Naval History On This Day, Any Nation

[flying_dutchman2]

February 16

 

1804 - Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, with volunteers from frigate Constitution and schooner Enterprise, enters Tripoli harbor by night in the ketch Intrepid to burn the captured frigate Philadelphia. Decatur's raid succeeds without American losses. England's Lord Nelson calls this "the most daring act of the age."

1815 - USS Constitution captures British Susannah

1967 - Operation River Raider begins in Mekong Delta

 

Happy Reading

WWII

1941

February 16, Fri. --

U.S. freighter Excalibur is detained for several hours by British authorities at Gibraltar but is released; freighter Exermont, detained since 14 February, is allowed to proceed as well.

British destroyer HMS Cossack violates Norwegian territorial waters, boards German tanker Altmark in Jøssingfjord, and recovers 303 merchant seamen from ships destroyed by German armored ship Admiral Graf Spee during her commerce-raiding activities.

 

1943

February 16, Mon.

Caribbean

Operation NEULAND begins with simultaneous attacks on Dutch and Venezuelan oil ports to disrupt production and flow of petroleum products vital to the Allied war effort; German submarine U-156 shells refinery on Aruba, N.W.I. and torpedoes and damages U.S. tanker Arkansas as she lies alongside Eagle Dock; a second torpedo misses the ship and runs up on the beach. There are no casualties among the 37-man crew. The enemy does not emerge from the action unscathed, however, for the explosion of a shell prematurely in a gun barrel injures two men on board U-156, which will receive permission to put in to Martinique (see 20-21 February).

Atlantic

Unarmed U.S. tanker E.H. Blum blunders into U.S. minefield off Cape Henry, Virginia, 36°57'N, 75°52'W and is damaged by mine and breaks in half (see 17 February).

 

Coast Guard cutter Calypso (WPG-104) rescues 42 survivors from Brazilian steamship Buarque, that had been sunk by German submarine U-432 the day before (see 17 February).

 

Pacific

Japanese planes bomb U.S. Timor-bound convoy, escorted by heavy cruiser Houston (CA-30) and destroyer Peary (DD 226); U.S. Army transport Miegs and U.S. freighter Mauna Loa are damaged by near-misses. On board the latter, one crewman is killed; of the 500 troops embarked, one is killed and 18 wounded. Houston's heavy antiaircraft fire saves the convoy from destruction, but the imminent fall of Timor results in the recall of the convoy and its routing back to Darwin (see 19 February).

 

1943

16 February, Tue.

Pacific

Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese stores ship Hyuga Maru 24 miles off Pagan, Marianas, 18°30'N, 145°57'E.

 

Submarine Triton (SS-201) departs Brisbane for her sixth war patrol. She will never be seen again (see 6 March).

 

Atlantic

Fleet Air Wing 16 (Captain Rossmore D. Lyon) is established at Norfolk, Virginia.

 

Indian Ocean

U.S. freighter Deer Lodge is torpedoed by German submarine U-607 about 60 miles east of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and abandoned (see 17 and 20 February).

 

1944

16 February, Wed. --

Pacific

TG 58.4 (Rear Admiral Samuel P. Ginder) planes bomb Eniwetok.

Destroyer Phelps (DD-360) and minesweeper Sage (AM-111) sink Japanese submarine RO-40, 45 miles northwest of Kwajalein, Marshalls, 09°50'N, 166°35'E.

 

Submarine Skate (SS-305) sinks Japanese light cruiser Agano 170 miles north of Dublon Island, Truk, 10°10'N, 151°40'E.

 

Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) continues pursuit of convoy engaged the previous day, and sinks Japanese army cargo ship Chojo Maru off Sarangani Island, 09°15'N, 127°05'E.

 

USAAF B-25s (38th and 345th Bomb Groups) carry out succession of attacks on Japanese convoy off New Hanover and Kavieng, sinking submarine chaser Ch 39, auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 16, and transport Sanko Maru, 02°24'S, 150°06'E.

 

Japanese transport Sanko Maru is sunk by aircraft off New Hanover Island, 02°24'S, 150°06'E.

 

Mediterranean

Destroyer Hilary P. Jones (DD-427) is damaged by near- miss of bomb off Anzio.

 

 

1945

16 February, Fri. --

Pacific

TF 58 (Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) planes bomb airfields, aircraft factories, and shipping in the Tokyo area, Japan; attack is repeated on 17 February.

Fire support vessels and carrier-based aircraft begin three-day prelanding bombardment and bombing of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands. Destroyers Ingraham (DD-694) and Barton (DD-722) are damaged in collision off Iwo, 31°45'N, 141°54'E.

 

TF 92 (Rear Admiral John L. McCrea) bombards Japanese installations at Kurabu Zaki, Paramushiro, Kurils.

 

Army forces, preceded by naval bombardment and attack by army aircraft, land on Corregidor, Luzon; 503d Parachute Infantry are air-dropped onto the main plateau while the 3d Battalion, 24th RCT is lifted to the island in navy medium landing craft (LCM). Support landing craft (large) [LCS(L)] and infantry landing craft (rocket) [LCI®] provide covering fire close-in. Motor torpedo boats also support the operation, at one point rescuing stranded army paratroopers. Submarine chaser PC-1119 is damaged by shore battery, off Luzon, 14°23'N, 120°35'E.

 

Special gunfire support unit of six destroyers (Captain Robert W. Cavenaugh) is formed to provide naval gunfire support for the conquest of Corregidor. Between 16 and 28 February, this unit will deliver pin-point fire that proves a considerable help to the final elimination of Japanese troops on the island.

 

Support landing craft LCS(L)-7 is sunk by Japanese assault demolition boats off entrance to Mariveles harbor.

 

Submarine Sennet (SS-408) sinks Japanese minelayer Naryu southeast of Honshu, 32°10'N, 135°54'E, but is damaged by depth bombs from enemy aircraft.

 

Oiler Patuxent (AO-44) is damaged by internal explosion from gasoline vapors.

 

Coast Guard lighthouse tender Bramble (WAGL-392) is damaged by grounding on Lockwood Rock, Wrangell Narrows, Aleutians (see 17 February).

 

Japanese army cargo ship No.23 Ryoyu Maru is sunk by aircraft, 14°36'N, 109°06'E.

 

PB4Y-1 (VPB-117) sinks Japanese army cargo ship I ida Maru in Cape St. Jacques harbor, French Indochina, 10°20'N, 107°06'E.; Japanese merchant cargo ships sunk on this date: No.3 Seikai Maru, by aircraft, Central Pacific (exact location unspecified); Kaian No.10, by aircraft, Yangtze River, Wuhu, China; and No.2 Nagaoka Maru, by aircraft, off Hachijo Jima. Japanese naval vessels damaged on this date: Coast Defense Vessel No.47, by aircraft, Yokohama, Japan; escort destroyer Amakusa, by aircraft, east of Izu Oshima; auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 211, Cha 225, and Cha 236, by aircraft, Shimoda, Japan; and auxiliary minesweeper Hagoromo Maru, by aircraft, 10 miles south of Miyake Jima. USAAF B-24 damages small Japanese cargo vessel No.23 Yoshitomo Maru off Qui Nhon, French Indochina.

 

USAAF P-51s sink Japanese auxiliary powered sailing vessel Minsui Maru in Yangtze between Wuhu and Hankow.

 

Mediterranean

Motor torpedo boat PT-303 and two British motor torpedo boats, operating out of Leghorn, Italy, engage two southbound enemy barges off Vernazza with doubtful results.

 

Atlantic

Destroyer Edison (DD-439) is damaged when accidentally rammed by British merchant tanker Benedick in New York harbor.

 

Marc

[Kevin]

16th February

 

 

1745

HMS Weymouth (60), Cptn. Warwick Calmady, grounded and wrecked off English Harbour, Antigua

1793

HMS Iphigenia (32), Cptn. Patrick Sinclair, captures the French privateer Elizabeth in the Channel

1798

Boats of HMS Alfred (74), Cptn. T. Totty, captured Scipion.

1804

Lt. Stephen Decatur USN leads Tripoli raid to burn the captured frigate Philadelphia.

1815

USS Constitution (44), Cptn. Charles Stewart, captured British merchantman Susannah

[Kevin]

17th February 

 

 

1782

British fleet of 9 ships of the line, under Sir Edward Hughes, engaged a French fleet of 11 ships of the line, under Bailli de Suffren, off the East coast of India.

1793

HMS Juno (32), Cptn. Samuel Hood, captures the French privateer Entreprenant in the Channel

1794

British squadron under Commodore Robert Linzee captured Fornelli, Corsica.

1805

French frigateVille de Milan (38), Cptn. Jean-Marie Renaud (Killed in Action), captured,HMS Cleopatra (32), Cptn. Sir Robert Lawrie, off Bermuda.

1864

Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley sinks USS Housatonic

[Kevin]

18th February

 

 

1653

Start of 3 day Battle of Portland. English fleet, under Robert Blake, was attacked by a Dutch fleet escorting a large convoy, under Lt.-Admiral Maarten Tromp. Figures are unclear but each fleet had 70-80 warships and whilst the British lost 1-3 warships the Dutch lost 8-12 and 40- 50 merchantmen.

1756

HMS Royal George (100), built at Woolwich Dockyard, launched

1800

HMS Alexander (74), Lt. William Harrington (Acting), and HMS Success (32), Cptn. Shuldham Peard, capturedGenereux (74) off Malta.

1801

HMS Penguin (16), Robert Mansel, engaged a French corvette (24) and two merchantmen (16) in the South Atlantic.

1807

HMS Griper (12), Lt. Edward Oorris, foundered off Ostend.

HMS Inveterate Gun-boat (12), Lt. George Norton, wrecked near St. Valery en Caux, Calais, when she drifted ashore in a heavy gale.

HMS Prospero bomb (8), William KING(1), and HMS Speedwell (16) foundered off Dieppe.

1817

HMS Alceste (38), Cptn. Murray Maxwell, wrecked off Island of Pulo Leat, China Seas.

1827

HMS Diamond (38) accidentally burnt whilst out of commission at Portsmouth

[flying_dutchman2]

February 18

 

1846 - General order on Port and Starboard

1944 - Amphibious Force under RADM Hill lands troops on Engebi Island, Eniwetok

1955 - 1st of 14 detonations, Operation Teapot nuclear test

 

WWII

1942 - February 18, Wed.

Atlantic

Destroyer Truxtun (DD-229) and stores issuing ship Pollux (AKS-2) run aground during storm near Placentia Bay, Newfoundland; the former just east of Ferryland Point and the latter off Lawn Point. Minesweeper Brant (AM-24) arrives on scene and contributes rescue parties as well as brings medical officer and corpsmen from destroyer tender and Support Force flagship Prairie (AD-15). The tragedy produces deep admiration for the lifesaving efforts of the local population. "Hardly a dozen men from both ships would have been saved," one observer writes later, "had it not been for the superb work of the local residents." Many men jeopardize their own lives frequently to save the American sailors; several hang by lines over the cliffs to keep survivors from dragging over sharp rocks as they are pulled up from the beach below; others go out in a dory, risking swamping several times in the rough waves; after working all day rescuing Truxtun's people, some of the local inhabitants then toil all night rescuing Pollux's men with a stamina that defies description. Though poor, the men, women, and children of the town of St. Lawrence turn out to outfit the "survivors with blankets, warm clothes, boots, fed them, cleaned them up as best they could and turned them in their own beds." Subsequently, they turn a deaf ear to offers to pay for food and clothing used in succoring the shipwrecked Americans. Destroyer Wilkes (DD-441) also runs aground off Lawn Head, 46°53'N, 55°28'W, but manages to free herself from her predicament and escape the fates of Truxtun and Pollux.

Brazilian tanker Olinda is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-432 at 37°30'N, 75°00'W (see 19 February).

 

Caribbean

U.S. freighter Mokihana is torpedoed by German submarine U-161 while lying at anchor at Port of Spain, Trinidad, 12°55'N, 80°33'E; there are no casualties among the 36-man merchant crew or 9-man Armed Guard.

 

 

1943 - 18 January, Mon.

Pacific

Submarine Greenling (SS-213) damages Japanese ammunition ship/survey vessel Soya in Queen Carola Channel, 02°04'S, 150°37'E.

Submarine Silversidess (SS-236) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Genyo Maru about 90 miles southwest of Truk, 06°19'N, 150°15'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, 03°29'S, 149°02'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., 06°50'S, 112°12'E.

 

U.S. tanker Mobilube is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-21 off coast of New South Wales, Australia, 33°57'S, 157°20'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.

 

 

1944 - 18 February, Fri. --

Pacific

After preliminary landings had been made the previous day, TG 51.11 (Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill) lands Marines and Army troops on Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, in Operation CATCHPOLE.

TF 58 (Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance) repeats strike on Japanese installations and vessels at Truk; TF 58 planes sink destroyer Fumizuki, 07°24'N, 151°44'E; submarine chaser Ch 29, 07°25'N, 151°45'E; and motor torpedo boat Gyoraitei No.10, 07°31'N, 151°59'E.

 

Destroyer Squadron 23 (TG 39.4) (Captain Arleigh A. Burke) bombards Japanese positions at Kavieng; destroyer Squadron 12 (Captain Rodger W. Simpson) shells Rabaul, Japanese installations on the Crater Peninsula, and bivuoac and supply areas at Vunapope and Cape Gazelle.

 

British submarine HMS Trespasser sinks Japanese gunboat Eifuku Maru off Burma, 07°55'N, 93°03'E.

 

USAAf B-25s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese transport Shinsoku Maru south of Takhow Island, Wenchow, China, 28°23'N, 121°51'E.

 

U.S. aircraft sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 17 off Kavieng, 02°30'S, 150°30'E.

 

Japanese cargo ship Gokenzan Maru is stranded and sunk off northwestern Hokkaido, 44°01'N, 141°38'E.

 

Mediterranean

Heavy German air attacks, as well as artillery fire, continue on beachhead at Anzio on an almost daily basis; harbor tug YT-198 is sunk by mine off Anzio, 41°27'N, 12°38'E. Elsewhere in the Mediterranean theater, tank landing craft LCT-205 capsizes in Gulf of Tunis, while being towed; tank landing craft LCT-340 is stranded by heavy weather at Pantelleria, Italy. Heavy weather also damages large infantry landing craft LCI(L)-211, resulting in her being towed to Palermo, Italy; and minesweeper Pilot (AM-104) is accidentally rammed by U.S. merchant ship Samuel Ashe and damaged off Naples, Italy, 40°48.7'N, 14°16.5'E.

 

 

1945 - 18 February, Sun. --

Atlantic

District patrol craft YP-94 sinks after running aground off Trinity Islands, 56°32'N, 154°22'W.

Pacific

Battleship Washington (BB-56) and destroyer Hailey (DD-556) are damaged in collision off Iwo Jima.

 

Destroyer Waldron (DD-699) is damaged when she intentionally rams Japanese guardboat at 29°27'N, 141°34'E. Dortch (DD-670) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Ayukawa Maru northwest of Iwo Jima, 27°35'N, 121°16'E, but is damaged by gunfire in the encounter.

 

Light minelayer Gamble (DM-15) is damaged by kamikaze, 24°55'N, 141°08'E.

 

High speed transport Blessman (APD-48) is damaged by horizontal bomber, 25°05'N, 141°10'E.

 

TF 58 planes sink Japanese gunboat No.2 Hiyoshi Maru at Futami, Chichi Jima, 27°05'N, 142°11'E.

 

Destroyers Barton (DD-722), Ingraham (DD-694) and Moale (DD-693) sink Japanese guardboats No.35 Nanshin Maru west of Torishima, 30°00'N, 137°30'E; No.3 Kyowa Maru south of Honshu, 31°00'N, 137°30'E; and No.5 Fukuichi Maru off Torishima, 30°00'N, 141°00'E.

[Kevin]

19th February 

 

 

1694

HMS Sussex (80), Ad. Sir Francis Wheler, and HMS Cambridge (70) Capt. John WARD (1), lost in a hurricane off Gibraltar.

1758

HMS Invincible (74) lost on the Owers.

1781

Whilst proceeding to the Chesapeake HMS Romulus (44), Cptn. George Gayton, was captured by a French squadron from Des Touches's squadron under the orders of Cptn Le Gardeur de Tilly, composed of theEveille (64), Gentille (32), Surveillante (32) and the cutter Guepe

1794

British squadron under Commodore Robert Linzee captured Minerve.

1801

HMS Phoebe (36), Cptn. Robert Barlow took French frigate Africaine (44), Cptn. Majendie, off Ceuta in Morocco.

1804

Boats of HMS Drake (14), Samuel W. King, cut out a schooner from the harbour of Trinite in the north part of Martinique.

HMS Cerberus Gun-brig, Lt. Joseph Patey, wrecked on rocks near Berry Head

1807

HMS Ignition Fire-ship, Phillip Griffin, wrecked off Dieppe.

1814

USS Constitution (44), Cptn. Charles Stewart, captures British merchant brig Catherine 

[flying_dutchman2]

February 19

 

WWII 1941

•Feb 19, Wed.

Rear Admiral William P. Blandy relieves Rear Admiral William R. Furlong as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance.

Coast Guard Reserve is established.

 

1942

February 19, Thu.

Pacific

Japanese forces land on Bali, N.E.I.

Battle of Badoeng Strait begins as Allied naval force (Rear Admiral Karel W.F.M. Doorman, RNN) of three cruisers and accompanying destroyers attacks retiring Japanese Bali occupation force (Rear Admiral Kubo Kyuji) in Badoeng Strait. Destroyer Stewart (DD-224) is damaged by gunfire of destroyers Oshio and Asashio, 07°18'S, 112°46'E. Dutch destroyer Piet Hien is sunk; 30 of her survivors find motor whaleboat jettisoned by destroyer John D. Ford (DD-228) and proceed unaided to Java. Dutch light cruisers Java and Tromp are damaged by Japanese gunfire. Japanese destroyers Ushio and Michisio are damaged by Allied gunfire.

 

Japanese carrier striking force (Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi) attacks Darwin, Australia; 189 planes from carriers Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu and Soryu bomb shipping, airfields, and shore installations; carrier bombers sink destroyer Peary (DD 226), 12°30'S, 130°50'E, U.S. Army Transport Miegs and U.S. freighter Mauna Loa (on board the latter all hands--37-man crew and seven passengers--survive); and damage seaplane tender (destroyer) William B. Preston (AVD-7). U.S. freighter Portmar is damaged and beached (one of her 34-man crew is killed; two of the 300 embarked soldiers perish as well; 12 men are injured); freighter Admiral Halstead (carrying drummed gasoline) is damaged as well (she suffers no casualties). In related actions, U.S. freighter Florence D, under charter to the Army and carrying a cargo of ammunition, rescues eight-man PBY (VP 22) crew (Lieutenant Thomas H. Moorer) off north coast of Australia, near Darwin, and later comes under attack by Japanese carrier aircraft that bomb and sink the ship (one man of Moorer's crew and three of the 37-man ship's complement are killed in action); Australian minesweeper HMAS Warrnambol and mission boat St. Francis rescue the survivors. Japanese carrier planes also bomb and sink Philippine motorship Don Isidro (chartered by the U.S. Army to run supplies to Corregidor) off northwest coast of Bathurst Island, 11°00'S, 130°00'E; 11 of the 67-man crew and one of the 16 embarked soldiers are killed. HMAS Warrnambol rescues the surviving crew and passengers. Japanese naval land attack planes (Kanoya and 1st Kokutais) bomb airfield at Darwin.

 

Submarine S-37 (SS-142) is damaged by grounding off the northeast corner of Lembogan Island, Lombok Strait, N.E.I., but continues on patrol.

 

Aviation Chief Machinist's Mate Harold F. Dixon (Naval Aviation Pilot) and his two-man crew (VT 6), whose plane ditched due to fuel exhaustion on 16 January, reach Danger Islands, 10°48'S, 165°49'E, having spent 34 days at sea in their rubber boat. They have subsisted on occasional fish speared with a pocket knife, two birds, and rain water. While the straight line distance traveled measures 450 miles, the estimated track is approximately 1,200 miles. Dixon is awarded the Navy Cross for heroism, leadership, and resourcefulness.

 

Atlantic

Destroyer Dallas (DD-199) rescues 46 survivors from Brazilian tanker Olinda, sunk the day before by German submarine U-432.

 

Unarmed U.S. tanker Pan Massachusetts is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-128 about 20 miles off Cape Canaveral, Florida, 28°27'N, 80°08'W; Coast Guard lighthouse tender Forward (WAGL-160) and British tanker Elizabeth Massey rescue 18 survivors from the 38-man crew.

 

U.S. freighter Lake Osweya is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-96 in the North Atlantic, 43°14'N, 54°45'W. Although U-96 sees three lifeboats pull away from the ship, no survivors from the 30-man merchant complement or the seven-man Armed Guard are ever found.

 

Caribbean

Transport William P. Biddle (AP-15) arrives at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and disembarks the 9th Defense Battalion.

 

 

1943

Pacific

Heavy cruiser Indianapolis (CA 35) and destroyers Coghlan (DD-606) and Gillespie (DD-609) (TU 8.6.2), intercept Japanese army cargo ship Aragane Maru bound for the Aleutians and engage her northwest of Attu, Aleutians.

Submarine Gato (SS-212) torpedoes Japanese ammunition ship Hibari Maru off eastern Bougainville, 06°27'S, 156°05'E. Hibari Maru is beached off Buin (see 28 February).

 

Submarine Grampus (SS-207) torpedoes Japanese transport/aircraft ferry Keiyo Maru, 04°55'S, 152°26'E.

 

Submarine Runner (SS-275) is damaged by aerial bomb off the Palaus, 07°35'N, 134°25'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.

 

USAAF B-17s bomb Japanese shipping off Buin, Bougainville, damaging transport Tokai Maru, 06°45'S, 155°50'E.

 

Atlantic

Submarine Blackfish (SS-221) torpedoes and sinks German patrol craft VP 408 (ex-trawler Haltenbank), 43°30'N, 002°54'W, but is damaged by depth charges from what she reports as two converted trawlers, and is forced to terminate her patrol.

 

 

1944

19 February, Sat. --

Pacific

Marines and Army troops (Brigadier General Thomas E. Watson, USMC) supported by naval bombardment land on Eniwetok Island. The operation is under the command of Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill.

USAAF, USN and USMC land-based aircraft bomb airfield and other Japanese installations at Rabaul. The area has been repeatedly pounded, and after this date theJapanese abandon air defense of Rabaul.

 

Submarine Cero (SS-225) attacks Japanese cargo ship No.18 Shinsei Maru while en route to Palau, 03°34'N, 136°36'E, but does not score any damage on her quarry.

 

Submarine Grayback (SS-208) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taikei Maru southwest of Takao, Formosa, 21°48'N, 119°50'E; subsequently, Grayback sinks army cargo ship Toshin Maru, 21°46'N, 120°06'E, which had arrived on the scene and rescued Taikei Maru's survivors.

 

Submarine Jack (SS-259) attacks Japanese convoy of six tankers shepherded by escort vessel Shimushu in South China Sea about 300 miles west of Luzon, sinking merchant tankers Kokuei Maru and Nanei Maru, 14°34'N, 114°11'E; Nichirin Maru, 15°40'N, 115°48'E; and Ichiyo Maru 15°46'N, 115°57'E.

 

USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) sink auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 34 west of Kavieng, 02°45'S, 150°47'E; B- 25s, A-20s, and P-38s (5th Air Force) wipe out Japanese convoy O-902 off Kavieng, sinking submarine chasers Ch 22 and Ch 40, 03°04'S, 150°42'E, and cargo vessels No.1 Shinto Maru and Shinkiku Maru, 02°46'N, 150°42'E.

 

USAAF B-24s and B-25s sink Japanese cargo vessel Ebon Maru at Kusaie.

 

USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) sink Japanese cargo ship Tairyu Maru and damage auxiliary submarine chaser Chikuzen Maru in Formosa Strait, 25°25'N, 121°30'E.

 

Japanese cargo ship Kogen Maru is sunk in collision in Kii Channel, 35°00'N, 135°00'E.

 

Mediterranean

Motor torpedo boats engage German convoy southeast of Elba.

 

Light cruiser Philadelphia (CL-41) arrives off Anzio to provide gunfire support; she is thrice under shore battery fire but suffers no damage in the encounters.

 

Destroyer Madison (DD-425) conducts unsuccessful hunt for enemy submarine believed off Anzio.

 

 

1945

19 February, Mon. --

Pacific

Preceded by intense naval and air bombardment, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions (Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, USMC) land on Iwo Jima in Operation DETACHMENT. The operation is under the overall command of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Commander Fifth Fleet; Vice Admiral Richmond K. Turner is the Joint Expeditionary Force Commander. Naval gunfire and aircraft will support the troops ashore during this difficult campaign. Offshore, collisions account for damage of varying degrees to heavy cruiser Chester (CA-27) and amphibious force flagship Estes (AGC-12), 24°13'N, 141°25'E; heavy cruiser Indianapolis (CA-35) and ammunition ship Shasta (AE-6) (during replenishment operations); destroyer escort Finnegan (DE-307) and infantry landing craft LCI-627, 22°46'N, 141°19'E; and attack cargo ship Starr (AKA-67) and heavy cruiser Salt Lake City (CA-25), 24°46'N, 141°19'E. Destroyer John W. Weeks (DD-701) is damaged by shore battery, 25°32'N, 141°01'E; hospital ship Samaritan (AH-10) by friendly fire, 24°46'N, 141°19'E. Japanese mortar fire damages medium landing ships LSM-74, LSM-145, LSM-245 and LSM-323.

Army troops covered by USMC aircraft are landed on the northwest coast of Samar and on Capul Island P.I., to insure control of San Bernardino Strait.

 

Japanese merchant ship Zuiho Maru is sunk by aircraft in Yangzte River near Kiukiang, China.

 

arines with naval gunfire support land on Iwo Jima; island secured 16 March.

 

Marc

[Kevin]

20th February 

 

 

1745

HMS Chester (50), Cptn. Francis Geary, and HMS Sutherland (50) captured privateer Elephant.

1804

HMS Active (38), Cptn. Richard Hussey Moubray, engaged 16 gunboats and took a transport.

1811

Sir Joseph Yorke's squadron arrived in the Tagus, with a reinforcement of 6,500 men for Lord Wellington.

1815

USS Constitution (44), Cptn. Charles Stewart, captures HMS Cyane (22), Cptn. Gordon Falcon, and sloop-of-war HMS Levant (20), Hon. George Douglas, east of Madeira.

[flying_dutchman2]

February 20

 

1653 - Defeat of Dutch fleet under Admiral Van Tromp by Admiral Blake off Portsmouth.

1962 - USS Dixie (AD-14) rescues lone crewman aboard a sailing yawl adrift for four days.

1974 - S-3A Viking ASW aircraft (carrier jet) introduced officially, given to VS-41.

 

If the WWII history is too boring as so much happened, let me know and I will try to condense it

WWII

On this day in WWII in 1940 and 1941, nothing happened (well something happened.........)

 

1942

February 20, Fri.

General

Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet directs Atlantic and Pacific Fleets to establish Amphibious Forces.

Pacific

TF 11 (Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.), en route to attack Rabaul, is spotted by Japanese reconnaissance flying boats (Yokohama Kokutai). Although the American attack is cancelled, Japanese naval land-based bombers (4th Kokutai) attack TF 11, centering their efforts upon Lexington (CV-2). In the ensuing battle off Bougainville, combat air patrol F4Fs (VF 3) and SBDs (VS 2) (the latter utilized in the anti-torpedo plane role) and ships' antiaircraft fire annihilate the enemy formations. In the battle, Lieutenant Edward H. O'Hare (VF 3) shoots down five bombers in six minutes, a phenomenal performance that earns him the Medal of Honor.

 

Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) embarks Philippine President Manuel Quezon, his wife and two children, Vice President Sergio Osmeña, and other Philippine government officials off Mariveles.

 

In the wake of the Japanese carrier strike the day before, Darwin, Australia, is abandoned as an Allied naval base. RAF and USAAF air operations from the field outside the port, however, will continue.

 

Japanese invade Timor Island, N.E.I.

 

Destroyer Stewart (DD-224), damaged by shellfire in the Battle of Badoeng Strait the previous night, suffers further damage when, improperly shored and placed on blocks, she rolls on her port side in a Dutch floating drydock at Surabaya, Java.

 

Atlantic

U.S. freighter Delplata is torpedoed by German submarine U-156 about 60 miles west of Martinique, 14°45'N, 62°10'W. Small seaplane tender Lapwing (AVP-1) rescues the 52 survivors (including the 13-man Armed Guard) and then scuttles the irreparably damaged merchantman with gunfire.

 

Unarmed U.S. freighter Azalea City is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-432 about 125 miles east-southeast of Ocean City, Maryland, 38°00'N, 73°00'W. There are no survivors from the 38-man crew.

 

Europe

Admiral William D. Leahy writes to President Roosevelt that he expects a recall "for consultation" since the French have not responded positively to Roosevelt's message of 11 February. President Roosevelt, while sympathetic to Admiral Leahy's position, subsequently informs his ambassador to Vichy that "to hold the fort [in Vichy] is as important a military task as any other in these days." Leahy is thus retained in France. On the same day that Leahy writes to the President, however, German submarine U-156 puts in to Martinique to put ashore one of the men wounded by the premature barrel explosion on 16 February (see 21 February).

 

 

1943

20 February, Sat.

Pacific

Motor minesweeper YMS-founders and sinks, Coos Bay, Oregon.

Submarine Albacore (SS-218) torpedoes and sinks Japanese destroyer Oshio about 140 miles north-northwest of Manus, Admiralty Islands, 00°50'S, 146°06'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, 15°09'N, 159°30'E.

 

Japanese auxiliary patrol vessel Yoshida Maru is damaged by mine (probably laid by submarine Sunfish (SS-281) between 14-17 December 1942), 34°28'N, 137°20'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, 53°05'N, 171°22'E.

 

Atlantic

German submarines sight New York-bound convoy ON 166, which is escorted by Coast Guard cutters Spencer (WPG-36) and Campbell (WPG-32), one British and four Canadian corvettes. During the night of 20-21 February, Coast Guard cutter Spencer (WPG-36) depth charges U-604.

 

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

Hospital ship Atlantis rescues the last 10 survivors of U.S. freighter Deer Lodge, torpedoed by German submarine U-607 about 60 miles east of Port Elizabeth, South Africa on 16 February.

 

 

1944

20 February, Sun. --

Pacific

TG 58.1 (Rear Admiral John W. Reeves Jr.) planes bomb Japanese installations on Jaluit Atoll, Marshalls.

Submarine Pogy (SS-266) sinks Japanese cable layer Nanyo Maru about 100 miles east of Formosa, 24°12'N, 123°20'E, and merchant cargo ship Taijin Maru northeast of Formosa, 24°14'N, 123°17'E.

 

USAAF B-24 damages Japanese cargo vessel Tasmania Maru northwest of Wewak.

 

Mediterranean

Tank landing ship LST-348 is sunk by German submarine U-410, 40 miles south of Naples, Italy, 40°57'N, 13°14'E.

 

LCT-340 founders and sinks in heavy weather off coast of Algeria, 36°49'N, 01°55'E.

 

 

1945

20 February, Tue. --

Pacific

Army troops, covered by USMC aircraft, are landed on Biri Island P.I., to insure control of San Bernardino Strait.

Off Iwo Jima, light cruiser Biloxi (CL-80) is hit by friendly fire, 25°47'N, 141°15'E; destroyer Bradford (DD-545) collides with uncharted submerged wreckage, 24°45.8'N, 141°19.44'E; attack transports Napa (APA-157) and Logan (APA-196) are damaged in collision, 24°46'N, 141°19'E; tank landing ship LST-779 and medium landing ship LSM-216 are damaged by mortar fire.

 

Submarine Guavina (SS-362), attacking Japanese convoy rounding Cape Padaran, French Indochina, damages merchant tanker Eiyo Maru, 11°22'N, 109°22'E.

 

Submarine Hawkbill (SS-366), attacking Japanese convoy about 175 miles northwest of Singapore, sinks merchant cargo ship Daizen Maru, 00°42'S, 106°18'E. Although Hawkbill claims sinking one other cargo vessel, the two ships in company with the lost freighter, Kanto Maru and Nankai Maru, survive unscathed.

 

Submarine Pargo (SS-264) sinks Japanese destroyer Nokaze off Cape Varella, French Indochina, 12°48'N, 109°38'E; destroyer Kamikaze, in company with Nokaze at the time of Pargo's attack, unsuccessfully counterattacks with depth charges.

 

Submarine Pintado (SS-387) is damaged by aerial bomb, Gulf of Siam, 07°25'N, 111°56'E, but remains on patrol.

 

Japanese army ship Rozan Maru is sunk by mine below Taku, China.

 

Japanese cargo vessel No.34 Kashiwa Maru is sunk by mine off Surabaya.

 

Marc

[Kevin]

21st February 

 

1692

British squadron of 7 ships, under Commodore Ralph Wrenn, engaged a French squadron of 18 ships, under M. de Blenac, in the West Indies.

1759

HMS Vestal (32), Cptn. Samuel Hood, took French frigate Bellona (32) in the Channel

1793

HMS Alligator (28), Cptn. William Affleck, captures the French privateer Prend Tout in the North Sea

1810

HMS Horatio (44), Cpt. George Scott, captured Necessite (28).

[flying_dutchman2]

February 21

 

1673 - Michiel A de Ruyter appointed lieutenant-admiral-general of Dutch fleet.

1705 - Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke, British naval officer (d. 1781) - His birthday.

1944 - Marines with support of naval bombardment and carrier aircraft secure Eniwetok atoll

1945 - USS Bismark Sea (CVE-95) struck by a kamikaze off Iwo Jima and sunk in 90 minutes with loss of 318 men. USS Saratoga (CV-3) struck by 5 kamikazes but survived with loss of 123. Bismark Sea was last carrier lost in combat during World War II.

 

WWII

1940 - February 21, Wed. --

U.S. freighter Sahale is detained by British authorities at Gibraltar (see 22 February); freighter Exhibitor, detained since 17 February, is allowed to proceed.

 

1941 - February 21, Fri.

Carrier Enterprise (CV-6) arrives off Oahu and launches 30 USAAC P-36s that will be based on Wheeler Field.

 

1942 - February 21, Sat.

Pacific

Submarine Triton (SS-201) sinks Japanese merchant cargo vessel Shokyu Maru in East China Sea, 60 miles south of Quelpart Island, 32°10'N, 126°28'E.

Atlantic

 

Unarmed U.S. tanker J.N. Pew is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-67 about 225 miles west of Aruba, D.W.I, 12°40'N, 74°00'W; two survivors reach the coast of Colombia, 35 miles east of Riohacha (see 14 March).

 

Unarmed U.S. tanker Republic is torpedoed by German submarine U-504 about three miles east of Jupiter Inlet, Florida, 27°05'N, 80°15'W; three crewmen perish in the initial explosion, while two drown in the abandonment. One lifeboat reaches shore unaided (18 men on board) while U.S. tanker Cities Service Missouri rescues six men from a second boat (see 23 February).

 

Europe

Admiral Leahy receives instruction to see Admiral Darlan immediately about German submarine U-156's receiving assistance at Martinique. Unless the Vichy French can assure the U.S. government that no Axis ships or planes will be allowed to enter French ports or territory in the Western Hemisphere, and that unless such assurances are rigidly maintained, the United States "will take such action in the interest of security of the Western Hemisphere as it may judge necessary and in accordance with existing inter-American obligations." Leahy writes in his diary that everything points to his early recall to Washington "for consultation" (see 16 April).

 

1943 - 21 February, Sun.

Pacific

Marines (3d Marine Raider Battalion and 10th Defense Battalion detachment) and Army troops (elements of the 43rd Division) occupy Russell Islands in Operation CLEANSLATE, the inaugural movement through the central Solomons. Supported by TU 62.7.2 (Captain Ingolf N. Kiland), the landings are made with no opposition. Four light cruisers and four destroyers of TF 68 (Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill) and Henderson Field, Guadalcanal-based Saratoga (CV-3) Air Group provide cover.

Submarine Sawfish (SS-276) damages Japanese oiler Ose off Oagari Jima, 29°29'N, 132°48'E.

 

Submarine Thresher (SS-200) attacks Japanese convoy northeast of Soembawa Island, N.E.I., damaging army cargo ship Kuwayama Maru, 07°53'N, 119°13'E (see 22 February).

 

Dutch submarine O 24 sinks Japanese merchant motor vessel Bandai Maru off Salang Island, 07°50'N, 098°09'E.

 

Atlantic

Battle to protect ON 166 from German submarines begins as U-332 and U-603 torpedo and sink Norwegian motor tanker Stigstad; U-92 torpedoes British steamer Empire Trader (she will be scuttled by Canadian corvette HMCS Dauphin). Coast Guard cutter Campbell (WPG-32), British corvette HMS Dianthus and Canadian corvette Dauphin, aided by flying boats, temporarily drive off U-332, U-454, and U-753 threatening the merchantmen. Coast Guard cutter Spencer (WPG-36) sinks German submarine U-225 at 51°25'N, 27°28'W.

 

U.S. freighter Rosario, steaming in convoy ON 167, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-664 at 50°13'N, 24°48'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).

 

1944 - 21 February, Mon. --

Pacific

Navy SBDs and TBFs bomb antiaircraft positions at Lakunai aerodrome and shore installations at Rabaul, sinking guardboat No.2 Yawata Maru.

USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) strike Japanese five-ship convoy (evacuating 751st Air Group maintenance people to Japan, via Palau) off New Hanover, sinking auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 38 and Cha 48, 02°30'S, 149°55'E, transport Kokai Maru and gunboat Kowa Maru, 02°30'S, 150°15'E, and damaging tug Nagaura, which, after effecting repairs, rescues some of the survivors of the two Marus and continues on her voyage north (see 22 February).

 

Submarine Cero (SS-225) damages Japanese army cargo ship Hasshu Maru north of New Guinea, 00°10'S, 139°45'E.

 

British submarine HMS Tally Ho sinks Japanese army cargo ship No.6 Taigen Maru in Strait of Malacca, 04°00'N, 101°00'E.

 

1945 - 21 February, Wed. --

Pacific

Navy and USAAF planes bomb and strafe Japanese installations at Truk.

Off Iwo Jima, kamikazes sink escort carrier Bismarck Sea (CVE-95), 24°36'N, 141°48'E, and damage carrier Saratoga (CV-3), 24°56'N, 142°01'E (Saratoga is also hit by a bomb); escort carrier Lunga Point (CVE-94), 24°40'N, 141°44'E; tank landing ships LST-477, 24°40'N, 141°44'E, and LST-809, 24°08'N, 142°06'E; and net cargo ship Keokuk (AKN-4), 24°36'N, 141°48'E. Small carrier Langley (CVL-27) is damaged by bomb. Japanese mortar fire damages tank landing ship LST-390, 24°46'N,141°19'E. Collisions account for damage to destroyer Williamson (DD-244) and oiler Suamico (AO-49), 24°39'N, 142°01'E; destroyer Bradford (DD-545) and tank landing ship LST-812; attack cargo ship Yancey (AKA-93) and heavy cruiser Pensacola (CA-24), 24°46'N, 141°19'E. Heavy weather damages medium landing ship LSM-43.

 

Tank landing craft LCT-175 founders and sinks in heavy weather, 04°27'N, 133°40'E.

 

Destroyer Renshaw (DD-499) is torpedoed by Japanese submarine RO 43 south of Siquijor Island P.I., 24°36'N, 141°48'E. RO 43 escapes a ten-hour search by destroyers Waller (DD-466) and Shaw (DD-373) around Siquijor Island.

 

Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.72 and Coast Defense Vessel No.150 are damaged in collision off Wenchow, China.

 

Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Tairiku Maru in Yellow Sea off west coast of Korea, 35°24'N, 125°23'E.

 

Japanese merchant tanker Eiyo Maru, damaged by submarine Guavina (SS-362) the previous day, sinks off Cape Padaran, French Indochina, 11°22'N, 109°22'E.

 

Japanese cargo ship Fukusei Maru sinks after running aground off Cape Shirazaki, Honshu, 41°00'N, 142°00'E.

[Kevin]

22nd February 

 

 

1799

HMS Espoir, Cptn. James Sanders, engaged Spanish flotilla and captured Spanish xebec Africa off Marbella

1812

HMS Victorious (74), Cptn. John Talbot, and HMS Weasel (18), John William Andrew, captured French Rivoli(74), Commodore Jean-Baptiste Barré, engaged brig Mercure (16) which blew up, off Venice.

1815

Engagement between British boats and U.S. troops in St. Mary's River.

[flying_dutchman2]

February 22

 

 

1512 - Amerigo Vespucci, Italian explorer (America), dies at 60.

1627 - Olivier van Noort, Dutch navigator (b. 1558) Dies.

1744 - Battle at Toulon: English-French & Spanish fleet.

1865 - RADM Porter's gunboats' bombardment cause surrender of Wilmington, NC .

1870 - After arriving on USS Nipsic, and supported by USS Guard and USS Nyack, the Darien Expedition, commanded by CDR Thomas O. Selfridge, Jr., begins active operations ashore at Caldonia Bay to survery the Isthmus of Darien, Panama, for an interoceanic ship canal.

1909 - Great White Fleet returns from round the world cruise to Hampton Roads, VA

1943 - USS Iowa (BB-61), the lead ship of the last class of American fast battleships, is commissioned.

1974 - LTJG Barbara Ann Allen becomes first Navy designated female aviator.

 

WWII

1940 - February 22, Thu. --

U.S. freighter Sahale, detained by British authorities at Gibraltar the previous day, is released.

 

1942 - February 22, Sun.

Pacific

Submarine Swordfish (SS-193) disembarks Philippine President Manuel Quezon and his party (embarked since 20 February) at San Jose, Panay, P.I., to continue their journey out of the archipelago.

Atlantic

U.S. tanker Cities Service Empire is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-128 25 miles north of Bethel Shoals, 28°00'N, 80°22'W. Destroyer Biddle (DD-151) rescues survivors from life rafts while Coast Guard cutter Vigilant (WPC-154) goes alongside and rescues men directly from the burning ship. All told, 3 of the 9-man Armed Guard are lost, in addition to 11 of the 41-man civilian complement.

 

Unarmed U.S. tanker W.D. Anderson is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-504 about 12 miles northeast of Jupiter Point Lighthouse, 27°09'N, 79°56'W. The sole survivor of the 36-man crew swims ashore at Stewart, Florida.

 

Unarmed U.S. freighter West Zeda is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-129 about 125 miles southeast of Trinidad, B.W.I., 09°13'N, 69°04'W. Schooner Emeralda rescues the entire 35-man crew, who suffer no casualties in the encounter with the U-boat.

 

 

1943 - 22 February, Mon.

Atlantic

Battleship Iowa (BB 61) is commissioned at New York, New York, the first of the four-ship Iowa class that will be the last American battleships built.

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 46°54'N, 34°30'W, and Expositor at 46°52'N, 34°26'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 47°44'N, 33°43'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

District patrol craft YP-72 sinks after grounding off Spruce Cape entrance to Kodiak, Alaska.

 

Japanese army cargo ship Kuwayama Maru sinks off Soembawa Island as the result of damage inflicted by submarine Thresher (SS-200) the previous day, 07°53'N, 119°13'E.

 

 

1944 - 22 February, Tue. --

Pacific

TF 58 (Rear Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) planes bomb Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam, in first strike against the Marianas. TF 58 planes sink Japanese transport Shoan Maru off Saipan, 15°15'N, 145°42'E; planes from TG 58.2 and TG 58.3 sink transport Seizan Maru off Saipan, 15°00'N, 145°30'E.

Marines land on Parry Island, Eniwetok Atoll, under cover of naval bombardment and carrier-aircraft bombing; this operation completes U.S. control of Eniwetok Atoll. Infantry landing craft LCI-365, LCI-440, and LCI-442 are damaged by friendly fire.

 

TG 39.4 (Captain Arleigh A. Burke) bombards Japanese airstrips, pier area, and anchorages at Kavieng; destroyers Charles Ausburne (DD-570), Dyson (DD-572), and Stanly (DD-478) sink Japanese minelayer Natsushima off New Ireland, 02°40'S, 149°40'E; the same three destroyers, joined by Conway (DD-507) and Spence (DD-512), sink tug Nagaura about 160 miles northwest of Kavieng, 00°54'S, 148°38'E. Other Japanese ships sunk during this action include auxiliary submarine chaser No.8 Tama Maru and small cargo vessels Choryu Maru and No.9 Tokuyama Maru. Destroyer Division 45 sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayer Kyosei Maru in Isabel Channel, New Hanover.

 

Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese repair ship Yamashiro Maru off Truk, 07°13'N, 151°38'E.

 

Submarine Puffer (SS-268), despite presence of escort vessel, sinks Japanese army transport Teiko Maru (ex- French passenger liner D'Artagnan) about 120 miles northwest of Kuching, Borneo, 03°10'N, 109°15'E.

 

Submarine Ray (SS-271) lays mines off Saigon, French Indochina.

 

Submarine Tang (SS-306), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks gunboat Fukuyama Maru about 60 miles southwest of Saipan, 15°14'N, 144°55'E.

 

Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 29 is sunk by mine (possibly laid by submarine Silversides (SS-236) on 4 June 1943) near Kavieng.

 

Navy SBD and TBF aircraft pound Japanese shipping in Keravia Bay, Rabaul, sinking guardboats No.2 Fuku Maru and No.2 Tenjin Maru, army cargo ship Taisho Maru, merchant tanker Takatori Maru, and damaging minelayer Nasami.

 

Vichy French river gunboat Francis Garnier is sunk by mine sown by USAAF planes (14th Air Force) in South China Sea off Cape St. Jacques, French Indochina, 10°30'N, 108°00'E.

 

Atlantic

Motor torpedo boat PT-200 is sunk in collision with unknown object off Long Island, N.Y., 41°23'N, 71°01'W.

 

Mediterranean

Five German E-boats approach Anzio beachhead during the night, but all are driven off without inflicting any damage. Submarine chaser PC-621 claims destruction of one E-boat and drives another ashore.

 

German submarine U-969 attacks convoy GUS 31 off the coast of Algeria, irreparably damaging U.S. freighters Peter Skene Ogden and George Cleeve, 37°18'N, 06°59'E; other than one fatality on board the former, there are no casualties to the American ships. Both ships are towed and beached to facilitate salvage: Peter Skene Ogden at Herbillon and George Cleeve to Bone, Tunisia. Both are later written off as total losses.

 

 

1945 - 22 February, Thu. --

Pacific

Off Iwo Jima, damage occurs when destroyer escort Melvin R. Nawman (DE-416) collides with tank landing ship LST-807, 24°46'N, 141°19'E, and tank landing ship LST-779 collides with pontoon barges at 24°46'N, 141°19'E.

Submarine Becuna (SS-319), despite presence of two escort vessels, sinks Japanese merchant tanker Nichiyoku Maru off Cape Padaran, French Indochina, 11°28'N, 109°06'E.

 

Japanese fleet tanker No.2 Tatekawa Maru is damaged by USAAF mine (laid by 20th Air Force B-29s) and runs aground in Padaran Bay; USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) complete the destruction of No.2 Tatekawa Maru later that day, 11°08'N, 108°44'E.

 

Japanese submarine chaser Ch 41 is damaged by aircraft, 10°15'N, 107°15'E.

 

Japanese army ship Ikuta Maru is sunk by aircraft, Rabaul, New Britain.

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Marc

[Kevin]

23rd February

 

 

1805

HMS Leander (50), Cptn. John Talbot, re-captured HMS Cleopatra and took French frigateVille de Milan (38), Cptn. Pierre Guillet.

1814

HMS Epervier (18), Ruchard Wales, took U.S. privateer brig Alfred (16), Cptn. Williams.

1824

HMS Delight (10), Robert Hay, lost in a hurricane at the Mauritius.

[flying_dutchman2]

February 23

 

1633 - Samuel Pepys, London England, navy expert/composer (Diary, Memoirs) - Birthday

1795 - U.S. Navy Office of Purveyor of Supplies is established. This is the Navy Supply Corps Birthday.

1919 - Launching of Osmond Ingram (DD-255), first Navy ship named for an enlisted man

1944 - Carrier groups under Spruance attack Saipan, Tinian and Rota in the Marianas

1945 - Marines and a Navy hospital corpsman raise flag on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima

 

WWII

1940 - February 23, Fri. --

U.S. freighter Lehigh is detained for several hours at Gibraltar by British authorities, but is allowed to proceed the same day.

 

1942 - Pacific

Japanese submarine I-17 shells oil refinery at Ellwood, California.

Submarine Tarpon (SS-175) is damaged when she runs aground in Boling Strait, N.E.I. and becomes stranded (see 24 February).

 

Atlantic

U.S. freighter Lihue is torpedoed by German submarine U-161 about 275 miles west of Martinique, 14°30'N, 64°45'W; Lihue, damaged, engages U-161 in a surface gunnery action before the freighter is subsequently abandoned and the crew rescued by British tanker British Governor. Canadian armed merchant cruiser HMCS Prince Henry places a salvage party on board in attempt to save Lihue. Minesweeper Partridge (AM-16) tries to tow Lihue to safety, but the crippled merchantman sinks short of St. Lucia, the intended destination. There are no casualties to either the 36-man merchant crew or the 9-man Armed Guard.

 

Unarmed U.S. tanker Sun is torpedoed by German submarine U-502 about 54 miles north of Aruba, 13°02'N, 70°41'W, and although initially abandoned is reboarded. She is ultimately repaired and returned to service; there are no casualties among the 36-man crew (see 5 July).

 

Unarmed U.S. tanker Republic, torpedoed by German submarine U-504 on 21 February, having drifted onto reefs off Hobe Sound, Florida, sinks.

 

 

1943 - 23 February, Tue.

Atlantic

Battle to protect convoy ON 166 continues as German submarines continue the onslaught. After Canadian corvette HMCS Trillium's attempt to scuttle U.S. freighter Expositor (torpedoed the previous day by U-606) with depth charges fails; it falls to German submarine U-303 to administer the coup de grace to the hardy American merchantman. U-186 then torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter Hastings at 46°30'N, 36°23'W as well as British motor tanker Eulima; from Hastings, nine merchant sailors (of the 41-man civilian complement) perish, but all 20 Armed Guards and the ship's sole passenger survive, rescued by Canadian corvette HMCS Chilliwack. U-707 torpedoes and sinks straggling U.S. freighter Jonathan Sturges at 46°15'N, 38°11'W; no. 1 lifeboat (with 19 survivors on board) from Jonathan Sturges encounters one from torpedoed Dutch motorship Madoera (three men on board) and transfers eight men to the Dutch lifeboat to equalize the number of survivors in each craft; Jonathan Sturges's no. 3 lifeboat (nine men) locates one merchant sailor in the no. 2 boat and four Armed Guards from the ship; that second group of survivors is then divided between boats no. 2 and no. 3 to distribute them evenly (see 12 March and 6 April).

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 31°15'N, 27°22'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

 

 

1944 - 23 February, Wed. --

Pacific

During strikes on Japanese shipping in Tanapag harbor, Saipan, F6Fs, TBFs and SBDs from carriers Essex (CV-9) and Yorktown (CV-10) (in TG 58.2) damage cargo ship Shoan Maru, 15°15'N, 145°45'E; planes from carrier Bunker Hill (CV-17) (in TG 58.3) sink cargo vessel Seizan Maru off Tinian, 15°00'N, 145°30'E.

Submarine Balao (SS-285), in attack on Japanese convoy about 35 miles north of Biak, New Guinea, sinks army cargo ship Nikki Maru, 00°11'S, 135°00'E.

 

Submarine Cod (SS-224) sinks Japanese fleet tanker No.3 Ogura Maru off Halmahera, 04°23'N, 129°05'E.

 

Submarine Plunger (SS-179), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks transport Kimishima Maru about 200 miles northwest of Chichi Jima, 30°11'N, 140°49'E.

 

Submarine Pogy (SS-266) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking merchant cargo ship Horei Maru, 26°20'N, 126°11'E, and damaging merchant tanker Teikon Maru, 26°22'N, 126°16'E, about 60 miles west of Okinawa.

 

Submarine Snook (SS-279) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking transport Kayo Maru about 120 miles north- northwest of Chichi Jima, 28°49'N, 141°13'E.

 

Submarine Sunfish (SS-281) and planes from carrier Yorktown (CV-10) sink Japanese collier Shinyubari Maru about 40 miles west of Saipan, 15°23'N, 145°03'E.

 

Submarine Tang (SS-306) sinks Japanese repair ship Yamashimo Maru west of Saipan, 14°45'N, 144°32'E. The cataclysmic explosion of the enemy auxiliary damages Tang, but not badly enough to prevent the boat from remaining on patrol.

 

Japanese gunboat Eiko Maru is sunk by aircraft north of Saipan, 15°12'N, 144°52'E, as she proceeds to the position of the loss of Fukuyama Maru that had been sunk by Tang (SS-306) on 22 February.

 

Japanese cargo ship Gyoko Maru is destroyed by accidental explosion in Naha harbor, Okinawa, 26°13'N, 127°40'E.

 

Indian Ocean

U.S. tanker E.G. Seubert, in convoy PA 69, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-510 about 200 miles fromAden, 13°45'N, 48°56'E; three of the 27-man Armed Guard (including its commander) perish, as do three of the ship's merchant complement. Australian minesweeper HMAS Tamworth and Indian Navy corvette RINS Orissa rescue survivors.

 

 

1945 - 23 February, Fri. --

Pacific

Motor torpedo boats sweep Coron Bay, P.I., destroying launches, lighters, a lugger, and setting fire to a large fuel dump.

Off Iwo Jima, shore batteries damage tank landing ships LST-684 and LST-792, 24°46'N, 141°19'E and medium landing ships LSM-46 and LSM-47; operational casualties damage hospital ship Solace (AH-5), motor minesweeper YMS-361, and medium landing ship LSM-92; as well as submarine chaser PC-877 and tank landing ship LST-716, 24°46'N, 141°19'E; friendly fire damages submarine chaser PCS-1461, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.

 

Submarine Hammerhead (SS-364) intercepts Japanese convoy, sinks escort vessel Yaku 15 miles south of Cape Varella, French Indochina, 12°42'N, 109°30'E, and eludes counterattack by Coast Defense Ship No.31.

 

District patrol craft YP-94, aground and damaged off Tugidak and Sitkinak Islands, Aleutians, since 17 February, breaks in two and sinks.

 

USAAF B-25s (Fifth Air Force) on antishipping sweep off French Indochina, attack Japanese convoy HI-88-G and sink submarine chaser Ch 35, and damage submarine chaser Ch 20 and small tanker No.35 Nanshin Maru off Cape Padaran, 10°15'N, 107°31'E.

 

Japanese merchant cargo ship Bizan Maru is damaged by aircraft, 23°14'N, 116°49'E.

 

Mediterranean

Conversion of tank landing ships into seatrain LSTs is completed at Palermo, Sicily. LST-32 is to ferry roling stock from Bizerte, Tunisia, to Reggio, Italy; LST-140 is to ferry rolling stock from Oran, Algeria, to Marseilles, France.

 

Open lighter YC-693 is struck from the Naval Vessel Register this date.[5]

 

Europe

U.S. freighter Jane G. Swisshelm is damaged by explosion of V-2 rocket at Antwerp, Belgium. Only three men of the combined complement of 8 officers, 36 enlisted men, 27 Armed Guards and one passenger report any injuries.

 

U.S. freighter Henry Bacon, straggling from Scotland-bound convoy RA 64, is sunk by German planes after her Armed Guard puts up a stiff fight against a large number of attacking aircraft, 67°00'N, 07°00'E. Seven of the 26-man Armed Guard die in battle. British destroyers HMS Opportune, HMS Zest and HMS Zambesi rescue the survivors

[Kevin]

24th February

 

 

1808

HMS Hirondelle (16), Lt. Joseph Kidd, wrecked on shore the coast of Barbary.

1809

HMS Ceasar (80), Cptn. Charles Richardson, Rear Ad. Robert Stopford, and consorts forced three French frigates Italienne, Calypso and Cybe ashore near the Basque Roads

1813

USS Hornet (20), James Lawrence, sank HMS Peacock (18), Cptn. William Peake (Killed in Action), off the mouth of the Demerara River, Guiana

[flying_dutchman2]

February 23

 

1795 - U.S. Navy Office of Purveyor of Supplies is established. This is the Navy Supply Corps Birthday.

1919 - Launching of Osmond Ingram (DD-255), first Navy ship named for an enlisted man

 

WWII 1940 - February 23, Fri. --

U.S. freighter Lehigh is detained for several hours at Gibraltar by British authorities, but is allowed to proceed the same day.

 

1942 - February 23, Mon.

Pacific

Japanese submarine I-17 shells oil refinery at Ellwood, California.

Submarine Tarpon (SS-175) is damaged when she runs aground in Boling Strait, N.E.I. and becomes stranded (see 24 February).

 

Atlantic

U.S. freighter Lihue is torpedoed by German submarine U-161 about 275 miles west of Martinique, 14°30'N, 64°45'W; Lihue, damaged, engages U-161 in a surface gunnery action before the freighter is subsequently abandoned and the crew rescued by British tanker British Governor. Canadian armed merchant cruiser HMCS Prince Henry places a salvage party on board in attempt to save Lihue. Minesweeper Partridge (AM-16) tries to tow Lihue to safety, but the crippled merchantman sinks short of St. Lucia, the intended destination. There are no casualties to either the 36-man merchant crew or the 9-man Armed Guard.

 

Unarmed U.S. tanker Sun is torpedoed by German submarine U-502 about 54 miles north of Aruba, 13°02'N, 70°41'W, and although initially abandoned is reboarded. She is ultimately repaired and returned to service; there are no casualties among the 36-man crew (see 5 July).

 

Unarmed U.S. tanker Republic, torpedoed by German submarine U-504 on 21 February, having drifted onto reefs off Hobe Sound, Florida, sinks.

 

1943 - 23 February, Tue.

Atlantic

Battle to protect convoy ON 166 continues as German submarines continue the onslaught. After Canadian corvette HMCS Trillium's attempt to scuttle U.S. freighter Expositor (torpedoed the previous day by U-606) with depth charges fails; it falls to German submarine U-303 to administer the coup de grace to the hardy American merchantman. U-186 then torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter Hastings at 46°30'N, 36°23'W as well as British motor tanker Eulima; from Hastings, nine merchant sailors (of the 41-man civilian complement) perish, but all 20 Armed Guards and the ship's sole passenger survive, rescued by Canadian corvette HMCS Chilliwack. U-707 torpedoes and sinks straggling U.S. freighter Jonathan Sturges at 46°15'N, 38°11'W; no. 1 lifeboat (with 19 survivors on board) from Jonathan Sturges encounters one from torpedoed Dutch motorship Madoera (three men on board) and transfers eight men to the Dutch lifeboat to equalize the number of survivors in each craft; Jonathan Sturges's no. 3 lifeboat (nine men) locates one merchant sailor in the no. 2 boat and four Armed Guards from the ship; that second group of survivors is then divided between boats no. 2 and no. 3 to distribute them evenly (see 12 March and 6 April).

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 31°15'N, 27°22'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.

 

1944 - 23 February, Wed. --

Pacific

During strikes on Japanese shipping in Tanapag harbor, Saipan, F6Fs, TBFs and SBDs from carriers Essex (CV-9) and Yorktown (CV-10) (in TG 58.2) damage cargo ship Shoan Maru, 15°15'N, 145°45'E; planes from carrier Bunker Hill (CV-17) (in TG 58.3) sink cargo vessel Seizan Maru off Tinian, 15°00'N, 145°30'E.

Submarine Balao (SS-285), in attack on Japanese convoy about 35 miles north of Biak, New Guinea, sinks army cargo ship Nikki Maru, 00°11'S, 135°00'E.

 

Submarine Cod (SS-224) sinks Japanese fleet tanker No.3 Ogura Maru off Halmahera, 04°23'N, 129°05'E.

 

Submarine Plunger (SS-179), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks transport Kimishima Maru about 200 miles northwest of Chichi Jima, 30°11'N, 140°49'E.

 

Submarine Pogy (SS-266) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking merchant cargo ship Horei Maru, 26°20'N, 126°11'E, and damaging merchant tanker Teikon Maru, 26°22'N, 126°16'E, about 60 miles west of Okinawa.

 

Submarine Snook (SS-279) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking transport Kayo Maru about 120 miles north- northwest of Chichi Jima, 28°49'N, 141°13'E.

 

Submarine Sunfish (SS-281) and planes from carrier Yorktown (CV-10) sink Japanese collier Shinyubari Maru about 40 miles west of Saipan, 15°23'N, 145°03'E.

 

Submarine Tang (SS-306) sinks Japanese repair ship Yamashimo Maru west of Saipan, 14°45'N, 144°32'E. The cataclysmic explosion of the enemy auxiliary damages Tang, but not badly enough to prevent the boat from remaining on patrol.

 

Japanese gunboat Eiko Maru is sunk by aircraft north of Saipan, 15°12'N, 144°52'E, as she proceeds to the position of the loss of Fukuyama Maru that had been sunk by Tang (SS-306) on 22 February.

 

Japanese cargo ship Gyoko Maru is destroyed by accidental explosion in Naha harbor, Okinawa, 26°13'N, 127°40'E.

 

Indian Ocean

U.S. tanker E.G. Seubert, in convoy PA 69, is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-510 about 200 miles fromAden, 13°45'N, 48°56'E; three of the 27-man Armed Guard (including its commander) perish, as do three of the ship's merchant complement. Australian minesweeper HMAS Tamworth and Indian Navy corvette RINS Orissa rescue survivors.

 

1945 - 23 February, Fri. --

Pacific

Motor torpedo boats sweep Coron Bay, P.I., destroying launches, lighters, a lugger, and setting fire to a large fuel dump.

Off Iwo Jima, shore batteries damage tank landing ships LST-684 and LST-792, 24°46'N, 141°19'E and medium landing ships LSM-46 and LSM-47; operational casualties damage hospital ship Solace (AH-5), motor minesweeper YMS-361, and medium landing ship LSM-92; as well as submarine chaser PC-877 and tank landing ship LST-716, 24°46'N, 141°19'E; friendly fire damages submarine chaser PCS-1461, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.

 

Submarine Hammerhead (SS-364) intercepts Japanese convoy, sinks escort vessel Yaku 15 miles south of Cape Varella, French Indochina, 12°42'N, 109°30'E, and eludes counterattack by Coast Defense Ship No.31.

 

District patrol craft YP-94, aground and damaged off Tugidak and Sitkinak Islands, Aleutians, since 17 February, breaks in two and sinks.

 

USAAF B-25s (Fifth Air Force) on antishipping sweep off French Indochina, attack Japanese convoy HI-88-G and sink submarine chaser Ch 35, and damage submarine chaser Ch 20 and small tanker No.35 Nanshin Maru off Cape Padaran, 10°15'N, 107°31'E.

 

Japanese merchant cargo ship Bizan Maru is damaged by aircraft, 23°14'N, 116°49'E.

 

Mediterranean

Conversion of tank landing ships into seatrain LSTs is completed at Palermo, Sicily. LST-32 is to ferry roling stock from Bizerte, Tunisia, to Reggio, Italy; LST-140 is to ferry rolling stock from Oran, Algeria, to Marseilles, France.

 

Open lighter YC-693 is struck from the Naval Vessel Register this date.[5]

 

Europe

U.S. freighter Jane G. Swisshelm is damaged by explosion of V-2 rocket at Antwerp, Belgium. Only three men of the combined complement of 8 officers, 36 enlisted men, 27 Armed Guards and one passenger report any injuries.

 

U.S. freighter Henry Bacon, straggling from Scotland-bound convoy RA 64, is sunk by German planes after her Armed Guard puts up a stiff fight against a large number of attacking aircraft, 67°00'N, 07°00'E. Seven of the 26-man Armed Guard die in battle. British destroyers HMS Opportune, HMS Zest and HMS Zambesi rescue the survivors.

Marc

[mtaylor]

Marc,

You duplicated Feb 23 for the 24th.  If you'll post for the 24th, I'll kill off the duplicate.

[Kevin]

25th February 

 

 

1761

Adam Duncan promoted Captain into HMS Valiant (74).

1798

HMS Marquis of Coburg sunk Revanche.

1811

HMS Shamrock (8), Lt. Wentworth Parsons Croke, wrecked on Cape Santa Maria

1813

HMS Linnet (14), Lt. John Tracey, taken by French frigate Gloire (40), Cptn Albin-Réné Roussin, in the Channel.

1814

HMS Eurotas (38), Cptn. John Phillimore, captured Clorinde (42) about 250 miles south of Cape Clear

1861

USS Saratoga, member of U.S. African Squadron, captures slaver sloop Express 

[flying_dutchman2]

Marc,

You duplicated Feb 23 for the 24th.  If you'll post for the 24th, I'll kill off the duplicate.

I am so sorry, will not happen again.

Marc

[mtaylor]

I am so sorry, will not happen again.

Marc

 

No worries... crap happens. 

[Kevin]

26th February 

 

 

1705

HMS Harman fireship sank off Port Royal, Jamaica.

1813

Island of Ponza taken by HMS Thames (32), Cptn. Charles Napier, HMS Furieuse (38), Cptn. William Mounsey, and army units.

1815

HMS St. Lawrence (12) taken by American privateer brig Chasseur (14), Cptn. Thomas Boyle, off Havana.

HMS Statira (38), Cptn. Spelman Swaine, struck an uncharted rock and sank off Cuba.

[Kevin]

Marc you can still change the duplicated post with out taking everything out of sync

[flying_dutchman2]

Marc you can still change the duplicated post with out taking everything out of sync

Kevin;

I'll just continue with today and consider the mix-up as a minor glitch in my thought process.

Marc

[flying_dutchman2]

February 26

 

1590 - Mauritius of Nassaus sails to Breda.

1804 - Vice-admiral William Bligh ends siege of Fort Amsterdam, Willemstad.

1811 - Congress authorizes first naval hospital.

1852 - British frigate Birkenhead sinks off South Africa-458 die

1913 - Approval of experimental wind tunnel for Navy.

1944 - 1st female US navy captain, Sue Dauser of nurse corps, appointed

 

WWII - 1940

February 26, Mon. --

Captain Raymond A. Spruance relieves Commander Reuben L. Walker as Commandant Tenth Naval District.

U.S. passenger liner Washington is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities.

 

194 - February 26, Thu.

Pacific

Submarine S-38 (SS-143) bombards Japanese radio station on enemy-occupied Bawean Island, that had been set up the previous day.

Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-25 reconnoiters Melbourne, Australia.

 

Atlantic

Unarmed U.S. bulk carrier Marore is torpedoed, shelled, and sunk by German submarine U-432 off the North Carolina coast, 35°33'N, 74°58'W. U.S. tanker John D. Gill rescues 25 survivors; 15 more men land at Coast Guard Big Kinnakeet Lifeboat Station. There are no casualties.

 

U.S. tanker R.P. Resor is torpedoed by German submarine U-578 five miles off Sea Girt, Delaware, 39°47'N, 73°26'W; of the 41-man merchant crew and 8 Armed Guard sailors on board, one civilian and one Armed Guard sailor are rescued by submarine chaser PC-507. Coast Guard cutters Icarus (WPC-110) and Antietam (WPC-128), yacht Zircon (PY-16) and coastal minesweeper AMc-200 converge on the scene; Eagle Boat PE-55 attacks sound contact in the vicinity without result (see 1 March).

 

U.S. tanker Cassimir is sunk in collision with U.S. freighter Lara 48 miles from Frying Pan Shoals lightship, 33°28'N, 77°34'W.

 

 

1943 - 26 February, Fri.

Pacific

Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Kyo Maru No. 3 is mined and sunk off Rangoon, Burma, 15°36'N, 96°15'E.

 

 

1944 - 26 February, Sat. --

Pacific

Submarine Gato (SS-212) attacks Japanese convoy Wewak No.20 as it proceeds along the Palau-Hollandia track, and sinks passenger-cargo ship No.3 Daigen Maru about 140 miles northwest of Hollandia, 01°51'N, 139°00'E. Narita Maru rescues over 700 of the 1,200 troops being transported in No.3 Daigen Maru.

Submarine Grayback (SS-208) is damaged by land-based Japanese naval aircraft, East China Sea, 25°47'N, 128°45'E.8

 

Motor torpedo boat PT-251 runs aground during action with Japanese barges in southern Empress Augusta Bay; and is then sunk by shore battery, Solomons, 06°30'S, 155°10'E.

 

USAAF B-25s (14th Air Force) attack shipping in port of Tourane, French Indochina, sinking Vichy French surveying vessel Astrolabe and dredging ship Gilmot, 16°04'N, 108°13'E. Vichy officials consider Astrolabe a total loss, given the absolute impossibility of raising her with the means available in French Indochina.

 

Mediterranean

Tank landing ship LST-349 sinks after running aground off south coast of Italy, 40°55'N, 12°58'E; LCT-36 sinks after grounding off Naples.

 

 

1945 - 26 February, Mon. --

Pacific

Lieutenant General Millard F. Harmon, Commanding General, USAAF Air Forces, Pacific Area, departs Guam for Oahu, via Kwajalein, in his C-87 transport. The aircraft (its last reported position 11°15'N, 174°15'E) never reaches its destination. An extensive coordinated search by all services ensues for the next 20 days but fails to locate any trace of the missing plane or its passengers.

Off Iwo Jima, storm damages heavy cruiser San Francisco (CA-38), destroyers Colahan (DD-658), Halsey Powell (DD-686), Benham (DD-796), John W. Weeks (DD-701), Stephen Potter (DD-538), and Preston (DD-795); attack cargo ship Muliphen (AKA-61) is damaged in collision with heavy cruiser Salt Lake City (CA-25), 24°46'N, 141°19'E. Tank landing ships LST-760 and LST-884 are damaged by shore battery fire, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.

 

On Iwo Jima, Pharmacist's Mate Second Class George E. Wahlen, USNR, attached to a rifle company in the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines, retrieves a wounded leatherneck from in front of his company's lines and carries him to safety. Wahlen, wounded in the left eye before he accomplishes this heroic act, will continue to discharge his duties with similar courage over succeeding days (see 28 February and 2 March).

 

Light cruiser Pasadena (CL-65), 31°20'N, 141°15'E, and destroyer Porterfield (DD-682), 33°10'N, 143°30'E, are damaged by gunfire from Japanese guardboat that penetrates task group formation south of Honshu.

Minesweeper Saunter (AM-295) is damaged by mine off El Fraile island Luzon, 14°17'N, 120°38'E.

 

Planes (VC 82) from escort carrier Anzio (CVE-57) sink Japanese submarines I 368, 35 miles west of Iwo Jima, 24°43'N, 140°37'E, and RO 43, 50 miles west-northwest of Iwo, 25°07'N, 140°19'E.

 

Destroyer escort Finnegan (DE-307) sinks Japanese submarine I 370 120 miles south of Iwo Jima, 22°45'N, 141°27'E.

 

USAAF planes sink Japanese tanker No.9 Takasago Maru at 20°01'N, 111°44'E.

 

Japanese merchant cargo ship Zuisho Maru is damaged bygunfire, near Hong Kong.

 

Europe

U.S. freighter Nashaba, bound for Ghent, Belgium, in convoy TAM 91, sinks after striking a mine in the Schelde estuary, 51°22'18"N, 02°55'25"E. There are no casualties among the 27-man Armed Guard.

 

Marc

[flying_dutchman2]

egkb is very observant about a particular subject and asked me the following question:

 

I've noticed that on a lot of dates the British Authorities detained American vessels, however briefly, at Gibraltar!.. this little episode seems to have been virtually forgotten about and I was wondering if you had any knowledge as to why this practice was carried out?

I Googled the following:

"British authorities detained American vessels at Gibraltar"

 

After reading the site from the Gibraltar port authority and numerous newspaper articles, it is that everyone that passed the "rock" had to pay a duty tax and many ships smuggled contraband as well. These illegal activities continue to this day. For the longest time the Spanish did not recognize Gibraltar. Lots of illegal fishing by the Spaniards.

 

Gibraltar became one of Britain's most important possessions in the Mediterranean. It was a key stopping point for vessels en route to India via the Suez Canal. A large British naval base was constructed there at great expense at the end of the 19th century.

 

British control of Gibraltar enabled the Allies to control the entrance to the Mediterranean during the Second World War.

 

Here is the free book on Internet Archive - no copyright.

Title: American Rights & British Pretensions on the Seas.

The facts and the Documents, official and Other, Bearing upon the Present Attitude of Great Britain toward the Commerce of the United States.

 

Written in 1915 at Harvard University by a lawyer.

The first chapter explains a great deal and is very interesting.

 

https://archive.org/details/americanrightsbr00hale

 

Hope this answers your questions. There is a lot written about this subject and many countries have protested as well.

 

Marc

Edited February 26, 2014 by flying_dutchman2

[Kevin]

27th February 

 

 

1748

HMS Lizard (14) wrecked on the Scilly Isles.

1780

HMS Leviathan storeship foundered while returning home from Jamaica.

1806

HMS Hydra (38), Cptn. George Mundy, captured French national brig Le Furet (18), Lt. Demay, off Cadiz

1835

HMS Firefly Schooner (5), Lt. John M'Donnell, wrecked on reef near Belize.

[Kevin]

28th February 

 

 

1653

First day of Battle of Portland, or Three Days' Battle. Commonwealth Fleet under General at Sea Robert Blake attacked by Dutch Fleet under Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Tromp escorting merchant shipping through the English Channel.

1758

HMS Revenge (64), Cptn. John Storr, took Orphte.

HMS Monmouth (64), Cptn. Arthur Gardiner (Killed in Action), and HMS Swiftsure (70), Cptn. Stanhope, tookFoudroyant (80) off Toulon.

HMS Monarch (74), Cptn. John Montagu, drove ashore French Oriflamme (50) near Cape de Gato

1760

British squadron, under Cptn. Elliot, defeated a French squadron, under François Thurot (Killed in Action), off the Isle of Man.

1797

HMS Terpsichore (32), Cptn. Sir Richard Bowen, engaged Santissima Trinidad (136) damaged at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent

1799

HMS Sybille (44), Cptn. Edward Cooke (Killed in Action) captured French frigate Forte, Cptn. Beaulieu-Leloup, off Bengal River

1809

HMS Proserpine (32), Cptn. Charles Otter, captured by French frigates Peneloe(44)  and Pauline (44) off Cape Sicie, near Toulon.

1814

HMS Anacreon Sloop (16), John Davies, foundered in the Channel.

1844

Explosion of Peacemaker, experimental 14 inch gun, on board USS Princeton which killed eight, including U.S. Secretary of State Abel Parker Upshur and Secretary of the Navy Thomas Gilmer. Spared were the lives of U.S President John Tyler and his son, along with U.S. Senator from Missouri Thomas Hart Benton who were also among the dignitaries aboard for the demonstration of naval gunnery.

[mtaylor]

28th February 

 

 

1797

HMS Terpsichore (32), Cptn. Sir Richard Bowen, engaged Santissima Trinidad (136) damaged at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent

 

That was a gutsy Captain and crew on the frigate.... even a damaged Trinidad had to have been case of the mouse attacking the elephant.

[flying_dutchman2]

February 28

 

1653 - -Mar 3] 3 Day Sea battle English beats Dutch

1893 - Launching of USS Indiana (BB-1), first true battleship in U.S. Navy.

1959 - USS Strong rescues 13 Arab fishermen from Bahrain when their fishing boats floundered in a storm.

1980 - Blue crew of USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657) launches 4 Trident I (C-4) missiles in first C-4 Operational Test.

 

WWII

1942 - February 28, Sat.

Pacific

Battle of Java Sea, begun late the previous afternoon, concludes. Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro torpedoes and sinks Dutch light cruiser De Ruyter (Doorman's flagship, in which he is lost) while Nachi torpedoes and sinks Dutch light cruiser Java; remnants of the Allied force flee to Surabaya, sheltering briefly there before trying to escape to Australia. In the wake of the battle, submarine S-37 (SS-142) encounters boat from the sunken De Ruyter and recovers two U.S. Navy sailors who had been serving in a liaison capacity in the Dutch ship. Before continuing on patrol, the U.S. submariners provide the Dutch seamen with rations. S-37's sistership S-38 (SS-143) rescues survivors from sunken British destroyer HMS Electra.

Japanese land on north coast of Java. Battle of Sunda Strait begins shortly before midnight as heavy cruiser Houston (CA-30) and Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth (Captain Hector M. L. Waller, RAN), attempting to retire from Java, accidentally encounter Japanese transport force and escorting ships (Rear Admiral Takagi Takeo) in Banten Bay, Java, and engage them (see 1 March).

 

Minesweeper Whippoorwill (AM-35), while searching waters south of Tjilatjap for survivors of sunken seaplane tender Langley (AV-3), rescues crew of British freighter City of Manchester, that had just been torpedoed, shelled and sunk by Japanese submarine I-153 at 08°16'S, 108°52'E. Gunboat Tulsa (PG-22), in the vicinity on the same errand, takes on board the injured British merchant sailors and treats the wounded.

 

Atlantic

German submarine U-578 torpedoes and sinks destroyer Jacob Jones (DD-130) off the Delaware capes, 38°42'N, 74°39'W.

 

Unarmed U.S. tanker Oregon is torpedoed, shelled, and sunk by German submarine U-156 about 150 miles northeast of Mona Passage, 20°44'N, 67°52'W; U-156 machineguns the crew trying to launch one of the lifeboats, killing six men. One group of 26 survivors reaches Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, on 4 March; U.S. tanker Gulfpenn rescues other group of four men the following day.

 

PBY (VP 73) mistakenly bombs and damages submarine Greenling (SS-213) outside submarine sanctuary off New London, Connecticut.

 

1943 - 28 February, Sun.

Pacific

TBF (VGS 11) bombs Japanese shipping at Buin, and completes destruction of previously damaged ammunition ship Hibari Maru.

Japanese cargo ship Kashii Maru is sunk in collision with Kasagisan Maru off Shimoda, Honshu, 34°39'N, 138°58'E.

 

Mediterranean

U.S. freighter Daniel Carroll, in convoy TE 16, is torpedoed by German submarine U-371 off the coast of Algeria, 37°05'N, 04°02'30"E, but is towed by a British tug to Algiers, arriving there the following day; she suffers no casualties to either her merchant crew or her 27-man Armed Guard or 30 passengers.

 

 

1944 - 28 February, Mon. --

Pacific

Destroyer Abner Read (DD-526) is damaged by grounding off eastern New Guinea, 08°44'S, 148°27'E.

Submarine Sand Lance (SS-381) sinks Japanese transport Kaiko Maru just east of Musashi Wan, off Paramushiro, Kurils, 50°20'N, 155°26'E, but is later damaged when she runs aground off Paramushiro.

 

Submarine Balao (SS-285), in attack on Japanese convoy, sinks army cargo ship Akiura Maru and transport Sh_h_ Maru about 90 miles northwest of Manokwari, New Guinea, 00°06'N, 132°53'E.

 

 

1945 - 28 February, Wed. --

Pacific

TG 78.2 (Rear Admiral William M. Fechteler) lands Army troops (186th Regimental Combat Team, Reinforced, of the 41st Division) on Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island P.I.; TG 74.2 (Rear Admiral Ralph S. Riggs), consisting of three light cruisers and four destroyers, provides support. The operation is unopposed.

Off Iwo Jima, destroyer Bennett (DD-473) is damaged by aircraft bomb, 24°46'N, 141°19'E; destroyer Terry (DD-513) by shore battery, 24°48'N, 141°33'E and medium landing ship LSM-42, by mortar fire; collisions account for damage to submarine chaser PCS-1461 (with small craft), 24°46'N, 141°19'E, and tank landing ships LST-641 and LST-787, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.

 

On Iwo Jima, as the 3d Battalion, 27th Marines, battles a Japanese counterattack, Pharmacist's Mate First Class John H. Willis is wounded while administering first aid to casualties. Although evacuated to an aid station, he sneaks away, returning to the front lines and resuming his duties with his assigned platoon. Going to the aid of a wounded man in a shell hole, Willis is treating the casualty when enemy troops lob hand grenades into the position. Willis throws out eight in succession, but a ninth explodes in his hand killing him. His courageous actions, witnessed by his platoon, prompt them to repulse the Japanese thrust. For his conspicuous gallantry, Willis is awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.

 

Elsewhere on Iwo, Pharmacist's Mate Second Class George E. Wahlen, USNR, voluntarily rushes to the aid of an adjacent platoon that has suffered heavy casualties, treating 14 men before returning to his own unit. He braves heavy mortar and rifle fire to do so, actions that, together with that performed on 26 February, establish him as a hero in the eyes of the marines he serves (see 2 March).

 

USAAF B-24s attack Japanese convoy in Okinawa area, sinking motor sailship No.7 Kokoku Maru.

 

Atlantic

Destroyer escort Fowler (DE-222) and French L'Indiscret sink German submarine U-869 off Morocco, 34°30'N, 08°13'W.

 

 

Marc

Edited February 28, 2014 by flying_dutchman2