This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

[parsifal]

08 DECEMBER 1941 [CONT'D]
OPERATIONS
Pacific/Australia [contd]

Chinese steamers sheltering in the international zone
Steamer FEI HSING (KMT 625 grt) and Steamer HSIN YANGTSE (KMT 1108 grt) were seized at Shanghai on the 9th.

Salvage tug MARIE MOLLER (UK 593grt) and towing lighter AUTUMNLIGHT (UK 800 grt) were captured off Ningpo by Japanese forces. The tug and the lighter was taken to Tinghai, Chusan Islands.
[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Steamer MARY MOLLER (Aus 2698 grt) was seized by Japanese forces off Ningpo. The steamer was taken to Shanghai renamed KAIKO MARU and into Japanese service. She was sunk by US a/c off Hainan in 1945. .

Steamer KONG SO (UK 789 grt) was seized by Japanese forces near Hong Kong.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Salvage tug CARMEN MOLLER (UK 366 grt), towing lighters COTTONLIGHT (UK 438 grt) and RUNNINGLIGHT (UK 438 grt) were captured by Japanese forces south of Amoy. The ships were taken to Amoy and put into Japanese service.

Tender EDITH MOLLER (UK 645 grt), towing lighter TAIKOO 24 (UK 202 grt) and steamer LIEN SHUI (KMT 91 grt) were captured by Japanese forces south of Amoy. The ships were taken to Amoy.
[NO IMAGES]

Salvage ship ELSIE MOLLER (UK 1145 grt) was captured by Japanese forces off Amoy. The ship was taken to Amoy.
[NO IMAGES]

Salvage tug READY MOLLER (UK 268 grt) was seized by Japanese forces off Amoy. The tug was taken to Amoy.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer KIANGSU (UK 2676 grt), ship registered to the China Navigation company but in reality a British owned vessel. The ship was seized by Japanese forces off Amoy. The ship was ultimately lost in Singapore harbor in 1944.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer BEN NEVIS (UK 5356 grt) was captured by IJN forces in the China Sea outside Hong Kong. The steamer was taken to Hainan Island and the crew made prisoners of war. Renamed GYOKUYO MARU, the ship was sunk by torpedo from USN submarine SPADEFISH November 14th, 1944, East of China
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer SHINHWA (UK 1460 grt) was seized by Japanese forces off Hong Kong.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamers HSIN CHANG WO (UK 582 grt), KIA WO (UK 1311 grt), KIANG WO (UK 2209 grt), SHASI (UK 1327 grt), and SIANGTAN (UK 1195 grt); and tugs CHANG NING (UK 251 grt) and CHENGLING (UK 141 grt) were seized by Japanese forces at Ichang.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Barges B.1 (UK 477 grt) and B.2 (UK 477 grt); hopper barges CHUN PING (UK 426 grt), SHUN PING (UK 289 grt), and TUG 4 (UK 136 grt) and TUG 5 (UK 236 grt) were captured by Japanese forces at Tientsin.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamers KUT WO (UK 2665 grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Hankow. Lloyds have the ship surviving the war, enventually being scrapped (the ship was commissioned in 1895) in 1956.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer LOONGWO (UK 3923 grt), captured, other details unknown.

Steamer CHANGSHA (UK 2482 grt), captured near Hankow, finally lost to a US mine January 1945.

Steamer WOOSUNG (UK 3426grt), was captured near Hankow. Renamed to simply WOOSUNG MARU, she was lost in February 1943.

Steamer WUHU (UK 2938 grt) was captured by the Japanese, other details are not known.
[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Tugs CHINKONG (UK 250 grt), PATUNG (UK 48 grt), and CHENYANG (UK 144 grt) and MV ROOSTER (UK 34 grt) were seized at Hankow by Japanese forces.
[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Steamer HSIN PEKING (UK 1204 grt), en route Tongku to Hong Kong, was seized off the Yangtze Delta by Japanese forces. The Master of the steamer beached the vessel, but it was later refloated by the Japanese. She was renamed RAKUSAN MARU, damaged august 1945, not repaired. The ship was nicknamed the "pirate ship" in Japanese service

Steamers BRAMTOCO VI (UK 14 grt) and PAOWO (UK 2517 grt) and tug MIN WO (UK 287 grt) were seized by Japanese forces at Hankow.
[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Steamer KALGAN (UK 2655 grt), part of the China steamship co, but working under a British flag, was seized by Japanese forces at Bangkok. Renamed NISHI MARU, 1944 sunk by US air attack in Manila Bay.
[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Motor boat KIANG SI (UK 28 grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Kiukiang.
[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Lighter MIGHTYLIGHT (UK 399 grt) was seized by Japanese forces at the Parcel Island.

Welding vessel ANNE MOLLER (UK 20grt) seized by the Japanese in Shanghai

Steamer SHENG HWA (Nor 5492 grt), SteamerVEN KOH (Nor 5752 grt) were seized by Japanese forces in Japan. Steamer DUKAT (Nor 1350 grt) was captured at sea. The steamer was sent to Hie Che Chin Bay, north of Hong Kong. Steamer HAFTHOR (Nor 1350 grt) was seized by IJN DD URANAMI one hundred and twenty miles north of Khota Bharu. The captain and crew were put in boats and reached the Thai coast in three days. The steamer was renamed NIYO MARU for Japanese use. Steamer NGOW HOCK (Nor 1329 grt) was seized by Japanese forces in Camranh Bay
[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Steamer BEATRICE (Ne 4128 grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Yokohama.
Steamer BOYACA (Pan 2559 grt) was seized at Shanghai by Japanese forces.
Steamer CAPTELLA (Pan 2398 grt) was captured by Japanese forces off Saigon.
Steamer NEEDWOOD (Pan 2042 grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Tsingtao.
Steamer FOCH (Pan 2894 grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Yokohama while discharging cargo.
Steamer HERLEIK (Pan 1893 grt) was seized by Japanese forces at Chinwangtao while discharging cargo.
[NO IMAGES FOUND]
Saint Class Rescue Tug ST DOMINIC (RN 451 grt) was sunk by Japanese surface craft south of Saddle Island. The tug had been towing vessels SIANG NAN (UK 46 grt), TUNG KIANG (UK 49 grt), and KAI KOU (UK 56 grt) which were cut adrift. All the vessels were salved by the Japanese and towed to Shanghai.

Sister Ship Destiny

(Nationality unknown); all seized at Shanghai by the Japanese. Chinese crews were mostly murdered. European crews suffered a varying range of fates

Steamers HSIN TSEANGTAH (Allied 933 grt) with a cargo of coffee
Steamer KINTANG (Alled 435 grt), whilst unloading coffee
Steamer LING KONG (Allied 850 grt),
Steamer SUI TAI (Allied 1816 grt),
Steamer WANTUNG (1061 grt),

Coastal steamers and Lighters
HING SHUI (153grt),SCOT I.(274 grt), SUITING (296 grt), CHISOCO (23 grt), DUNVULIG (23 grt), FENG HUANG (28 grt), KA SOO (57 grt), PING KIANG (75 grt), PURSUIT (30 grt), SENG MAO (50 grt), SUNBEAM (34 grt), TAI SU (30 grt), TIEN ZEANG (14 grt), WINNER (20 grt), WU MING (15 grt), YUAN PAO (63 grt), A. P. C. 1 (53 grt), A. P. C. 2 (53 grt), A. P. C. 3 (53 grt),A. P. C. 4 (53 grt), AVERMIS (300 grt), B. G. O. D. No. 9 (54 grt), HENG KIAN G (38 grt), NEREUS (250 grt), CB B. No. 2 (256 grt), PROTEUS (250 grt), SAN KIANG (32 grt), STYX (300 grt), TETHYS (250 grt), TRITON (250 grt), CROSS (36 grt), WU KIANG (108 grt), barge ACHERON (165 grt), BARANG (54 grt), BEAUTYLIGHT (118 grt), CHERRYLIGHT (39 grt), ECHIDNA (450 grt), AN LEE (8 grt), KWAITUNG (48 grt), I.PING (935 grt), LUKADU (19 grt), LUNG CHONG No 1 (16 grt), TAN KIANG (38 grt), lighters B. G. O. B. No. 12 (39grt), HENG KIANG 5 (350 grt), LETHE (300grt), IV (199grt), VIII (199grt), XVI (199grt), PALANG (199grt), TAIKOO No. 2 (199grt), TAIKOO No. 6 (150grt), TAIKOO A. 1 (97grt), TAIKOO A. 2 (97grt), TAIKOO A. 3 (77grt), TAIKOO A. 6 (288grt), TAIKOO A. 7 (288grt), TAIKOO A. 8 (172grt), TAIKOO A. 9 (170grt), TAIKOO C 1 (150grt), TAIKOO B 12 (45grt), KAI SOO (57grt)

tugs EWO IV (982grt), EWO VIII (41grt), EWO IX (47grt), and FUMIN (45 grt), motor boat EWO X (10grt), communications boat PAOSHIH (10 grt), barges G. B. No. 2 and G. B. No. 3 (estimated combined tonnage 600 grt)

Motor Launches
DEBEN (15 grt), HARBOUR PILOT (15 grt), KWANG MING (37 grt), LUNG CHONG III (18 grt), MABEL (15 grt), MOLLER LINE No. 2 (4 grt), MOYNA (53 grt), SEA PILOT (6 grt), SHANGHAI PILOT (9 grt), SOY YUN (18 grt), and WINIFRED SAY-YUNG (39 grt),

Ocean going Steam Launches
GUTZHALL (136 grt), LUNG CHONG No. 2 (40 grt), and PLUTO (47 grt),

River Launches
MERRYLIGHT (69 grt),

Tugs
motor tug ANNETTE MOLLER (69 grt), salvage tug CHRISTINE MOLLER (800 grt), (undergoing repairs), salvage tug JESSIE MOLLER (530 grt), tug DIANA MOLLER (252grt), tug MERRY MOLLER (382grt), tug MURIEL MOLLER 969grt), tug MURIEL WOOD (23grt), tug APHRODITE I.(90grt), CHANGLO (248grt), tug HENG CHANG (35grt), tug HU MING (47grt), tug POOTUNG (86 tons), tug TAIKOO (88grt), and tug WATUNG I.(144grt), Ferry DEMETER (63grt), Stores Vessel DOROTHY MOLLER (12grt), Water Boats E. SHUI (91grt) and TIEN SHUI (84grt), yachts MIGNON (7grt), THAIS (10grt), and UNDINE (26grt), motor yacht EVELINE (13grt), steam yacht HAVEN (9grt), yacht INGOMAR (3grt), auxiliary yachts JENNIFER (8grt) and KERT (20grt), motor boat LOONG MOW No. 1 (21grt), motor oil barges REG. G. B. (57grt) and REG. G. B. 3 (60grt), oil barge T. J. 12 (45grt), iron barge SCAMANDER (246 grt), motor sampan M. S. No. 12 (22grt), motor boats MOW YEUN (11grt), RUTH MOLLER (22grt), and TAIKOO YANG (9grt), sailing vessels N. L. No. 32 (54grt), N. L. No. 33 (54grt), N. L. No. 34 (54grt), SHANGHAI RAMBLER (15grt) and VALERIE SHANGHAI (7grt), house boat TAI AN (19 grt),


USN CA HOUSTON departed Iloilo on the 8th to escort American auxiliary ships to the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). CL USS BOISE and DDs PAUL JONES and BARKER joined early on the 9th. On the 10th, these ships joined CVS USS LANGLEY and oilers TRINITY and PECOS, escorted by DDs STEWART and JOHN D. FORD which had departed Manila. Gunboats TULSA and ASHVILLE also sailed escorted by minesweepers LARK and WHIPPOORWILL. Somewhat later, Submarine depot ships HOLLAND and OTUS and yacht ISABEL also sailed. The ships arrived at Balikpapen on the 14th. On the 15th, CA HOUSTON with JOHN D. EDWARDS and STEWART departed Balikpapen with submarine tenders HOLLAND and OTUS. Oilers PECOS and TRINITY, CVS LANGLEY, and transport GOLD STAR also departed and were escorted by CLs BOISE and MARBLEHEAD.

Japanese transports AWAJISTAN MARU and AYATOSAN MARU were damaged by RAAF Hudsons at Khota Bharu. transport AWAJISTAN MARU (also known as TAKAO MARU) (Jpn 4282 grt) (some sources quote the tonnage as 9200 grt)had to be beached as a result of the damage. She was a total loss, but much of her cargo and the soldiers she was transporting made it ashore..
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Soon after the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor reached Shanghai, Japanese marines boarded the river gunboat WAKE (USN 350 grt). She surrendered without a shot being fired (the only US Navy ship to surrender during World War II). The gunboat was surrendered after scuttling of the gunboat by the crew failed. The Japanese later commissioned her into their navy, as the TATARA and subsequently gave her to its puppet Reorganized National Government of China based in Nanjing.

Gunboat PETEREL (RN 310 grt) was in the same vicinity, stationed at Whangpoo River, Shanghai, as a W/T station for the Consulate. Although Japan had not yet declared war on Great Britain, Japanese marines also boarded the PETEREL to demand her surrender. Her CO Cdr Polkinghorn attempted to stall for time, in order for the demolition fuses to be lit and the code books to be passed down a special chute in order to be burned in the boiler room. When his attempts failed, Polkinghorn told them to "Get off my bloody ship!" Incredibly, the Japanese complied and disembarked. Almost immediately the old IJN armoured cruiser IZUMO, the accompanying gunboat TOBA and Japanese shore batteries that had been stationed in the vichy controlled "French Concession" of the port opened fire at almost point-blank range. Despite being outnumbered and hopelessly outgunned, the PETEREL returned fire, using small arms and the deck-mounted lewis guns, the breechblocks of their main armament of 3-inch guns having been removed and taken to the RN dockyard in Hong Kong. The japanese suffered several casualties in this first battle, before PETEREL capsized and drifted from its mooring under heavy fire. The Japanese machine gunned both the surviving Royal Navy and locally recruited Chinese crewmen in the water. They were never buried, left to float in the river. 12 men including the CO were captured (10 RN and 6 chinese were shot in the water) were captured, with 7 of the survivors repatriated in mid 1942.

USN CV SARATOGA departed San Diego, escorted by DDs DENT, WATERS, and TALBOT. The ships arrived safely at Pearl Harbour on the 15th. The carrier was carrying eighteen Marine aircraft of VMF 221 to reinforce the Wake Island garrison.

US Army transports PRESIDENT JOHNSON, BLISS, ETOLIN, and PRESIDENT GARFIELD, en route to the Philippines, were ordered to return to San Francisco.

IJN submarines I.68 and I.69 were attacked south of Pearl Harbour by USN warships.

Interned Steamer VOLPI (FI 5292 grt), Steamer XXVIII OTTOBRE (FI 4888 grt), and Steamer SUMATRA (FI 4859 grt) were scuttled at Puket Harbour in Thailand. Though quickly changing sides , the kingdom of Siam (Thailand) was initially an allied nation, resisting the Japanese invasion for a short time. It is likely these vessels were raised and re-used by the Japanese.
[NO IMAGES FOUND]

Japanese bombers badly damaged gunboat PENGUIN (USN 1009 grt) at Agana, Guam by near misses. The gunboat was scuttled a mile and a half off the beach in deep water.

Japanese transports escorted by the 7th Gunboat Division, 15th Minesweeping Division, and 59th and 60th Submarine Chaser Divisions landed troops at Guam. The landings were supported by IJN CAs AOBA, KINUGASA, KAKO, and FURUTAKA with DDs KIKUZUKI, UZUKI, and YUZUKI.

IJN CL YUBARI, DDs HAYATE, OITE, MUTSUKI, MOCHIZUKI, YAYOI, and KISARAGI, patrol boats P.32 and P.33, and transports KINRYU MARU and KONGO MARU departed Kwajalein for the invasion of Wake Island. The operation was covered by CLs TATSUTA and TENRYU and submarines RO.60 and RO.61. On 8, 9, and 10 December, Japanese shore based aircraft from Kwajalein attacked Wake Island.

IJN MLs OKINOSHIMA, TOKIWA, and TSUGARU with two transports departed Kwajalein. On 9 and 10 December, the ships landed troops at Tarawa and Makin in the Gilbert Islands.

IJN CVL RYUJO launched 13 bombers and nine fighters to attack Davao. The DDs of the DesDiv 15 entered the Gulf of Davao, whilst the units of DesDiv 2 supported these operations.

IJN CL NAGARA and DDs UMIKAZE, YAMAKAZE, KAWAKAZE, and SUZUKAZE of DesDiv 22, CVS' CHITOSE and MIZUHO of the CarDiv 11, MLs ITSUKUSHIMA and YAEYAMA of the 17th ML Division, and seven transports joined the Takagi force on 9 and 10 December.

IJN submarine I.124 laid mines off Manila. During the night of 8/9 December, Japanese submarines I.121 and I.122 laid mines off Singapore. Submarine I.123 laid mines off Balabac.


Halder's Diary 08 December 1941

 

[Njaco]

I'M BACK - somewhat.

Sorry everyone. I contracted an infection that is so severe I almost went to hospital. I'm upright at the moment and will try to finish this thread.

MANY MANY thanks to Parsifal for keeping slots open!

 

[Njaco]

December 8 Monday
ASIA: China, having already been engaged in war with Japan since July 1937, formally declared war on Japan and Germany. The Second Sino-Japanese War had been undeclared up to this time despite being in its fifth year. In China, Colonel William W. Ashurst surrendered the US Marine Corps detachments in Tianjin, Beiping, Qinhuangdao (Camp Holcomb), and the American embassy to the Japanese. Japanese forces attacked Shanghai, China, occupying the city and capturing a small US garrison in the foreign section. Japanese Special Naval Landing Force troops captured US Navy river gunboat "Wake" before the gunboat's crew could scuttle her. River gunboat HMS "Peterel" acting as communications centre for the British Consulate in Shanghai, is boarded by Japanese Naval forces and given an ultimatum. When the ultimatum expires IJN cruiser "Idzumo" opens fire and sinks her in the port of Shanghai. US passenger liner "President Harrison", en route to northern China to evacuate US Marines, was captured by the Japanese at Sha Wai Shan, China. She was later refloated and pressed into service as "Kakko Maru" and later "Kachidoki Maru". British forces destroy bridges over the Sham Chun River.

70,000 Japanese in French Indochina and Thailand face 88,000 British, Australian, Indian and local Malay troops in Malaya. Japanese aircraft arrive at Songkla airfield, Southern Thailand, to begin air raids on Malaya and Singapore. Japanese troops landed on four beaches in southern Thailand. 143rd Infantry Regiment of Japanese 55th Division (under command of 25th Army) lands at Nakhorn, Bandon, Jumbhorn, and Prachuab. Japanese 5th Infantry Division conducts amphibious landings at Singora and Patani. The Titiwangsa Mountains divide the Malay peninsula, running North-South to the Thai border. The Japanese landings on the east coast of Malaya and Thailand convince the British to mass their defenses east of these mountains to meet the perceived threat; however, Japanese troops at Songkla and Pattani in Thailand cross the peninsula to advance down the Western side of Malaya. Local Thai forces, unaware of their government's agreement to allow free passage to the Burma border, put up a fierce resistance and killed 79 Japanese soldiers. Japanese 18th Infantry Division of 25th Army conducts amphibious landings at Kota Bharu protected by two battleships and six heavy cruisers under the command of Admiral Kondo and attacks Indian 9th Infantry Division. The British defenders under command of General Percival, have 3 divisions in Malaya but almost no tanks. Only one division is not committed to static defensive positions around air fields and possible landing sites. Of the 158 RAF planes, most are destroyed on the ground and the airfield at Kota Bharu is captured intact by the Japanese. RAAF and RAF aircraft attack Japanese invasion fleet and landing barges at Kota Bharu. Japanese transports "Ayatosan Maru", "Sakura Maru" and "Awajisan Maru" were sunk by RAAF bombers off Kota Bharu. Indian 9th Infantry Division is forced to withdraw from Kota Bharu overnight, leaving undamaged airfield, fuel, and supplies to the Japanese.

The Japanese 38th Division attacks the British colony of Hong Kong with only six battalions and 28 guns. British and Canadian troops begin a retreat to the "Gin Drinkers Line." British and Canadian garrison at Hong Kong was hopelessly outnumbered and beyond reach of any Allied help. Within less than two days the defenders would be forced to retreat to Hong Kong island itself. Japanese aircraft attack the Kai Tak airport on Hong Kong, destroying or damaging all six Royal Air Force aircraft in the first few minutes.

Chiang Kai-shek orders three Chinese armies from 4th War Area and 9th War Area to attack Japanese 23rd Army around Canton and Hong Kong to relieve British garrison, but no action materializes.

Orders were issued for arrest of all Japanese citizens in Singapore and Malaya and Orders were also issued to seize all Japanese shipping in Singapore harbor. Seventeen Japanese bombers from Saigon attack the city of Singapore leaving 61 dead and 133 wounded.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Allied convoy PQ-6 departed Hvalfjörður, Iceland.

The destroyers USS "Niblack" (DD 424), USS "Benson" (DD 421), and USS "Tarbell" (DD 143), part of U.S. Navy Task Unit 4.1.3 escorting Convoy HX-163, depth-charged sound contacts that were later classified as non-submarine.

CENTRAL AMERICA: Costa Rica, Dominica, Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua declared war on Japan.

EASTERN FRONT: On the northern flank of the Moscow front, attacks continue by Soviet 1st Shock Army, 16th Army, 20th Army, and 30th Army. On the southern flank of the Moscow front, Soviet 3rd Army and 50th Army attack while 61st Army assembles to join the offensive. Zhukov's offensive at Moscow has expanded to include all three fronts on the Moscow axis. Heavy fighting is reported at Kalinin, Klin, Solnechnogorsk, Istra, Tula and Elets. Active and severe fighting was now going on over a front of 175 miles. Most advances were limited to a few miles but some units had penetrated up to 20 miles since the 5th. The Soviet offensive broke through German Armeegruppe Mitte near Moscow, cutting the Klin-Kalinin road. The attacks at Klin were particularly serious for that town was the nexus for all the communication and supply roads for 3.Panzergruppe. Its loss would be a catastrophe for the Germans. Soviet 16th Army attacks Istra causing Hoepner's 4.Panzergruppe to fall back to prevent being trapped. Soviet 16th Army recaptured Kriukovo and 20th Army retook Krasnaya Polyana and pushed on to Solmechnogorsk. South of Moscow, Soviet cavalry units slice into both flanks of 2.Panzerarmee, beginning to encircle 3 infantry divisions at Livny. German units began making hasty withdrawals to prevent encirclement, abandoning large numbers of immobilized equipment in the process. German Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb of Army Group North pulls back across the frozen Volkhov River.

With fighting in Tikhvin, Hitler allows German 18.Armee to pull back. After contending with serious attacks by the Soviet 4th Army for several weeks, the XXXIX.Armeekorps (mot.) at Tikhvin, withdraws, loosening the cordon around Leningrad.

Hitler issues his Directive 39, plans for abandoning the offensive against Russia and holding until the spring. http://der-fuehrer.org/reden/english/wardirectives/39.html

Chelmno Concentration Camp near Lodz, Poland began gassings. It was the first large camp established for the purpose of mass exterminations. In groups of 80, all the 700 Jews evacuated here from Kolo were loaded into the back of a van. The exhaust pipe led straight into their compartment; the fumes suffocated them all. The van reached a wood where it disgorged its grisly contents. The corpses gold teeth and fillings were extracted with pliers. Their clothes and jewellery having been removed, the dead Jews were thrown into a mass grave. 10,000 Jews are marched out of the Riga Ghetto and taken to Rumbuli Forest where they are executed, completing the systematic execution of most Latvian Jews.

GERMANY: Adolf Hitler ordered the German Navy to begin attacking American shipping.

Japanese ambassador in Germany Hiroshi Oshima sent a note to Joachim von Ribbentrop, requesting Germany to declare war on the United States. Galeazzo Ciano called Joachim von Ribbentrop to discuss the American entry into the war. Ciano later noted that Ribbentrop was happy with this latest development.

MEDITERRANEAN: Allied Convoy arrives Alexandria from Malta.

NORTH AFRICA: Operation Crusader: Rommel begins the withdrawal from the siege of Tobruk in an orderly retreat. German strength in the area has been reduced to 40 tanks and the 90.leicht Division to the strength of two battalions. Between now and the 11th he will move his units back to Gazala. This shortening of his supply lines will help. The British allow Rommel to make an orderly retreat to the Gazala line. British tank crews are too weary after 19 days of battle and too wary of Rommel's anti-tank gun traps to pursue. British 7th Armored Division and Indian 4th Infantry Division advancing as Axis forces withdraw.

Multiple bombing missions and heavy air-to-air combat with many losses in the Tobruk - Gazala sector. Hans-Joachim Marseille shot down a P-40 fighter, his 30th kill, over El Adem, Libya at 0845 hours.

NORTH AMERICA: Roosevelt calls for Congress to vote on declaration of war against Japan. United States Congress declared war on Japan after Franklin Roosevelt's "a date which will live in infamy" speech. Senate votes 82-0 and House votes 388-1 to declare war on Japan. Representative Jeanette Rankin of Montana, a lifelong pacifist, is only member of Congress to vote against declaration of war on Japan. She also voted against war in 1917.

Canada declared war on Japan. 1,200 Japanese Canadian fishing boats are impounded. Japanese language newspapers and schools close.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Presidential Proclamation No. 2525, declaring "all natives, citizens or subjects of the Empire of Japan" living in the U.S. and not naturalized to be "liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as alien enemies." Roosevelt appoints J. Edgar Hoover as head of wartime censorship. With Roosevelt's authorization, J. Edgar Hoover orders FBI agents to begin arresting more than 1200 Japanese aliens. All private aircraft grounded and all commercial airlines asked to decline seats for Japanese passengers and refuse to accept packages from Japanese. Roosevelt ordered the Army to cooperate with the FBI in rounding up individual enemy aliens considered dangerous. Late last night American officers at the Mexican border were detaining all Japanese attempting to enter or leave the United States, according to a United Press dispatch from San Diego. The U.S. Treasury Department ordered that the bank accounts of alien enemies and all accounts in American branches of Japanese banks be frozen. This immobilized most of the liquid assets of the entire Japanese American community.

USAAF 1st Air Force assumes responsibility for air defense of US East Coast and begins recon patrols. USAAF 4th Air Force assumes responsibility for air defense of US West Coast and begins recon patrols. US aircraft of Alaska Defense Command flying recon patrols from Anchorage to Kodiak.

Edward Murrow and his wife Janet had dinner at the White House in Washington DC, with Eleanor Roosevelt. The dinner was arranged prior to the Japanese attack, and Murrow had expected the invitation to be canceled, but surprisingly Franklin Roosevelt insisted that the plans be kept. Although Roosevelt was too busy to join them at the meal, he would make sure to meet with Murrow for some time late in the evening.

A thousand volunteers were turned away from the Navy recruiting office in New York City because the staff did not have the facilities or time to process all that were wanting to join up.

Charles Lindbergh released a statement through the America First Committee that said:

"We have been stepping closer to war for many months. Now it has come and we must meet it as united Americans regardless of our attitude toward the policy our government has followed. Whether or not that policy has been wise, our country has been attacked by force of arms and we must retaliate."

San Francisco experienced its first air raid and blackout at 1815 hours. Some people reported hearing aircraft during the blackout. The master power switch at the Presidio was accidentally shut off and the harbor defenses were plunged into darkness. Mayor Angelo Rossi issued this proclamation: "To the people of San Francisco. I have declared an emergency in San Francisco. Under the powers conferred on me in this circumstance, I have coordinated all the proper departments of the City and County of San Francisco with the program of the Civilian Defense Council.".

NORTHERN EUROPE: The Finnish 4th Division takes defensive positions along southern part of Maaselkä Isthmus. Good defensive positions have been reached on all directions and Marshal Mannerheim and President Ryti decide not to continue attack towards White Sea, because it has become politically unwise, since it has become probable that Germans will lose the war and the US has threatened to declare war if Finns cut the supply of Lend and Lease equipment by taking Archangelsk.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Admiral Halsey entered Pearl Harbor with his carrier "Enterprise". Upon seeing the extent of the destruction, Halsey said;

"Before we're through with 'em, the Japanese language will be spoken only in hell."

The Malayan Campaign, Philippines Campaign, Dutch East Indies campaign, Battle of Guam, Battle of Wake Island and Battle of Hong Kong began. Vice Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue gave the order to the Japanese Navy Fourth Fleet at Truk, Caroline Islands to begin executing the plans to capture Wake, Guam (Mariana Islands), Makin (Gilbert Islands), Tarawa (Gilbert Islands), and other islands and atolls in the Pacific Ocean. The Japanese attack begins with the capture of Bataan Island and the creation of an airstrip for plane refueling. The main attack begins with massive air bombardment which reduces the American defenses to 17 B-17's and less than 40 fighters. Most of the planes are destroyed on the ground. In the Mariana Islands, Japanese land-based aircraft from Saipan attacked Guam, damaging various facilities and sinking minesweeper USS "Penguin" in Apra Harbor (1 killed, 60 wounded). All Japanese citizens on Guam were arrested. Japanese invasion fleet for Wake Island departed from Kwajalein while aircraft of the Japanese Navy 24th Air Flotilla (based at Roi-Namur, Kwajalein) attacked Camp One, Camp Two, and the airstrip on Wake. Wake is commanded by Navy Commander Winfield Scott Cunningham, and is defended by the First Marine Defense Battalion consisting of 450 men under Major James P.S. Devereux. Additionally, marine fighter squadron, VMF-211 under Major Paul A. Putnam was armed with 12 F4F-3 Wildcats. Japanese aircraft destroyed seven of the F4F-3 fighters as well as a 25,000-gallon capacity aviation gas tank. Meanwhile, Pan American Airways aircraft evacuated Caucasians from Wake Island, leaving airline staff of Chamorro ethnicity behind. Japanese Navy 11th Air Fleet land-based aircraft from Taiwan attacked US Army airfields on Luzon Island, Philippine Islands as well as shipping in Manila Bay. At the latter location, American freighter "Capillo" was abandoned after receiving heavy damage. Japanese Army aircraft joined in on the attack on this date also, striking Baguio and Tuguegarao at 0930 hours. North of Luzon, a Japanese force landed on Batan Island and established an air base. Detachment of Japanese 14th Army lands unopposed on Batan Island.

USAAF B-17 bombers at Clark Field on Luzon ordered into the air, but subsequently land prior to Japanese air attack. General MacArthur refuses to allow General Lewis Brereton to send his B-17 bombers to attack Japanese bases on Formosa. Brereton had been trying to get authority to launch these aircraft against the Japanese, but could not get in to see MacArthur, being told by his chief of staff, General Richard K. Sutherland, that the general was busy.

Approximately 200 Japanese aircraft bomb Tuguegarao, Baguio, Tarlac, Clark, and Cabanatuan on Luzon. Despite having received word of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor at 0230 hours in the morning, MacArthur's B-17s at Clark Field were still on the ground at 1220 hours pm when Japanese aircraft attacked the airfield. Two squadrons of B-17s and a squadron of P-40s were destroyed on the ground. 54 Mitsubishi bombers and 36 Zeros destroy the 17 B-17's 55 P-40s, and many other aircraft remaining at the field. Saburo Sakai of Japanese Navy Tainan Air Group, flying an A6M Zero fighter, attacked Clark Field in the Philippine Islands. He shot down one P-40 Warhawk fighter.

I-68 traveled to the entrance of Pearl Harbor to rescue any surviving midget submarine crews. Japanese submarine I-123 mined Balabac Strait in Philippine waters while I-124 mined the entrance to Manila Bay.

Striking Force of the US Navy Asiatic Fleet departed from Iloilo, Philippine Islands for Makassar Strait. The British Task Force "Z" consisting of the battleship "Prince of Wales" and battle-cruiser "Repulse", leave Singapore to intercept the Japanese invasion fleet. A note on the "Repulse's" wardroom wall read, "We are off to look for trouble. I expect we shall find it." The warships depart Singapore to prevent further landings from the Gulf of Siam (escorted by destroyers HMS "Electra", HMS "Express", HMS "Tenedos" and HMAS "Vampire" but no aircraft carrier is available and land-based air support has been destroyed).

The fourth Australian Hudson medium bomber arrived at Rabaul, Bismarck Islands. RAF Hudson aircraft bombed Japanese invasion shipping off Kota Bharu, British Malaya, setting cargo ship "Awajisan Maru" afire.

Japanese naval aircraft from carrier "Ryujo" attacked seaplane tender USS "William B. Preston" in Davao Gulf. The ship escaped intact, but two of the PBY Catalina flying boats she was tending were destroyed. Approximately 20 Japanese aircraft from IJN carrier "Ryujo" attack Davao on Mindanao Island.

Civilian Philippines Air Lines commandeered as part of US Army Air Forces, and Pappy Gunn commissioned as captain.

In Australia CMF Units were placed on full time duty. 51st Infantry Battalion, whose role was the defence of the Cairns Area, - the coastal strip north to Port Douglas and south to Gordonvale - moved into Sellheim camp for training.

In Australia all Japanese residents and nationals on Thursday Island were detained behind barbed wire in the Japanese quarter.


.

 

[Njaco]

DECEMBER 8 continued
UNITED KINGDOM: United Kingdom declared war on Japan. The French government-in-exile in Britain declared war on Japan. The Dutch government-in-exile in Britain declared war on Japan. A special session of parliament was held to hear the prime minister explain Britain's declaration of war against the Japanese empire. Churchill told MPs that he had intended to time Britain's declaration to follow America's, which required the approval of Congress, concluding with:

"We have at least four-fifths of the population of the globe upon our side. We are responsible for their safety and for their future. In the past we have had a light which flickered, in the present we have a light which flames, and in the future there will be a light which shines over all the land and sea.".

But then news reached London of a Japanese landing in Malaya. The cabinet at once approved the declaration, which was delivered to the Japanese envoy at 1300 hours. In his broadcast tonight, the prime minister gave a warning that the extension of the war will lead to a shortage of warplanes for the next few months.

The Luftwaffe returns over Britain. Bombs were dropped at isolated points in Yorkshire and many places in the counties of Northumberland and Durham. At Newcastle HEs fell in the Battlefield area killing five people. In addition to private property, a Civil Defence Mortuary was damaged by blast, and there were thirty-two casualties, five of which were fatal. IBs fell in Heaton slightly damaging the Meldon Social Club and a few houses. In the Urban District of Whitley Bay and Monkseaton property was damaged and the casualties included ten civilian and twelve service deaths besides several people injured. South Shields sustained damage to the river jetty and to the offices of the Town Improvement Commissioner in the dock area. At Pelaw fifty yards of colliery railway track was put out of action for a short time. At Boldon two people were killed and eighteen injured.

WESTERN FRONT: RAF Fighter Command flies a Ramrod and a Rhubarb operation. Lt. Erich Rudorffer of 2./JG 2 claims his fortieth victory.

.

 

[Njaco]

December 9 Tuesday
ASIA: Japanese troops continue to land at Kota Bharu, Singora and Patani. Japanese forces occupy Bangkok.Bitter fighting between British and Japanese troops took place for the airfield at Kota Bharu in British Malaya, while two groups of Indian troops crossed into Thailand to destroy roads and railroads. In Hong Kong, Japanese troops breached a western segment of the British Gin Drinker's Line, which stretched from the Gin Drinker's Bay (Zuijiu Wan) in the west to the White Sands Bay (Baisha Wan) in the east, at 225 High Ground north of Hong Kong Island. Overnight, they breach the British defenses, take 27 British POWs and capture this high ground dominating the Western end of the Gin Drinkers Line.

British in Northern Malaya send Laycol and Krohcol, small columns of Indian troops in armored cars, over the border into Thailand to destroy roads and railway lines. They meet stiff resistance from Thai police units and later from Japanese 5th Division advancing south from Pattani. Japanese 9th Infantry Brigade advancing south from Singora toward Jitra while 42nd Infantry Regiment advancing from Patani. Japanese 56th Regiment advancing from Kota Bharu southward along the coast. Japanese air attack on Butterworth airfield. Under Japanese air attack, RAF begin withdrawing from Kuantan airfield.

Thai government agrees to cooperate with Japan in exchange for continued independence, financial assistance, and delivery of warplanes, weapons, and other military equipment.

Kenkichi Ueda was awarded Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Orchidaceae of the puppet nation of Manchukuo and received a special medal to commenmorate the opening of the National Shinto Shrine of Manchukuo.

Chiang Kai-shek invites representatives of US, UK, and Soviet Union to Chungking for joint military conference about defeating the Axis nations.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-652 sank French ship "Saint Denis" 50 miles south of the Balearic Islands at 1400 hours, killing 3. The ship was sunk in a case of misidentification, as she flew the flag of Vichy France.

CENTRAL AMERICA: Cuba and Panama declared war on Japan. Cuba declared war, stating "We consider that this aggression by a non‑American state against the integrity and inviolability of an American state is such a case as is contemplated in declaration No. 15 of the Conference of Habana, by virtue of which all the nations of this continent should likewise consider themselves attacked in the same way and should act jointly."

EASTERN FRONT: The Soviet drive against Guderian's forces reaches and captures Elets. In the north, under General Meretskov, the Red Army retakes Tikhvin but cannot relieve the siege at Leningrad. The situation inside the city is desperate; rations are below the starvation level. Soviet 30th Army attacked north of Moscow, capturing many trucks and field guns abandoned by the German 3.Panzergruppe. Soviet 10th Army, 13th Army, and 50th Army continue attacking while 5th Cavalry Corps pushes into gap between German 2.Panzerarmee and 2.Armee. Soviet 52nd Army attacking in the Malaya Vyshera sector. Soviet 1st Shock Army captures Fedorovka. Zhukov ordered Red Army units to avoid frontal assaults, bypass German strong points and breakthrough on the flanks. Despite the victories, Soviet logistic situation was extremely poor largely due to the destruction of many vehicles at the hands of the Germans in the past few months. The German 112th Infantry Division manages to halt the 10th Army's advance along the Shat and Don rivers. Further South, Soviet cavalry recapture Yelets and continue the encirclement of German 45th, 95th and 134th Infantry Divisions at Livny.

"I order: 1. Categorically forbid you to conduct frontal combat with enemy covering units and to conduct frontal combat against fortified positions. Leave small covering forces against rear guards and fortified positions and seek to envelop them, while reaching as deep as possible along the enemy's withdrawal routes. 2. Form several shock groups in the armies consisting of tanks, submachine gunners and cavalry and, under the direction of brave commanders, throw them into the enemy's rear area to destroy fuel and artillery tractors. 3. Strike the enemy day and night. In the event units become exhausted, create pursuit detachments. 4. Protect of forces' operations with antitank defenses, reconnaissance and constant security, bearing in mind that, when withdrawing, the enemy will search for opportunities to counterattack..." - Zhukov directive to counterattacking forces.

GERMANY: Adolf Hitler arrived in Berlin, Germany at 1100 hours. He decided to declare war on the United States on this date, but decided to withhold the announcement until 11 Dec in order to have enough time to draft his speech.

MEDITERRANEAN: Italian cruiser "Luigi Cadorna" arrives at Benghazi with fuel supplies.

NORTH AFRICA: Multiple bombing missions and heavy air-to-air combat with many losses in the Tobruk - Gazala sector.

NORTH AMERICA: Franklin Roosevelt had his first "Fireside Chat" radio address since the United States had entered the war, noting that the Axis powers had been tainted with "a decade of immorality".

Lt. Gen. John L. DeWitt, Fourth Army commander at the Presidio, told Angelo Mayor Rossi: "

You people do not seem to realize we are at war. So get this: last night there were planes over this community! They were enemy planes! I mean Japanese planes!"

US Navy purchased 25 airborne search radar sets for service test in dive bombers and torpedo planes.

In Canada fear of Japanese invasion spreads on British Columbia coast. Government orders blackouts; closes Japanese-Canadian newspapers, schools. At a meeting of the Canadian Cabinet, Prime Minister William King worries that a Japanese assault on the west coast "seemed wholly probable".

NORTHERN EUROPE: German submarine U-134 mistakenly sank German ship "Steinbek" 20 miles off of northern Norway at 2100 hours; 12 survived.

PACIFIC OCEAN: USS "Swordfish" became the first US submarine to attack the enemy when she fired on a Japanese ship 150 miles west of Manila. Japanese destroyers "Ayanami" and "Yugiri" discovered Dutch submarine O 20 twenty miles east of Kota Bharu, British Malaya and attacked her with depth charges from 1100 to 1730 hours. O 20 was finally forced to surface after sundown and was scuttled. 7 were killed during the attack; 32 survived and were captured.

Japanese troops seized Tarawa and Makin in the Gilbert Islands. At Wake Atoll, Japanese Navy 24th Air Flotilla aircraft bombed Naval Air Station on Peale Island and Batteries A and E at Peacock Point. The Japanese Imperial Fourth Fleet (one cruiser, two light cruisers, six destroyers, two transports) heads north to take Wake Island.

Japanese submarines RO-63, RO-64, and RO-68 bombarded Howland and Baker Islands. It was believed that the US Navy had seaplane bases on those islands, but that intelligence was incorrect. Japanese submarine I-10 shelled and sank unarmed Panamanian-flag motorship "Donerail" 200 miles southeast of Hawaii; only 8 out of the 40 people onboard survived. Japanese aircraft and submarine I-65 spotted British battleship HMS "Prince of Wales" and battlecruiser HMS "Repulse". Torpedo bombers were launched from Saigon, occupied French Indochina, but they failed to locate the ships. Their mission compromised, HMS "Prince of Wales" and battlecruiser HMS "Repulse" turn south to return to Singapore.

Japanese aircraft commenced the bombing of Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands. Among the first targets in the capital city region was the US Army airbase Nichols Field. Japanese aircraft bombarded American defensive positions at Guam, Mariana Islands. Saburo Sakai, flying an A6M Zero fighter, attacked US positions in the Philippine Islands in poor weather.

Japanese aircraft attack Alor Star airfield, Malaya. From the two squadron of Blenheim light bombers based there, only one aircraft survived. Its pilot, Flight Lt A. S. K. Scarf single-handedly overcame strong enemy defenses to attack Singora airfield in the north. Attacked by 12 fighters on the way back, he was fatally wounded but landed his Blenheim bomber and saved his crew. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

UNITED KINGDOM: Winston Churchill sent Franklin Roosevelt a message requesting a conference on the war with Japan. Roosevelt initially intended to reject this request, wishing to give his top generals more time to research the situation to avoid the British dominating the conference.

It is announced that the Netherlands and Soviet governments have agreed to exchange ambassadors.

A Junkers Ju 88D presumed to have been shot down by Hurricanes of RAF No.43 Squadron, crashed into the sea, 10 miles off Seaham, Co Durham at 10.50 hours. The crew was listed as missing.

The call-up age for men reduced to 18 and conscription for single women between the ages of 20 and 30 for military service or other work was announced.

.

 

[Njaco]

And at this point, this thread will end. To continue on the Daily reports please check out the previous thread started by Syscom several years ago - which gave me the inspiration for this thread.

This day in the war in Europe 65 years ago

This day in the war in the Pacific 65 years ago.

It appears that since we went to the new server, we have lost the headers that gave the day's date. In the coming months I will try to correct that on these old threads.

Hope you enjoyed this!

 

[Njaco]

Two extra pics for today.....

.

 

[Old Wizard]

 

[Bertus Kerssies]

D

And at this point, this thread will end. To continue on the Daily reports please check out the previous thread started by Syscom several years ago - which gave me the inspiration for this thread.

This day in the war in Europe 65 years ago

This day in the war in the Pacific 65 years ago.

It appears that since we went to the new server, we have lost the headers that gave the day's date. In the coming months I will try to correct that on these old threads.

Hope you enjoyed this!

hello Njaco and Parsifal,

I enjoyed this thread very much. The threads by syscom are older an maybe not as accurate. Hope you will fill up gaps in it and expand it more? I will look what I have on the Royal Dutch Navy, as well in the European Theatre and the Pacific theatre.

Greetings,

Kerber

 

[parsifal]

08 DECEMBER 1941 [CONT'D]
Loss Of Force Z
IJN Adm Kondo with CAs ATAGO and TAKAO, BCs HARUNA and KONGO, and DDs ARASHI, HAGIKAZE, NOWAKE, MAIKAZE, IKAZUCHI, INAZUMA, ASASHIO, OSHIO, MICHISHIO, and ARASHIO proceeded south from Paulo Condore to meet Adm Kurita during the night of 9/10 December with CAs KUMANO, MIKUMA, MOGAMI, and SUZUYA and DDs FUBUKI, HATSUYUKI, and SHIRAYUKI and Adm Ozawa with CA CHOKAI and DD SAGIRI. From the assault area, CL SENDAI and DDs ASAGIRI, MURAKUMO, SHINONOME, USUGUMO, AMAGIRI, YUGIRI, AYANAMI, ISONANI, SHIKANAMI, and URANAMI. CLs KINU and YURA operating between Poulo Condore and Kurita's force was also brought up. IJN submarine I.58 sighted Force Z after midnight on the 10th and made an unsuccessful attack.

RNZN CL ACHILLES departed Suva for Port Moresby to join the BB PRINCE OF WALES group. The CL ACHILLES arrived at Port Moresby on the 11th. With the BB already lost, the CL departed on the 12th for Auckland, arriving on the 16th.

Meanwhile in Singapore, bad weather was preventing any clear picture of Japanese movements in the approaches to the Malay peninsula. Singapore's first-ever air raid occurred during the moonlit hours of December 8 when 17 Mitsubishi Nell bombers, flying from Indochina, raided the port and did negligible damage to the town and nearby airfield installations. The dockyard was not hit, but the antiaircraft guns of both ships joined in the defense of the city as searchlights sought out the intruders flying overhead in a neat, orderly formation. This impressed the urgency of the situation on Phillips' mind and reinforced his desire not to get caught dockside as the American battleships had at Pearl Harbor only hours before (December 8 in Singapore was the same as December 7 in Pearl Harbour due to the location of the international date line).

That morning brought news of several Japanese landings at points along the Malaysian coast. Phillips considered his options. At midday on the 8th Adm Phillips convened a meeting aboard his flagship to consult with his staff and the ships' commanders, but his mind was already made up. Every hour's delay allowed the Japanese to consolidate their foothold in Malaya, and though his fleet was small, it could still do considerable damage if it managed to catch the Japanese invasion fleet unawares; in among the thinly armored transports, he could wreak unimaginable havoc. He stated that "We are Going to Look for Trouble"

He ordered his fleet to slip out after dark to avoid possible Japanese spies on shore. He also arranged with the Malaysian RAF commander, Air Vice-Marshal C.W.H. Pulford, to conduct reconnaissance sweeps the following morning and to have a squadron of Buffalo fighters, designated the "Fleet Defense Squadron," on call to provide air cover if needed. Phillips was well aware that by entering the Gulf of Siam he was placing himself within range of the considerable Japanese air forces in French Indochina, but he made a calculated gamble that there were no aircraft stationed there with the range to attack his ships and, more importantly, that there were no torpedo-carrying aircraft in the immediate vicinity. Taken in view of the previous night's air raid, it is hard to understand how he arrived at this conclusion, so sure was he of his fleet's supremacy. "We are going to look for trouble," Captain Tennant announced to his men aboard the REPULSE echoing the statements of Adm Phillips. "I expect we shall find it."

Accompanying Force Z was a screen of four destroyers: HMS ELECTRA, EXPRESS, TENEDOS, and RAN HMAS VAMPIRE. Course and speed were set so the fleet would arrive off Kota Bahru, the main invasion beaches, in the early morning hours of the 10th. There Phillips planned to make a dash among whatever Japanese shipping could be found there.

 

[parsifal]

Halder's Diary 08 December 1941

 

[parsifal]

09 DECEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
DKM Type VIIc U-659

Allied
US PC 461 and 462

Losses

UBOATS
Arrivals
Bergen: U-654
Brest: U-201
St. Nazaire: U-402, U-573

Departures
Kiel: U-128
Kristiansand: U-566
Lorient: U-108
Messina: U-557
St. Nazaire: U-74

At Sea 10 December 1941
U-43, U-67, U-68, U-74, U-81, U-86, U-105, U-108, U-124, U-126, U-127, U-128, U-129, U-130, U-131, U-134, U-205, U-332, U-371, U-372, U-374, U-375, U-431, U-434, U-451, U-453, U-557, U-559, U-562, U-565, U-566, U-568, U-574, U-575, U-584, U-652, U-752, UA

37 Boats

U-124 was shelled by the coastal battery at Fort Thornton off the harbour of Georgetown on Ascension Island, but was undamaged.

U-332 was severely damaged from an attack by a British aircraft which forced U-332 to return to France. This was the second aircraft attack in three days.

While inbound to refuel at Vigo, Spain U-575 was located and depth charged. On arriving at Vigo two days later the damage was found to be so severe that the boat returned to France instead of proceeding to the Mediterranean.

OPERATIONS
North Sea
Steamer MADRID (Ger 8777 grt) was sunk by the RAF near Den Helder.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Northern Patrol
US BBs IDAHO and MISSISSIPPI departed Hvalfjord for Boston.

DDs ONSLOW, IMPULSIVE, and ORIBI departed Hvalfjord for Scapa Flow arriving on the 11th.

Northern Waters
U.134 sank steamer STEINBEK (Ex Ne 2185 grt) in error off Tanafjord. OKM investigated the case of friendly fire and came to the conclusion that Schendel (the U-boat commander) made the incomprehensible mistake to think that is it possible that an enemy convoy sails with course west so close to the Norwegian coast under German control. They blamed the commander with the sole responsibility for this incident and overworked the orders for U-boats operating in the Norwegian coastal waters. However BdU came to the conclusion that mitigating circumstances existed. The commander was not informed about the sailing times or the positions of the German ships in that area. It was the first patrol of the U-boat and commander in the relative new combat area of the Arctic waters.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

BB DUKE OF YORK departed Scapa Flow for the Clyde, escorted by DDs FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, and MATABELE. On the 10th BB was recalled to Scapa Flow, arriving on the 11th, again departing on the same day and arriving in the Clyde on the 12th.

CL ARETHUSA departed Scapa Flow for Sullom Voe, arriving later that day for Operation KITBAG. This was a raid in Norway by British commandos of no 6 and no 12 commando.

DDs INGLEFIELD, INTREPID, and OFFA and LSI PRINCE CHARLES departed Scapa Flow at 0300 for Sullom Voe for Operation KITBAG. The ships arrived at 1400 that day and joined DD ICARUS already there.

CL ARETHUSA departed Sullom Voe on the 11th for Blue Mull Sound in the Shetlands to cover Operation KITBAG.

DDs INGLEFIELD, INTREPID, ICARUS, and OFFA and LSI PRINCE CHARLES departed Sullom Voe for Operation KITBAG on the 11th.

Operation KITBAG was abandoned on the 12th due to low visibility and navigational difficulties. CL ARETHUSA arrived at Scapa Flow on the 12th. The rest of the ships in the Operation arrived back at Scapa Flow on the 13th.

The army units in the operation included detachments from No. 6 and No. 12 Commandos, with some Norwegian soldiers, to take part in a raid on the town of Florø. Embarking on LSI HMS PRINCE CHARLES, an infantry landing ship, they set out from Scapa. During the voyage an incident occurred while some of the men were priming grenades for the raid which resulted in six men were killed and another 11 were seriously wounded, nevertheless the decision was made to continue with the raid. In the end, however, due to navigational difficulties the operation was eventually called off when the naval commander was unable to locate the fjord upon which Florø was located.

Convoy QP.3
MSW HUSSAR arrived at Scapa Flow on the 9 December.

West Coast
ML cruiser MANXMAN departed Scapa Flow for Milford Haven, arriving on the 10th.

Allied Convoy WS14
Troop convoy WS.14 with ships departing Liverpool on the 7th and the Clyde on the 8th rendezvoused for ocean passage on the 9th. The convoy was composed of steamers TROILUS, CITY OF PRETORIA, EMPIRE CURLEW, WARWICK CASTLE, EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA, EMPIRE ORIOLE (which fell out on the 11th), EMPIRE CONDOR, ORESTES, SCYTHIA, ORONSAY, ANDES, ABOSSO, ESPERANCE BAY, REINA DEL PACIFICO, ORCADES, DUCHESS OF ATHOLL, STRATHALLAN, CAMERONIA, HMS ENGADINE, DURBAN CASTLE, ATHLONE CASTLE, EMPIRE PEREGRINE, HIGHLAND PRINCESS, HIGHLAND MONARCH, EMPIRE EGRET, EMPIRE WIDGEON, EMPIRE PINTAIL, CLAN CAMERON, and HMS CILICIA. The convoy was escorted by antiaircraft ship ULSTER QUEEN and destroyers WESTCOTT, BEVERLEY, SHERWOOD, CROOME, LANCASTER, NEWARK, and WITHERINGTON from 9 to 12 December. DDs NESTOR, GURKHA, and FOXHOUND escorted the convoy from 9 to 13 December. On 3 February, the convoy arrived at Batavia whilst a second portion which had detached on the 22 January, with WS.14B with steamers ORESTES, EMPIRE ORIOLE, EMPIRE PINTAIL, HIGHLAND MONARCH, EMPIRE EGRET, THYSVILLE, SALWEEN, and MENDOZA escorted by CL CERES. The convoy, less THYSVILLE, arrived at Aden on 26 January. Steamer THYSVILLE arrived at Aden on 27 January. WS.14B was steamers NOVA SCOTIA, ESPERANCE BAY, CLAN CAMERON, DUNERA, EMPIRE CONDOR, EMPIRE CURLEW, DILWARA, EMPIRE PEREGRINE, EMPIRE WIDGEON, and ANDES. The convoy was escorted by AMC CORFU and arrived at Bombay on 28 January.

Allied Convoy ON 45
Convoy ON.45 departed Liverpool, escorted by DD WANDERER, corvettes AUBRETIA, HEARTSEASE, and ROSELYS, and anti-submarine trawlers ANGLE, DANEMAN, and KING SOL. The escort was detached on the 16th when the convoy was dispersed.

Convoy SC.56
The remaining escorts were detached from the escort on 9 December before the convoy arrived at Liverpool on 10 December.

Western Approaches
Convoy ON.43
Corvette ROSTHERN was detached on the 9th.

Convoy ON.44
The convoy was joined on the 9th by DDs NEWMARKET and WATCHMAN and corvettes ARABIS, DAHLIA, MONTBRETIA, and ROSE.

SW Approaches
Convoy OG.77
Escorts were detached to accompany ships proceeding to Portuguese or Spanish ports on 9 December. The escorts detached rejoined the convoy. Sloop DEPTFORD and corvettes VETCH, SAMPHIRE, PENSTEMON, and CONVOLVULUS departed Gibraltar on an ASW sweep on 9 December and joined the convoy on 13 December for additional escort.

Channel
FV BURGERMEISTER SCHMIDT (Ger 500 grt) was sunk by the RAF at Brest.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Med/Biscay
CLs NEPTUNE, AURORA, and PENELOPE and DDs KANDAHAR and JAGUAR departed Malta to intercept a reported convoy. The ships arrived back at Malta on the 10th without making contact.

CLA NAIAD and DDs GRIFFIN and HOTSPUR departed Alexandria to sweep off Derna. At daylight on the 10th, the ships bombarded Derna scoring some hits on a merchant ship in harbour. Withdrawing to the eastward, the ships were taken under heavy air attack. CLA NAIAD sustained some damage from a near miss. The ships arrived back at Alexandria on the 11th.

RAN CL HOBART departed Alexandria to return to the Pacific. The cruiser departed Aden on the 13th.

RM CLs DI GUISSANNO and BARBIANO departed Palermo with a cargo of gasoline for Tripoli. The cruisers were sighted by Malta aircraft south of Trapani and were forced to return to Palermo.

Submarine PORPOISE badly damaged steamer SEBASTIANO VENIER (FI 6311 grt), returning from Benghazi with 2000 prisoners of war, five miles south of Navarino. Hospital ship ARNO was able to rescue 1800 of the prisoners. Submarine TORBAY sank the steamer off Cape Methene on the 15th.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

U.652 sank steamer ST DENIS (Vichy 1595 grt) south of Balearic Islands. At 1242 hrs on 9 December 1941 U-652 passed the unescorted and Vichy SAINT DENIS about 60 miles south of Mallorca, Balearic Islands and intercepted a radio message that reported their position on the distress frequency. The Germans also noticed inadequate neutrality markings and therefore ordered the ship to stop for examination, but instead of sending a boat with the ship's papers a further radio message was sent, stating that the ship was being attacked by a U-boat and again mentioning their position. Due to this hostile action U-652 hit the ship with a first torpedo at 1401 hrs, followed by a coup de grace ten minutes later. SAINT DENIS sank immediately after being struck amidships by the second torpedo. The crew had abandoned ship after the first hit, but three men were lost.

Submarine URSULA arrived at Gibraltar from Malta.

Submarine SEVERN arrived at Gibraltar from Freetown.

Corvette AZALEA attacked a submarine contact nine miles 280° from Cape Spartel. DD HESPERUS sighted a submarine and attacked it without result. On the 11th, DD HESPERUS attacked a contact five miles 325° from Cape St Vincent.

Nth Atlantic
Convoy SC.57
DD OTTAWA and corvettes ARVIDA, BATTLEFORD, POLYANTHUS, PRIMROSE, SHERBROOKE, and TRAIL were detached on 9 December.

Corvettes ALISMA, KINGCUP, and SUNFLOWER and ASW trawlers LADY ELSA and LE TIGER joined on 9 December.

Sth Atlantic
Allied convoy WS.12X
The convoy arrived at Capetown on 9 December. The original destination was Basra, but the convoy was ordered to Singapore, via Bombay. The US escorts were detached at Capetown.

Pacific/Australia
Failed attack on Wake Island
The Japanese set out on the 9th December and approached the island early on the morning of 11 December, and the warships began to bombard the island at a range of 8,200 meters (9,000 yd) at 0530. As none of the six 5' coast-defense guns replied, rear Admiral, commander of the invasion forces, ordered his ships to close the island, believing that the American guns had been destroyed by the earlier aerial attacks. Encouraging this, the US marine commander Major James Devereux, commander of the USMC garrison, had ordered his men to hold their fire until he gave the order to do so. After the Japanese ships had closed to a range of 4,100 meters (4,500 yd), he ordered his guns to open fire. Battery L, based on Peale Islet, engaged their closest target, the HAYATE, and hit her on the third salvo After a large explosion aft, she broke in half and sank within two minutes

, two miles (3.2 km) southwest of Wake. The location of the explosion makes it probable that the shells struck one of the aft torpedo mounts, or, less likely, the depth charges on the stern. Only one man from the 169 men aboard was rescued. She was the first warship lost by the Japanese during the war. The quick loss of HAYATE and the KISARAGI and the near misses around his flagship CL YUBARI, caused Kajioka to order his forces to disengage.[9]

Japanese forces attacked Wake Island on 10/11 December, Mutsuki Class DD KISARAGI (IJN 1336 grt) was lost in the attack. KISARAGI was carrying a large load of depth charges. There were no survivors on the destroyer from a crew of some one hundred and fifty.

Kamikaze Class DD HAYATE (IJN 1410 grt) was also sunk in this action

CLs YUBARI, TENRYU, TATSUTA, DDs OITE, YAYOI, and MUTSUKI, and troopship KINRYU MARU were damaged by American aircraft and shore gunnery.

Nineteen men were wounded on destroyer OITE. One man was killed and seventeen wounded on destroyer YAYOI. Five men were wounded on TENRYU.

Also on this day, Wake was hit by 51 Japanese aircraft. Flak damaged a number of aircraft, with Japanese with thirteen airmen killed and thirteen wounded. The Japanese were unable to capture the island. The Japanese forces returned to Kwajalein on the 13th.

Minesweeping coaster BANKA (RN 623 grt) was sunk by mining at Tioman. 44 of the crew were lost
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer ON.LEE (UK 1026 grt) was scuttled at Hong Kong. It is unknown if the Japanese salvaged and re-used her.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Japanese submarine I.10 sank steamer DONERAIL (Pan 4473 grt) with gunfire. On December 9th, 1941, Japanese submarine I-10 narrowly avoided being rammed by accident by the unarmed Panamanian-flag motorship DONERAIL, 200 miles SE of Hawaii. Initially I-10 crash dived then rose to periscope depth and fired one torpedo at the ship. The torpedo missed so the I-Boat surfaced and began to fire her deck gun, firing 20 shells. One of the shells hit the starboard lifeboat, swung out for lowering, which held the passengers with two women, 4 men and an 18 month old baby. None survived. Of the 36 sailors and 7 passengers, only 24 crew were able to make it for the boats. After an incredible journey of 2500 miles and a 38 day ordeal, the lifeboat made it to Tarawa, Gilberts, but with only only 8 are still alive.

Steamer GRAN (Pan 1983 grt) was captured by Japanese forces at Bangkok.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer ISLAS VISAYAS (Pan 516 grt) was stopped by an IJN naval trawler and ordered to Nampang Island (an island off the Chinese coast mid way between Hong Kong and Hainan) . The steamer was seized by Japanese forces on the 9th.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer KANTUNG (Allied 1665grt) and steamer MACAU (Allied 1665 grt) were sunk as blockships at Anking Harbour.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

 

[parsifal]

09 DECEMBER 1941 (Cont'd)
Loss Of Force Z
By 0713 hrs on the 9th Force Z had cleared the Japanese minefield off Anambas without incident, and the crews were allowed to have breakfast, the morning's "Action Station" being relaxed to "Second Degree Readiness," all guns loaded but only partially manned. The day wore on with clear blue skies but increasing scattered clouds, and at 1 pm Force Z passed the halfway mark to the anticipated battle area. At this time they were within 360 miles of the Japanese airfields ringing Saigon. Every hour's steaming took them closer to the enemy aircraft stationed there, but thus far the British ships had still not been spotted. Extremely heavy cloud cover helped hide the British ships from prying eyes all day on the 9th.

It was here that luck began deserting them. Expecting the two capital ships based at Singapore to sail as soon as they received word of the landings, the Japanese had increased aerial reconnaissance and stationed two picket lines of submarines in the waters to the north of the naval base, but they had stationed them close inshore, not anticipating that the British ships might make a wide sweep out to sea on their journey north. During the morning, Force Z unknowingly passed the first of these picket lines without being spotted and had just reached the second, being on the point of eluding them, when the last submarine, stationed at the very end farthest out to sea, caught a glimpse of two ships to the east at their extreme limit of visibility. At first thought to be DDs, it wasn't long before I-65's captain had correctly identified them as a KG V-class BB and accompanying BC. The Japanese submarine then settled down to shadow them for as long as possible. Thus Force Z had nearly missed being spotted by a scant mile or two; in fact, Force Z was so far from I-65 that their DDs were invisible to the enemy.

I-65 immediately reported this sighting, but due to an inexplicably complicated signals organization, it was nearly four hrs before the relevant Japanese commanders received the news. Ground crews worked feverishly to arm 126 aircraft—all they had not supporting ground operations—with torpedoes and bombs, while their crews were briefed on the best places to search. Four reconnaissance aircraft were immediately dispatched from Saigon and six floatplanes launched from seven Japanese cruisers in the area. The transports lying off Khota Bharu were immediately turned eastward, out of range of the impending action, so by dawn the British would find an empty harbor if they were to make it that far. By sunset the British ships sailed blindly on, still dedicated to their mission, unaware that by this time their prey had fled, making their presence now pointless, or that they had been sighted and that every Japanese ship and aircraft around was eagerly searching for them.

Soon after sunset Force Z dispatched TENEDOS. Small, it was at the point beyond which it could not steam and yet still return to Singapore, and Phillips would not slow for an at-sea fueling. Unknown to the British, they had been sighted yet again, this time by a floatplane from the cruiser KINU reporting their current course and speed, and soon the Japanese had two more confirming reports from floatplanes. By now Phillips realized he had been sighted, but still continued on his course, unsure of what action to take. Within the hour every Japanese aircraft began converging on Force Z's reported position, at extreme danger to the Japanese themselves, because by now it was dark with four hours yet to moonrise. Four aircraft were lost during the search due to accidents. More mistakes were bound to happen, and would.

At one point a reconnaissance aircraft, piloted by Lieutenant H. Takeda, flew over the foamy wake of two large ships and immediately banked away unseen to get off a sighting report. Before long 53 bombers were racing to the position from all points, and Takeda circled over the target, awaiting their arrival. As the aircraft began positioning themselves preparatory to launching an attack, Takeda dropped a flare designed to illuminate the target for his comrades, and discovered that he was actually over the IJN CA CHOKAI, carrying Vice-Admiral Ozawa himself, commander of the invasion fleet. Ozawa's crew immediately spotted three aircraft lining up for attack and frantically signaled her identity to Saigon. Aware of the near-disaster, CHOKAI immediately veered away to the north, all aircraft were recalled, and the search was postponed until daylight.

This minor incident had enormous ramifications; neither side knew that a major nighttime naval engagement had been narrowly avoided. Vice-Admiral Ozawa's force of six cruisers was steaming south to the latest reported position of Force Z, which was at that time steaming north on a collision course with the enemy fleet. Ozawa had no idea the British were as close as they were; Phillips also had no idea that any Japanese vessels were in the area. At 0630, a half-hour after TENEDOS's departure, a lookout aboard ELECTRA sighted a flare on the horizon. Startled, Phillips ordered all ships to make an emergency turn to port to pass well clear of the flare's position, while he pondered what to do.

At this point the two converging fleets were barely five miles apart—at their respective closing speeds they would have blundered into one another in less than 10 minutes. With their superior firepower the British battleships would most likely have blown the Japanese ships out of the water and changed the course of future events. Neither side realized how close they had been to what could well have been one of the decisive sea battles of the war. The accidental actions of one lone Japanese pilot had changed the way things would turn out.

For nearly two hours Force Z sailed north while Admiral Phillips struggled with one of the most difficult decisions of his career. Knowing that his force had been sighted, he understood that all hope of surprise had been lost; still 12 hours from the invasion beaches, his prey were bound to have fled by the time they arrived. At 2255hrs he reluctantly signaled REPULSE that the operation was canceled and that they were changing course to return to Singapore. But precious time had been lost while Phillips wavered; the next 24 hours would tell whether he had delayed too long.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 9 DECEMBER TO DAWN 10 DECEMBER 1941

0112-1045 hrs Air raid alarm. One enemy aircraft crossed Island from north to south and dropped bombs 200 yards from Civil Hospital, Guardamangia.

1035-1112 hrs Air raid alarm. No engagement.

OPERATIONS REPORTS TUESDAY 9 DECEMBER 1941

ROYAL NAVY NEPTUNE, AURORA, PENELOPE, JAGUAR AND KANDAHAR sailed to intercept enemy forces at 1830 hrs. Seven Swordfish and five Albacores searched for two enemy cruisers but failed to locate.

AIR HQ Departures 3 Wellingtons, 1 Beaufighter, for 108 MU.

LUQA 69 Squadron One Maryland [patrol] Navarino-Patras; one Maryland [patrol] Palermo-Trapani; one Maryland SF 9 patrol; one Maryland SF 6 patrol. 18 Squadron One Blenheim central Ionian Sea; one Blenheim Kerkennah-Pantelleria patrol. 107 Squadron One Blenheim SF 11 patrol. 104 Squadron Seven Wellingtons attacked fuel stores depot west of Fort Curgi, Tripoli. Two Wellingtons attacked storage buildings near Castillo, Tripoli. 40 Squadron Twelve Wellingtons attacked fuel depot near Fort Curgi, Tripoli. One Wellington S/D Flight on shipping search Maritino-Pantelleria-Kelibia.


Halder's Diary 09 December 1941

 

[parsifal]

10 DECEMBER 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis


Neutral


Allied


Losses

UBOATS
Arrivals


Departures

At Sea 09 December 1941


OPERATIONS
Baltic

East Front
Arctic


Baltic


Black Sea/Caspian


Other


North Sea


Northern Patrol


Northern Waters


West Coast


Western Approaches


SW Approaches


Channel


Med/Biscay


Nth Atlantic


Central Atlantic


Sth Atlantic


Red Sea/Indian Ocean


Pacific/Australia


Malta
X

 

[parsifal]

D

hello Njaco and Parsifal,

I enjoyed this thread very much. The threads by syscom are older an maybe not as accurate. Hope you will fill up gaps in it and expand it more? I will look what I have on the Royal Dutch Navy, as well in the European Theatre and the Pacific theatre.

Greetings,

Kerber

For me I have to go back and correct some omissions and errors in my contributions. Even that, not until a bit of a rest.

Thanks for enjoying our efforts

 

[Crimea_River]

Standing ovation guys! What the hell are you going to do with yourselves now?!

 

[Njaco]

.

 

[Crimea_River]

Well deserved, but wear your sunscreen!

 

[parsifal]

Loss of Force Z

 

[parsifal]

Halder's Diary 10 December 1941