF B-17s bomb Japanese shipping off Buin, Bougainville, damaging transport Tokai Maru, 06œ45'S, 155œ50'E. Atlantic * 20 February, Sat. Submarine Albacore (SS-218) torpedoes and sinks Japanese destroyer Oshio about 140 miles north-northwest of Manus, Admiralty Islands, 00œ50'S, 146œ06'E. Albacore escapes damage in the resultant depth-charging by an accompanying enemy warship. Submarine Halibut (SS-232) torpedoes and sinks Japanese transport Shinkoku Maru about 450 miles north of Ponape, Carolines, 15œ09'N, 159œ30'E. Japanese auxiliary patrol vessel Yoshida Maru is damaged by mine (probably laid by submarine Sunfish (SS-281) between 14-17 December 1942), 34œ28'N, 137œ20'E. Japanese army cargo ship Aragane Maru sinks as the result of damage inflicted by gunfire from heavy cruiser Indianapolis (CA 35) and destroyers Coghlan (DD-606) and Gillespie (DD-609) off Attu, 53œ05'N, 171œ22'E. Atlantic USAAF B-24 locates German prize tanker Hohenfriedberg 500 nautical miles southwest of Cape Finisterre; consequently, British heavy cruiser HMS Sussex intercepts and sinks the Axis vessel. Indian Ocean * 21 February, Sun. Submarine Sawfish (SS-276) damages Japanese oiler Ose off Oagari Jima, 29œ29'N, 132œ48'E. Submarine Thresher (SS-200) attacks Japanese convoy northeast of Soembawa Island, N.E.I., damaging army cargo ship Kuwayama Maru, 07œ53'N, 119œ13'E (see 22 February). Dutch submarine O 24 sinks Japanese merchant motor vessel Bandai Maru off Salang Island, 07œ50'N, 098œ09'E. Atlantic U.S. freighter Rosario, steaming in convoy ON 167, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-664 at 50œ13'N, 24œ48'W. Fourteen of the 17-man Armed Guard, and 14 of 44 merchant crewmen are picked up by British rescue ship Rathlin; the rest perish with the ship. British merchantman Penrith Castle rescues 15 merchant seamen and 13 Armed Guard sailors, survivors of freighter Roger B. Taney, that had been sunk by U-225 on 7 February (see 20 March). * 22 February, Mon. Battle to protect convoy ON 166 in the North Atlantic continues. British rescue ship Stockport rescues Empire Trader's survivors; German submarine U-92 torpedoes Norwegian motor tanker Nielson Alonso (which is again torpedoed by U-92 and then by U-753, but is eventually scuttled by Polish destroyer Burza); U-606 torpedoes a trio of merchantmen: U.S. freighters Chattanooga City at 46œ54'N, 34œ30'W, and Expositor at 46œ52'N, 34œ26'W, as well as British steamer Empire Redshank. Chattanooga City sinks. Canadian corvette HMCS Trillium rescues all hands (including the 21-man Armed Guard) from Chattanooga City as well as 34 of 41 merchant sailors (two of whom die of their wounds) and the entire 21-man Armed Guard from Expositor. Trillium scuttles Empire Redshank. U-606's opportunity to savor her triple play is short-lived, for Canadian corvette HMCS Chilliwack and Polish destroyer Burza depth charge U-606 and drive her to the surface, where Coast Guard cutter Campbell (WPG-32) rams and sinks her at 47œ44'N, 33œ43'W. Campbell, damaged in the encounter, is taken in tow by Burza. German submarines locate Curacao, N.W.I.-bound convoy UC 1; four U.S. destroyers comprise part of the escort force (see 23 February). Pacific Japanese army cargo ship Kuwayama Maru sinks off Soembawa Island as the result of damage inflicted by submarine Thresher (SS-200) the previous day, 07œ53'N, 119œ13'E. * 23 February, Tue. German submarines attack Curacao, N.W.I.-bound convoy UC 1, which is shepherded by four U.S. destroyers, two British frigates and three corvettes. Despite the proximity of the Anglo-American escort force, U-382 torpedoes Dutch motor tanker Murena; U-202 torpedoes British tankers Empire Norseman and British Fortitude, and U.S. tanker Esso Baton Rouge, the last-named ship at 31œ15'N, 27œ22'W. British sloop HMS Totland rescues Esso Baton Rouge's survivors, who include 24 of the 25-man Armed Guard and 41 of the 43-man merchant complement. District patrol craft YP-336 sinks after running aground, Delaware River. * 24 February, Wed. Mediterranean Atlantic PBM-3 (VP 74) sights Italian submarine Barbarigo attacking Spanish merchantman Monte Igueldo, 04œ46'S, 31œ55'N, and attacks the enemy submersible, which comes to the surface and fights it out with the flying boat. Neither side, however, inflicts damage on the other. Defense of convoy ON 166 continues; German submarine U-604 is damaged by depth charges from Coast Guard cutter Spencer (WPG-36) or corvettes HMCS Chilliwack, HMCS Rosthern or HMCS Trillium. U-621 conducts unsuccessful attack on Spencer. * 25 February, Thu. * 26 February, Fri. * 27 February, Sat. Submarine Grampus (SS-207) possibly damages Japanese minesweeper W 22 off Kolombangara, Solomons. Submarine Plunger (SS-179) torpedoes Japanese oiler Iro 130 miles west of Jaluit, 06œ09'N, 167œ18'E; Katori Maru tows the crippled ship to Kwajalein for repairs. USAAF B-24s (10th Air Force) sink Japanese cargo vessel Asakasan Maru 95 miles southeast of Rangoon, Burma, 15œ53'N, 97œ40'E. * 28 February, Sun. Japanese cargo ship Kashii Maru is sunk in collision with Kasagisan Maru off Shimoda, Honshu, 34œ39'N, 138œ58'E. Mediterranean March * 1 March, Mon. Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Annette Island, Alaska, is established. Atlantic U.S. freighter Wade Hampton, straggling from convoy HX 227, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-405 at 59œ55'N, 35œ55'E; British corvette HMS Vervain rescues 41 merchant seamen and 26 Armed Guard sailors (see 3 March 1943). Lost with Wade Hampton are Soviet motor torpedo boats RPT 1 (ex-PT-85) and RPT 3 (ex-PT-87), lend-lease craft being carried as deck cargo. U.S. freighter Fitz John Porter, in Bahia, Brazil-to-Trinidad convoy BT 6, is torpedoed by German submarine U-518, 12œ25'S, 36œ55'E, and abandoned. While there are no casualties among the merchant sailors, one Armed Guard seaman is blown overboard and lost. Brazilian minelayer Carioca rescues the survivors, and Fitz John Porter sinks the following evening. * 2 March, Tue. Submarine Permit (SS-178) damages Japanese army cargo ship Tsurushima Maru off northeast coast of Honshu, 39œ00'N, 141œ54'E. Submarine Thresher (SS-200) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Toen Maru in southern Makassar Strait, 03œ29'S, 117œ17'E. Atlantic Submarine chaser SC-1024 is sunk in collision off North Carolina. * 3 March, Wed. Japanese guardboat Choei Maru is sunk by U.S. aircraft, off Vella Lavella, Solomons. Submarine Halibut (SS-232) torpedoes Japanese naval auxiliary Nichiyu Maru about 170 miles south of Guam, 10œ25'N, 145œ25'E. Nichiyu Maru reaches Apra harbor under tow, but deemed beyond salvage by 17 June, never resumes active service (see 12 and 25 June 1944). Indian Ocean Atlantic U.S. freighter Staghound, proceeding independently from New York to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is torpedoed and sunk by Italian submarine Barbarigo in the South Atlantic off the coast of Brazil, 16œ44'S, 36œ33'E (see 4 March). * 4 March, Thu. Japanese merchant cargo ship Hokuto Maru is sunk by mine south of Muroran, 39œ30'N, 142œ08'E. Indian Ocean Atlantic * 5 March, Fri. Submarine Tambor (SS-198) lands men, ammunition, and currency at Pagadian Bay, Mindanao, P.I. Atlantic German submarine U-255 attacks Loch Ewe, Scotland-bound convoy RA 53, torpedoing U.S. freighter Executive and freighter Richard Bland at 72œ45'N, 11œ40'E; the former is abandoned without orders, with the survivors (one Armed Guard sailor and four merchant seamen are lost with the ship) being rescued by British trawlers HMS St. Elstan and HMS Northern Pride. Executive is scuttled. Richard Bland although damaged by a dud torpedo that nevertheless passes clean through the ship, remains with the convoy; she has suffered no casualties (see 10 March). * 6 March, Sat. Submarine Sawfish (SS-176) damages Japanese army cargo ship Clyde Maru southeast of Toizaki, 31œ04'N, 131œ48'E. Submarine Triton (SS-201) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kiriha Maru about 145 miles northwest of the Admiralties, 00œ37'N, 145œ30'E. Triton, which reports her success on 11 March, is never heard from again. Indian Ocean Atlantic * 7 March, Sun. Submarine Tautog (SS-199) lays mines off southeast coast of Borneo. * 8 March, Mon. Atlantic Indian Ocean * 9 March, Tue. Submarine S-32 (SS-137) is damaged by Japanese depth charges off Holtz Bay, Attu Island, Aleutians. Atlantic German submarine U-510 carries out series of attacks on ships of convoy BT 6, which is escorted by destroyer Borie (DD-215), gunboats Courage (PG-70) and Tenacity (PG-71) and two submarine chasers, off Cayenne, French Guayana. U-510 torpedoes U.S. freighters George G. Meade, Mark Hanna, James Smith, Thomas Ruffin and James K. Polk at 07œ11'N, 52œ30'W. George G. Meade suffers no casualties to either her merchant crew or the Armed Guard, and returns to service; Mark Hanna is abandoned by most of the crew, submarine chaser PC-592 rescuing the men while a portion of the complement remains on board to prepare the ship to be towed; after repairs, she returns to active service. James Smith suffers the loss of six merchant sailors and five Armed Guard seamen in the initial explosion, and is partially abandoned, with submarine chaser PC-592 rescuing a portion of the crew. The ship, however, will be towed to Trinidad by British tug Zwarte Zee and will eventually re-enter active service. Thomas Ruffin is partially abandoned, with Courage and PC-592 rescuing crewmen (four of the ship's merchant complement and two of the 15-man Armed Guard are killed); the ship will eventually be written off as a total loss. James K. Polk (one Armed Guard sailor is killed when the ship is torpedoed--the only casualty) is partially abandoned, with PC-592 serving as the rescuing agent; the master and a volunteer crew rig tarpaulins and with those makeshift sails proceed some 360 miles. Eventually towed to Trinidad and thence to Mobile, Alabama, James K. Polk will be written off as a total loss. U.S. freighter Puerto Rican, straggling from convoy RA 53, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-586 at 66œ44'N, 10œ41'W'; of the 40-man merchant complement and 25-man Armed Guard, only one man of the former will survive the abandonment in the below-freezing environment in which the sinking takes place (see 12 March). 10 March, Wed. USAAF B-24 (5th Air Force) damages Japanese fleet tanker Kaijo Maru south of Buton Passage, Celebes, 04œ45'S, 123œ10'E; Kaijo Maru is run aground on Landaila Reef, where she is abandoned (see 17 March and 23 September). Atlantic German submarine U-185 attacks convoy KG 123, torpedoing U.S. tanker Virginia Sinclair at 20œ11'N, 74œ04'W, and freighter James Sprunt at 19œ49'N, 74œ38'W. Submarine chaser SC-742 rescues all but seven of Virginia Sinclair's complement, but James Sprunt, laden with general cargo and explosives, disintegrates, killing all hands (44 merchant sailors and the 25-man Armed Guard) and showering nearby ships with debris. German submarines attack convoy HX 228; U-221 torpedoes U.S. freighter Andrea F. Luckenbach at 51œ04'N, 29œ40'W. Explosion of the after magazine blows off the stern and kills 10 of the 28-man Armed Guard outright. British oiler Appleleaf rescues 17 Armed Guard sailors and 46 of the 55-man merchant complement. U-444 torpedoes freighter William C. Gorgas at 51œ35'N, 28œ30'W; British destroyer HMS Harvester rescues the 27-man Armed Guard and 33 of the 43-man merchant complement, but is herself later torpedoed and sunk by U-432. Ultimately, only four Armed Guard sailors and eight merchant seamen from William C. Gorgas survive Harvester's sinking, rescued by Free French-manned British corvette HMS Aconit. U-757 administers the coup de grace to William C. Gorgas. German submarine U-255 torpedoes U.S. freighter Richard Bland, straggling from convoy RA 53, at 66œ48'N, 14œ15'W; the ship breaks in two. During the abandonment in rough seas, 17 of the 26-man Armed Guard and 19 of 42-man merchant complement perish. Survivors are rescued (27 by British destroyer HMS Impulsive); the forward portion of the ship is eventually towed to Iceland and salvaged. Open lighter YC-1278 is destroyed off Atlantic Coast. Indian Ocean British light cruiser HMS Nigeria rescues 30 survivors of U.S. freighter James B. Stephens, torpedoed by German submarine U-160 off the coast of South Africa on 8 March 1943; British trawler HMS Norwich City rescues 19 (see 14 March). * 12 March, Fri. Atlantic HMS Quadrant rescues ten survivors from sunken U.S. freighter City of Flint after 46 days on a lifeboat. Survivors include 3 Naval Armed Guards (see 25 January and 28 January). Destroyer Belknap (DD-251) rescues seven Armed Guard sailors, survivors from freighter Jonathan Sturges, along with three Dutch seamen from torpedoed motorship Madoera, both merchantmen the victims of U-707 on 23 February 1943 (see 6 April). Sole survivor of U.S. freighter Puerto Rican, torpedoed and sunk on 9 March by German submarine U-586 as the former straggled from convoy RA 53, is rescued by British trawler HMS St. Elstan. * 13 March, Sat. Submarine Sunfish (SS-281) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Kosei Maru near Tokara Jima, Ryukyus, 29œ04'N, 129œ17'E. Dutch submarine O 21 sinks Japanese cargo ship Kasuga Maru off Port Blair, Andaman Islands, 11œ40'N, 92œ50'E. USAAF B-17s bomb Japanese convoy off Wewak, sinking cargo vessel Momoyama Maru; submarine Greenling (SS-213) witnesses attacks. Atlantic Mediterranean * 14 March, Sun. Indian Ocean * 15 March, Mon. Pacific Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, French Frigate Shoals, T.H., is established. * 16 March, Tue. Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese victualling stores ship Hyuga Maru west of the Marianas. Submarine S-32 (SS-137) damages Japanese submarine RO 103 off Silipuaka Island, 52œ54'N, 173œ13'E. Mediterranean Atlantic German submarine U-172, stalking convoy UGS 6, torpedoes U.S. freighter Benjamin Harrison at 39œ09'N, 24œ15'W. Precipitately abandoned, the ship is scuttled by gunfire of destroyer Rowan (DD-405), which rescues three survivors. Freighter Alan A. Dale rescues the remainder. German submarines attack convoy HX 229 as it proceeds toward the British Isles; U-758 torpedoes U.S. freighter James Oglethorpe at 50œ00'N, 36œ00'W; 13 merchant seamen, 15 Armed Guard sailors and two passengers are rescued by British corvette HMS Pennywort. U-435 torpedoes freighter William Eustis at 49œ57'N, 37œ06'W; British destroyer HMS Volunteer rescues the entire crew (which includes a 30-man Armed Guard). Both "Liberties" remain afloat (see 17 March ). * 17 March, Wed. Submarine Kingfish (SS-234) damages Japanese transport Tenryugawa Maru in Formosa Strait, 24œ32'N, 120œ15'E. Submarine Tautog (SS-199) inflicts further damage to Japanese fleet tanker Kaijo Maru, driven aground and abandoned on 10 March (see 23 September). Atlantic German submarine U-167 attacks convoy UGS 6 and damages U.S. freighter Molly Pitcher about 500 miles west of Lisbon, Portugal, 38œ21'N, 19œ54'W; destroyer Champlin (DD-601) which, along with destroyer Rowan (DD-405) and merchantman William Johnson rescues survivors, attempts, unsuccessfully, to scuttle the crippled freighter with a torpedo. U-521 finishes off Molly Pitcher later the same day. Two of the 24-man Armed Guard and two merchant seamen perish in the sinking. German U-boat operations against convoy HX 229 continue: U-91 administers the coup de grace to U.S. freighters James Oglethorpe, torpedoed by U-758 the previous day, and the abandoned William Eustis, torpedoed the day before by U-435. Lost with the former are the 31 men who had remained on board. U-91 also torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter Harry Luckenbach at 50œ38'N, 34œ46'W; British corvette HMS Pennywort is the only escort vessel that sights Harry Luckenbach's survivors but, already crammed with 108 men retrieved from other sunken ships from HX 229, is unable to recover them. Harry Luckenbach is thus lost with all hands (54 merchant sailors and a 26-man Armed Guard). U-600 torpedoes and sinks freighter Irenee Du Pont at 50œ36'N, 34œ30'W with the loss of 6 of the 26-man Armed Guard, 1 of 9 Navy passengers and six of the 49-man merchant complement; Dutch merchantman Tekoa rescues 55 survivors, Canadian destroyer HMCS Mansfield 16 (one of whom dies of wounds). British corvette HMS Anemone fails to scuttle Irenee Du Pont with gunfire and a depth charge; it thus falls to U-91 to finish off the battered "Liberty." * 18 March, Thu. * 19 March, Fri. Pacific Submarine Sawfish (SS-276) damages Japanese guardboat Shinsei Maru, southeast of Japan, 32œ54'N, 152œ11'E. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238), operating in the Yellow Sea, sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Zogen Maru just east of Dairen, Kwantung Peninsula, Manchukuo, 38œ29'N, 122œ19'E, and damages merchant cargo ship Kowa Maru, 38œ27'N, 122œ18'E. USAAF A-20s damage Japanese submarine I-176 as she is unloading at Lae, New Guinea. I-176, however, is able to continue her voyage to Rabaul. Atlantic Mediterranean * 20 March, Sat. Atlantic District patrol craft YP-438 sinks after running aground on submerged breakwater at entrance to Port Everglades, Florida. Pacific Submarine Scamp (SS-277) damages Japanese merchant cargo ship Seinan Maru off Tomari, 41œ06'N, 141œ26'E. Submarine Trigger (SS-237) damages Japanese gunboat Choan Maru off the Admiralties, 03œ44'N, 144œ12'E, with a dud torpedo. * 21 March, Sun. Pacific Submarine Scamp (SS-277) damages Japanese transport Manju Maru off east coast of Honshu, 41œ45'N, 142œ14'E. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238), operating in the Yellow Sea off Korea, sinks Japanese merchant cargo ships Hozan Maru, 38œ11'N, 124œ33'E and Nittsu Maru, 38œ05'N, 124œ33'E. * 22 March, Mon. Submarine Tambor (SS-198) damages Japanese transport Bugen Maru in the Sulu Sea, off Negros, P.I., 08œ58'N, 123œ08'E. Atlantic USAAF heavy bombers raid Wilhelmshaven U-boat pens, sinking German tanker Eurosee. * 23 March, Tue. Submarine Kingfish (SS-234) is damaged by depth charges off Formosa, 26œ20'N, 121œ55'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol. Submarine Whale (SS-239) sinks Japanese transport Ken'yo Maru about 130 miles northwest of Saipan, 17œ20'N, 145œ00'E; one of Whale's torpedoes circles back toward her, forcing the boat to "go deep" but then heads back and hits the target. Atlantic/Mediterranean * 24 March, Fri. * 26 March, Fri. PBYs and USAAF B-24s bomb Nauru Island, South Pacific. Atlantic Escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9) operates in support of convoy SC 123; her aircraft keep U-443 and U-415 down and prevent their attacking the convoy. * 27 March, Sat. Atlantic Coast Guard cutter CG-85006 (ex-motor boat Catamount) is sunk by explosion off Long Island, New York. * 28 March, Sun. Japanese cargo ship Funakawa Maru is stranded off Shiraya Zaki and sinks, 41œ22'N, 141œ22'E. * 29 March, Mon. Submarine Gudgeon (SS-211) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Toho Maru in Makassar Strait, 00œ00'N, 118œ18'E, and damages tanker Kyoei Maru, 00œ54'N, 119œ01'E. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese auxiliary cable ship Yamabato Maru south of Kyushu, 30œ26'N, 129œ41'E. Atlantic * 30 March, Tue. * 31 March, Wed. April * 1 April, Thu. USAAF B-17s bomb Japanese convoy off Kavieng, sinking merchant cargo ship Kokoko Maru. Atlantic Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland, is established. District patrol craft YP-235 is sunk by explosion of undetermined origin, Gulf of Mexico. Submarine Shad (SS-235) torpedoes Italian blockade runner Pietro Orseolo, 44œ37'N, 02œ18'W, shortly after the Italian ship had reached the Bay of Biscay and her escort of four German destroyers. * 2 April, Fri. * 3 April, Sat. Submarine Pickerel (SS-177) sinks Japanese submarine chaser Ch 13 southeast of Shiriyasaki, Japan, 40œ03'N, 141œ58'E, but is afterwards sunk by minelayer Shirakami and auxiliary subchaser Bunzan Maru off northern Honshu. USAAF B-17s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese transport Florida Maru in Kavieng harbor, 02œ35'S, 150œ49'E. B-17s and B-24s damage heavy cruiser Aoba and destroyer Fumizuki off Kavieng. Japanese destroyer Kazagumo is damaged by mine, Kahili Bay, Bougainville. Atlantic British destroyer HMS Shikari rescues seven survivors (five merchant seamen and two Armed Guard sailors) from U.S. freighter William Pierce Frye, sunk by German submarine U-160 on 29 March. Thirty-five merchant seamen have perished, as have 22 of the 24-man Armed Guard. * 4 April, Sun. Submarine Porpoise (SS-172) sinks Japanese whaling ship Koa Maru near Eniwetok atoll, 13œ10'N, 162œ05'E. * 5 April, Mon. Submarine Finback (SS-230) inflicts further damage upon Japanese troopship Suwa Maru (previously damaged by Tunny (SS-282) on 28 March and beached) off Wake Island, 19œ20'N, 166œ35'E (see 27 July). Atlantic * 6 April, Tue. Atlantic Gulf of Mexico * 7 April, Wed. Submarine Grayling (SS-209) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese cargo ship Lima Maru off Mindoro, 13œ20'N, 121œ33'E. Submarine Trout (SS-202) lays mines near Sarawak, Borneo. Submarine Tunny (SS-282), despite presence of escort vessel, torpedoes Japanese victualling stores ship Kosei Maru about 250 miles northwest of Truk, 08œ50'N, 147œ06'E. Attempt to tow the damaged vessel fails, and Kosei Maru sinks en route to Truk. Submarine Pickerel (SS-177) sinks Japanese cargo ship Fukuei Maru near Shiriya Zaki, Honshu, 41œ00'N, 142œ00'E. * 8 April, Thu. Japanese merchant cargo ship Toyo Maru is sunk by aircraft, Rabaul, 05œ04'N, 139œ43'E. * 9 April, Fri. Pacific Submarine Grayling (SS-209) in attack on Japanese convoy off Mindoro, sinks army cargo ship Shanghai Maru about ten miles east of Dumali Point, 13œ11'N, 121œ45'E. Submarine Tautog (SS-199) attacks Japanese convoy in Buton Passage, off southeastern Celebes, sinking army cargo ship Penang Maru, 05œ31'S, 123œ06'E. Tautog then sinks destroyer Isonami as the enemy warship attempts to rescue Penang Maru's survivors 05œ26'S, 123œ04'E. * 10 April, Sat. Atlantic * 11 April, Sun. U.S. freighter James W. Denver, straggling from convoy UGS 7, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-195 in the North Atlantic, 28œ46'N, 25œ40'W. All hands (42 merchant seamen, one passenger and 25 Armed Guards) survive the loss of the ship and set sail for the coast of Africa (see 18 and 24 April, and 4, 6 and 16 May). U.S. freighter Matt W. Ransom, steaming in Casablanca-bound convoy UGS 6A, is mined at 33œ59'N, 07œ51'W. All hands (42 merchant seamen, 2 passengers and 28 Armed Guards) abandon ship, rescued by submarine chasers PC-471 and PC-481; the master and six men, however, return to the damaged ship and take her to Gibraltar under her own power. * 12 April, Mon. USAAF B-17s and B-24s (5th Air Force) bomb Japanese shipping in Hansa Bay, sinking army cargo ship Sydney Maru, 03œ18'S, 143œ38'E. * 14 April, Wed. USAAF B-17s (5th Air Force) bomb Japanese shipping in Hansa Bay, sinking army cargo ship India Maru, 03œ18'S, 143œ38'E. * 15 April, Thu. Atlantic PBY (VP 83) sinks Italian submarine Archimede off coast of Brazil, 03œ23'S, 30œ28'W. German submarine U-262 makes contact with convoy HX 233, whose escort (Commander Paul R. Heineman) includes Coast Guard cutters Spencer (WPG-36) and Duane (WPG-33), a Canadian destroyer, two Canadian and three British corvettes. Escorts will drive off U-262 the next day. * 16 April, Fri. * 17 April, Sat. Japanese ex-whale factory ship Nissho Maru is sunk by unknown agent about 160 miles east of Formosa, 23œ36'N, 124œ18'E. Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Amaho Maru off Yerimozaki, Hokkaido, 42œ04'N, 143œ22'E. Atlantic * 18 April, Sun. Submarine Drum (SS-228) sinks Japanese ammunition ship Nisshun Maru about 200 miles north-northwest of Mussau Island, Bismarck Archipelago, 01œ55'N, 148œ24'E. Submarine chaser Ch.18 rescues survivors, who include a number of Army prostitutes among them. Atlantic Open lighter YC-891 founders while in tow of harbor tug Mauvila (YT-328) off Key West, Florida. Arctic * 19 April, Mon. Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) sinks Japanese depot ship No.5 Banshu Maru, 26œ15'N, 139œ35'E. Navy planes bomb Japanese shipping off Buin, Bougainville, damaging cargo vessel Shirogare Maru. * 20 April, Tue. Submarine Scorpion (SS-278) sinks Japanese gunboat No.1 Meiji Maru off east central coast of Honshu, 37œ10'N, 141œ25'E. USAAF aircraft sink Japanese cargo ship Kosei Maru north of Wewak, 03œ30'S, 143œ30'E. USAAF planes sink Japanese ship Nojima Maru north of Kiska. Japanese transport/cargo ship Sumerusan Maru is sunk by accidental explosion, Surabaya, Java, 03œ30'S, 143œ30'E. Mediterranean * 21 April, Wed. Submarine Stingray (SS-186) mines waters off Wenchow, China. Admiral Koga Mineichi is appointed Commander in Chief Japanese Combined Fleet. Atlantic Indian Ocean * 22 April, Thu. Submarine Stingray (SS-186) mines waters off Wenchow, China. Dutch submarine O 21, despite presence of escort vessel, sinks Japanese army cargo ship Yamazato Maru in Malacca Straits, 03œ28'N, 99œ47'E. Japanese aircraft bomb airfield at Funafuti, Ellice Islands. Atlantic * 23 April, Fri. Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) sinks Japanese Patrol Boat No.39 off east central coast of Formosa, 23œ45'N, 122œ45'E, while the enemy warship is screening the towing of the wrecked Nisshin Maru. District patrol craft YP-422 founders after grounding on Tumbo Reef, three miles southeast of entrance to North Bulari Passage, New Caledonia. Atlantic U.S. freighter Santa Catalina, bound for Basra, Iraq, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-129 at 30œ59'N, 70œ57'W, and abandoned (see 24 April). Indian Ocean * 24 April, Sat. Submarine Runner (SS-275) damages Japanese army hospital ship Buenos Aires Maru south of Hong Kong, 21œ41'N, 116œ24'E. Atlantic Swedish motor vessel Venezia rescues all hands (57 merchant seamen, 28-man Armed Guard and 10 passengers) from U.S. freighter Santa Catalina, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-129 the previous day. * 25 April, Sun. Mediterranean * 26 April, Mon. Atlantic Mediterranean * 27 April, Tue. U.S. freighter Lydia M. Child is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-178 about 100 miles east of Sydney, Australia, 33œ08'S, 153œ24'E; Australian minesweepers HMAS Warrambool and HMAS Deloraine rescue the entire crew (including the 21-man Armed Guard). Atlantic Indian Ocean * 28 April, Wed. Atlantic * 29 April, Thu. Atlantic PBY (VP 84) damages German submarine U-528 as it threatens convoy ONS 5. U.S. freighter McKeesport, in convoy ONS 5, is torpedoed by German submarine U-258 at 60œ52'N, 34œ20'W, and abandoned. British trawler HMS Northern Gem rescues all hands: 43 merchant seamen (one of whom dies subsequently) and the 25-man Armed Guard. British frigate HMS Tay scuttles McKeesport with gunfire. * 30 April, Fri. Submarine Scorpion (SS-278) sinks Japanese guardboat No.5 Ebisu Maru east of Japan, 37œ24'N, 154œ40'E. Submarine Snook (SS-279) lays mines off Saddle Island, China. U.S. freighter Phoebe A. Hearst is torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-19 about 240 miles southeast of Suva, Fiji Islands, 19œ48'S, 176œ44'E (see 1, 5 and 14 May). Atlantic May * 1 May, Sat. PBY rescues eight survivors from U.S. freighter Phoebe A. Hearst, torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-19 about 240 miles southeast of Suva the day before (see 5 and 14 May). * 2 May, Sun. Pacific Submarine Stingray (SS-186) attacks Japanese convoy off Wenchow, China, sinking army transport Tamon Maru about 12 miles off Nanki Shan, 27œ18'N, 121œ38'E. U.S. freighter William Williams is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-19 near Suva, Fiji Islands, 20œ09'S, 178œ04'W. There are no casualties among the 40-man merchant crew and the 15-man Armed Guard; the latter remains on board with a fire-fighting crew to battle the blaze in two compartments (see 4 and 7 May). Atlantic Coast Guard cutter CG-58012 is destroyed by explosion off Manomet Point, Massachusetts. * 3 May, Mon. Atlantic * 4 May, Tue. Submarine Seal (SS-183) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking fleet tanker San Clemente Maru about 50 miles southeast of Palau, 06œ30'N, 130œ30'E. Net tender Catalpa (YN-5) begins towing damaged U.S. freighter William Williams, torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-19 near Suva on 2 May (see 7 May). Atlantic Portuguese fishing trawler Albufeira rescues 11 survivors from U.S. freighter James W. Denver,torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-195 in the North Atlantic on 11 April (see 16 May). * 5 May, Wed. Submarine Sawfish (SS-276), despite proximity of escort vessel, sinks Japanese gunboat Hakkai Maru off Ise-Wan, Honshu, Japan, 34œ11'N, 137œ41'E. Submarine Snook (SS-279) attacks Japanese merchant shipping in the Yellow Sea, sinking cargo ships Kinko Maru, 38œ39'N, 122œ35'E, and Taifuku Maru, 38œ38'N, 122œ39'E. Twenty-three survivors from U.S. freighter Phoebe A. Hearst, torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-19 about 240 miles southeast of Suva on 30 April, reach Tofua Island; motor minesweeper YMS-89 picks them up and transfers them to Tongatabu (see 14 May). Atlantic * 6 May, Thu. Atlantic Fourteen survivors from U.S. freighter James W. Denver, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-195 in the North Atlantic on 11 April 1943, reach Port Etienne (see 16 May 1943). Covered lighter YF-575 founders after grounding off Atlantic City, New Jersey. * 7 May, Fri. Submarine Snook (SS-279) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ships Tosei Maru and No. 3 Shinsei Maru in the Yellow Sea, 36œ05'N, 123œ21'E. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese merchant passenger/cargo ship No.5 Tamon Maru off Benten Zaki, Honshu, 40œ05'N, 141œ53'E. Net tender Catalpa (YN-5), escorted by minesweeper Dash (AM-88), brings damaged U.S. freighter William Williams, torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-19 on 2 May 1943, into Suva, Fiji Islands. Vichy French steamship Gouverneur General Pasquir is sunk by mine off coast of French Indochina, 20œ14'N, 107œ00'E. Atlantic * 8 May, Sat. Submarine Plunger (SS-179) sights Japanese Saipan-bound convoy about 60 miles northwest of Truk (see 9-11 May 1943). USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Tomioka Maru and army cargo ship Sumida Maru, Madang harbor, New Guinea, 05œ12'S, 145œ50'E. Mediterranean Allied forces occupy Sfax, Tunisia, capturing Italian water tanker Pro Patria. * 9 May, Sun. Submarine Pogy (SS-266) damages Japanese transport Uyo Maru off Iwaki, Japan, 37œ05'N, 141œ06'E. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ships Takao Maru and Jimmu Maru off Kone Zaki, northeastern Honshu, 38œ57'N, 141œ49'E. Atlantic Mediterranean * 10 May, Mon. Submarine Plunger (SS-179) attacks Japanese convoy tracked since the day before, sinking merchant passenger/cargo ship Tatsutake Maru and damaging transport Kinai Maru about 200 miles east of Saipan, 14œ29'N, 149œ00'E; the latter is abandoned. Torpedo boat Hiyodori is damaged in collision with Tatsutake Maru and Kinai Maru, probably during the rescue of survivors. * 11 May, Tue. Submarine Grayback (SS-208) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking collier Yodogawa Maru about 125 miles northwest of Kavieng, 00œ47'S, 149œ02'E. Submarine Plunger (SS-179) finishes off abandoned Japanese transport Kinai Maru, damaged the day before east of Saipan, 14œ29'N, 149œ00'E. * 12 May, Wed. Submarine Gudgeon (SS-212), despite her quarry's being skillfully camouflaged and moored close inshore, sinks Japanese army cargo ship Sumatra Maru off Bulusan, Luzon, 12œ43'N, 124œ08'E. Submarine Steelhead (SS-280) lays mines off Erimo Zaki, Japan. Mediterranean Indian Ocean * 13 May, Thu. Battleship Idaho (BB 42) and destroyer Phelps (DD-360) silence enemy batteries on Attu, permitting U.S. Army artillery units to move up at Holtz Bay. Atlantic Mediterranean Enemy resistance in North Africa ends with surrender of German and Italian forces in Tunisia. * 14 May, Fri. USMC TBFs (VMSB 143) damage Japanese army cargo ship Houn Maru and force her aground off Tonolei, Bougainville, 06œ48'N, 155œ49'E, a total loss. Minesweeper Dash (AM-88) rescues 25 survivors from U.S. freighter Phoebe A. Hearst, torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-19 about 240 miles southeast of Suva on 30 April 1943. With this recovery, all hands from the lost freighter (including the 16-man Armed Guard) are accounted for. Atlantic European * 15 May, Sat. TRIDENT Conference begins, with President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and the Combined Chiefs of Staff meeting in Washington, D.C. Pacific Naval Air Station, Adak, Aleutians, is established. Submarine Gar (SS-206) attacks Japanese convoy screened by escort vessel Matsuwa, at eastern entrance of Verde Island passage, and sinks Japanese army cargo ships Meikai Maru and Indus Maru between Dumali Point, Mindoro, and Marinduque Island, P.I., 13œ07'N, 121œ49'E. USAAF B-24s, flying from Midway, bomb Wake Island. Atlantic * 16 May, Sun. Spanish sailing ship Juan rescues 18 survivors from U.S. freighter James W. Denver, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-195 in the North Atlantic on 11 April 1943; two of the ship's 42-man merchant complement perish of exposure. USAAF crash boat spots boatloads of survivors (41-man merchant complement, 25-man Armed Guard and four passengers) of U.S. freighter Samuel Jordan Kirkwood (which had sunk on 16 May 1943 as the result of damage inflicted by German submarine U-195 the previous day) and tows them to Ascension Island. Pacific U.S. freighter William K. Vanderbilt is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-19 southwest of Suva, Fiji Islands, 18œ41'S, 175œ07'E, and abandoned by the 41-man merchant complement. The 16-man Armed Guard remains on board to the last, but abandons after a second torpedo splits the ship in twain. I-19 then fires upon one lifeboat and two rafts, and questions the ship's master before departing; throughout the ordeal only the ship's chief engineer is killed (see 17 May 1943). * 17 May, Mon. Minesweeper Dash (AM-88) rescues 56 survivors from U.S. freighter William K. Vanderbilt, torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-19 the previous day southwest of Suva. Japanese cargo ship Woosung Maru strikes reef and sinks off Chiba Prefecture, southern Honshu, 35œ00'N, 140œ00'E. Atlantic * 18 May, Tue. U.S. tanker H.M. Storey is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-25 while en route from Noumea, New Caledonia, to San Pedro, California, 17œ30'S, 173œ02'E, and abandoned by the 48-man civilian complement (two merchant seamen are lost when the ship is hit), 2 passengers and 15-man Armed Guard. I-25 then hastens the sinking by shelling the burning ship. Destroyer Fletcher (DD-445) subsequently rescues H.M. Storey's survivors and takes them to Vila, Efate. * 19 May, Wed. Mediterranean * 20 May, Thu. Tenth Fleet with headquarters in Washington, D.C., is established under Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet (Admiral Ernest J. King) to control U.S. antisubmarine operations in the Atlantic. Pacific * 21 May, Fri. Mediterranean Indian Ocean * 22 May, Sat. Atlantic Mediterranean * 23 May, Sun. Motor torpedo boats PT-165 and PT-173 are lost on board U.S. tanker Stanvac Manila when Japanese submarine I-17 torpedoes the tanker (which is transporting the boats) 100 miles south of Noumea, New Caledonia, 23œ45'S, 166œ30'E. Atlantic * 25 May, Tue. TRIDENT Conference ends. President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill reaffirm earlier decisions to accord first priority to defeating Germany, agree to step up the strategic bombing of Germany and occupied Europe, and to plan the invasion of France to take place on 1 May 1944. Atlantic Mediterranean * 26 May, Wed. Gunboat Charleston (PG-51) bombards Japanese positions in the Chichagof area, Attu Island, Aleutians, starting numerous fires. Submarine Pogy (SS-266), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks merchant cargo ship Tainan Maru off Shioyazaki, Honshu, 37œ03'N, 141œ09'E. Submarine Saury (SS-189) attacks Japanese convoy south of Kyushu, sinking transport Kagi Maru some 10 miles north of Amami Oshima Nansei Shoto, 28œ49'N, 129œ40'E. Submarine Trout (SS-202) lands men, currency, and equipment on Basilan Island, P.I. Submarine Whale (SS-239) sinks Japanese gunboat Shoei Maru (transporting men of the Guam Base Detachment) about 17 miles north-northwest of Rota Island, Marianas, 14œ17'N, 144œ54'E. Japanese merchant tanker Palembang Maru is damaged by mine (possibly laid by Trout (SS-202) on 7 April 1943) 02œ00'N, 109œ15'E. * 27 May, Thu. Submarine Runner (SS-275) departs Midway for her third war patrol. She is never heard from again. Atlantic German submarine U-154 attacks Brazil-to-Trinidad convoy BT 14 at 03œ56'S, 36œ43'W, torpedoing three U.S. merchantmen: motor tanker Florida, freighter Cardinal Gibbons, and freighter John Worthington. Submarine chaser PC-592 rescues Florida's crew (there are no casualties among the 52-man merchant complement or the 27-man Armed Guard); gunboat Saucy (PG-65) takes the seriously damaged tanker in tow and takes her to Fortaleza, Brazil. Salvage vessel Crusader (ARS-2) subsequently tows Florida to Puerto Rico for repairs. * 28 May, Fri. Submarine Saury (SS-189) torpedoes and sinks Japanese fleet tanker Akatsuki Maru about 90 miles northwest of Okinawa, 27œ32'N, 126œ08'E. Although early in the battle Akatsuki Maru responds to the submarine's attack with depth charges and gunfire, and later claims to have sunk her assailant, her efforts at self-defense prove unavailing and Saury emerges the victor in the encounter. Submarine Trigger (SS-237) damages Japanese merchant tanker Koshin Maru off Irosaki, Japan, 34œ33'N, 138œ50'E. Atlantic * 29 May, Sat. Submarine Gar (SS-206) sinks Japanese gunboat Aso Maru southeast of Cayagan, Sulu Sea, 09œ09'N, 121œ50'E. Submarine Scamp (SS-277) sinks Japanese seaplane carrier Kamikawa Maru north of Kavieng, New Ireland, 01œ36'S, 150œ24'E, and survives attacks by one of the submarine chasers escorting her, Ch 12 or Ch 37. Submarine Tambor (SS-198) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Eisho Maru (ex-Panamanian Folozu) in South China Sea about 60 miles southeast of Hainan Island, 17œ30'N, 110œ55'E. Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese cargo vessel Shinto Maru, 32œ00'N, 131œ51'E . * 30 May, Sun. Submarine Saury (SS-189) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking merchant cargo ship Hakozaki Maru and army cargo ship Takamisan Maru about 150 miles east-southeast of Shanghai, China, 30œ07'N, 124œ32'E. Submarine Steelhead (SS-280) lays mines off Erimo Zaki, Japan. Atlantic Mediterranean * 31 May, Mon. June * 1 June, Tue. Atlantic * 2 June, Wed. Atlantic * 3 June, Thu. * 4 June, Fri. Submarine chaser PC-496 is sunk by mine, 37œ23'N, 09œ52'W. Atlantic * 5 June, Sat. Atlantic * 6 June, Sun. Submarine Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Shinei Maru, 07œ00'N, 123œ37'E . Japanese river gunboat Seta is damaged by Chinese planes, Yangtze River. Indian Ocean * 7 June, Mon. * 8 June, Tue. Submarine Finback (SS-230) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking auxiliary minelayer Kahoku Maru about 100 miles north of Palau, 08œ14'N, 134œ18'E. Japanese battleship Mutsu is sunk by accidental explosion, Hiroshima Bay, Japan, 34œ05'N, 132œ20'E. Indian Ocean Atlantic * 9 June, Wed. * 10 June, Thu. Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese cargo vessel Fujikawa Maru, 24œ55'N, 145œ36'E. Submarine S-30 (SS-135) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Jimbu Maru, 50œ23'N, 155œ36'E. Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) damages Japanese oiler Iro 30 miles off Fuka Island, Kyushu, 31œ14'N, 132œ44'E. Although damaged in return by depth charges during enemy counterattacks, the submarine remains on patrol. Submarine Trigger (SS-237) damages Japanese carrier Hiyo 18 miles off Irozaki, 34œ13'N, 139œ50'E. Japanese river gunboat Atami is damaged by Chinese aircraft near Tung Ting Lake, China. Atlantic * 11 June, Fri. Submarine Runner (SS-275) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Seinan Maru off Monomi Zaki, off northwest coast of Honshu, 41œ00'N, 141œ30'E. Submarine S-30 (SS-135) sinks Japanese merchant cargo vessel Jimbu Maru, anchored in Kakumabetsu Wan, Paramushiro, Kuriles, 50œ23'N, 155œ36'E. Submarine Silversides (SS-236) attacks Japanese convoy about 270 miles south of Truk, sinking transport Hinode Maru north of New Ireland, 02œ43'N, 152œ00'E. * 12 June, Sat. Pacific Atlantic Submarine R-12 (SS-89) sinks, cause unknown, off Key West, Florida, 24œ24.30'N, 81œ38.30'W. Indian Ocean * 13 June, Sun. Submarine Guardfish (SS-217) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Suzuya Maru off the southwest coast of New Ireland, 03œ08'S, 151œ24'E. Submarine Sargo (SS-188) attacks Japanese convoy 250 miles south of Yap, Carolines, and sinks army transport Konan Maru, 06œ08'N, 138œ28'E. The submarine is damaged by depth charges, 06œ40'N, 136œ59'E, but remains on patrol. Atlantic * 14 June, Mon. Atlantic * 15 June, Tue. Submarine Sailfish (SS-192) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Shinju Maru south of Todozaki, Honshu, 39œ00'N, 142œ00'E. Submarine Trout (SS-202) damages Japanese oiler Sanraku Maru in the Celebes Sea, off Sibitu, 05œ09'N, 119œ38'E; Sanraku Maru is eventually scuttled, 04œ45'N, 119œ48'E * 16 June, Wed. * 17 June, Thu. Submarine Drum (SS-228) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking transport Myoko Maru about 175 miles east-northeast of Kavieng, New Ireland, 02œ03'S, 153œ44'E. Mediterranean * 18 June, Fri. Submarine S-33 (SS-138) damages two Japanese fishing craft off Paramushiro, Kuriles, 50œ25'N, 155œ02'E. * 19 June, Sat. Submarine Growler (SS-215), in attack on Japanese convoy on the Palau-to-Rabaul route, sinks army cargo ship Miyadono Maru about 200 miles north-northwest of Mussau Island, 01œ38'N, 148œ14'E. Submarine Gunnel (SS-253) damages Japanese gunboat Hong Kong Maru (ex-Philippine Argus) and sinks merchant cargo ship Tokiwa Maru, off Shirase, Japan, 32œ40'N, 126œ37'E, and sinks coastal minesweeper Tsubame 32œ31'N, 126œ17'E. Submarine Sculpin (SS-191) sinks Japanese guardboat No.1 Miyasho Maru and army cargo ship Sagami Maru off Inubozaki, Japan, 37œ11'N, 142œ30'E. Indian Ocean * 20 June, Sun. Submarine Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese transport Meiten Maru west of the Marianas, 15œ57'N, 140œ55'E. Atlantic U.S. freighter Santa Maria is damaged by mine laid by German submarine U-214 five miles off Dakar, French West Africa, 14œ34'18"N, 17œ28'23"W, and is towed back to Dakar by French tugs. While there are no casualties among the merchant complement, one sailor of the 30-man Armed Guard is blown overboard and lost. Covered lighter YF-401 founders in heavy weather, 35œ7'N, 69œW. Mediterranean * 21 June, Mon. Submarine Harder (SS-257) damages Japanese oiler No. 3 Kyoei Maru east of Daiozaki, Japan, 34œ30'N, 137œ32'E. Submarine Hoe (SS-258) attacks Japanese vessel Koyo Maru, 08œ58'N, 131œ13'E; although Hoe claims a sinking, Koyo Maru survives the encounter with no damage. Japanese gunboat Hong Kong Maru sinks as the result of damage inflicted by submarine Gunnel (SS-253) off Shirase, Japan, lighthouse on 19 June 1943. Atlantic * 22 June, Tue. Submarine Grayling (SS-209) damages Japanese merchant oiler Eiyo Maru, 04œ03'N, 103œ57'E. Atlantic Submarine chaser SC-751 sinks after grounding, 21œ56'S, 113œ53'E. Mediterranean * 23 June, Wed. Submarine Harder (SS-257) damages Japanese seaplane carrier Sagara Maru off southern Honshu, 33œ45'N, 138œ10'E (see 4 July 1943). U.S. aircraft sink Japanese guardboat Nikka Maru north of Bougainville, 05œ34'N, 155œ07'E. * 24 June, Thu. Pacific Mediterranean Mediterranean * 25 June, Fri. Mediterranean * 26 June, Sat. Submarine Runner (SS-275) perhaps sinks Japanese army cargo ship Shinryu Maru off Matsuwa Island, Kuriles, 48œ06'N, 153œ15'E (see 28 May 1943). * 27 June, Sun. Indian Ocean First group of survivors of U.S. freighter Henry Knox, torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-37 on 19 June 1943, reaches the Maldives (see 28 and 30 June 1943). * 28 June, Mon. Submarine Tunny (SS-282) sinks Japanese gunboat Shotoku Maru off west coast of Rota, Marianas, 14œ10'N, 145œ03'E. Indian Ocean * 29 June, Tue. Submarine Gurnard (SS-254) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese convoy, 07œ34'N, 134œ26'E. Japanese cargo vessel No.8 Mikage Maru is sunk in collision with Nikko Maru 30 miles west of Iwanni, northern coast of Hokkaido, 45œ04'N, 142œ03'E. * 30 June, Wed. Naval vessels and craft on hand (all types)-18,493. Personnel: Navy--1,741,750; Marine Corps--310,994; Coast Guard--154,976. Total Personnel--2,207,720. Pacific In Operation TOENAILS, Third Fleet Amphibious Force (Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner) supported by land-based aircraft (Vice Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch) lands Marines and Army troops on Rendova and other islands in the New Georgia area, Solomons. Destroyer Gwin (DD-433) is damaged off Munda, New Georgia, by Japanese shore battery. Attack transport McCawley (APA-4), damaged by Japanese aerial torpedoes is torpedoed by what is most likely U.S. motor torpedo boat off New Georgia, Solomons, 08œ25'S, 157œ28'W. High speed minesweeper Zane (DMS-14) is damaged by grounding, Solomons, 08œ30'S, 157œ25'E. Seaplane tender (destroyer) Hulbert (AVD-6) is damaged by grounding off Alexai Point, Massacre Bay, Aleutians. Indian Ocean Atlantic July * 1 July, Thu. Motor torpedo boat PT-162, operating out of Rendova, is damaged by Japanese plane, south of Mbalumbala Island. Submarine Gar (SS-206) lands commandoes on south coast of Timor, N.E.I. Submarine Gurnard (SS-254) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese landing craft transport/aircraft transport Akitsu Maru, 07œ39'N, 134œ20'E. Submarine Thresher (SS-200) attacks Japanese convoy off the northwest coast of Celebes, in the Straits of Makassar, damaging destroyer Hokaze, 00œ43'N, 119œ34'E, and sinking army cargo ship Yoneyama Maru, 00œ20'N, 119œ32'E, 38 miles from Balikpapan. Hokaze is grounded in Sibaya harbor, Celebes, to prevent sinking and to permit salvage. * 2 July, Fri. Motor torpedo boats PT-153 and PT-158, damaged by grounding, Solomons, 08œ20'S, 157œ15'E, are beached and abandoned. Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese merchant troopship Canton Maru off China coast, about 80 miles northeast of Amoy, 25œ07'N, 119œ18'E. Submarine S-35 (SS-140) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship (crab-catcher) No.7 Banshu Maru off the west coast of the Kamchatka peninsula, Aleutians, 52œ30'N, 156œ12'E. Submarine Trout (SS-202) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Isuzu Maru off north coast of Marinduque Island, P.I., 13œ36'N, 121œ49'E. USAAF B-25 and USN F4Us sink Japanese auxiliary minelayer Kashi Maru off New Georgia. Atlantic * 3 July, Sat. Atlantic Submarine chaser SC-1048 rescues survivors (previously sighted by Navy blimp) from tanker Bloody Marsh, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-66 the previous day. * 4 July, Sun. Submarine Pompano (SS-181) sinks Japanese seaplane carrier Sagara Maru, previously damaged by Harder (SS-257), 34œ38'N, 137œ53'E. Submarine Snook (SS-279) attacks Takao, Formosa-bound Japanese convoy in the East China Sea, damaging transport Atlantic Maru and sinking army cargo ships Liverpool Maru and Koki Maru about 250 miles north-northeast of Keelung, 28œ40'N, 124œ10'E. Mediterranean Atlantic * 5 July, Mon. Marines (1st Marine Raider Battalion) and Army troops land at Rice Anchorage, New Georgia, Solomons. RAAF Beaufighters sink Japanese auxiliary sailing vessel No.12 Koyo Maru, chartered to carry fuel, 35 miles west of Dobo, en route to Ambon. Atlantic Motor torpedo boat PT-250 is damaged when accidentally grounded off Looe Key, Florida, 24œ33'N, 81œ25'E. Indian Ocean * 6 July, Tue. In the wake of the battle, while engaged in rescuing some of Helena's survivors, Nicholas and Radford (DD-446) engage Amagiri and Hatsuyuki, damaging both. Still later, SBDs, TBFs, and F4Fs bomb the beached Nagatsuki (see 10 July 1943). Three heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, and four destroyers of TG 16.7 (Rear Admiral Robert C. Giffen) bombards Kiska, Aleutians. American ships draw no return fire. Submarine Gurnard (SS-254) is damaged by aerial bombs and depth charges off Palau, 07œ33'N, 134œ26'E, but remains on patrol. Submarine Permit (SS-178) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship No.33 Banshu Maru, 43œ35'N, 140œ21'E. PB4Y-1 (VB 102) attacks Japanese installations at Greenwich Island, but during the daring, low-level operation the plane is shot down by defending PETEs (902nd Kokutai). Nevertheless, for his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" displayed in this attack, the PB4Y's commander, Lieutenant Commander Bruce A. Van Voorhis, is awarded a Medal of Honor, posthumously. Indian Ocean * 7 July, Wed. Destroyer Waller (DD-466) fires upon and depth-charges unidentified Japanese submarine, 08œ00'S, 158œ05'E. Submarine Permit (SS-178) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Showa Maru off Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan, 43œ14'N, 139œ53'E. Submarine Peto (SS-265) damages Japanese oiler Shinkoku Maru, 00œ35'N, 148œ00'E. Submarine Plunger (SS-179) damages Japanese merchant cargo ship Anzan Maru, 37œ14'N, 132œ57'E. Atlantic USAAF B-24 sinks German submarine U-951 in eastern Atlantic, 37œ40'N, 15œ30'W. * 8 July, Thu. Submarine Seal (SS-183) is damaged by bombs and depth charges off northern Honshu, 39œ53'N, 142œ10'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol. Atlantic U.S. freighter Thomas Sinnickson, torpedoed the previous day during German submarine U-185's attack on convoy BT 18, defies the valiant efforts of her crew and continues to sink. Gunboat Surprise (PG-63), which has remained close at hand during the attempted salvage, takes off the remainder of the crew and Armed Guard and scuttles the irreparably damaged freighter. German submarine U-510 attacks convoy TJ 1 about 150 miles northeast of Cayenne, French Guiana, 05œ50'N, 50œ20'W and sinks U.S. freighter Eldena. Submarine chaser PC-495 rescues all hands (including the 26-man Armed Guard). Indian Ocean * 9 July, Fri. Four U.S. destroyers bombard Lambert Plantation near Munda, New Georgia, Solomons. Submarine Permit (SS-178), believing her quarry to be a Japanese trawler, shells Soviet oceanographic vessel Seiner No.20 27 miles off Kaiba To. Once the mistake is realized, Permit comes alongside the blazing vessel and rescues the survivors before the Russian craft sinks. The Soviet sailors are taken to Akutan, Alaska. Submarine Thresher (SS-200) lands men, stores, and ammunition on west coast of Negros. Atlantic Two boats of survivors from freighter James Robertson, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-185 on 7 July 1943, reach the Brazilian coast, one at Fortaleza and the other at Cascavel. Mediterranean Indian Ocean U.S. freighter Samuel Heintzelman, en route from Fremantle, Australia, to Colombo, Ceylon, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-511 at 09œ00'S, 81œ00'E. There are no survivors from the 42-man merchant complement, the 27-man Armed Guard and six passengers. * 10 July, Sat. Submarine Pompano (SS-181) damages Japanese oiler Kyokuyo Maru, 33œ34'N, 136œ07'N. Submarine Steelhead (SS-280) damages Japanese escort carrier Un'yo, 10œ00'N, 150œ48'E. USAAF B-25s bomb wreck of beached Japanese destroyer Nagatsuki (see 6 July 1943). Mediterranean German submarine U-371 attacks convoy off the Algerian coast, torpedoing U.S. freighter Matthew Maury at 37œ00'N, 05œ00'E, and tanker Gulfprince at 37œ13'N, 05œ12'E. There are no casualties on board the former (including the 28-man Armed Guard), which is towed to the Algerian port of Bougie and subsequently returns to service. The latter is abandoned by the 36-man merchant complement and 28-man Armed Guard, the survivors being rescued by British trawler HMS Sir Gareth and freighter Empire Commerce; one Armed Guard sailor dies of his wounds on board the latter. A salvage crew later boards Gulfprince and the ship is towed to Algiers by British salvage tugs HMS Weazel and HMS Hudson; she subsequently is chartered by the Navy for use as a mobile storage facility in North African waters. Indian Ocean U.S. freighter Alice F. Palmer, bound for Durban, is torpedoed by German submarine U-177 at 26œ30'S, 44œ10'E, and abandoned by the 43 merchant seamen and the 25-man Armed Guard. After the Germans question the survivors, U-177 hastens the freighter's sinking by shelling her before she clears the area (see 13, 25, 26 and 30 July 1943). * 11 July, Sun. Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese guardboat No.8 Takatori Maru between Okino Daito Jima and Kazan Retto, 24œ00'N, 135œ25'E. Submarine Gurnard (SS-254) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking army cargo ship Taiko Maru about 375 miles northeast of Palau, 13œ08'N, 132œ00'E. PBYs attack Japanese guardboats off Kamchatka, sinking Seiun Maru and damaging Koshin Maru. USAAF B-24s damage Vichy French customs vessel Albert Sarraut and Japanese cargo vessel No. 3 Kiri Maru 45 miles east of Haiphong, French Indochina. Mediterranean * 12 July, Mon. Coast Guard cutter Taney (WPG-37), reconnoitering Baker Island, is bombed, but not damaged, by Japanese flying boat. Destroyer Taylor (DD-468) sinks Japanese submarine RO 107 east of Kolombangara, Solomons, 08œ00'S, 157œ19'E. Submarine Mingo (SS-261) stalks Japanese convoy but her attack, principally directed against cargo vessel Ryoyo Maru, is not successful, 00œ54'N, 143œ01'E. Counterattacks by two of the ships of Submarine Chaser Division 23 (Ch 22, Ch 23, and Ch 24), which are escorting Ryoyo Maru and two other merchantmen, likewise do not succeed in their object. Submarine Plunger (SS-179) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Niitaka Maru in the Sea of Japan, west of Hokkaido, 43œ02'N, 140œ00'E. Submarine Spearfish (SS-190) damages Japanese destroyer Kawakaze 11œ12'N, 161œ50'E. USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) bomb Japanese shipping in Dulong Bay, 18 miles east of Haiphong, French Indochina, and sink cargo ships Chikuzan Maru (ex-Ariadne Moller) and Tairyu Maru, 20œ52'N, 106œ41'E. Atlantic U.S. freighter African Star is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-172 off the coast of Brazil at 25œ46'S, 40œ35'W. One of the 31-man Armed Guard is lost in the initial explosion, but the 56-man merchant complement survives intact. U-172 surfaces after sinking the ship, questions a few of the survivors and then provides them with directions to the nearest land before she retires (see 13 July 1943). Mediterranean * 13 July, Tue. Indian Ocean RAF Catalina rescues one group of survivors from U.S. freighter Alice F. Palmer, torpedoed, shelled and sunk by German submarine U-177 on 10 July 1943, 60 miles southeast of Madagascar (see 25, 26 and 30 July 1943). Atlantic Brazilian destroyer Maranhao rescues survivors of U.S. freighter African Star, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-172 off the coast of Brazil the previous day. Mediterranean Naval Advanced Base, Gela, Sicily, is established. * 14 July, Wed. Destroyer Monaghan (DD-354) bombards Japanese positions at Gertrude Cove, Kiska Island, Aleutians. She repeats the bombardment on 15 July. On neither occasion do enemy guns reply. Japanese reconnaissance planes sight small seaplane tender Chincoteague (AVP-24) as she tends patrol planes at Saboe Bay, Vanikoro (see 16 and 17 July 1943). Japanese submarine I-179 sinks, accidentally, off Akizaki, Japan, 33œ40'N, 132œ40'N. Indian Ocean U.S. freighter Robert Bacon is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-178, 35 miles off Mozambique Light, 15œ25'S, 41œ13'E. U-178 surfaces after sinking the ship, questions the survivors, provides them with directions to the nearest land and then retires. Two of the 44-man merchant complement perish in the attack, but the 27-man Armed Guard survives intact (see 16, 27 and 28 July, 3 and 27 August 1943). Atlantic Mediterranean Light cruiser Brooklyn (CL-40) is damaged by mine off Licata, Sicily, 36œ57'N, 14œ06'E. * 15 July, Thu. Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) sinks Japanese armed merchant cruiser Aikoku Maru, 10œ16'N, 151œ27'E. USAAF B-25s and fighters bomb Japanese small cargo vessels west of Canongga Island, 08œ03'S, 156œ35'E, damaging Wada Maru. Japanese light cruiser Nagara is damaged by mine laid by submarine Silversidess (SS-236) on 4 June 1943 off Kavieng, 02œ36'S, 150œ34'E. Atlantic Caribbean Aircraft (VC 29) from escort carrier Santee (CVE-29) sink German submarine U-509 south of Azores, 34œ02'N, 26œ02'W. Mediterranean * 16 July, Fri. High speed transports Waters (APD-8) and Dent (APD-9) rescue last two groups of survivors from light cruiser Helena (CL-50) (see 6 July 1943) from Japanese-held Vella Lavella. Atlantic U.S. freighter Richard Caswell is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-513, about 200 miles off the coast of Brazil, 28œ10'S, 46œ30'E. U-513 surfaces, questions the survivors, provides them with cigarettes and then retires. Nine of the 42-man merchant complement perish in the attack; there are no casualties among either the 24-man Armed Guard or the two passengers (see 19 and 22 July 1943). Mediterranean German planes bomb Allied shipping off Sicily; U.S. freighter William T. Coleman is damaged by near-miss of bomb. Indian Ocean * 17 July, Sat. Small seaplane tender Chincoteague (AVP-24) is damaged by Japanese bombers off Vanikoro; seaplane tender (destroyer) Thornton (AVD-11), high speed minesweeper Trever (DMS-18), and destroyer Jenkins (DD-447) render timely assistance in the battle to save the crippled ship. * 18 July, Sun. Tank landing ships LST-342 is sunk by Japanese submarine RO 106, Solomons, 09œ03'S, 158œ11'E. Atlantic Covered lighter YF-487 is lost in Caribbean Sea. Mediterranean * 19 July, Mon. Submarine Porpoise (SS-172) sinks Japanese transport No.20 Mikage Maru 50 miles south of Wake Island, 18œ45'N, 166œ04'E; vessels of Submarine Chaser Division 32 (Ch 28, Ch 29, and Ch 30 comprise the division) carry out unsuccessful counterattacks. Atlantic German submarine U-134 is damaged by aircraft, DM 2925. Mediterranean * 20 July, Tue. USAAF B-25s, unaware of friendly naval vessels in their patrol area, mistakenly sink motor torpedo boat PT-166 (08œ15'S, 156œ53'E) and damage PT-164 and PT-168 in Ferguson Passage, Solomons. Submarine Pompano (SS-181) damages Japanese transport Uyo Maru, east of Miki Zaki, 33œ55'N, 136œ26'E. Atlantic Mediterranean * 21 July, Wed. Tank landing ships LST-343 is damaged by Japanese bomb off Rendova; among the casualties is Captain Elphege M. Gendreau, Pacific Fleet Medical Officer. Japanese planes bomb airfield at Funafuti. Submarine Haddock (SS-231) sinks Japanese army transport Saipan Maru (whose passenger list includes 180 geishas) and endures counterattacks by [IJN] Hato, 16œ18'N, 134œ04'E. Atlantic * 22 July, Thu. Three waves of Navy and USAAF planes, including B-17s and B-24s, attack Japanese resupply convoy off Cape Friendship; SBDs and TBFs sink seaplane carrier Nisshin. USAAF B-24s raid Surabaya, Java, targeting refineries, dock areas, and railroad yards; auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 111 is damaged in the attack on harbor facilities. Submarine Sawfish (SS-276) damages Japanese ammunition ship Seia Maru, 30œ54'N, 125œ15'E. Atlantic Third boatload of survivors from U.S. freighter Richard Caswell, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-513 off the coast of Brazil on 17 July 1943, reaches safety at Florianapolis. Small seaplane tender Barnegat (AVP-10), which had ironically rescued survivors from U-513 (which had sunk Richard Caswell) when the enemy submarine had been sunk on 19 July 1943, rescues the last of Richard Caswell's survivors from a raft. Mediterranean * 23 July, Fri. Destroyer George E. Badger (DD-196) sinks German submarine U-613 (en route to mine the waters off Jacksonville, Florida) south of Azores, 35œ32'N, 28œ36'W. Planes (VC 9) from escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9) break up a rendezvous between German submarines U-527 and U-648 south of the Azores. U-527 is sunk at 35œ25'N, 27œ56'W, but U-648 escapes. PB4Ys (VB 107) sink German submarine U-598 off Brazil, 04œ05'S, 33œ23'W. Indian Ocean * 24 July, Sat. Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) torpedoes Japanese oiler No. 3 Tonan Maru, 06œ56'N, 147œ52'E; towed to Truk, the oiler is utilized as a floating oil tank. Tinosa, however, fires 15 torpedoes; 13 hit but only two explode! The incident highlights torpedo exploder problems that have plagued the submarine force since the beginning of the war. Japanese army cargo ship Mie Maru is sunk by mine, Babo harbor, 02œ31'S, 133œ26'E. Atlantic Planes (VC 29) from escort carrier Santee (CVE-29) damage German submarine U-373 about 130 miles west of Madeira Islands. USAAF B-24s damage German submarine U-466 off Cayenne, French Guiana, 07œ30'N, 50œ15'W. * 25 July, Sun. Submarine Pompon (SS-267) damages Japanese transport Kinsen Maru and sinks army cargo ship Thames Maru, 02œ46'N, 148œ35'E. Indian Ocean * 26 July, Mon. Indian Ocean Caribbean Mediterranean * 27 July, Tue. Submarine Scamp (SS-277) sinks Japanese submarine I-168, 02œ50'S, 149œ01'E, and damages oiler Kazahaya, 02œ38'S, 149œ20'E. Submarine Seadragon (SS-194) inflicts further damage on the previously damaged Japanese transport Suwa Maru off Wake Island, 19œ15'N, 166œ30'E. Japanese merchant cargo ship Teikin Maru is sunk by mine (laid by submarine Tambor (SS-198) on 2 November 1942) off Hainan Island, 19œ57'N, 109œ05'E. Indian Ocean Second and third groups of survivors from U.S. freighter Robert Bacon, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-178 on 14 July 1943 off Mozambique Light, are rescued from their boats, one by British steamship English Prince the other by British tanker Steaua Romana. Three rafts with survivors are still at sea (see 28 July, 3 and 27 August 1943). * 28 July, Wed. Destroyer Farragut (DD-348) on Kiska blockade patrol sinks an empty Japanese landing craft (perhaps cast adrift by the evacuating enemy garrison) four miles east of Sobaka Rock, off the south coast of Kiska. Japanese submarine RO 103 is last reported on this date; subsequent attempts to contact her are unsuccessful and she never returns to her base at Rabaul. Her fate is uncertain; she may have been mined. USAAF B-25s sink Japanese destroyers Ariake and Mikazuki off Cape Gloucester, New Britain. USAAF B-24s sink Japanese army cargo vessel Tamishima Maru off Tavoy Island, 13œ53'N, 097œ40'E. Indian Ocean Atlantic USAAF and British aircraft sink German submarine U-404, Bay of Biscay, 45œ53'N, 09œ23'W. U.S. freighter John A. Poor, straggling from convoy BX 65 in a heavy fog, fouls mine laid by German submarine U-119 at 42œ51'N, 64œ55'W, but reaches port under tow; there are no casualties among the 42-man merchant complement or the 28-man Armed Guard. Mediterranean * 29 July, Thu. USAAF B-25s and P-38s bomb the already damaged Japanese destroyer Mikazuki (see 28 July 1943) aground off Cape Gloucester. USAAF B-24s damage Japanese guardboat No.1 Kyo Maru off Ross Island, Andamans. Atlantic Mediterranean * 30 July, Fri. Atlantic PV-1 (VB 127) providing coverage for convoy TJ-2 sinks German submarine U-591 off Pernambuco, Brazil, 08œ36'S, 34œ34'W. PV-1 (VB 129) attacks German submarine U-604, South Atlantic (see 3 and 11 August 1943). Aircraft (VC 29) from escort carrier Santee (CVE-29) sink German submarine U-43 in mid-Atlantic, 34œ57'N, 35œ11'W, breaking up a rendezvous between U-43 and U-403 and preventing U-43 from sowing mines in waters off Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa. Submarine chaser PC-624 sinks German submarine U-375 off Tunisia, 36œ40'N, 12œ28'E. Indian Ocean Fourth and last group of survivors from U.S. freighter Alice F. Palmer, torpedoed, shelled and sunk by German submarine U-177 on 10 July 1943, reaches safety at Mozambique. All hands survive the ordeal of the loss of the ship and the ensuing open boat voyages. * 31 July, Sat. Submarine Grayling (SS-209) lands supplies and equipment at Pucio Point, Panay. Submarine Guardfish (SS-217) lands survey party on west coast of Bougainville, Solomons. Submarine Pogy (SS-266) sinks Japanese aircraft transport Mogamigawa Maru northwest of Truk, 11œ08'N, 153œ18'E. Submarine Saury (SS-189), at periscope depth, is rammed by Japanese destroyer and damaged, Philippine Sea, 27œ03'N, 135œ27'E; consequently, Saury terminates her patrol. Atlantic August * 1 August, Sun. Motor torpedo boat PT-117, damaged by dive bomber, Rendova Harbor, Lumbari Island, Solomons, 08œ24'S, 157œ19'E, is beached and abandoned; PT-164 is sunk by horizontal bomber, Rendova Harbor, 08œ25'S, 157œ20'E. Submarine Finback (SS-230) damages Japanese transport Atlas Maru, 04œ10'S, 112œ10'E. Submarine Mingo (SS-261) bombards Sorol Island, Carolines. USAAF planes initiate daily bombings of Kiska, Aleutians. Submarine Steelhead (SS-280) attacks same Japanese convoy harassed by Pogy (SS-266) the previous day and damages auxiliary vessel Seiko Maru as she tries to reach Truk, 11œ20'N, 153œ30'E. Atlantic Gunboat Brisk (PG-89) attacks German submarine U-732, driving her away from Guantanamo-bound convoy NG 376. Mediterranean * 2 August, Mon. Motor torpedo boats continue to engage Japanese destroyers off Kolombongara (see 1 August 1943); motor torpedo boat PT-109 is rammed and sunk by Japanese destroyer Amagiri, Blackett Strait, Solomons, 08œ03'S, 156œ58'E. Amagiri is damaged in the collision. USAAF B-25s and P-38s sink Japanese motor torpedo boats Gyoraitei No.112 and Gyoraitei No.113 at Lae, New Guinea, 07œ00'N, 147œ00'E. RAAF Catalinas damage Japanese destroyer Akikaze south of Rabaul, 06œ50'N, 151œ10'E. Atlantic * 3 August, Tue. Aircraft (VC 1) from escort carrier Card (CVE-11) damage German submarine U-66 about 457 miles west-southwest of Flores Island, Azores. PB4Ys (VB 107) damage German submarine U-604, south Atlantic. Destroyer Moffett (DD-362) is accidentally damaged by PB4Y (VB 107), approximately 09œ40'S, 30œ07'W. Pacific Theater Indian Ocean Mediterranean U.S. tanker Yankee Arrow, in convoy KMS 20, is mined as she nears the Bizerte, Tunisia, harbor channel, 37œ10'N, 11œ06'E; two of the 25-man Armed Guard perish, as do five merchant sailors. The ship reaches port under her own power, but is adjudged unfit for further sea service. * 4 August, Wed. U.S. motor torpedo boats engage Japanese guardboats off Vanga Vanga, Kolombangara, sinking No. 3 Matsue Maru and driving Banyo Maru ashore, damaged. Submarine Finback (SS-230) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kaisho Maru, 05œ18'S, 111œ50'E. Submarine Seadragon (SS-194) damages Japanese transport Kembu Maru, 07œ33'N, 161œ12'E. Atlantic Mediterranean U.S. freighter Harrison Grey Otis, anchored in Gibraltar harbor, is irreparably damaged by Italian limpet mine. Of the ship's 45-man merchant complement, one man dies and eight are injured; there are no casualties among the 23-man Armed Guard. * 5 August, Thu. Submarine Pike (SS-173) sinks Japanese transport Shoju Maru west of Marcus Island, 24œ30'N, 158œ50'E. Submarine Silversides (SS-236) damages Japanese minelayer Tsugaru north-northeast of Rabaul, 01œ53'N, 153œ52'E. USAAF B-24 and USN/USMC F4Us sink Japanese fishing boat No.9 Kaiyo Maru off Kolombangara. Atlantic Gunboat Plymouth (PG-57) is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-566, 120 miles southeast of Cape Henry, Virginia, 36œ17'N, 74œ29'W. * 6 August, Fri. Submarine Pike (SS-173) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese aircraft carrier Taiyo, 21œ03'N, 153œ31'E. Atlantic Mediterranean * 7 August, Sat. Aircraft (VC 1) from escort carrier Card (CVE-11) sink German submarine U-117, North Atlantic, 39œ32'N, 38œ21'W. Pacific * 8 August, Sun. Submarine Salmon (SS-182) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese vessel Shinko Maru, 46œ50'N, 144œ40'E. Submarine Whale (SS-239) sinks Japanese ammunition ship Naruto Maru northwest of the Marianas, 24œ12'N, 142œ52'E, and survives counterattack by destroyer Asanagi. Japanese gunboat Tozan Maru is wrecked in storm on the south coast of Hokkaido, 42œ25'N, 143œ20'E. Atlantic * 9 August, Mon. Japanese merchant cargo ship Esutoru Maru is damaged by mine laid by submarine Scorpion (SS-278) on 19 April 1943, 36œ05'N, 140œ45'E. Atlantic Tank landing ships LST-318 is damaged by dive bomber off Sicily, 38œ04'N, 14œ30'E. LCT-311 founders in heavy weather off Bizerte, Tunisia. * 10 August, Tue. Submarine Salmon (SS-182) sinks Japanese merchant fishing boat Wakanoura Maru, 46œ55'N, 143œ30'E. Submarine Tullibee (SS-284) is damaged when rammed by Japanese cargo ship during the submarine's attack on a three-ship convoy on the Saipan-Truk route. USAAF B-24 damages (with a near-miss) Japanese auxiliary sailing vessel No.5 Shinsei Maru west of Cape St. George, 04œ50'S, 152œ55'E. Mediterranean * 11 August, Wed. U.S. freighter Matthew Lyon is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-11 as the ship proceeds toward Espiritu Santo, 13œ42'S, 165œ59'E, but reaches her destination under her own power. Of the 59 men on board, 41 merchant sailors and an 18-man Armed Guard, only one is injured in the attack. USAAF B-24 attacks Japanese convoy, bombing minesweeper W.22, 01œ20'S, 148œ55'E. Atlantic German submarine U-604, previously damaged by PV-1s (VB 129) and PB4Ys (VP 107), and destroyer Moffett (DD-362) in South Atlantic, 05œ00'S, 20œ00'W, is scuttled. Her crew, embarked in U-185, will be further divided between U-185 and U-172 for the voyage home. * 12 August, Thu. Motor torpedo boat PT-168, operating from Rendova, is damaged by Japanese aircraft off Sandfly Harbor and Ferguson Passage. Submarine chaser SC-526 is damaged by grounding off Sicily, 38œ01'N, 13œ27'E. * 13 August, Fri. Motor torpedo boat PT-181, operating out of Rendova, is damaged by near-miss of Japanese bomb off Hunda Cove. Submarine Paddle (SS-263) damages Japanese transport Hidaka Maru, 34œ42'N, 136œ13'E. Submarine Sunfish (SS-281) sinks Japanese gunboat Edo Maru 180 miles from Chichi Jima, 24œ04'N, 142œ21'E. U.S. freighter M.H. De Young is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-19 as the ship proceeds toward Espiritu Santo, 21œ50'S, 175œ10'E, but though damaged remains afloat due to barge pontoons stowed in each hold. The 25-man Armed Guard remains on board along with the master and two merchant marine officers while the crew and passengers remain nearby (see 14 August 1943). U.S. aircraft sink Japanese guardboat No.15 Dai Nippon Maru in Bismarck Archipelago. Mediterranean * 14 August, Sat. Open lighter YC-970 sinks in Puget Sound, Washington. Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 109 is damaged by aircraft off Balikpapan, Borneo. USAAF B-25 aircraft sink three Japanese fishing craft, Iboki, 05œ33'S, 149œ08'E. Mediterranean * 15 August, Sun. Naval task force under Commander North Pacific Force (Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid) lands U.S. Army and Canadian troops at Kiska, Aleutians. They find Kiska had been evacuated by the Japanese on 28 July 1943. Only casualties in the operation occur because of accidents or friendly fire incidents. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) damages Japanese fleet tanker Terukawa Maru, 43œ15'N, 140œ03'E, and merchant fishery mother ship Ryokai Maru, 43œ12'N, 140œ00'E. * 16 August, Mon. Mediterranean * 17 August, Tue. QUADRANT Conference at Quebec, Canada, begins with President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and the Combined Chiefs of Staff to discuss worldwide strategy, with the principal concern to eliminate Italy from the war. Pacific USAAF B-24s damage Japanese cargo vessel Amagisan Maru off Balikpapan. Atlantic Mediterranean Infantry landing craft LCI-1 is sunk by aircraft off Bizerte, Tunisia. * 18 August, Wed. In the first step toward acquiring airfields in the Ellice Islands to support projected operations in the Marshalls and Gilberts, an advanced survey party moves onto Nanomea atoll. Tank landing ships LST-396 is sunk by explosion (believed to have been caused accidentally by own ship's force), en route to Barakoma, Solomons, 08œ18'S, 156œ55'E. Destroyer Abner Read (DD-526) is damaged by mine off Conquer Point, Kiska Island, Aleutians, 52œ01'N, 177œ26'E. Submarine Plunger (SS-179) damages Japanese merchant cargo ship Okuni Maru, 43œ30'N, 140œ30'E. Atlantic Mediterranean * 19 August, Thu. OS2N (VS 57) sinks Japanese submarine I-17 off eastern Australia, 23œ26'S, 166œ50'E. Submarine Finback (SS-230) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 109 (ex-Dutch patrol vessel Kawi) off east coast of Celebes, 03œ01'S, 125œ50'E. Atlantic * 20 August, Fri. Submarine Gar (SS-206) sinks Japanese transport Seizan Maru, 01œ00'N, 119œ00'E. Submarine Pompano (SS-181) departs Midway on her seventh war patrol. She is never heard from again. Submarine Plunger (SS-179) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Seitai Maru off the southwest coast of Hokkaido, 42œ15'N, 139œ58'E. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese merchant sampan No.1 Inari Maru, 45œ50'N, 146œ22'E. Dutch submarine O 24 sinks Japanese gunboat Chosa Maru south of Penang, Malaya, 05œ09'N, 100œ10'E. Atlantic German submarine U-670 is accidentally rammed and sunk during night training exercises in Baltic Sea. * 21 August, Sat. Mediterranean * 22 August, Sun. Submarine Pike (SS-173) damages Japanese army cargo ship Toun Maru, 21œ22'N, 137œ50'E. Submarine Plunger (SS-179) sinks Japanese merchant fishery mother ship Ryokai Maru, 42œ40'N, 139œ48'E. Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Nishiyama Maru off Palau, 02œ53'N, 136œ21'E . Submarine Tullibee (SS-284) sinks Japanese transport Kaisho Maru, 10œ09'N, 147œ25'E, and survives depth-charge attack by Ikazuchi. * 23 August, Mon. Submarine Grayling (SS-209) delivers supplies to Filipino guerrilla forces on Panay. Submarine Paddle (SS-263) sinks Italian merchant passenger/cargo ship Ada off Hamamatsu, Japan, 34œ37'N, 137œ53'E. Japanese transport Heito Maru is sunk by Allied aircraft east of Car Nicobar. Mediterranean U.S. freighter Pierre Soule, en route from Sicily to Bizerte, Tunisia, is torpedoed by German submarine U-380, 38œ21'N, 12œ50'E. Tug Nauset (AT-89) tows the damaged freighter to Bizerte, arriving the following morning. There are no casualties. * 24 August, Tue. QUADRANT Conference ends. President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill agree to intensify the war against Japan without relaxing the effort against Germany in Europe, and to intensify the war against Italy. Additionally, steps will be taken to include the Russians to a greater degree in the western Allies and to recognize General Charles DeGaulle's French Committee of National Liberation as representative of the Free French. Pacific Motor torpedo boats PT-175, PT-176, and PT-164, operating from Rendova, are damaged by Japanese floatplanes, Gizo Strait. Submarine Whale (SS-239) damages Japanese fleet tanker San Diego Maru, 31œ30'N, 128œ35'E. Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-25 reconnoiters Espiritu Santo. Atlantic Mediterranean * 25 August, Wed. TG 34.4, covered by four destroyers, sows mines off Wilson Cove, western Kolombongara; light minelayers Montgomery (DM-17) and Preble (DM-20) are damaged in collision as they retire from the area, 09œ01'S, 159œ50'E. Destroyer Patterson (DD-392) sinks Japanese submarine RO 35, 170 miles southeast of San Cristobal Island, Solomons, 12œ57'S, 164œ23'E. USAAF B-24 damages Japanese vessel Mito Maru 60 miles west-northwest of Mussau Island. * 26 August, Thu. USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese destroyers attempting to reach Buin, 45 miles from Buka, damaging Hamakaze and forcing her to put into Rabaul for repairs. Mediterranean * 27 August, Fri. Tank landing craft LCT-319 sinks after running aground, Kiska, Aleutians. Submarine Drum (SS-228) damages Japanese transport Yamagiri Maru, 01œ31'S, 148œ41'E. Submarine Grayling (SS-209) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Meizan Maru, 13œ35'N, 120œ45'E. Submarine Pollock (SS-180) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taifuku Maru, 32œ28'N, 132œ23'E, although minesweeper W.17 arrives on the scene in time to open fire on Pollock, the submarine escapes. Submarine Snapper (SS-185) inflicts further damage on the previously damaged Japanese transport Tokai Maru (see 26 January and 5 May 1943), Apra Harbor, Guam, 13œ31'N, 144œ37'E. USAAF B-17s and B-24s, escorted by P-38s, bomb Japanese installations in the Hansa Bay area, damaging small cargo vessel No.8 Manryu Maru. USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese shipping off western tip of New Hanover, damaging army cargo ship No.18 Shinsei Maru. USAAF B-25s bomb Japanese shipping and installations at Choiseul, damaging fishing vessel Kokusei Maru. Indian Ocean Atlantic * 28 August, Sat. Submarine Tarpon (SS-175) damages Japanese stores ship Shinsei Maru, 33œ39'N, 138œ28'E. Navy PBY aircraft attacks Japanese minelayer Hoko off Buka; although the Catalina crew claims damage, the enemy auxiliary escapes unscathed. USAAF B-25 and P-38 aircraft bomb Japanese installations in Hansa Bay region, sinking fishing vessels Owaru Maru and Seio Maru. * 29 August, Sun. During turmoil in Denmark following the Danish government's refusal to yield to German demand for the death penalty for saboteurs, the Danish government resigns and the Danish army is disarmed. The Danish fleet (coast defense ship, nine submarines, a tender, three minesweepers, five patrol boats, five small minesweepers, and four minelayers) is scuttled at Copenhagen; one coast defense ship is scuttled at Isefjord. Germans capture three minesweepers, and two patrol boats, but one patrol boat, three motor minesweepers and nine small auxiliary vessels escape to Sweden. * 30 August, Mon. * 31 August, Tue. Tank landing craft LCT-154 is lost during amphibious operations, 37œ8'N, 10œ58'E. Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) damages Japanese torpedo boat Sagi and sinks army cargo ship Shoto Maru and merchant cargo ship Kokko Maru, 28œ30'N, 123œ05'E. U.S. tanker W.S. Rheem is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-20 near Espiritu Santo, 15œ51'S, 167œ02'E, but reaches port under her own power; there are no casualties to either the 49-man merchant complement or the 25-man Armed Guard. USAAF aircraft sink small Japanese coastal vessel Shirogane Maru off coast of south China between Amoy and Hong Kong, 22œ13'N, 114œ10'E. September2> * 1 September, Wed. Army occupation troops (804th Aviation Battalion) land on Baker Island, supported by TF 11 (Rear Admiral Willis A. Lee, Jr.), formed around small carriers Princeton (CVL 23) and Belleau Wood (CVL 24). Ashland (LSD 1) in this operation pioneers the use of the dock landing ship. Destroyer Wadsworth (DD-516) sinks Japanese submarine I-182 off Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 15œ38'N, 166œ57'E. Submarine Pompano (SS-181) sinks Japanese merchant vessel Nankai Maru off Miyako. Atlantic * 2 September, Thu. Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) delivers supplies and evacuates certain people from Binuni Point, Mindanao. Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Fusei Maru, 31œ28'N, 127œ24'E. Submarine Snapper (SS-185) sinks Japanese escort vessel Mutsure, 85 miles north-northwest of Truk, Carolines, 08œ40'N, 151œ31'E. USAAF B-25s and P-38s pound Japanese convoy off Wewak, sinking army cargo ships Nagato Maru and Hankow Maru, and damaging Nagano Maru. * 3 September, Fri. Allies sign armistice with Italy. Pacific Submarine Pollack (SS-180) sinks Japanese transport Tagonoura Maru off Mikura Jima, 33œ38'N, 140œ07'E. Submarine Pompano (SS-181) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Akama Maru, 41œ00'N, 144œ34'E. Mediterranean * 4 September, Sat. Japanese aircraft attack four Rendova-based U.S. motor torpedo boats off Meresu Cove, damaging PT-124 and PT-125. Submarine Albacore (SS-218) sinks Japanese gunboat Heijo Maru southwest of Ponape, Carolines, 05œ25'N, 156œ37'E. Submarine Pargo (SS-264) damages Japanese fleet tanker Ryuei Maru, 30œ06'N, 128œ02'E. Submarine Sunfish (SS-281) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kozan Maru, 22œ06'N, 119œ50'E. Submarine Tarpon (SS-175) sinks Japanese guardboat Yulin Maru in northern Pacific, 35œ56'N, 157œ59'E. * 5 September, Sun. Salvage vessel Yusho Maru is sunk by mine in Makassar Strait, 05œ00'S, 119œ00'E. Submarine Albacore (SS-218) hits Japanese transport Hokusho Maru with two dud torpedoes, 03œ50'N, 160œ20'E (see 11 September 1943). Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) sinks Japanese army transport Tenkai Maru, 01œ35'N, 141œ45'E. * 6 September, Mon. Submarine Seahorse (SS-304) is damaged by depth charges off the Palaus, 07œ31'N, 134œ21'E, shortly after attacking a convoy, but remains on patrol. USAAF B-24 damages Japanese hospital ship America Maru, 01œ37'S, 149œ19'E. RAAF Beauforts sink small Japanese cargo vessel Seicho Maru 21 nautical miles east of Garove Island, 04œ39'S, 152œ59'E. * 7 September, Tue. Motor torpedo boats PT-118 and PT-172, damaged by grounding, Solomons area, 07œ34'S, 165œ35'E, are scuttled. Indian Ocean * 8 September, Wed. Submarine Drum (SS-228) sinks Japanese army cargo ship No. 13 Hakutetsu Maru off Hollandia, 02œ44'S, 141œ36'E. Japanese land attack planes (755th Kokutai) bomb Nanomea, Ellice Islands. Mediterranean Operation SPALSTICK: Light cruiser Boise (CL-47), withdrawn temporarily from the bombardment force being massed for Operation AVALANCHE, transports British troops from Bizerte and is the only U.S. Navy ship to participate in the British occupation of Taranto, Italy. Convoy FSS 1, bound for Salerno to participate in Operation AVALANCHE, is attackedf by German JU 88s; large infantry landing craft LCI(L)-87 is damaged by near misses. German planes bomb TG 85.1; tank landing ship is damaged by direct hit and near misses. Arctic * 9 September, Thu. Submarine Grayling (SS-209) is sunk, possibly rammed by Japanese transport Hokuan Maru in the South China Sea west of Luzon. Submarine Harder (SS-257) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Koyo Maru, 35œ30'N, 140œ40'E. Submarine Permit (SS-178) damages Japanese cargo vessel Tateyama Maru 09œ00'N, 168œ40'E. Submarine Pompano (SS-181) damages Japanese army cargo ship Nanking Maru, 40œ12'N, 141œ55'E. Caribbean Mediterranean Tank landing craft LCT-366 founders and sinks in heavy weather, 53œ01'N, 152œ00'W. * 11 September, Sat. Submarine Harder (SS-257) sinks Japanese transport Yoko Maru south of Mikura Island, 33œ48'N, 139œ37'E. Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) sinks Japanese transport Hokusho Maru (hit earlier by dud torpedoes) five miles northwest of Nauru Island, 00œ30'S, 166œ50'E. Submarine Spearfish (SS-190) damages Japanese army transport Tsuyama Maru, 30œ56'N, 132œ47'E. Atlantic Mediterranean Off Salerno, Italy, destroyer Rowan (DD-405) is sunk by German motor torpedo boats (3d Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla), 40œ07'N, 14œ18'E; light cruisers Philadelphia (CL-41) and Savannah (CL-42) are damaged by radio-controlled bombs, 40œ24'N, 14œ51'E, and 40œ21'N, 14œ55'E, respectively. Tank landing craft LCT-71 founders and sinks in heavy weather, 53œ38'N, 146œ05'W. * 12 September, Sun. Tug Navajo (AT-64), towing gasoline barge YOG-42, is sunk by Japanese submarine I-39, 150 miles east of Espiritu Santo. Submarine Permit (SS-178) damages Japanese aircraft transport Fujikawa Maru, 08œ23'N, 165œ12'E. Mediterranean * 13 September, Mon. Submarine Snook (SS-279) sinks Japanese army transport Yamato Maru, 30œ08'N, 123œ32'E, and although escorting destroyer Shiokaze claims her destruction, Snook emerges from the encounter to fight again. Mediterranean German planes bomb Allied shipping off Salerno. U.S. freighter James W. Marshall is damaged by bomb and resultant fire. There are, however, no casualties among the crew. * 14 September, Tue. * 15 September, Wed. Destroyer Saufley (DD-465) and PBY (VP 23) sinks Japanese submarine RO 101 100 miles east of San Cristobal, Solomons, 10œ57'S, 163œ56'E. Submarine Haddock (SS-231) sinks Japanese collier Sansei Maru north of Truk, 09œ32'N, 150œ38'E. Mediterranean * 16 September, Sat. Submarine Gudgeon (SS-212) engages Japanese minelayer Fumi Maru in an inconclusive surface gunnery action off Rota Island, Marianas, 13œ50'N, 145œ02'E (see 28 September 1943). PBY sinks small Japanese cargo vessel Taira Maru en route to Hansa Bay, 04œ10'S, 144œ55'E. Mediterranean * 17 September, Fri. * 18 September, Sat. Submarine S-42 (SS-153) damages Japanese gunboat Chowa Maru, 50œ22'N, 155œ43'E. Submarine Scamp (SS-277) attacks Japanese convoy north of New Guinea, sinking army cargo ship Kansai Maru, 00œ41'N, 146œ28'E, but although damaged by depth charges (perhaps dropped by submarine chasers Ch 38 and/or Ch 16, known to be among the escorts) remains on patrol. Submarine Spearfish (SS-190) damages Japanese torpedo boat Sagi (premature explosion of two torpedoes), 29œ08'N, 134œ29'E. Submarine Trigger (SS-237) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Yowa Maru, 27œ20'N, 126œ53'E. Atlantic * 19 September, Sun. Submarine Scamp (SS-277) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kansai Maru, 00œ25'N, 146œ21'E. * 20 September, Mon. Submarine Haddock (SS-231) damages Japanese fleet tanker Notoro east of the Palaus, 07œ23'N, 150œ11'E; auxiliary submarine chaser Takunan Maru conducts fruitless search for Haddock. Submarine S-28 (SS-133) sinks Japanese gunboat Katsura Maru 165 miles southwest of Paramushiro, Kuriles, 49œ05'N, 151œ45'E. Repair ship Hayase is sunk by Chinese aircraft, Ch'iu-Chiang, Yangtze River, China. Atlantic German submarine U-238 attacks New York-bound convoy ON 202, torpedoing U.S. freighters Frederick Douglass, 57œ03'N, 28œ08'W, and Theodore Dwight Weld, 57œ03'N, 28œ12'W. British rescue ship Rathlin rescues all hands (40-men merchant complement, 29-man Armed Guard, and one female stowaway) from Frederick Douglass, which remains afloat until finished off later the same day by U-645. Theodore Dwight Weld sinks so quickly that 20 of the 42-man merchant complement and 13 of the 28-man Armed Guard perish. Rathlin rescues the survivors. * 21 September, Tue. Submarine Trigger (SS-237) sinks Japanese fleet oilers Shiriya and Shoyo Maru and merchant cargo ship Argun Maru, and damages fleet oiler No.1 Ozura Maru north of Keelung, Formosa, 26œ27'N, 122œ40'E. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese merchantfishing vessel Hokusei Maru, 45œ45'N, 145œ46'E. USAAF B-24 aircraft sink Japanese transport Takashima Maru southeast of the Admiralties, 03œ45'S, 149œ20'E. Mediterranean Indian Ocean * 22 September, Wed. Coastal transport APc-35, irreparably damaged by grounding en route to Renard Sound, New Georgia, 08œ48'S, 157œ46'E, is beached and abandoned. Gunboat Charleston (PG-51) is damaged when accidentally rammed by U.S. merchant ship Sam Jackson, Kuluk Bay, Adak, Alaska. Submarine Harder (SS-257) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Daishin Maru and cargo ship Kowa Maru, 34œ46'N, 140œ55'E. Submarine Hoe (SS-258) attacks Japanese fleet tanker Gen'yo Maru, 10œ08'N, 147œ01'E. Submarine Snook (SS-279) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Katsurahama Maru, 39œ00'N, 124œ20'E, and damages merchant cargo ship Hakutetsu Maru, 39œ15'N, 123œ30'E. Submarine Trigger (SS-237) damages Japanese army cargo ship Gyoku Maru, 26œ27'N, 122œ40'E. Mediterranean Ocean going tugs Moreno (AT-87) and Narragansett (AT-88) and British rescue tug HMS Weazel scuttle the stern section of U.S. Liberty ship William W. Gerhard with gunfire off Salerno. Indian Ocean * 23 September, Thu. Submarine Tuna (SS-203) attacks Japanese cargo vessel Shinwa Maru, 04œ50'N, 105œ50'E. Atlantic * 24 September, Fri. USAAF B-24 sinks small Japanese cargo vessel Shonan Maru off Mussau Island, 00œ27'S, 147œ43'E. Indian Ocean * 25 September, Sat. Submarine Bluefish (SS-222) damages Japanese merchant cargo ship Akashi Maru, 06œ23'S, 118œ55'E, and escapes counterattack by escorting auxiliary minesweeper Wa 4 (see 29 September 1943). Submarines Bowfin (SS-287), Billfish (SS-286), and Bonefish (SS-223) attack Japanese convoy; Bowfin sinks tanker Kirishima Maru 220 nautical miles north of Nha Trang, French Indochina, 09œ50'N, 112œ03'E. None of the other attacks prove successful, and the enemy ships continue their passage to Manila. Mediterranean * 26 September, Sun. * 27 September, Mon. Submarine Bonefish (SS-223) sinks Japanese army transport Kashima Maru, and damages cago ship Chihaya Maru, 10œ10'N, 109œ40'E USAAF B-24s and P-38s bomb Japanese shipping at Wewak, sinking merchant transport Taisei Maru and cargo vessels Sakihana Maru, Taisho Maru, Fuji Maru, and Kiri Maru. Malayan saboteurs, promised a livelihood after the British reoccupy Malaya, sink Japanese cargo ship Hakusan Maru and damage cargo ship Kizan Maru at Singapore. Efforts to salvage the latter are eventually abandoned and the ship written off as a total loss. Atlantic * 28 September, Tue. Submarine Grouper (SS-214) lands men and supplies on south coast of New Britain. Submarine Gudgeon (SS-212) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Taian Maru, 15œ22'N, 145œ38'E. Minelayer No.2 Fumi Maru (which Gudgeon had engaged on 16 September 1943), counterattacks, but does not damage the submarine as Gudgeon and No.2 Fumi Maru encounter each other for the second time. Japanese minelayer Hoko is sunk by aircraft off New Britain. Mediterranean * 29 September, Wed. Submarine Bluefish (SS-222) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Akashi Maru, 06œ11'S, 126œ00'E (see 25 September 1943). Submarine Gudgeon (SS-212) damages Japanese gunboat Santo Maru off Saipan, 15œ28'N, 145œ57'E. Transport Kenryu Maru tows the gunboat into Saipan. Mediterranean * 30 September, Thu. In the Solomons area, tank landing ships LST-334 is damaged by dive bombers, 07œ43'S, 156œ40'E; motor torpedo boat PT-126 is damaged, accidentally, by USMC F4Us, 07œ50'S, 157œ05'E. Motor torpedo boat PT-68 is damaged by grounding off Vincke Point, Huon Peninsula, eastern New Guinea, 05œ56'S, 147œ18'E. Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) delivers supplies and evacuates people from Siquijor Island, P.I., and sinks small Japanese cargo ship Mitake Maru, 05œ17'N, 121œ57'E. Submarine Harder (SS-257) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser No.3 Shosei Maru, 34œ10'N, 150œ45'E. Submarine Pogy (SS-266) sinks Japanese army transport Maebashi Maru 300 miles east of Palau, 06œ01'N, 139œ08'E. USAAF B-25s and P-40s sink Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Chikushi Maru in Kwangchow Bay, China, 21œ12'N, 110œ24'E; the vessel is later salvaged, however, and resumes active service. Atlantic October * 1 October, Fri. Destroyer Saufley (DD-465) is damaged by near-miss of bombs from Japanese horizontal bomber, Solomons, 07œ42'S, 160œ14'E. Tank landing ships LST-448 is damaged by horizontal bomber, Solomons, 07œ45'S, 156œ30'E. Mobile degaussing barge YDG-4 sinks nine miles southeast of Bulari Passage, after running aground off New Caledonia. Submarine Peto (SS-265) sinks Japanese transport Tonei Maru and Japanese army cargo ship Kinkasan Maru, Southern Carolines, 04œ00'N, 143œ50'E. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Masaki Maru in Sea of Japan. Atlantic Naval forces under Commander Naval Forces Europe (Admiral Harold R. Stark) are designated the Twelfth Fleet. Escort carrier Block Island (CVE-21) and destroyer Black (DD-666) are damaged in collision in Elizabeth River channel, Norfolk, Virginia. PV-1s (VB-128) attack German submarines U-402 and U-448 as the latter seek (unsuccessfully) convoy HX 258 in the North Atlantic. Mediterranean * 2 October, Sat. Tank landing ships LST-203 is damaged by grounding near Nanumea, Ellice Islands. Japanese minesweeper W.28 is damaged by mine (laid by submarine Silversidess (SS-236) on 4 June 1943) off Kavieng, 02œ36'S, 150œ34'E. * 3 October, Sun. Destroyer Henley (DD-391) is sunk by Japanese submarine RO 108 off eastern New Guinea, 07œ40'S, 148œ06'E. Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru is damaged by mine, Surabaya, Java. * 4 October, Mon. Planes (VC 9) from escort carrier Card (CVE-11) attack three German submarines--U 264, U-422, and U-455--rendezvousing with a milch cow, U-460, north of the Azores. U-460 and U-422 are sunk, 43œ13'N, 28œ58'W, and 43œ18'N, 28œ58'W, respectively. This action in the central Atlantic allows convoy UGS 19 to pass through the vicinity unmolested by the enemy. PV-1 patrol bombers (VB 128) sink German submarine U-336, North Atlantic area, 60œ40'N, 26œ30'W, during operations to protect convoy ONS 204. Mediterranean * 5 October, Tue. Tank landing ships LST-448, damaged on 1 October 1943, sinks while in tow of tug Bobolink (AT-131), Solomons, 08œ03'S, 156œ43'E. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese army transport Konron Maru in Tsushima Straits, 34œ00'N, 129œ00'E. Loss of Konron Maru, of the Shimonoseki-to-Fusan ferry line, prompts the cancellation of night ferry trips across Tsushima Straits. Only 72 people, of the 616 on board, are rescued because of heavy seas. Mediterranean * 6 October, Wed. Submarine chaser PC-478 and tank landing ships LST-451 are damaged in collision while en route from Adak to Amchitka, Aleutians. Submarine Kingfish (SS-234) lands men and supplies on northeast coast of Borneo. Submarine Skate (SS-305), lifeguarding for the Wake Island strikes (see 5 October 1943), is strafed and damaged by Japanese aircraft off the atoll, but remains on patrol. Submarine Steelhead (SS-280) damages Japanese fast fleet tanker Kazuhaya, 10œ30'N, 146œ37'E; Tinosa (SS-283) later finishes off Kazuhaya 240 nautical miles northwest of Truk, 10œ30'N, 148œ20'E. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) probably sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kanko Maru, 37œ18'N, 129œ33'E. Atlantic Indian Ocean * 7 October, Thu. Light cruiser Concord (CL-10) is damaged by on-board explosion (leaking gasoline tank) off Nukahiva Island, Marquesas. Submarine S-44 (SS-155) is sunk by Japanese escort destroyer Ishigaki north-northeast of Araito Island, east of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Kuriles. Japanese guardboat No.20 Inari Maru is destroyed by fire off Wake Island. Japanese transport Kikukawa Maru is destroyed by fire at Truk. Mediterranean Atlantic * 8 October, Fri. Submarine Guardfish (SS-217) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kashu Maru, 00œ20'S, 146œ17'E. Submarine Gurnard (SS-254) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taian Maru and transport Dainichi Maru off northern tip of Luzon, 18œ48'N, 119œ21'E. USAAF B-24 damages Japanese transport Heian Maru en route to Truk, 02œ37'N, 150œ46'E. Atlantic * 9 October, Sat. Submarine Kingfish (SS-234) torpedoes Japanese oiler Hayamoto in Sibitu Channel, 05œ09'N, 119œ18'E. Submarine Puffer (SS-268) torpedoes Japanese tanker Kumagawa Maru in Makassar Strait, 01œ08'N, 119œ31'E, but is damaged by depth charges (possibly dropped by auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 37 and Cha 41, summoned to the scene as escorts for Shoyo Maru which will tow Kumagawa Maru to Balikpapan) and is forced to terminate her patrol. Submarine Rasher (SS-269) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kogane Maru 28 miles from Ambon, 03œ30'S, 127œ45'E. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks Japanese cargo ship Hankow Maru off Oga Peninsula, 37œ18'N, 129œ33'E. Mediterranean * 10 October, Sun. Submarine Bonefish (SS-223) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Isuzugawa Maru and merchant transport Teibi Maru off Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, 14œ49'N, 110œ10'E. Submarine Grayback (SS-208) attacks Japanese troopship Hakozaki Maru, 28œ41'N, 138œ32'E; although the submarine crew believes one of the four torpedoes fired hit the ship, in fact all four miss. Submarine Kingfish (SS-234) lays mines off Cape Pepe, Makassar Strait, Celebes. USAAF B-24 sinks Japanese army cargo ship No.5 Hino Maru 20 miles southwest of Buka passage. * 11 October, Mon. Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) is sunk by Japanese naval aircraft, submarine chasers Ch 15 and Ch 43, and minesweeper W.18, in La Perouse Strait, 45œ13'N, 141œ56'E. Japanese planes attack U.S. shipping off Koli Point, Guadalcanal, torpedoing freighters George H. Himes and John H. Couch; tug Menominee (AT-73) beaches George H. Himes (which suffers no casualties among the 41-man merchant complement, 27-man Armed Guard, and 20 CB stevedores) to save the ship's cargo of lumber, shells and bombs. Three men perish on board John H. Couch (a merchant seaman, one Armed Guard sailor and a CB stevedore), whose cargo of gasoline and diesel oil catches fire at the initial explosion. Firefighting efforts by two destroyer escorts prove as unsuccessful as the crew's in putting out the blaze and the ship is abandoned by the 42 merchant seamen, 25 Armed Guards, 28 troop passengers and 99 stevedores (see 13 October 1943). USAAF B-25s attack small Japanese cargo vessels off Bougainville, sinking Sanwa Maru and damaging Muyo Maru with a near-miss. Atlantic * 12 October, Tue. Submarine Cero (SS-225) torpedoes Japanese stores ship Mamiya off Chichi Jima, 28œ39'N, 137œ28'E; collier Asakaze Maru tows the damaged vessel to Saeki, Japan. Atlantic * 13 October, Wed. Italy declares war on Germany. Pacific Submarine Rasher (SS-269) attacks Japanese convoy proceeding from Ambon to Kendari, sinking cargo ship Kenkoku Maru, 03œ47'S, 127œ41'E. Submarine Seadragon (SS-194) attacks Kwajalein-bound Japanese ammunition ship Soya, escorted by auxiliary submarine chaser No.6 Shonan Maru, 08œ50'N, 167œ50'E; Seadragon damages neither enemy ship while No.6 Shonan Maru's attacks on the submarine prove equally unsuccessful. Tug Pawnee (AT-74) tows gutted U.S. freighter John H. Couch, torpedoed by Japanese planes on 11 October 1943 off Koli Point, Guadalcanal, to a point two miles east of Koli Point, where the merchantman capsizes. USAAF B-25 aircraft bomb Japanese shipping in Amoy, China, harbor, sinking auxiliary submarine chaser Kongo Maru. Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa 101 is damaged by mine near Madoera Island, N.E.I., 07œ11'S, 112œ45'E. Atlantic Mediterranean * 14 October, Thu. Submarine Grayback (SS-208) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Kozui Maru, 27œ35'N, 127œ30'E, and eludes hunter-killer operations carried out by aviation supply ship Takasaki. Atlantic Coast Guard Cutter Dow (WYP-353) runs aground off Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and is abandoned. * 15 October, Fri. Atlantic U.S. freighter James Russell Lowell, in convoy GUS 18, is torpedoed by German submarine U-371 at 37œ18'15"N, 07œ10'30"E and abandoned. British whaler HMS Southern Sea rescues the 41-man merchant complement and the 28-man Armed Guard. With hopes high for saving the ship, the merchant crew reboards the ship and Southern Sea takes James Russell Lowell in tow. As weather conditions worsen, all but the master and two men abandon ship once more (see 16 October 1943). * 16 October, Sat. Submarine Mingo (SS-261) attacks Japanese escort carrier Chuyo north-northwest of Truk, 11œ02'N, 151œ21'E. Although Mingo claims two damaging hits, the carrier (see 18 October 1943) emerges from the encounter unscathed; destroyer Hatsukaze depth charges Mingo but does not damage her. Atlantic U.S. freighter James Russell Lowell, torpedoed by German submarine U-371 the day before, is beached off Colla, Algeria, by British tug. The ship breaks in twain and sinks two weeks later, a total loss. * 17 October, Sun. Submarine Tarpon (SS-175) sinks German auxiliary cruiser Michel (Schiffe No.28) off Chichi Jima, Bonins, 33œ42'N, 140œ08'E. USAAF B-24s damage Japanese troopship Hakusan Maru 80 miles from Kavieng. * 18 October, Mon. Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) attacks Yokosuka-bound Japanese escort carrier Chuyo, 19œ27'N, 145œ20'E. Although Flying Fish claims one hit, the enemy flattop bears a charmed life, having survived an attack by Mingo (SS-261) on 16 October 1943 as well, and continues on to her destination on schedule. Submarine Lapon (SS-260) torpedoes and sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Taichu Maru, 33œ59'N, 136œ24'E, and scores two "dud" hits on auxiliary minesweeper Keijin Maru. Submarine Silversides (SS-236) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Tairin Maru, 22'N, 143œ23'E. * 19 October, Tue. Moscow Conference, attended by the Secretary of State and British and Soviet foreign ministers, convenes. Atlantic U.S. freighter Delisle, in convoy WB 65, fouls mine laid by German submarine U-220 as the merchantman lies to, 15 miles out of St. John's, Newfoundland, rescuing survivors of British freighter Penolver. Delisle suffers no casualties and is abandoned by the 32-man crew and 7-man Armed Guard, and three sailors from Penolver. British trawler HMS Miscou rescues the survivors. * 20 October, Wed. Submarine Kingfish (SS-234) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Sana Maru off Banbon Bay, French Indochina, 12œ36'N, 109œ30'E. Atlantic Destroyer Cowie (DD-632) is damaged in collision with U.S. steamship Craigsmere in New York Harbor. Mediterranean * 21 October, Thu. RAAF Beaufort damages Japanese light cruiser Kiso 53 miles from Cape St. George, 04œ23'S, 153œ11'E. Japanese cargo ship No.11 Chofoku Maru is sunk by mine while en route from Surabaya to Penang; cargo ship Rakuto Maru is damaged by mine off Padamarang Island. Atlantic Aircraft (VC 13) from escort carrier Core (CVE-13) damage German submarine U-271, north of the Azores. Mediterranean * 22 October, Fri. Pacific Submarine Shad (SS-235) attacks Japanese light cruisers Naka and Isuzu, en route from Shanghai to Rabaul, 28œ40'N, 124œ10'E. Although Shad claims damaging both, neither enemy warship is hit. * 23 October, Sat. USAAF B-24 damages Japanese cargo vessel No.1 Kinpo Maru off Greenwich Island, 01œ01'N, 154œ08'E. U.S. aircraft sink Japanese transport Kyowa Maru northwest of Buka Island, Solomons. Mediterranean * 24 October, Sun. USMC land-based aircraft sink Japanese destroyer Mochizuki 90 miles south-southwest of Rabaul, 05œ42'S, 151œ40'E. PBYs sink Japanese destroyer Mochizuki and damages destroyer Uzuki south of Jacquinot Bay, 05œ35'N, 151œ35'E. USAAF B-24 sinks Japanese cargo vessel Nagaragawa Maru off Manokwari. Japanese destroyer Satsuki is damaged by grounding off Utano Island, 05œ31'S, 149œ14'E (see 26 and 30 October 1943). * 25 October, Mon. Atlantic * 26 October, Tue. USAAF B-25s sink Japanese transport Yamatogawa Maru at Hai'ou, Hainan Island, 20œ05'N, 11œ25'E. USAAF P-38s damage auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 20, transporting troops and cargo, five miles off Buka. USAAF aircraft bomb Japanese shipping off Kiungshan, 20œ05'N, 110œ05'E, sinking transport Yamatogawa Maru, army cargo vessels No. 3 Shinwa Maru and Hokuzan Maru, and merchant cargo ship Hachiman Maru. * 27 October, Wed. Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese transport Nanman Maru, 12œ02'N, 134œ28'E. Submarine Shad (SS-235) and Grayback (SS-208) sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Fuji Maru, 28œ20'N, 128œ05'E, and damage cargo vessel Kamo Maru. Transport Oryoko Maru is hit by a dud torpedo. * 28 October, Thu. Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese fleet oiler Koryu Maru, 12œ54'N, 134œ06'E. Atlantic * 29 October, Fri. Navy or USMC F4Us damage small Japanese cargo vessel No.16 Kiku Maru near Tonolei, 06œ47'S, 155œ53'E. * 30 October, Sat. Moscow Conference ends. Groundwork is laid for conference of President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Premier Stalin at Teheran, Iran. Other agreements include the decision that China should join the alliance as the fourth major power and that a postwar organization to keep peace should be established. The latter will be the future United Nations. Pacific USAAF B-24 attacks Japanese destroyer Satsuki 20 miles south of Mussau, 04œ40'S, 149œ20'E. * 31 October, Sun. Atlantic Aircraft (VC 9) from escort carrier Card (CVE-11) sink German submarine U-584 about 580 miles north of Flores Island, Azores, 49œ14'N, 31œ55'W. Other VC 9 aircraft attack U-91 at the same rendezvous point, but she escapes unharmed. Destroyer Borie (DD-215) damages German submarine U-256 north of the Azores. November * 1 November, Mon. Cruiser and destroyer force TF 39 (Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill) and carrier task force TF 38 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) shell and bomb Japanese airfields and installations in Buka-Bonis area, Solomons. Rear Admiral Merrill's force later bombards enemy airfields on Shortland Island, Solomons. Japanese return fire damages destroyer Dyson (DD-572). Destroyer Fullam (DD-474) is damaged by grounding, Solomons area, 06œ25'S, 154œ53'E. Submarine Haddock (SS-231) attacks Japanese cable-layer Tateishi and trawler Kitagami Maru off Rokutei Island, 09œ02'N, 150œ43'E. Although Haddock claims damage to both ships, neither is actually damaged. U.S. aircraft sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 13 west of Shortland Island, Solomons, 07œ00'S 155œ30'E. Atlantic * 2 November, Tue. Carrier task force TF 38 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) attacks enemy airfields in Buka area, Solomons. Submarine Haddock (SS-231) engages Japanese submarine chaser Ch 28, 09œ12'N, 150œ13'E, but neither side damages the other. Submarines Seahorse (SS-304), Halibut (SS-232), and Trigger (SS-237), each operating independently of the other, attack Japanese convoy south of Honshu; Seahorse sinks transport Chihaya Maru, 29œ31'N, 134œ50'E, and army cargo ship Yawata Maru, 28œ30'N, 135œ35'E; Halibut sinks army cargo ship Ehime Maru, 28œ40'N, 135œ35'E; Trigger sinks army transport Delagoa Maru, 28œ30'N, 135œ35'; Seahorse or Trigger sinks army cargo ship Ume Maru, 28œ40'N, 135œ35'E. USAAF B-25s, escorted by P-38s, raid airfields and harbor at Rabaul, sinking Japanese stores ship Manko Maru and damaging heavy cruisers Haguro and Myoko, destroyer Shiratsuyu, stores ship Hayasaki, and minesweeper W.26. Atlantic * 3 November, Wed. U.S. Navy PB4Ys sink Japanese stores ship Minato Maru 19 miles off Ocean Island, 00œ53'S, 169œ35'E. USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese light cruiser Naka (near-miss) and transport (ex-armed merchant cruiser) Kiyozumi Maru off central New Ireland, 02œ00'S, 151œ30'E; light cruiser Isuzu takes the damaged auxiliary in tow. USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese ships en route to Rabaul, but score no damage upon their targets, transport (ex-armed merchant cruiser) Gokoku Maru and destroyer Urakaze. * 4 November, Thu. Submarine Silversides (SS-236) lays minefield off New Ireland; Japanese surveying ship Tsukushi and transport Ryosan Maru are sunk; light cruiser Isuzu and destroyer Isokaze, damaged. Submarine Tautog (SS-199) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese convoy, 07œ45'N, 134œ09'E. Navy fighter aircraft damage Japanese cargo vessel Giyu Maru, Matchin Bay, Bougainville, 05œ28'S, 154œ45'E. USAAF B-25s sink Japanese cargo ship Chinko Maru, Swatow harbor, China, 23œ20'N, 116œ50'E; Chinko Maru carries down with her 100,000,000 Yuan in Central Reserve Bank notes. USAAF B-24s damage Japanese cargo vessel Nissho Maru, in company with destroyer Amatsukaze, 00œ20'N, 150œ40'E. Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 30 is sunk by aircraft off Palau Islands, 06œ10'S, 155œ35'E. * 5 November, Fri. Open cargo lighter YCK-2 is lost, cause unspecified, 45œ47'N, 58œ57'W. Submarine Halibut (SS-232) damages Japanese carrier Junyo, Bungo Channel, 32œ19'N, 132œ58'E; heavy cruiser Tone tows the damaged ship to Kure. USAAF B-24s sink Japanese fishing vessel No.1 Kanto Maru seven miles north of Kieta, 06œ15'S, 155œ25'E. Atlantic * 6 November, Sat. Japanese troops, transported by destroyers, land near Cape Torokina, Bougainville, Solomons. Submarine Haddock (SS-231) attacks Japanese Truk-to-Singapore convoy consisting of fleet tankers Gen'yo Maru and Hoyo Maru and escorting destroyer Yakaze, 08œ04'N, 150œ04'E. Haddock torpedoes Hoyo Maru at 08œ08'N, 149œ45'E, and during evasive maneuvers Yakaze is damaged when she accidentally rams Gen'yo Maru. Despite the damage, Yakaze counterattacks Haddock. Submarine Scorpion (SS-278) torpedoes fleet tanker Hoyo Maru, 07œ54'N, 150œ06'E. USAAF B-25s hit Japanese shipping west of Buka, sinking submarine chaser Ch 11, auxiliary submarine chaser No.9 Asahi Maru, and cargo vessel Asayama Maru. Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 30 and small cargo vessel No. 3 Nissen Maru are sunk in the same general area. U.S. aircraft sink submarine chaser Ch 11 and water tanker Chozan Maru west of Buka, Solomons. Mediterranean * 7 November, Sun. Mediterranean * 8 November, Mon. Destroyers Anthony (DD-515) and Hudson (DD-475) accidentally engage motor torpedo boats PT-163, PT-169, and PT-170; fortunately, neither side suffers any damage in the mistaken encounter. Submarine Bluefish (SS-222) sinks Japanese army tanker Kyokuei Maru, 17œ00'N, 116œ19'E. Although Bluefish claims to destroy five more ships, none are damaged; escort vessel Tsushima counterattacks unsuccessfully. Submarine Rasher (SS-269) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Tango Maru, 00œ25'N, 119œ45'E, and escapes attacks by auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 41. Atlantic * 9 November, Tue. Pacific Submarine Sargo (SS-188) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taga Maru, 21œ40'N, 131œ12'E. Submarine Seawolf (SS-197) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese cargo vessel Hokuriku Maru, 20œ38'N, 118œ33'E. * 10 November, Wed. Pacific Submarine Barb (SS-220) engages Japanese Keelung-to-Sasebo convoy, unsuccessfully attacking cargo ships Yamahagi Maru and damaging Nishi Maru. Escorting auxiliary minesweeper No.7 Toshi Maru counterattacks, but does not damage, Barb. Submarine Scamp (SS-277) torpedoes Japanese transport Tokyo Maru, 03œ30'N, 150œ10'E; transport Mitakesan Maru takes the crippled ship in tow (see 12 November 1943). British submarine HMS Tally Ho sinks Japanese water carrier Kisogawa Maru, 06œ12'N, 99œ25'E. Japanese cargo vessel Giyu Maru, damaged on 4 November 1943, sinks in Matchin Bay, 05œ33'S, 154œ45'E. Atlantic * 11 November, Thu. Submarine Capelin (SS-289) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kunitama Maru northwest of Ambon, 03œ08'S, 127œ30'E. Submarine Drum (SS-228) engages Japanese Truk-to-Rabaul convoy, unsuccessfully attacking submarine depot ship Hie Maru, 00œ19'N, 149œ40'E (see 17 November 1943). Later that day, a USAAF B-24 bombs the same convoy, damaging Hie Maru. Despite those attacks, the enemy ships reach Rabaul the following day. Submarine Sargo (SS-188) sinks Japanese transport Kosei Maru east of the Nansei Shoto, 27œ40'N, 130œ24'E. U.S. freighter Cape San Juan, bound for Townsville, Australia, is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-21 at 28œ08'S, 178œ06'W; 16 of the 1,348 embarked troop passengers are killed in the initial explosion and a further 114 drown during the abandonment. Liberty ship Edwin T. Meredith begins picking up survivors, joined later by Allied planes, destroyer McCalla (DD-488), destroyer escort Dempsey (DE-26) and motor minesweeper YMS-241. Edwin T. Meredith attempts to scuttle Cape San Juan with gunfire but the ship will remain afloat for another two days. * 12 November, Fri. Pacific Submarine Scamp (SS-277) torpedoes Truk-bound Japanese light cruiser Agano (damaged the previous day by TF 38's strike), 01œ03'N, 149œ15'E. Submarine Thresher (SS-200) torpedoes and sinks Japanese transport Muko Maru north of Truk, 09œ02'N, 152œ46'E, but is damaged by depth charges and terminates her patrol. Japanese transport Tokyo Maru, damaged by Scamp (SS-277) on 10 November, sinks at 05œ42'N, 151œ09'E. Destroyer Suzutsuki rescues survivors. Transport Tokyo Maru, damaged by submarine Scamp (SS-277), sinks while under tow between Kavieng and Truk, 03œ39'N, 150œ37'E. USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese naval base at Surabaya, Java, damaging submarine chasers Ch 6 and Ch 10. Atlantic PB4Y-1 (VB 103) sinks German submarine U-508 in Bay of Biscay, 46œ00'N, 07œ30'W. * 13 November, Sat. Japanese aircraft attack TF 39 (Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill) off Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, Solomons; light cruiser Denver (CL-58) is damaged by aerial torpedo, 06œ45'S, 154œ15'E. British submarine HMS Taurus sinks Japanese submarine I-34 30 miles south of Panang, Malaya, 05œ17'N, 100œ05'E. Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) lands men and supplies at Paluan Bay, Mindoro, P.I. Submarine Scorpion (SS-278) damages Japanese oiler Shiretoko northwest of the Marianas, 18œ22'N, 142œ50'E. Submarine Trigger (SS-237) sinks Japanese transport Nachizan Maru in East China Sea, 32œ55'N, 124œ57'E; although damaged by depth charges, she remains on patrol. * 14 November, Sun. Atlantic * 15 November, Mon. Submarine Crevalle (SS-291) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kyokko Maru off San Antonio, Zambales province, 14œ53'N, 119œ56'E. Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) lands supplies at Nasipit, Mindanao, and evacuates people. * 16 November, Tue. PBYs attack Japanese shipping off New Guinea, sinking cargo vessel Kyoritsu Maru, 03œ51'S, 153œ20'E. USAAF B-24 aircraft bomb Japanese shipping at Jaluit and Imidj atolls. Japanese minelayer Ukishima is lost to unknown cause, 11 miles off Hatsushima, Japan, 34œ28'N, 137œ20'E. * 17 November, Wed. Japanese planes attack convoy carrying Marine reinforcements to Bougainville, Solomons. High speed transport McKean (APD-5) is sunk by aerial torpedo 19 miles southwest of Cape Torokina, 06œ31'S, 154œ52'E. Submarine Capelin (SS-289) departs Darwin, Australia for Molucca and Celebes Seas. She is never heard from again (see 23 November 1943). Submarine Drum (SS-228) sinks Japanese submarine depot ship Hie Maru (which had eluded Drum on 11 November) north-northwest of New Ireland, 01œ45'N, 148œ20'E. * 18 November, Thu. Submarine Bluefish (SS-222) sinks Japanese destroyer Sanae and damages oiler Ondo 90 miles south of Basilan Island, 05œ00'N, 122œ00'E. In return Ondo engages the submarine with gunfire. Submarine Crevalle (SS-291) attacks Japanese landing ship/aircraft transport Akitsu Maru, escorted by torpedo boat Tomodzuru, 15œ10'N, 119œ40'E; although Crevalle claims destruction of her quarry, Akitsu Maru survives unscathed. * 19 November, Fri. Motor torpedo boat PT-147, damaged by grounding, eastern New Guinea, 05œ55'S, 147œ20'E, is scuttled by crew. Submarine Harder (SS-257) attacks Japanese convoy escorted by escort vessel Fukue and destroyer Yuzuki, sinking transports Hokko Maru and Udo Maru, 22œ28'N, 147œ22'E (see 20 November 1943). Submarine Nautilus (SS-168) is damaged by friendly fire from light cruiser Santa Fe (CL-60) and destroyer Ringgold (DD-500) off Tarawa, Gilberts, 01œ05'N, 173œ03'E. Nautilus remains on patrol until she accomplishes her mission of supporting the landings. Submarine Sculpin (SS-191), heavily damaged by Japanese destroyer Yamagumo about 154 miles north of Truk, Carolines, 00œ00'N, 152œ50'E, is scuttled. Captain John P. Cromwell, the embarked submarine squadron commander in Sculpin, familiar with secret details of upcoming operations, decides to go down with the ship rather than risk capture and inevitable interrogation. For his decision to accept certain death, Cromwell is awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously. * 20 November, Sat. Navy, Marine, and Army forces land on Tarawa and Makin, Gilberts, in Operation GALVANIC. The operation is under overall command of Commander Central Pacific Force (Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance). Marines (5th Amphibious Corps) landing on Tarawa encounter bitter resistance. During operations supporting GALVANIC, four ships are damaged: battleship Mississippi (BB-41) by turret explosion, 03œ10'N, 172œ58'E; small carrier Independence (CVL 22) by aircraft torpedo, 01œ30'N, 172œ40'E; destroyer Ringgold (DD-500) by Tarawa shore battery, 01œ24'N, 172œ58'E, and destroyer Dashiell (DD-659) by grounding, 01œ00'N, 173œ00'E. Submarine Harder (SS-257) continues stalking convoy attacked the previous day and sinks Japanese transport Nikko Maru northeast of the Marianas, 23œ20'N, 147œ30'E. PBYs sink Japanese cargo vessel Naples Maru, 03œ22'S, 151œ45'E; submarine chasers Ch 17 and Ch 18 rescue survivors. * 21 November, Sun. Submarine Trigger (SS-237) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Eizan Maru, Yellow Sea, 36œ40'N, 125œ31'E. USAAF B-24s and B-25s strike Japanese shipping and installations in Aroe Islands and off Manokwari, New Guinea, sinking transport Shinwa Maru off Manokwari, 02œ24'S, 134œ36'E. USAAF B-25s and RAAF Beaufighters sink Japanese fishing vessel Shinko Maru off Taberfane, 06œ11'S, 134œ07'E. RAAF Bostons sink small Japanese cargo vessel Suisan Maru off south coast of New Britain, 06œ03'S, 151œ14'E. * 22 November, Mon. President Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Churchill, and Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek meet in Cairo, Egypt, for talks (SEXTANT Conference). Pacific Submarine Drum (SS-228) is damaged by depth charges north of New Guinea, 02œ53'N, 141œ36'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol. Submarine Seahorse (SS-304) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Taish Maru, 33œ41'N, 128œ35'E. Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) sinks Japanese army cargo ships Kiso Maru and Yamato Maru off Palau, 07œ09'N, 134œ32'E; although damaged by depth charges, 07œ09'N, 134œ34'E, she remains on patrol. USAAF B-24 sinks Japanese cargo ship Kinyamasan Maru, 01œ00'N, 149œ20'E, that had escaped damage the previous day; destroyer Asanagi continues on to Truk with survivors of Nichii Maru and Kinyamasan Maru. Japanese army repair ship Kashima Maru is sunk by mine, laid by USAAF B-24 on 16 November 1943 off Macao. U.S. tanker Elizabeth Kellogg, bound for Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, is torpedoed by German submarine U-516 at 11œ10'N, 80œ43'W, and abandoned (see 24 November 1943). * 23 November, Tue. Cruiser and destroyer force (Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill) bombards Buka-Bonis area, Bougainville, Solomons. Motor torpedo boat PT-322, damaged by grounding, eastern New Guinea, 06œ09'S, 147œ36'E, is scuttled by U.S. forces. Submarine Blackfish (SS-221) sinks Japanese transport Yamato Maru between New Guinea and Palau, 02œ28'N, 140œ06'E. Submarine Capelin (SS-289) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kizan Maru, 01œ50'N, 127œ55'E (see 17 November 1943). Submarine Gudgeon (SS-212) attacks Takao-bound Japanese convoy, sinking Japanese escort vessel Wakamiya and army transport Nekka Maru, East China Sea, 28œ38'N, 122œ00'E, and damaging fleet tankers Ichiyo Maru and Goyo Maru. * 24 November, Wed. In successive separate attacks, USAAF B-24s and Navy PBYs damage Japanese light cruiser Yubari, 04œ20'S, 150œ00'E, and 03œ41'S, 150œ15'E, respectively, as she attempts to transport soldiers and supplies to Garove. Damage to the ship prompts cancellation of her mission. USAAF B-25s damage Japanese lighthouse tender Heicho Maru, Amoy, China. Atlantic Mediterranean Caribbean * 25 November, Thu. Destroyer Radford (DD-446) sinks Japanese submarine I-19 north of Gilberts, 03œ10'N, 171œ55'E. Submarine Albacore (SS-218) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kenzan Maru, 00œ46'N, 144œ50'E. Submarine Searaven (SS-196) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Toa Maru north of Ponape, 08œ22'N, 158œ00'W. USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese installations at Taroa, damaging guardboat Takeura Maru. Japanese submarine RO 100 is sunk by mine two miles west of Omai Island, outside north channel to Buin. Atlantic PB4Y (VB 107) sinks the Indian Ocean-bound German submarine U-849, South Atlantic, 06œ30'S, 05œ40'W. Destroyer escort Harveson (DE-316) is damaged when she is accidentally rammed by Canadian fishing vessel O.K. Service off Bermuda, British West Indies. * 26 November, Fri. First Cairo (SEXTANT) Conference between President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek ends. PV-1 (VP 138) attacks what is most likely Japanese submarine I-177, which is engaged in rescuing survivors of the Battle of Cape St. George (see 25 November). I-177 rescues some 200 Japanese sailors in the aftermath of the battle. USAAF B-25s sink Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Genchi Maru off Canton, China, 21œ33'N, 112œ00'E. Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) sinks Japanese army tanker Ogurasan Maru and merchant cargo ship Tainan Maru, 13œ00'N, 109œ30'E. Submarine Raton (SS-270) damages Japanese ammunition ship Onoe Maru, 00œ40'N, 148œ20'E; submarine chaser Ch 40 counterattacks but is damaged by the explosion of her own depth charges. Submarine Ray (SS-271) carries out unsuccessful attacks on Japanese cargo vessel Sumiyoshi Maru, 02œ32'N, 148œ56'E, but sinks Japanese transport Nikkai Maru southwest of Truk, 04œ12'N, 148œ20'E. Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Shini Maru, and damages army cargo ship Taiyu Maru, 07œ08'N, 134œ48'E. Atlantic * 27 November, Sat. Submarine Seahorse (SS-304) sinks Japanese fleet tanker San Ramon Maru in East China Sea, 33œ36'N, 128œ57'E. USAAF B-24s sink Japanese army hospital ship Buenos Aires Maru in Steffen Strait, 02œ40'S, 149œ20'E. USAAF B-25s attack Japanese convoy, sinking transport Hakone Maru and damaging torpedo boat Tomodzuru, 25œ20'N, 120œ00'E. * 28 November, Sun. Teheran (EUREKA) Conference begins in Teheran, Iran, between President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and Premier Stalin. Pacific Submarines Pargo (SS-264) and Snook (SS-279) attack Japanese transport convoy escorted by destroyer Oite and auxiliary submarine chaser Choan Maru northwest of the Marianas (see 29 November 1943). Snook sinks Yamafuku Maru, 18œ21'N, 140œ08'E. Submarines Raton (SS-270) sinks Japanese army cargo ships Hokko Maru and Yuri Maru, 01œ40'N, 141œ25'E. * 29 November, Mon. TG 74.2 (Captain Frank R. Walker), two U.S. destroyers and two Australian (HMAS Arunta and HMAS Warramunga), shell Japanese positions on Gasmata. Destroyer Perkins (DD-377) is sunk in collision with Australian troop ship Duntroon off eastern New Guinea, 09œ39'S, 150œ04'E. Submarine Bonefish (SS-223) sinks Surabaya-bound Japanese army cargo ship Suez Maru off Kangean Island, north of Bali, 06œ57'S, 115œ42'E. Unbeknown to the submariners, Suez Maru has on board 546 British POWs. Minesweeper W.12 rescues survivors. Submarine Paddle (SS-263) attacks Japanese fleet tanker Nippon Maru 19 miles off Brown Island, 11œ30'N, 162œ15'E. Submarines Pargo (SS-264) and Snook (SS-279) continue attacks against Japanese transport convoy northwest of the Marianas; Pargo torpedoes and sinks Manju Maru, 18œ36'N, 140œ04'E; Snook torpedoes and sinks Shiganoura Maru, 18œ38'N, 139œ35'E. Destroyer Oite and auxiliary submarine chaser Choan Maru counterattack to no avail. Submarine Snapper (SS-185) sinks Japanese transport Kenryu Maru off Hachijo Jima, 33œ16'N, 139œ35'E. Atlantic * 30 November, Tue. Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese army transport Columbia Maru, 01œ54'N, 143œ26'E; and escapes counterattacks by escorting submarine chaser Ch 24. Submarine Skate (SS-305) attacks Japanese carrier Zuiho, 09œ10'N, 151œ30'E, which, along with carrier Un'yo and escort carrier Chuyo and escort vessels is proceeding back to Japan from Truk. Although Skate claims one damaging hit, none of her four torpedoes strikes home (see 4 December 1943). PBY sinks Palau-bound Japanese cargo ship Himalaya Maru six nautical miles south of New Hanover. Atlantic December* 1 December, Wed. Naval Air Ferry Command is established. Pacific Submarine Pargo (SS-264) sinks Japanese transport Shoko Maru north of Ulithi, 14œ24'N, 140œ40'E. Submarine Peto (SS-265) sinks Truk-bound Japanese transport Konei Maru, 01œ16'N, 146œ45'E, and escapes countermeasures by torpedo boat Otori. USAAF B-25s bomb Taikoo dockyard, Hong Kong, damaging Japanese transport Teiren Maru (ex-Vichy French Gouverneur General A. Varenne). Subsequently, the ship is written off as a total loss. USAAF B-24s pound Japanese installations at Wewak; among the heavy damage inflicted, small cargo vessel No.16 Yoshitomo Maru is sunk. * 2 December, Thu. Teheran (EUREKA) Conference ends. Pacific USAAF B-24 damages Japanese cargo ship Shinyu Maru off New Hanover. RAAF Beaufighters damage Japanese paddle steamer Assam in Irrawaddy River (see 3 December 1943). Japanese cargo vessel Koki Maru is sunk by mine, laid by USAAF B-24 on 16 November, off Macao. Mediterranean Adriatic * 3 December, Fri. Second Cairo Conference begins, attended by President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. Pacific Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) sinks Palau-bound Japanese fleet tanker Azuma Maru northwest of Sonserol, 06œ34'N, 131œ35'E. USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese fishing boats off Garove, sinking No.13 Sansei Maru. USAAF B-25s sink Japanese paddle steamer Assam, immobilized the day before by RAAF Beaufighters in Irrawaddy River. Adriatic Atlantic Naval Air Facility, Sao Luiz, Brazil is established. * 4 December, Sat. During Japanese retaliatory air strikes, three U.S. ships suffer damage: carrier Lexington (CV-16) by aerial torpedo, 13œ30'N, 171œ25'E; light cruiser Mobile (CL-63) when one of her 5-inch mounts accidentally fires into one of her own 40-millimeter mounts, 12œ47'N, 170œ57'E; and destroyer Taylor (DD-468) by friendly fire from light cruiser Oakland (CL-95), 10œ00'N, 170œ00'E. Submarine Apogon (SS-308) sinks Japanese gunboat Daido Maru northeast of Ponape, 08œ22'N, 159œ02'E. Submarine Gunnel (SS-253) sinks Japanese transport Hiyoshi Maru northeast of Haha Jima, 29œ436'N, 145œ54'E, and eludes counterattacks by destroyer Inazuma. Submarine Sailfish (SS-192) torpedoes and sinks Yokosuka-bound Japanese escort carrier Chuyo southeast of Honshu, 32œ27'N, 143œ49'E. Unbeknown to Sailfish, Chuyo is carrying survivors from sistership Sculpin (SS-191). Japanese seaplane carrier Sanuki Maru is damaged by mine, Pomelaa, as she sails for Singapore. * 5 December, Sun. Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) sinks Japanese cargo ship Himeno Maru (ex-U.S. Dos Hermanos) off Camiquin Island, 09œ09'N, 124œ29'E. Indian Ocean Atlantic * 6 December, Mon. Europe Atlantic * 7 December, Tues. Second Cairo Conference ends. Bay of Bengal Pacific Submarine Sailfish (SS-192) is attacked by Japanese plane off Kyushu, Japan, 31œ21'N, 134œ10'E, but although damaged by aerial bomb, remains on patrol. * 8 December, Wed. Submarine Sawfish (SS-276) sinks Japanese transport Sansei Maru southwest of Chichi Jima, 25œ19'N, 141œ44'E. TBFs sink Rabaul-bound Japanese fishing boats No. 3 Yusho Maru, No.7 Fukuei Maru, Takatori Maru, and No.1 Hoko Maru, 00œ20'N, 152œ10'E. * 9 December, Thu. Following the Teheran and Cairo conferences, President Roosevelt reembarks in battleship Iowa (BB-61) at Dakar for the return voyage to the United States. * 10 December, Fri. * 11 December, Sat. Atlantic * 12 December, Sun. Atlantic * 13 December, Mon. Pacific Submarine Pompon (SS-267) lays mines off Poulo Condore, southwest of French Indochina. Submarine Puffer (SS-268) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese transport Teiko Maru (ex-Vichy French steamship D'Artagnan), 14œ29'N, 119œ59'E. Submarine Sailfish (SS-192) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Totai Maru, 30œ15'N, 132œ30'E. PBY sinks Japanese cargo vessel Tokiwa Maru, 03œ30'S, 151œ30'E. Atlantic Destroyer Osmond Ingram (DD-255) is damaged by gunfire of German submarine U-172, 660 miles west-southwest of the Canary Islands, 26œ19'N, 29œ58'W, but takes part in sinking U-172, along with aircraft (VC 19) from escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9) and destroyers George E. Badger (AVD-3), Dupont (DD-152), and Clemson (DD-186). USAAF aircraft bomb Kiel, Germany, sinking torpedo boat T 15 and minesweeper R 306, among other shipping. Mediterranean * 14 December, Tue. Submarine Herring (SS-233) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Hakozaki Maru, 33œ01'N, 124œ01'E. Atlantic * 15 December, Wed. TF 76 (Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey) lands Army troops (112th U.S. Cavalry Regiment) on Arawe Peninsula, New Britain, in Operation DIRECTOR. Destroyer escort Harveson (DE-316) is damaged in collision with U.S. merchantman William T. Barry, 36œ47'N, 74œ33'W. USAAF aircraft sink Japanese cargo ship Senko Maru in Gulf of Tonkin, 21œ05'N, 108œ30'E. RAAF Beaufighters sink Japanese army cargo ship Wakatsu Maru; and Dutch B-25s sink cargo ship Genmei Maru off Timor. * 16 December, Thu. Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Ginyo Maru southwest of the Ryukyus, 22œ18'N, 119œ52'E. USAAF B-24 sinks small Japanese cargo vessel No.6 Heiei Maru 150 miles northeast of Wewak. Mediterranean Atlantic U.S. tanker McDowell, en route from New York to Aruba, N.W.I., is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-516at 13œ08'N, 70œ02'W. Later that day, U.S. tanker Fairfax rescues 63 survivors; motor minesweeper YMS-56 picks up eight. Two of the 45-man merchant complement drown in the abandonment; a third dies subsequently of injuries. There are no casualties to the 28-man Armed Guard. * 17 December, Fri. * 18 December, Sat. Submarine Cabrilla (SS-288) lays mines off Saracen Bay, Cambodia, French Indochina. Submarine Grayback (SS-208) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Gyokurei Maru east-northeast of Naha, Okinawa, 26œ30'N, 128œ19'E, and escapes counterattacks by destroyer Numakaze. * 19 December, Sun. USAAF B-24 and USN PBYs sink Japanese cargo ship Kaito Maru southwest of Kavieng, 03œ17'S, 151œ18'E. USN PBY damages Japanese merchant cargo vessel Shoei Maru, Kwajalein; Shoei Maru sinks the next day. 20 December, Mon. Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese transport Tsuneshima Maru, East China Sea, 01œ26'N, 148œ36'E, and although damaged by depth charges dropped by escorting torpedo boat Otori, remains on patrol. Submarine Puffer (SS-268) sinks Japanese destroyer Fuyo 60 miles west of Manila, 14œ45'N, 119œ54'E, but the submarine's attack on cargo ship Gozan Maru is not successful. PBYs sink Japanese transport Alaska Maru 30 miles north of northwestern Gazelle Peninsula, 03œ43'S, 151œ30'E. Atlantic Coast Guard cutter Bodega (WYP-342) is damaged when she runs aground off Margarita Point, Canal Zone. Aircraft (VC 19) from escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9) sink Indian Ocean-bound German submarine U-850, 530 miles southwest of Fayal, Azores, 32œ54'N, 37œ01'W. * 21 December, Tue. Coastal transport APc-2 is damaged by dive bomber off New Britain, 06œ12'S, 149œ03'E. Submarine Grayback (SS-208) sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayer Kashiwa Maru and merchant passenger/cargo ship Konan Maru south-southwest of Kagoshima, Japan, 30œ26'N, 129œ58'E. Submarine Sailfish (SS-192) sinks Japanese transport Uyo Maru off Miyazaki, 32œ38'N, 132œ04'E. Submarine Skate (SS-305) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Terukawa Maru northwest of Truk, Carolines, 09œ45'N, 151œ56'E. USAAF B-25s sink small Japanese cargo vessel Matsushima Maru at Wewak. Atlantic * 22 December, Wed. Navy F6Fs and SBDs and USAAF P-39s raid Mili Atoll, Marshalls, sinking Japanese transport Nankai Maru, 06œ05'N, 171œ43'E. USAAF aircraft sink Japanese merchant cargo vessel Ginrei Maru, 20œ12'N, 113œ40'E. * 23 December, Thu. Atlantic German submarine U-471 unsuccessfully attacks battleship Arkansas (BB-33) screening convoy TU 5 in the North Atlantic, 300 miles west of Rockall Bank. * 24 December, Fri. Allied aircraft sinks Japanese auxiliary minelayer Koa Maru, Marcus Bay, New Britain. Destroyer escort Griswold (DE-7) sinks Japanese submarine I-39 off Koli Point, Guadalcanal, 09œ23'S, 160œ09'E. Submarine Gurnard (SS-254) sinks Japanese transport Seizan Maru 27 nautical miles east of Miki cape, 33œ57'N, 136œ19'E, and auxiliary minesweeper Naruo Maru, 34œ17'N, 136œ55'E. Submarine Raton (SS-270) torpedoes Japanese transport Heiwa Maru in Kaoe Bay, Halmahera, 02œ57'N, 127œ32'E; Heiwa Maru is intentionally run aground in shallow water to prevent her sinking. USAAF B-24 aircraft damage Japanese cargo ship Kensho Maru, Kwajalein. Atlantic Escort carrier Card (CVE-11)'s screen continues to battle concentration of U-boats. Destroyer Schenck (DD-159) sinks German submarine U-645, North Atlantic, 45œ20'N, 21œ40'W; but Leary (DD-158) is torpedoed and sunk by U-275 and U-382, 585 miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre, Spain, 45œ00'N, 22œ00'W, 25 December, Sat. Submarine Skate (SS-305) torpedoes Japanese battleship Yamato northeast of Truk, Carolines, 10œ05'N, 150œ32'E. USAAF B-25s damage Japanese Patrol Boat No.14 50 kilometers east of Hong Kong. Atlantic * 26 December, Sun. Caribbean * 27 December, Mon. Coastal transport APc-15 is damaged by dive bomber, New Britain, 06œ12'S, 149œ03'E. Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Kyuei Maru, 21œ25'N, 118œ05'E. Submarine Gurnard (SS-254) damages Japanese transport (ex-armed merchant cruiser) Gokoku Maru, 34œ23'N, 138œ24'E. Submarine Ray (SS-271) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Kyoko Maru (ex-Dutch Semiramis) west of the Celebes, 05œ00'S, 121œ22'E. Submarine Tautog (SS-199) damages Japanese seaplane carrier Kimikawa Maru off Shionomisaki, 33œ25'N, 135œ33'E. Indian Ocean * 28 December, Tue. Submarine Muskallunge (SS-262) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese convoy at 08œ50'N, 147œ20'E. Navy PV-1 attacks Japanese net tender Katsura Maru off Kwajalein. USAAF B-25s and P-40s sink Japanese merchant cargo vessels Heizan Maru, Unyo Maru and Koka Maru in Yangtze River, 30œ40'N, 117œ30'E. Indian Ocean Indian Navy minesweeper RINS Rajputana rescues the survivors of U.S. freighter Jose Navarro, torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-178 the day before, and transports them to Cochin. Atlantic * 29 December, Wed. USAAF B-24 attacks Truk-bound Japanese cargo ship Katori Maru, 06œ12'N, 167œ45'E. USAAF aircraft sink Japanese merchant cargo ship Kakuzan Maru and transport Daitei Maru in the middle Yangtze River. * 30 December, Thu. U.S. aircraft sink Japanese guardboat Ukui Maru off Rabaul. * 31 December, Fri. Submarine Greenling (SS-213) sinks Japanese transport Shoho Maru in Eastern Carolines, 05œ40'N, 160œ20'E, and evades counterattacks by submarine chaser Ch 30. Submarine Herring (SS-233) attacks Japanese convoy, 31œ46'N, 138œ22'E (see 1 January 1944). Atlantic
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