World War II Diary: 75 Years Ago, Today Thursday, November 11, 1943

World War II Diary: 75 Years Ago, Today

Thursday, November 11, 1943

The Red Army crossed the Teterev River and captured the northern Ukrainian city of Radomyshl in their advance towards Zhitomir.

German counterattacks threatened Russian forces at Fastov.

Soviet troops attacked towards Rechitsa, west of Gomel.

In Italy, British forces occupied Casalanguida, Italy, in their advance up the Sangro River.

In the U.S. Fifth Army’s VI Corps area, the 2d Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, to which the 1st Ranger Battalion is attached, clears the saddle of Mt. St. Croce.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force and RAF light bombers and fighter-bombers, in support of the U.S. Fifth and British Eighth Armies, hit troop and gun concentrations and communications in the Rocca and Palena areas; other Northwest African Tactical Air Force aircraft bomb the town of Rocca, Bussi sul Tirino explosive works near Popoli, and docks at Civitavecchia, and strafe strongpoints at Roccaraso and Atessa; and fighters hit motor transport in the coastal area between the Sangro and Pescara Rivers.

During the night of 11/12 November, 41 RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group attack the marshalling yard at Prato and another two drop leaflets over Leghorn.

In the Aegean Sea off the Greek island of Kos in the Dodecanese Islands, escort destroyer HMS Rockwood (L 39) is hit by an Hs.293 glider bomb from a Do 217 following an attack on Kalymnos Island, and has to be towed to Alexandria where she arrives on 19th November, but is not repaired.

Fifty German aircraft sink three transports and one tanker of an Allied convoy east of Oran.

Theresienstadt, Czechoslovakia: 47,000 Jews are forced to stand outside in the cold and rain from 4am to 12 noon. Theresienstadt Concentration Camp commandant Anton Burger ordered the prisoners of the camp to stand at attention outdoors in freezing weather; about 300 prisoners died from hypothermia.

Arthur Liebehenschel became the new commandant of Auschwitz Concentration Camp as his predecessor, Höss, was promoted to become the chief inspector of concentration camps. A report dated on this date noted that the total number of prisoners in Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau Concentration Camps and all subcamps was 54,673 men and 33,179 women, for the total of 87,852 prisoners.

Three days after the French Mandate of Lebanon was repealed by the legislators and President, agents of the French colonial Sûreté force raided homes in the early morning hours and arrested President El Khoury, Prime Minister Riad Al Solh, and all but two members of the Cabinet (including future President Camille Chamoun). Later in the day, High Commissioner Helleu announced on the radio that he had suspended the Lebanese constitution, dissolved the Chamber of Deputies, and had appointed Émile Eddé as the new President.

Beirut: All day Beirut’s Moslem population has been rioting, following the arrest by Free French Senegalese troops of Lebanon’s president (Bechara Khoury), prime minister (Riad Solh) and the seven other ministers of the cabinet. French marines and Senegalese troops break brutally into their houses and one minister who resisted is brutally beaten. The arrests and suspension of the constitution follow the effective declaration of independence three days ago when Lebanon’s parliament adopted Arabic as the sole official language, took control of foreign policy, and deleted from the constitution all references to “the prerogatives and powers of the mandatory state.”

This was in defiance of a request to the contrary by M. Hellau. Helleu has also dissolved the Parliament and appointed Emile Edd as a President of the Republic. Those arrested are exiled to the Castle of Rashayya located about 65 kilometers (40 miles) east of Sidon. The Lebanese people react swiftly to the French actions. Strikes and demonstrations are organized throughout Lebanon and riots erupt in some places. Religious and political leaders as well as representatives of doctors, lawyers, engineers and journalists visit the British and U.S. Legations demanding intervention

The Gaullists had offered Syria and Lebanon independence when the Anglo-Free French army invaded the French-mandated territories in 1941. “I come to you to put an end to the mandatory regime and to proclaim you free and independent,” General Georges Catroux promised. But the Gaullist administration in Syria and Lebanon, fearing a reaction against it in metropolitan France and British ambitions in the Middle East resisted Anglo-US pressure to fulfil the promise. Catroux was replaced as delegate-general with a colonial hard-liner, Jean Helleu. Today’s events will bring even more Anglo-US pressure to bear on the French.

As a result of diplomatic pressure from Britain, supported by the U.S. and the Arab States, France is forced to reverse its policy and release the internees. The latter are reinstated in their positions. Their release symbolizes the beginning of the end of French rule in Lebanon. This beginning is followed by lengthy negotiations between the Lebanese government and the French. The end comes in 1946 when the French leave the area and Lebanon is said to have gained its political, administrative and military independence.

Grenoble: Commemoration of the Armistice banned by Marshal Petain, was turned into a patriotic demonstration by the Resistance here today. Police arrested 450 people who will be deported to Germany.

Grenoble is a major center for the French Resistance, and the Gestapo is using every possible means to crush the growing opposition to the Nazi-dominated Vichy government. On the night of 13 November, a commando of the Groupes Francs blew up the Wehrmacht’s artillery depot. In retaliation, the Gestapo then assassinated all the leaders of the United Resistance Front.

One hundred fifty-seven USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauders bomb military installations and targets of opportunity in the Cherbourg area, mainly at Martinvast.

Thirty-one USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators attack the Annecy ball bearing plant at Annency with the loss of one aircraft.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force’s VIII Bomber Command flies Mission 127: Two areas in Germany are targeted: 59 B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb the marshalling yard at Munster with the loss of four aircraft and one hit the industrial area of Rees.

During the night of 11/12 November, 124 Halifaxes and ten Lancasters of RAF Bomber Command make another attack on the French transport system with the loss of four Halifaxes. One hundred thirty-one attack the marshalling yard at Cannes; the night is clear and the Pathfinders mark the target from 5,000 feet (1 524 meters) but the railway yards are not hit at all and the railway workshops suffer only blast damage. Six other aircraft hit a railroad bridge at Agay and ten Lancasters each dropped one 12,000-pound (5 443 kilogram) bomb on the railway viaduct at Antheor but no hits are recorded. Other bombers lay mines off Bay of Biscay ports: nine lay mines off La Pallice; eight off Gironde; six off Brest; five off St. Nazaire; and four off Lorient; one aircraft is lost. Six other aircraft drop leaflets over Northern France.

During the night of 11/12 November, RAF Bomber Command dispatches Mosquitos to bomb five targets: ten bomb the Rheinmetall armaments factory at Dusseldorf; eight hit Berlin; six attack Hannover; three hit the Vereinigte Stahl armaments factory at Bochum; and one bombs Aachen

U.S. Navy Task Force 38, under command of Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman, launched a aircraft carrier airstrike on Rabaul, New Britain, Papua New Guinea, from the eastern side of the Solomon Islands. U.S. Navy Task Group 50.3, under command of Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery, launched an attack from the western side of the Solomon Islands. TBF Avengers, SBD Dauntlesses, and F6F Hellcats from three carriers and two small carriers attacked Japanese shipping, according priorities to cruisers, destroyers, tankers, and merchant shipping. Poor weather forced TF 38 and U.S. Navy Task Group 50.3 planes to attack only ships under way off Simpson Harbor. Despite the Japanese managing to find cover in rain squalls, the destroyer HIJMS Suzunami was sunk. The cruisers HIJMS Yubari, and HIJMS Agano and the destroyers HIJMS Naganami, HIJMS Urakaze, and HIJMS Wakatsuki were damaged. USAAF B-24 Liberators followed up the carrier strikes but achieved no hits. The Japanese retaliatory strike against TG 50.3 was unsuccessful.

In the Solomon Islands, the US 21st Marines continued to advance up the Mission Trail as the US force continued to expand the beachhead to secure the airfield site on Bougainville Island.

Additional elements of the 21st Marine Regiment arrive. Marines now hold the junction of the Mission and Numa Numa Trails, having killed an estimated 550 Japanese during their drive up Mission Trail. In order to secure airfield site, Gen Geiger orders 3d Marine Division to drive east and the Army 37th Infantry Division west.

A few USAAF Thirteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells and USN F4U Corsairs strafe barges and shore installations in the Matchin Bay located south of Buka Island. Buka Island is located north of Bougainville Island.

In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force P-39 Airacobras strafe Bogadjim and B-25 Mitchells hit the Madang area.

In New Guinea, Japanese aircraft bombed Nanomea, hitting the airfield and destroying or damaging several airplanes, including one B-24.

Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek replies to U.S. Lieutenant General Joseph Stilwell’s memo of 5 November at a conference of Chinese National Military Council at Chungking. While agreeing to a British and Chinese attack on Burma, he wants to hold the Chinese back until the British are attacking Kalewa. Replacements and supplies for the Y-Force are to be provided.

Six USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb the Burma Road about 375 miles (604 kilometers) west of Tungling, producing a landslide and badly damaging the road; six P-40s south of Yoyang knock out a gun emplacement and hit a radio station, barracks, and hostels in the area; eight more P-40s, on armed reconnaissance in the Li-Chou-Ching-Shih area, strafe a pontoon bridge and troops, and sink a river steamer, a motorboat, and several small supply boats.

In Burma, Japanese troops captured Haka, Burma.

The U.S. Navy submarine USS Sargo (SS-188), commanded by Lieutenant Commander Philip W. Garnett, torpedoed and sank the 3,551-ton Japanese troop transport Kosei Maru east of the Nansei Shoto.

The U.S. Navy submarine USS Capelin (SS-289), commanded by Commander Elliot E. Marshall, torpedoed and sank the 3,127-ton Japanese army cargo ship Kunitama Maru northwest of Ambon Island, Netherlands East Indies.

The U.S. Navy submarine USS Drum (SS-228), commanded by Lieutenant Commander Delbert F. Williamson, engaged a Japanese Truk-to-Rabaul convoy and unsuccessfully attacked the submarine depot ship Hie Maru. Later that day, a USAAF B-24 bombed the same convoy and damaged the Hie Maru. Despite these attacks, the enemy ships reach Rabaul the following day.

The U.S. freighter Cape San Juan, bound for Townsville, Australia, was torpedoed by the submarine HIJMS I-21 south of Fiji. 16 of the 1,348 embarked troop passengers were killed in the initial explosion and a further 114 drowned during the abandonment. The Liberty ship Edwin T. Meredith began picking up survivors and was joined later by Allied planes, the destroyer USS McCalla (DD-488), the destroyer escort USS Dempsey (DE-26) and the motor minesweeper USS YMS-241. The Edwin T. Meredith attempted to scuttle the Cape San Juan with gunfire but the ship would remain afloat for another two days. The submarine chaser USS SC-1048 came across the ship the next day and sent a boarding party that subsequently buried at sea the six bodies that they found on board.

The U.S. Congress passes a bill lowering the draft (conscription) age to 18 and raising the upper limit to age 37.

The motion picture “Sahara”, starring Humphrey Bogart as an American tank commander during the Western Desert Campaign, is released. Directed by Zoltan Korda, this war drama of Allied troops, and their M3 tank, in North Africa also stars Bruce Bennett, J. Carrol Naish, Lloyd Bridges and Dan Duryea.

In major league baseball, the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) for both leagues are named: New York Yankee’s pitcher Spud Chandler (20-4 on the season) wins it in the American League and St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Stan Musial (.357 on the season) in the National League.

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UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II CHRONOLOGY, 1941–1945:

11 November

BOUGAINVILLE: Additional elements of 21st Marines arrive. Marines now hold junction of Mission and Numa Numa Trails, having killed an estimated 550 Japanese during drive up Mission Trail. In order to secure airfield site, General Geiger orders 3rd Mar Division to drive east and 37th Division, west.

NEW BRITAIN: Powerful air offensive against Rabaul continues. Carrier planes of TF 38 and others of Admiral Montgomery’s force, as well as landbased RAAF and Fifth Air Force planes, attack with good effect. Japanese planes locate Admiral Montgomery’s group and attack it vigorously but ineffectively.

CBI: Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek replies to General Stilwell’s memo of 5 November at conference of Chinese National Military Council at Chungking. While agreeing to British and Chinese attack on Burma, he wants to hold Chinese back until British are attacking Kalewa. Replacements and supplies for Y-Force are to be provided.

11 Army Group: In British Fourteenth Army’s 4 Corps area, Japanese seize Haka.

ITALY: 15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s VI Corps area, 45th Division commits 157th Infantry between 180th and 179th for drive on Acquafondata.

2nd Battalion, 509th Para Infantry, to which 1st Ranger Battalion is attached, clears saddle of M. south. Croce.

USSR: Russians improve positions west of Kiev, seizing foothold across Teterev R, but are under pressure in Fastov area, SW of Kiev, where Germans are taking the initiative. Soviet Center Front forces attack northward toward Rechitsa, west of Gomel.

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THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945:

THURSDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 1943

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): Japanese aircraft bomb Nanumea Island in the Ellice Islands, hitting the airfield and destroying or damaging several airplanes, including 1 B-24. The 26th and 98th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfer from Wheeler Field and Mokuleia, Territory of Hawaii respectively to Nukufetau Island in the Ellice Islands with B-24s. They will fly their first combat mission on 14 Nov. The 431st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii to Funafuti Atoll in the Ellice Islands. They will fly their first mission on 13 Nov.

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 6 B-24s bomb the Burma Road about 375 miles (600 km) W of Tungling, producing a landslide and badly damaging the road; 6 P-40s S of Yoyang knock out a gun emplacement and hit a radio station, barracks, and hostels in the area; 8 more P-40s, on armed reconnaissance in the Li-Chou-Ching-Shih area, strafe a pontoon bridge and troops, and sink a river steamer, a motorboat, and several small supply boats.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

ANTISUBMARINE OPERATIONS (First Air Force): The 479th Antisubmarine Group and its 4th, 6th, 19th and 22d Antisubmarine Squadrons (Heavy) are disbanded at Podington, England.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 127: Two areas in Germany are targetted. 1. 57 of 167 B-17s hit the marshalling yard at Munster at 1408 hours; 1 B-17 hits Cleve; the rest abort the mission because of bad weather that hinders assembly; they claim 10-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 B-17s are lost and 27 damaged; casualties are 4 WIA and 40 MIA. 2. 180 B-17s, including 5 PFF aircraft, dispatched to Wesel, abort the mission over the English Channel due to assembly difficulties and the presence of heavy frontal cloud; 1 B-17 is damaged; no casualties. The two missions above are escorted to 59 P-38s and 342 P-47s; the P-47s claim 8-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-47s are lost and 1 is damaged; casualties are 2 MIA. VIII Bomber Command Mission 128: 1 PFF B-17 is dispatched to Emmerich, Germany but hits Rees at 2057 hours in an Oboe test. VIII Bomber Command Mission 129: 1 PFF B-17 hits Emmerich at 2115 in an Oboe test. The 406th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 1st Bombardment Division, transfers to Alconbury, England with B-24s. The squadron will begin flying CARPETBAGGER missions on 5 Jan 44.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): 157 B-26s bomb military installations and targets of opportunity in the Cherbourg, France area, mainly at Martinvast.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In France, 28 B-24s attack the Annecy ball bearing plant and the viaduct at Antheor. HQ 47th Bombardment Wing (Medium) transfers from Hammamet, Tunisia to Manduria, Italy.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, US and RAF light bombers and fighter-bombers, in support of the US Fifth and British Eighth Armies, hit troop and gun concentrations and communications in the Rocca and Palena areas; other NATAF aircraft bomb the town of Rocca, Bussi sul Tirino explosive works near Popoli, and docks at Civitavecchia, and strafe strongpoints at Roccaraso and Atessa; fighters hit motor transport in the coastal area between the Sangro and Pescara Rivers. The 414th Night Fighter Squadron, 63d Fighter Wing, transfers from Rerhaia, Algeria to Elmas, Sardinia with Beaufighters.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon Islands, a few B-25s and USN F4Us strafe barges and shore installations in Matchin Bay on Bougainville Island. B-24s join Fifth Air Force, USN carrier aircraft, and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) airplanes in attack on shipping in Rabaul harbor on New Britain Island; this is the Thirteenths first strike on Rabaul. Escorting fighters claim 17 Japanese fighters shot down while the bombers claim 5.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-24s bomb Lakunai airfield on New Britain Island. In New Guinea, P-39s strafe Bogadjim and B-25s hit the Madang area.

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THE BOMBER COMMAND WAR DIARIES:

RAF Bomber Command, Night of 11/12 November 1943

CANNES

124 Halifaxes and 10 Lancasters of 4, 6 and 8 Groups to bomb the marshalling yards and railway installations on the main coastal line to Italy. 4 Halifaxes lost.

The night was clear and the Pathfinders marked the target from 5,000 ft but the railway yards were not hit at all and the railway workshops suffered only blast damage. A report from Cannes states that the local people were at first thrilled to see the ‘firework display’ of the Pathfinders and could even see the R.A.F. aircraft in the moonlight, but the bombing, ‘like a typhoon’, mainly fell in the working-class suburb of La Bocca, where 39 people were killed, and in the village of d’Agay, where the casualties were not recorded. A local newspaper, under German control, writes of the resentment of the local French people at the inaccurate bombing, particularly as the British had been such popular pre-war visitors to Cannes. The British were, writes the newspaper, ‘pure savages’ and the raid was ‘nothing but murder for British glory… too much like a sport’.

Anthéor Viaduct

617 Squadron resumed operations after its period of high-level training with the new ‘Stabilizing Automatic Bomb Sight’. 10 Lancasters each dropped one 12,000-lb bomb but could not hit the viaduct. No aircraft lost.

Minor Operations: 29 Mosquitoes to Berlin, Hannover and the Ruhr, 45 aircraft minelaying from Brest to the Frisian Islands, 6 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Halifax and 1 Wellington lost from the minelaying force.

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THE OFFICIAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE U.S. NAVY IN WORLD WAR II:

11 November, Thu.

Pacific
Aircraft from TF 38 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) and TG 50.3 (Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery), which include three carriers and two small carriers, attack Japanese ships at Rabaul, sinking destroyer Suzunami and damaging light cruisers Yubari and Agano, and destroyers Naganami, Urakaze, and Wakatsuki.

Submarine Capelin (SS-289) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kunitama Maru northwest of Ambon, 03°08’S, 127°30’E.

Submarine Drum (SS-228) engages Japanese Truk-to-Rabaul convoy, unsuccessfully attacking submarine depot ship Hie Maru, 00°19’N, 149°40’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, 27°40’N, 130°24’E.

U.S. freighter Cape San Juan, bound for Townsville, Australia, is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-21 at 28°08’S, 178°06’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.

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WORLD WAR 2 AT SEA, BRITISH AND OTHER NAVIES DAY-BY-DAY:

11 NOVEMBER 1943

U.S. Navy destroyer USS Capps (DD-550) entered the Scapa Flow dock to clear a wire from her propellers after she fouled Switha Gate.

Destroyers HMS Savage, HMS Musketeer and HMS Matchless arrived at Scapa Flow from Seidisfjord, Iceland.

Force 3, with destroyers HMS Milne (D.3), HMS Mahratta, HMS Scorpion, HMS Scourge, and HMS Saumarez arrived at Scapa Flow from Seidisfjord, Iceland.

U-538, U-391, U-542, U-843, U-714, U-424, U-764, U-280, U-969, U-212, U-967, U-575, U-709, U-282, U-963, U-552, U-586, U-648 and U-343 formed Wolfpack EISENBART east of Newfoundland to attack convoy HX.264.

Convoy HX.264 and Escort Group EG.C2 prepared for U-boat attacks east of Newfoundland.

Minesweeper HMS Dunbar arrived at Harwich, England, from Scapa Flow to join the Nore Command.

Battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth transferred from Portland, England, to Plymouth, England, for docking and to give the crew shore leave.

Destroyer HMS Oribi arrived at Plymouth, England, from Scapa Flow escorting battle cruiser HMS Renown.

Sixteen German Do217 aircraft of II/KG.100, twenty-three He111 aircraft of I/KG.26 and seventeen Ju88 aircraft of III/KG.26 attacked convoy KMS.31 northeast of Oran, Algeria in 35, 41N, 000, 40W.

The aircraft sank steamer Birchbank (5151grt), steamer Indian Prince (8587grt) and steamer Carlier (7217grt) with bombs and aerial torpedoes.

The aircraft heavily damaged French tanker Nivose (4763grt) with an aerial torpedo. She was later sunk in a collision before she could reach port.

The Germans lost seven aircraft in the attack.

Polish submarine ORP Sokol (Cdr Karnicki) sank Italian sailing vessel Argentina (61grt) with gunfire off Amorgos, Greece. The ship carried stores for German troops. (Some sources claim Argentina was 150grt.)

Two personnel ships arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, from convoy KMF.25A, and three arrived at Port Said, Egypt, escorted by destroyers HMS Tetcott, HMS Haydon, RHS Kanaris (Greek) and RHS Themistocles (Greek).

Convoy KMS.30 arrived with eight merchant ships for Alexandria, Egypt, and five merchant ships for Port Said, Egypt, escorted by frigate HMS Barle, plus corvettes HMS Bryony, HMS Bergamot and La Malouine (French).

The convoy arrived four days late, but included tank-landing ship HMS Thruster.

The 2nd Minesweeper Flotilla (less HHMS Arrow) was re-assigned to Tunisia to assist the 13th Minesweeper Flotilla.

Minesweepers HMS Aberdare and HMS Derby departed Alexandria, Egypt.

Submarine HMS Unruly arrived at Beirut, Lebanon, after an unsuccessful patrol in the Aegean Sea.

Minesweeper BYMS.186 arrived at Alexandria, Egypt.

The Royal Navy paid off Canal Hopper.33, Canal Hopper.42 and Canal Hopper.44 and returned them to the Suez Canal Company.

German aircraft of the V/KG.100 attacked destroyers HMS Petard, HMS Rockwood and ORP Krakowiak (Polish) with HS293 glider bombs in 36, 25N, 026, 52E.

An unexploded bomb hit HMS Rockwood in the gearing room. HMS Petard towed her to Losta Bay, where she remained until the flooded compartment could be pumped clear of water.

HMS Petard and ORP Krakowiak (Polish) withdrew to a position north of Rhodes.

Destroyers HMS Faulknor (D.8), HMS Beaufort and RHS Pindos (Greek) bombarded Kos Harbour with unobserved results.

The destroyers then withdrew to the Gulf of Doris, Turkey.

The broad pennant of Commodore W.G. Agnew, C.B., C.V.O., D.S.O., R.N. was transferred from light cruiser HMS Aurora to light cruiser HMS Dido at Alexandria, Egypt.

German bombing damaged minesweeper BYMS.72 at Leros, Greece. Two ratings were killed, one was missing and five were wounded.

The German 1st S-Boat Flotilla sank an unidentified British motor gunboat (72grt) in the Black Sea.

The Russian Azov Fleet (RAdm Cholostyakov) landed the Russian 386th Marine Infantry Battalion at Novorossiisk, Russia, and men of the Russian 18th Army soon joined that force.

Armed merchant cruiser HMS Chitral departed Bombay, India, for Aden. She was later recalled back to Bombay.

Indian sloop HMIS Jumna, Australian minesweeper HMAS Lismore, Indian naval trawler HMIS Netravati and minesweeper HMS Launceston departed Bombay, India, escorting convoy BM.74.

Escort carrier HMS Battler, plus destroyers HMAS Napier (Australian), HMS Rotherham and HMAS Nepal (Australian) departed Bombay, India, to rendezvous with convoy AB.20 at sea and escort it to Bombay.

Light cruiser HMS Kenya arrived at Bombay, India, from Colombo, Ceylon.

Cutters HMS Landguard and HMS Sennen, frigate HMS Tay and minesweeper HMAS Burnie departed Aden for Kilindini, Kenya, escorting convoy AKD.6.

Battleship HMS Ramillies, plus destroyers HMS Roebuck, HMS Relentless and HMS Quadrant departed Durban, South Africa, for Kilindini, Kenya.

Light cruiser HMS Danae departed Kilindini, Kenya, for Aden.

Corvette HMS Freesia departed Kilindini, Kenya, escorting one unidentified ship to rendezvous with antisubmarine whaler HMS Sondra at sea.

After the exchange, HMS Freesia proceeded to join convoy AKD.5 as additional escort to Durban, South Africa.

Naval trawler HMS Balta arrived at Addu Atoll escorting American Liberty ship John W. Mackay (7176grt).

Destroyer HMAS Quickmatch arrived at Colombo, Ceylon, from Aden.

HMAS Quickmatch departed Colombo with steamer Khedive Ismail (7290grt) to join convoy BM.54.

After the steamer joined the convoy, HMAS Quickmatch returned to Colombo.

Sloop HMS Shoreham, Australian minesweeper-corvette HMAS Bathurst and armed merchant cruiser HMS Rajputana departed Colombo, Ceylon, for Bombay, India, escorting convoy BM.54.

Dutch minelayer HNMS Willem Van Der Zaan arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon.

Indian escort vessel HMIS Patna departed Calcutta for Vizagapatam, India.

Imperial Japanese Army auxiliary transport Seattle Maru (6178grt) arrived at Singapore.

Imperial Japanese Navy seaplane tender/oiler Kamoi (17,000grt) arrived at Penang, Malaya, from Singapore.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-34 departed Singapore for Penang, Malaya.

The Germans planned to refuel I-34 in the Indian Ocean from the supply ship Bogota (1230grt) on 25 November and 4 December 1943 before the submarine entered the South Atlantic Ocean.

Convoy HI-17 arrived at Singapore with Japanese cargo ship Kachidoki Maru (10,533grt) (ex-American President Harrison (10,509grt)), Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Takasaki (18,300grt), Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Tarakan Maru (5136grt), Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Tatekawa Maru (10,090grt), Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Omurosan Maru (9204grt) and Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Asama Maru (16,975grt) escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy escort vessel Matsuwa and Imperial Japanese Navy second-class destroyer Fuyo.

Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Itsukushima Maru (10,018grt) transferred to Seletar and later transferred to the Western Anchorage.

Imperial Japanese Navy minelayer Hatsutaka undocked at Singapore.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Manko Maru (4471grt) departed Singapore for Saigon, French Indochina, in Convoy No. 635 part 1 with Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Teiritsu Maru (9877grt) (ex-French ship Leconte de Lisle (9877grt)), Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Rakuyo Maru (9418grt) and Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Eiho Maru (5068grt) without escort.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-7 departed Sabang, Sumatra.

Imperial Japanese Navy tanker Nichinan Maru (1945grt) (aka Nichisai Maru (1945grt)) arrived at Singapore.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-8 arrived at Penang, Malaya.

Imperial Japanese Navy oiler San Ramon Maru (7309grt) arrived at Mako, Pescadores.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-9 arrived at Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina.

Ch-9 departed on a convoy escort mission.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Shokei Maru (2557grt) arrived at Hong Kong.

An unidentified submarine unsuccessfully attacked Imperial Japanese Navy patrol boat PB-102 (ex-U.S. Navy USS Stewart (DD-224)) with two torpedoes. She evaded one torpedo at high speed and the second grazed her port propeller without exploding.

PB-102 arrived at Balikpapan, Borneo.

Post war analysis suggests that U.S. Navy submarine USS Dace (SS-247) (Lt Cdr Bladen D. Claggett) made the attack.

Imperial Japanese Navy escort vessel Etorofu departed Miri, Borneo, escorting the TOKU special convoy with Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Ogura Maru No. 2 (7311grt) and three unidentified merchant ships.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Kosei Maru (2170grt) and Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Kazuura Maru (6864grt) arrived at the Yangtze River mouth.

They departed later that day for Sasebo, Kyushu.

Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Kyuei Maru (10,171grt) (aka Kyei Maru (10,171grt)) departed Takao, Formosa, in Convoy No. 218 with Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary transport Manshu Maru (3053grt), Japanese cargo ship Hino Maru No. 1 (2671grt) and two unidentified ships escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy second-class destroyer Asakaze.

Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Daigen Maru No. 7 (1289grt) patrolled from the Taichow Islands to Heiniu Bay, China.

Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Shinko Maru No. 1 Go (934grt) transferred from Fuyao Island to Heiniu Bay, China.

Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Daigen Maru No. 7 (1289grt) provided her with fresh food and fresh water.

Shinko Maru No. 1 Go (934grt) then departed Heiniu Bay.

Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Nichirin Maru (1020grt) (ex-UK Mata Hari (1020grt)) arrived at Naze, Okinawa.

She transferred to Koniya, Amami-Oshima, later the same day.

Imperial Japanese Navy second-class destroyer Tsuga arrived at Takao, Formosa.

Imperial Japanese Navy escort vessel Wakamiya departed Takao, Formosa, escorting convoy HI-14 with Imperial Japanese Navy transport Kaga Maru (8417grt), Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Awa Maru (11,249grt), Imperial Japanese Navy transport Hokuroku Maru (5046grt), Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Aki Maru (11,409grt) and Imperial Japanese Army oiler Amatsu Maru (10,568grt).

Imperial Japanese Navy second-class destroyer Asagao arrived at Takao, Formosa, from Cap St. Jacques, French Indochina, escorting Convoy No. 439 with Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Hakko Maru (1132grt), Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Mito Maru (7061grt), Japanese tanker Chiyoda Maru (4700grt), Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Beiju Maru (539grt) and four unidentified merchant ships.

Imperial Japanese Navy escort vessel Tsushima arrived at Takao, Formosa.

Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Karatsu (ex-U.S. Navy USS Luzon (PR-7)) departed Cebu, Philippines.

Convoy No.776 arrived at Manila, Luzon, with Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Asahisan Maru (4550grt) and Japanese cargo ship Akagisan Maru (4634grt).

U.S. Navy submarine USS Capelin (SS-289) (Lt Cdr Marshall) sank Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary Kunitama Maru (3127grt) six miles northwest of Ambon in 03, 08S, 127, 30E.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Kunishima Maru (4083grt) arrived at Makassar, Celebes, from the Kotabaru Anchorage.

Imperial Japanese Navy patrol boat PB-103 (ex-U.S. Navy USS Finch (AM-9)) departed Kau, Halmahera Island, escorting an unidentified convoy with Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Minryo Maru (2224grt), Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary Hinode Maru (5256grt) and Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Yoshida Maru No. 3 (4646grt).

Convoy H-1 arrived at Kau, Halmahera Island, with Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Hamburg Maru (5271grt).

Convoy H-2 arrived at Manokwari, New Guinea, from Kau, Halmahera Island, with Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Suez Maru (4645grt) escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy minelayer Wakataka.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Kenryu Maru (4575grt) departed Tama Shipyard, Kyushu, for Tokuyama, Japan, after being assigned to a transport order in secret Telegram No. 411.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser Ch-41 arrived at Otaru, Hokkaido.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Kiri Maru No. 8 (945grt) unloaded 1,105 tons of steel at Maizuru, Kyushu.

Imperial Japanese Navy hydrographic survey ship Hakusa (3810grt) (ex-Chinese Fu Hsing (3810grt)) arrived at Imari Bay, Kyushu.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Toei Maru (4004grt) arrived at Otaru, Hokkaido.

Convoy No.113/MA-7 departed Moji, Japan, for Takao, Formosa, with Imperial Japanese Navy transport Arabia Maru (9480grt), Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Tamahoko Maru (6780grt) (ex-Yone Maru (6780grt)), Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Ryuyo Maru (6707grt), Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Dakar Maru (7169grt), Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Chiyo Maru (4700grt), Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Tosei Maru (5434grt), Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Anyo Maru (9256grt), Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Sydney Maru (4105grt), Imperial Japanese Army cargo ship Hida Maru (5320grt), IJN/IJA tanker Nanei Maru (5019grt) and Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Nittetsu Maru (5993grt), escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy second-class destroyer Kuretake. The convoy steamed in two columns.

Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Nachisan Maru (4309grt) departed Sasebo, Kyushu, in Convoy No. 106 and then joined Convoy No. 113-MA.7 at sea bound for Takao, Formosa, and Batavia, Java.

Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Koto Maru No. 2 Go (3557grt) departed Sasebo, Kyushu, for Misumi, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu.

Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper W-18 arrived at Palau.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-177 arrived at Sio, New Guinea, from Rabaul, New Britain, on her sixth supply run.

She departed for Rabaul after unloading her cargo.

Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper W-28 departed Rabaul, New Britain, with Imperial Japanese Navy supply ship Hayasaki (900grt) and Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary submarine chaser Cha-28 to assist stranded Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Nikkai Maru (2562grt) at Dewate Island.

The Second U.S. Navy Air Attack on Rabaul, New Britain [IJN: The Third Air Battle of Bougainville]:

A Japanese scout aircraft located U.S. Navy Task Force TF.38 and reported its position to Rabaul, New Britain.

RAAF Bristol Beaufort aircraft and US aircraft of the Fifth Air Force attacked Rabaul Harbour.

U.S. Navy Task Force TF.38 attacked Japanese shipping at Rabaul, New Britain, with aircraft from U.S. Navy aircraft carriers USS Saratoga (CV-3) and USS Princeton (CVL-23) with U.S. Navy Task Group TG.50.3 (RAdm Alfred E. Montgomery) with aircraft carriers Essex (CV-9), USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), and USS Independence (CVL-22), escorted by destroyers USS Sterett (DD-407), USS Bullard (DD-660), USS Murray (DD-576), USS McKee (DD-575), USS Stack (DD-406), USS Wilson (DD- 408), USS Edwards (DD-619), USS Kidd (DD-661) and USS Chauncey (DD-667). They attacked Rabaul from the east with 148 Hellcat fighter, twenty-four Corsair, fifty-eight Dauntless, thirty-three Helldivers and sixty-nine Avenger aircraft.

A U.S. Navy bomb directly hit Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Suzunami while she was loading torpedoes at the mouth of Rabaul Harbour.

The ship exploded and quickly sank in 04, 13S, 152, 11E. 148 men, including Commander Kamiyama, were lost.

The US aircraft attacked Imperial Japanese Navy light cruiser Noshiro with torpedoes, but she avoided them and entered a heavy rainstorm.

US aircraft again unsuccessfully attacked Noshiro with torpedoes when she popped out of the rainstorm.

The U.S. Navy aircraft damaged Imperial Japanese Navy light cruisers Yubari and Agano, plus destroyers Naganami, Urakaze and Wakatsuki:

A U.S. Navy Mark-13 aerial torpedo hit Agano in the stern. Her crew began emergency repairs.

Another U.S. Navy torpedo hit Naganami in the stern, aft of No. 3 turret and left her dead in the water with heavy damage.

U.S. Navy aircraft strafed Urakaze, but caused minor damage. Urakaze removed the Commander Destroyer Squadron 10 (RAdm Osugi Morikazu) from Agano and departed with the cruiser for Truk.

US B-24 aircraft of the Fifth Air Force followed up the U.S. Navy aircraft, but caused little additional damage.

After the air attack, Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Makinami towed crippled Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Naganami to the port for emergency repairs.

Sixty-eight Japanese “Zeke” aircraft intercepted the U.S. Navy first wave, but could not stop the U.S. Navy aircraft from attacking the Japanese shipping at Rabaul, New Britain.

The U.S. Navy second air attack wave hit Rabaul, New Britain.

U.S. Navy Task Force TF.38 began recovering aircraft and preparing them for a second strike on Rabaul.

The Japanese launched an attack on U.S. Navy Task Force TF.38 with sixty-seven “Zeke” fighter, twenty-seven “Val” divebomber and fourteen “Kate” torpedo aircraft.

These aircraft were soon followed by a large group of Imperial Japanese Army “Betty” bomber aircraft.

The U.S. Navy aircraft shot down thirty-three Japanese aircraft.

U.S. Navy Task Force TF.38 radar detected the Japanese aircraft at 119-miles and closing and sent aircraft to intercept and disrupt the Japanese force.

U.S. Navy Task Force TF.38 began to launch the second air strike force.

U.S. Navy Task Force TF.38 fighter aircraft attacked the Japanese aircraft about forty miles from the carriers.

The first Japanese “Val” aircraft began their attack on U.S. Navy Task Force TF.38 from 22,000 feet. US AA fire immediately filled the sky with flak.

A second group of “Val” aircraft attacked from starboard in an effort to trap the US carriers.

The U.S. Navy Task Force TF.38 combat air patrol aircraft (CAP) engaged the Japanese aircraft and broke up their attack formations.

The Japanese “Kate” aircraft arrived for their torpedo attack on U.S. Navy Task Force TF.38.

The Japanese air losses for the day were heavy. They lost six “Zeke” aircraft over Rabaul, New Britain, during the U.S. Navy attack. They lost fourteen “Kate” aircraft, seventeen “Val” aircraft and two “Zeke” aircraft in their attack on U.S. Navy Task Force TF.38.

For the IJN, the results were very heavy losses to their aircraft lent to Rabaul. They lost 50% of the “Zeke” fighter aircraft, 85% of the “Val” dive-bomber aircraft and 90% of the “Kate” torpedo aircraft. Once again, the Japanese Naval Air Fleet was all but destroyed.

After the US air raids on Rabaul, New Britain, the Imperial Japanese Navy ordered submarine tender Chogei to return to Japan.

The Commander Submarine Squadron 7, his staff and flag were transferred ashore.

Chogei departed Rabaul for Truk with Imperial Japanese Navy heavy cruiser Maya, Imperial Japanese Navy light cruiser Noshiro and destroyers Kazagumo, Samidare, Wakatsuki, Hayanami and Fujinami.

Eleven Japanese “Betty” aircraft unsuccessfully attacked U.S. Navy Task Force TF.39.

While the Japanese did no damage, the men on the ships claimed to have seen a tremendous light show as the Japanese dropped many different coloured flares in their attempt for a coordinated attack.

Imperial Japanese Navy supply ship Muroto (8215grt) departed Yokosuka, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy armed merchant cruiser Ukishima Maru departed Yokosuka, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary gunboat Nachi Maru departed Yuranai, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary gunboat Shinkyo Maru (2670grt) arrived at Yokohama, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy cable layer Harushima (700grt) (ex-American Harrison (700grt)) entered a dry dock at Tokyo, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Yamafuku Maru (4928grt) departed Muroran, Hokkaido.

Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Taiyo undocked but remained at Yokosuka, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary transport Fukuyama Maru (3581grt) departed Kobe, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Kaika Maru (2087grt) arrived at Kure, Japan.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Nissho Maru No. 16 (1173grt) departed Wada Misaki, Japan, at six knots.

Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Akizuki transferred from Kure, Japan, to Hashirajima, Japan, for training in the Inland Sea.

Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Hoki Maru (7113grt) (ex-NZ Hauraki (7113grt)) arrived at Kawasaki, Japan.

The Imperial Japanese Navy chartered tanker Yosei Maru (2594grt) (ex-Dutch Josefina (2594grt)) under the jurisdiction of the Kure Naval District. She was assigned to the Japanese Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet at Surabaya, Java.

The Japanese transferred passenger/cargo ship Kashii Maru (6825grt) to the Osaka Kisen Kaisha (OSK) line due to a merger.

Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper W-4 departed Tokyo Bay escorting westbound Convoy No. 7110 consisting of Japanese cargo ship Nichiwa Maru (4955grt) and two unidentified merchant ships. The convoy sailed at 8.5 knots.

An unidentified submarine unsuccessfully attacked Nichiwa Maru (4955grt) with two torpedoes in 34, 25N, 136, 56E.

Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper W-33 departed Muroran, Hokkaido, escorting Convoy No. 2111 consisting of an unidentified number of merchant ships.

Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Asaka Maru (7359grt) moved from her Kataoka Bay anchorage to No. 11 Buoy at Paramushiro Island.

Asaka Maru (7359grt) tethered to No. 11 Buoy.

Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper W-27 departed Kobe, Japan, escorting Convoy No. 8111A consisting of Japanese cargo ship Sanka Maru (2495grt), Japanese cargo ship Yuki Maru (3168grt) and Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Yamafuku Maru (4928grt), one of which towed an Unkato cargo barge eastbound. The convoy sailed at 8 knots.

U.S. Navy submarine USS Drum (SS-228) (Lt Cdr Delbert F. Williamson) sank Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Kanayamasan Maru (2869grt) with torpedoes about 250 miles northeast of the Admiralty Islands in 01, 00N, 149, 20E. (Some sources have the ship name as Kanamayasai Maru (2869grt).)

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Unkai Maru No. 10 (851grt) departed Chichi Jima escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary minesweeper Seki Maru No. 2.

Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Shiretoko (15,450grt) departed Saipan.

Imperial Japanese Navy minelayer Nuwajima joined the escort for convoy FU-503, which was en route from Palau to Saeki, Kyushu, with Japanese cargo ship Kosei Maru (3551grt) and Japanese cargo ship Bunzan Maru (1990grt) escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Satsuki.

U.S. Navy submarine USS Sargo (SS-188) (Lt Cdr Phillip W. Garnett) heavily damaged Japanese cargo ship Kosei Maru (3551grt) with torpedoes about sixty nautical miles east by southeast of the Nansei Shoto (Ryukyu Islands) in 28, 15N, 130, 35. Twelve crewmen were killed.

Unable to navigate, the ship drifted and continued to flood until she later sank in 27, 40N, 130, 24E.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-181 departed Truk for the Bougainville area on her second war patrol.

Imperial Japanese Navy heavy cruiser Takao departed Truk for Yokosuka, Japan, with Imperial Japanese Navy heavy cruiser Atago escorted by Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Shimkaze and Tamanami.

Imperial Japanese Army passenger/cargo ship Hakubasan Maru (6650grt) and Imperial Japanese Navy oiler Ogura Maru No. 3 (7350grt) arrived at Truk in Convoy No. 8505.

Ogura Maru No. 3 (7350grt) provided Imperial Japanese Navy heavy cruiser Chikuma with 1,127 tons of fuel oil.

The crew aboard damaged Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Tokyo Maru (6486grt) [See 10 November] transferred some of her cargo to No. 5 hold to facilitate drainage operations.

Imperial Japanese Navy destroyers Hatsutsuki and Suzutsuki arrived from Truk to provide further assistance.

Hatsutsuki took over towing Tokyo Maru (6486grt) from Imperial Japanese Navy passenger/cargo ship Mitakesan Maru (4441grt).

Imperial Japanese Navy auxiliary minesweeper Hagoromo Maru went alongside the crippled transport, but further damaged Tokyo Maru (6486grt) in a collision.

Suzutzuki went alongside Tokyo Maru (6486grt) on her starboard side.

Tokyo Maru (6486grt) and Suzutzuki began to drain No. 6 hold simultaneously using pumps.

Mitakesan Maru (4441grt) took aboard eighteen crewmen from Tokyo Maru (6486grt).

Flooding continued out of control aboard the doomed ship.

Drainage operations were suspended and ‘abandon ship’ ordered.

Suzutzuki separated from Tokyo Maru (6486grt) with the remaining survivors.

The tow cable broke leaving Tokyo Maru (6486grt) adrift.

U.S. Navy submarine USS Drum (SS-228) (Lt Cdr Delbert F. Williamson) unsuccessfully attacked Imperial Japanese Navy submarine depot ship Hie Maru (11,621grt) with six Mark-14 torpedoes while attacking Convoy No. 2102 190 miles north-northwest of Kavieng, New Ireland in 01, 00N, 149, 20E.

Imperial Japanese Navy cargo ship Kanayamasan Maru (2869grt) reported three torpedo explosions astern, but no ships were damaged.

Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Nowaki unsuccessfully attacked USS Drum (SS-228) with depth charges.

Later in the day, US B-24 aircraft damaged Imperial Japanese Navy submarine depot ship Hie Maru (11,621grt) with bombs while attacking a Truk-to-Rabaul convoy.

Thirty-one crewmen and passengers were killed, twenty-eight were badly wounded, and 110 were lightly wounded.

Imperial Japanese Navy ammunition ship Nichii Maru (6543grt) and Imperial Japanese Navy repair ship Hakkai Maru (5114grt) escaped with no damage.

Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-21 (Cdr Inada) heavily damaged American steamer Cape San Juan (6711grt) with torpedoes while attacking a convoy bound for Townsville, Australia in 22, 08S, 178, 06W. Sixteen men were lost in the explosion and another 114 drowned when they abandoned ship.

American Liberty ship Edwin T. Meredith (7176grt), destroyer USS McCalla (DD-488), destroyer escort USS Dempsey (DE-26) and yard minesweeper USS YMS-241 rescued 1,218 survivors.

I-21 reported its attack and was ordered to Truk.

Cape San Juan (6711grt) sank two days later.

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NAVAL CONSTRUCTION:

The U.S. Navy 80-foot Elco patrol motor torpedo boat USS PT-520 is laid down by the Electric Boat Company Ltd. (Elco Works), (Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.A.).

The Royal Canadian Navy River-class frigate HMCS Buckingham (K 685) is laid down by the Davie Shipbuilding and Repairing Co. Ltd. (Lauzon, Quebec, Canada).

The Royal Navy Algerine-class minesweeper HMS Lysander (J 379) is launched by the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co. (Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada).

The U.S. Navy Admirable-class minesweeper USS Pivot (AM-276) is launched by the Gulf Shipbuilding Corp. (Chickasaw, Alabama, U.S.A.).

The U.S. Navy PCS-1376-class patrol craft, sweeper USS PCS-1442 is launched by the Harbor Boat Building Co. (Terminal Island, California, U.S.A.).

The Royal Navy “V”-class submarine HMS Voracious (P 78) is launched by Vickers Armstrong (Newcastle-on-Tyne, U.K.).

The Royal Navy Colony-class frigate HMS Somaliland (K 594) is launched by the Walsch-Kaiser Co., Inc. (Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A.).

The Royal Navy River-class frigate HMS Teme (K 458) is launched by the Smiths Dock Co., Ltd. (South Bank-on-Tees, U.K.). She is transferred on completion to the Royal Canadian Navy and commissions as HMCS Teme (K 458).

The Royal Navy modified Black Swan-class sloop HMS Mermaid (U 30) is launched by William Denny & Brothers (Dumbarton, Scotland).

The U.S. Navy Cannon-class destroyer escort USS Corbesier (DE-106) is launched by the Dravo Corp. (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.). She is transferred on completion to Les Forces Navales Françaises Libres (Free French Naval Forces) and commissions as destroyer escort Sénégalais.

The U.S. Navy Buckley-class destroyer escorts USS Hubbard (DE-211) and USS Hayter (DE-212) are launched by the Charleston Navy Yard (Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A.).

The U.S. Navy 80-foot Elco patrol motor torpedo boat USS PT-562 is commissioned.

The U.S. Navy Gato-class submarine USS Bluegill (SS-242) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Commander Eric Lloyd Barr, Jr.

The U.S. Navy Cannon-class destroyer escort USS Wesson (DE-184) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Commander Herman Reich, USNR.

Photograph: USAAF B-26 Marauders, including one nicknamed “Denalis Chief ChaKoo II”, of the 322nd Bomb Group line up for take off, 11 November 1943.