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US Navy
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(57)
1942
December
07
The launch of the battleship New Jersey
On 7 December 1942, the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, USS New Jersey was launched at Philadelphia – the second of the four Iowa-class battleships.
1943
March
26
The Battle of the Komandorski Islands
Off the Komandorski Islands a weaker US Navy force fought a 3.5-hour gunnery duel with the escort of a Japanese convoy. The Japanese turned back.
May
11
The landing on Attu
On 11 May 1943 the US 7th Infantry Division landed on Japanese-occupied Attu. Fog, freezing cold and defences in the hills slowed the advance.
June
08
The evacuation of Kiska
After Attu fell, Japan decided to withdraw the Kiska garrison. In June 1943 submarines took off over 800 men, but three were sunk and the effort was halted.
30
The landing on Rendova
On 30 June 1943 the Americans landed on Rendova opposite the Japanese airfield at Munda. Operation Cartwheel began; Turner’s flagship was sunk.
July
06
The Battle of Kula Gulf
On the night of 5–6 July 1943 Japanese destroyers torpedoed USS Helena in Kula Gulf. Japan lost two ships but landed its reinforcements.
12
The Battle of Kolombangara
On the night of 12–13 July 1943 the Allies sank the cruiser Jintsū, but Japanese torpedoes damaged three Allied cruisers and sank the destroyer Gwin.
August
02
The sinking of PT-109
On 2 August 1943 the Japanese destroyer Amagiri cut PT-109 in two. Its commander, John F. Kennedy, and ten survivors were rescued after six days.
06
The Battle of Vella Gulf
On the night of 6/7 August 1943 six US destroyers ambushed four Japanese destroyers off Kolombangara and sank three of them without suffering a single hit.
October
06
The naval Battle of Vella Lavella
On the night of 6–7 October 1943 Japanese destroyers covered the evacuation of about 600 troops from Vella Lavella. Each side lost one ship.
November
02
The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay
On the night of 1–2 November 1943 Admiral Merrill's cruisers drove back a Japanese force bound for the Bougainville beachhead. The Japanese lost two ships.
11
Carriers over Rabaul
On 5 and 11 November 1943 US carrier aircraft struck Rabaul. The Japanese fleet left the base, and Admiral Koga's carrier air groups were crushed.
16
The sinking of USS Corvina
On the night of 16–17 November 1943 the Japanese submarine I-176 sank the surfaced American submarine USS Corvina south of Truk. 82 men were lost.
25
The Battle of Cape St. George
On the night of 25 November 1943 Captain Arleigh Burke's destroyers sank three of five Japanese destroyers returning from Buka, without loss to themselves.
1944
January
31
The landing on Kwajalein
On 31 January 1944, after three days of air strikes and shelling, the Americans launched Operation Flintlock: they took Majuro and islets of Kwajalein atoll.
February
04
The capture of Kwajalein Atoll
By 4 February 1944 the Americans had taken Roi-Namur and Kwajalein Island in the heart of the Marshalls; the whole atoll was declared secure a few days later.
05
The bombardment of the Kuril Islands
On 4 February 1944 Rear Admiral Baker's cruisers and destroyers shelled Japanese Paramushir in the Kurils; on 5 February bombers from the Aleutians followed.
17
The landing on Eniwetok
On 17 February 1944 the Americans began Operation Catchpole – the landing on Eniwetok, at the western end of the Marshall Islands, taken in a week of fighting.
18
Key event
Operation Hailstone – the raid on Truk
On 17–18 February 1944 Mitscher's carriers wrecked the Truk base, sinking dozens of ships and destroying over 250 aircraft. Truk was then bypassed.
23
The first raid on the Marianas
On 23 February 1944 aircraft from six of Mitscher's carriers attacked Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam, destroying Japanese aircraft and photographing the islands.
27
The American submarine war in early 1944
On 27 February 1944 USS Cod sank the Japanese ship Taisoku Maru off Halmahera – one of more than 50 vessels sunk in February by American submarines.
March
01
The keels of the carriers Tarawa and Kearsarge
On 1 March 1944 the keels of two Essex-class carriers were laid at Norfolk and New York. Tarawa and Kearsarge entered service only after the war, in 1945–46.
06
The alarm in Western Australia
On 6 March 1944 the submarine USS Haddo reported Japanese warships near the Lombok Strait. The Allies put Perth and Fremantle on alert – in vain.
April
27
Key event
The Slapton Sands disaster
On 27 April 1944 US troops rehearsed the Normandy landing in Devon. That night German E-boats torpedoed convoy T-4, killing at least 749 soldiers and sailors.
30
The second raid on Truk
On 29–30 April 1944 Mitscher's carriers struck Truk again and warships shelled Satawan and Ponape. The Japanese base in the Carolines ceased to count.
June
04
The capture of U-505
On 4 June 1944 a US carrier group led by USS Guadalcanal forced U-505 to surface off Africa. A boarding party seized the boat, its Enigma and codes.
12
Strikes on the Marianas
On 11–14 June 1944 Mitscher's carriers and US battleships hit Saipan, Tinian and Guam ahead of the landings. Admiral Toyoda began readying his fleet for battle.
15
Key event
The landing on Saipan
On 15 June 1944 two US Marine divisions landed on Saipan. That evening American submarines sighted the Japanese fleet heading for the Marianas.
July
24
The landing on Tinian
On 24 July 1944 US Marines landed on the narrow beaches of northern Tinian, having deceived the defenders with a feint landing off Tinian Town.
August
01
The end of the fighting on Tinian
On 1 August 1944 the Americans declared Tinian taken. Almost the entire garrison was killed, and the island became one of the largest B-29 bases.
September
23
The occupation of Ulithi
On 23 September 1944 a US 81st Infantry Division regiment took Ulithi atoll in the Carolines unopposed. Its lagoon became a vast forward base for the US fleet.
October
12
The raids on Formosa
On 12–16 October 1944 Halsey's carriers crushed Japanese air power over Formosa. Tokyo announced 11 carriers sunk – in reality, not one.
23
Key event
The Battle of Leyte Gulf begins
The Battle of Leyte Gulf began on 23–24 October 1944. US submarines sank two of Kurita's heavy cruisers, and Halsey's aircraft sank the battleship Musashi.
25
The Battle off Samar
On 25 October 1944 three actions were fought in the Battle of Leyte Gulf – in the Surigao Strait, off Samar and off Cape Engaño. Kamikaze attacks began.
November
05
Kamikaze attack the carriers
On 5 November 1944 a kamikaze hit Lexington off Luzon. On 25 November suicide aircraft struck Intrepid, Essex, Cabot and Hancock.
December
08
The bombardment of Iwo Jima
On 8 December 1944 B-29s, B-24s and cruisers struck Iwo Jima. From then on B-24s from the Marianas bombed it every day until the landing in February 1945.
15
The landing on Mindoro
On 15 December 1944 the Americans landed unopposed near San Jose on Mindoro. Airfields on the island were to cover the coming invasion of Luzon.
17
Typhoon Cobra
On 18 December 1944 Typhoon Cobra struck Halsey’s Third Fleet in the Philippine Sea. Three destroyers capsized and 790 sailors were killed.
26
The race riot at Agana
On the night of 25/26 December 1944 on Guam white Marines fired on the camp of a black depot company. Three days of clashes ended in arrests and courts martial.
1945
January
02
Kamikaze on the road to Luzon
From early January 1945 kamikaze struck the fleet bound for Lingayen Gulf. Ommaney Bay was sunk; New Mexico, California and HMAS Australia were hit.
04
The January raids on Formosa
On 3–4 January 1945 Halsey's carriers struck Formosa and the Ryukyus to cover the Luzon invasion. They returned over the island on 9, 15 and 21 January.
25
The shelling of Iwo Jima
On 24 January 1945 American cruisers and bombers struck Iwo Jima once again, as preparations went on for Operation Detachment, finally set for 19 February.
February
16
Carriers over Tokyo
On 16–17 February 1945 aircraft from Mitscher’s carriers struck airfields and aircraft plants around Tokyo – the first carrier attack on Japan’s capital.
19
Key event
The landing on Iwo Jima
On 19 February 1945 the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions landed on Iwo Jima. By evening 30,000 Marines were ashore, and losses had reached some 2,400 men.
March
16
The end of the fighting on Iwo Jima
On 16 March 1945 the Americans declared organised resistance on Iwo Jima over. The last Japanese attack was beaten off on 26 March; mopping up lasted months.
19
The strike on Kure and USS Franklin
On 18–21 March 1945 Mitscher’s carriers struck Kyushu, Kure and Kobe; on 19 March two bombs nearly destroyed USS Franklin, killing 724–807 men.
April
01
Key event
The landing on Okinawa
On 1 April 1945 General Buckner's Tenth Army landed on Okinawa almost unopposed. The Japanese were waiting in fortifications in the south of the island.
07
The sinking of the Yamato
On 7 April 1945 Task Force 58 aircraft sank the battleship Yamato, the cruiser Yahagi and four destroyers. Between 3,700 and 4,250 Japanese were killed.
11
Kamikaze over Okinawa
On 11 April 1945 a kamikaze hit the battleship Missouri and the carrier Enterprise was damaged. The attacks off Okinawa killed nearly 4,900 sailors.
May
05
Kamikaze off Okinawa in May
On 3–4 May 1945 the fifth Kikusui operation sank the destroyers Luce, Morrison and Little off Okinawa. On 11 May kamikaze hit the carrier Bunker Hill.
June
02
Strikes on Kyushu airfields
On 2–3 June 1945 fighters from the Ticonderoga (Air Group 87) and Halsey's other carriers struck kamikaze airfields on Kyushu. They did not stop the attacks.
05
Typhoon Connie
On the night of 4–5 June 1945 Typhoon Connie struck Halsey’s Third Fleet off Okinawa. The Pittsburgh lost her bow and six sailors were killed.
July
10
Halsey's carriers over Tokyo
On 10 July 1945 aircraft of Halsey and McCain's Task Force 38 struck airfields around Tokyo, opening the last carrier campaign against Japan.
22
The Battle of Tokyo Bay
On the night of 22–23 July 1945 nine American destroyers attacked a Japanese convoy at the entrance to Tokyo Bay and sank one small freighter.
24
The raids on Kure
On 24, 25 and 28 July 1945 Task Force 38 aircraft wrecked the remnants of the Japanese fleet at Kure; Hyūga, Ise and Haruna settled in shallow water.
30
The sinking of the “Indianapolis”
On 30 July 1945 the Japanese submarine I-58 sank the cruiser Indianapolis, which had delivered atomic bomb parts to Tinian. 316 of 1,195 men survived.
August
14
The last raids on Japan
On 14 August 1945 over a thousand US aircraft struck Japan in the last great B-29 operation; air combat still went on on 15 and 18 August.