Showing posts with label Indian Ocean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indian Ocean. Show all posts

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Tuesday, August 31, 1943. Debut of the F6F.

Grumman F6Fs made their combat debut.

The fighter was a leap in Navy fighter technology, joining the Corsair as a new generation of flattop launched fighter aircraft.  The plane would be responsible for approximately 2/3s of the Japanese aircraft shot down by the U.S. Navy during World War Two.

The carrier born first use was in a day-long raid on Marcus Island.

Radar equipped F6F's would remain in service until 1954, completing their service as night fighters.

On the same day, the 14th Air Force bombed Gia Lam, Co Bi, Ichang Airfiled, Stonecutters Island and the Yoyang rail yards.  The 5th Air Force hit trages in Saint George Channel and the Dutch East Indes.

Stalin issues the following order to General Rokossovsky

Troops of the Central Front, breaking through strongly fortified enemy defense lines in the area of Sevsk by a decisive attack, on August 30 captured the town of Glukhov and Rylsk and entered the Northern Ukraine.

In the fighting for the liberation of the towns of Sevsk, Glukhov and Rylsk from the German invaders, the troops which distinguished themselves were Guards tankmen commanded by, Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Korchagin, tankmen commanded by Major-General Ruchenko, troops commanded by Lieutenant-General Cherny-kovsky, Lieutenant-General Batov, and Lieutenant-General of Tank Troops Bogdanov, and airmen commanded by Lieutenant-General of Aviation Rudenko.

To mark the victory they have won, the divisions and artillery formations which exceptionally distinguished themselves in the fighting for Glukhov, Rylsk and Sevsk are to have the following titles conferred upon them. The name of "Glukhov" is to be conferred on the 70th Guards Red Banner Infantry Division, the 226th Infantry Division, the 23rd Tank Brigade and the 1st Guards Artillery Division.

The name of "Rylsk" is to be conferred on the 121st Infantry Division and the 112th Infantry Division.

The name of "Sevsk" is to be conferred on the 69th Red Banner Infantry Division, the 103rd Tank Brigade, the 43rd Motorized Brigade, the 255th Independent Tank Regiment, the 68th Heavy Artillery Brigade and the 100th Red Banner Heavy Artillery Brigade.

Henceforth these formations are to be named the 70th Guards Red Banner Glukhov Infantry Division, the 226th Glukhov Infantry Division, the 23rd Glukhov Tank Brigade, the 1st Glukhov Guards Artillery Division, the 121st Rylsk Infantry Division, the 112th Rylsk Infantry Division, the 69th Red Banner Sevsk Infantry Division, the 60th Sevsk Infantry Division, the 103rd Sevsk Tank Brigade, the 43rd Sevsk Motorized Brigade, the 255th Sevsk Independent Tank Regiment, the 68th Sevsk Heavy Artillery Brigade and the 100th Red Banner Sevsk Heavy Artillery Brigade.

In the name of our country, our capital Moscow will to-day, August 31, at 20.30 Moscow time, salute our glorious troops who liberated the towns of Glukhov, Rylsk and Sevsk, with twelve artillery salvoes from 124 guns.

For distinguished military services and skilful operations I express my thanks to all troops led by you who have taken part in the fighting for Sevsk, Glukhov and Rylsk, and above all to the 70th Guards Red Banner Glukhov Infantry Division commanded by General Butev, the 226th Glukhov Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Vitrenko, the 1st Guards Glukhov Artillery Division commanded by Major-General of Artillery Godin, the 23rd Glukhov Tank Brigade commanded by Colonel Demidov, the 121st Rylsk Infantry Division commanded by Major-General Ladygln, the 112th Rylsk Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Gladkov, the 69th Red Banner Sevsk Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Kuzadkov, the 60th Sevsk Infantry Division commanded by. Colonel Babilensky,,. the 103rd Sevsk Tank Brigade commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Khalayev, the 103rd Sevsk Motorized Brigade commanded Major-General Barinov, the 655th Sevsk Independent Tank Regiment commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Mukin, the 68th Sevsk Heavy Artillery Brigade commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Vassilev, the 100th Red Banner Sevsk Heavy Artillery Brigade commanded by Colonel Kuznetsov, the 6th. Guards Infantry Division., commanded by Major-General Ahoprienko, the 322nd Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Losenko, the 150th Independent Tank Brigade commanded by Lieutenant-General Griumov, the 178th Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment commanded by Colonel Fedov, and air formations commanded by Major-General of Aviation Denisov, Major-General . of Aviation Antoshin, Major-General of Aviation Kravatsky, Colonel Komarov and Colonel Budilev.

Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and independence of our Motherland! Death to the German invaders!

Troops of the western front recently broke through the strongly fortified enemy defence line and, developing their offensive in the Smolensk direction, yesterday, August 30th, captured the' town of Yelnya, a strategically important large junction of roads and the most important centre of resistance of the enemy defences in the Smolensk direction.

In the fighting for the town of Yelnya the following distinguished themselves: Guards tankmen commanded by Major-General Burdeinov, troops commanded by Lieutenant-General Gordov, by Major-General Krylov, by Lieutenant-General Trubnikov, airmen commanded by Marshal of Aviation Golovanov and Lieutenant-General of Aviation Gromov.

To mark the victory won .by our troops at the town of Yelna, the name of Yelna will be conferred on the 29th Guards Red Banner Infantry Division, the 25th Tank Brigade, the 26th Tank Brigade, the 23rd Guards Independent Tank Brigade and the 119th Independent Tank Regiment, which distinguished themselves in the fighting for the town of Yelna. They will henceforth be named the 29th Guards Red Banner Yelna Infantry Division, the 76th Yelna Infantry Division, the 25th Yelna Tank Brigade, the 26th Yelna Tank Brigade, the 23rd Guards Yelna Independent Tank Brigade.

In the name of our country, our capital Moscow, to-day, August 31, at 19.00 hours Moscow time, will salute with twelve artillery salvoes from 124 guns our glorious troops who have won victory at the town of Yelna.

For distinguished military service and skilful manoeuvring I express my thanks to all the troops you command who participated in ‘ the operations in the Smolensk direction, and above all for the skilful operations by the 29th Guards Red Banner Yelna Infantry Division commanded by Lieutenant-General Stuch-enko, to the 26th Yelna Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Babayan, the 25th Yelna Tank Brigade commanded by Colonel Shevchenko, the 26th Yelna Brigade commanded by Colonel Nester-ov, the 23rd Guards Yelna Independent Tank Brigade commanded by Colonel Kalinin, the 119th Yelna Independent Tank Regiment commanded by' Lieutenant-Colonel Losik and the 63rd Infantry Division commanded by Colonel Lapkin.

Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fight for the freedom and honour of our Motherland! Death to the German invaders!

It's interesting how Stalin would urge "eternal glory" for a state which didn't recognize eternity in any meaningful sense. 

On his day, the Red Army took  Glukhov and Rylsk.

The Civil Air Patrol's coast patrol ceases, given as the U-boot threat has been so reduced in recent months.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Monday, November 30, 1942. The Battle of Tassafaronga.

The U.S. Navy suffered a defeat in the Battle of Tassafaronga off of Tassafaronga Point, Guadalcanal.  


A night action, Japanese destroyers sank a U.S. cruiser and damaged three other American cruisers to the loss of one destroyer. American vessels opened fire first, but their flashes of their guns illuminated their positions.


The Navy had intercepted the Japanese vessels in their attempt to deliver food to Japanese forces on the island.  Rear Admiral Samuel J. Cox, a Navy historian, regards this battle as one of the worst defeats in U.S. naval history.  Having said that, in spite of the heavy losses, the Japanese destroyers did fail in their mission and the Japanese forces on the island were now cut off from food supplies.

German surface raider Thor went down in Yokohama Harbor, along with the supply ship Uckermark.  Thor had been raiding in the Indian Ocean.  A fire broke out on the Uckermark, and it took both of htem out.

Actor Charles "Buck" Jones, age 50, died from injuries he sustained in the Coconut Grove fire.

Sunday, June 5, 2022

Friday, June 5, 1942. The aftermath of Midway.

June 5 saw the aftermath of the Battle of Midway play out.  At 0215 two Japanese cruisers spotted the approaching US submarine USS Tambor and started zigzagging, hitting each other, and resulting in 92 deaths aboard the Mogami.  At 0450 the Akagi was scuttled.  At 0510 the HiryĆ« was scuttled by torpedoes from destroyer Makigumo.  HiryĆ«’s Captain Kaku and Rear Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi, commander of the 2nd Carrier Division, went down with the ship in a pointless death.


Things went better for the Tanikaze, a destroyer, that managed to avoid being hit in an attack by no less than 66 dive bombers on this day, following up on the Battle of Midway.

Japan, on the same day, began raiding in the Mozambique Channel.

The British attempted a counterattack against the Afrika Korps that failed, with the Germans resuming the offensive that afternoon.

The United States declared war on Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Sunday, March 1, 1942. Disastrous Day for the Navy, Elanor Roosevelt in Cheyenne.

Elanor Roosevelt in the Panama Canal Zone during World War Two.

As we can see from our companion blog, Today In Wyoming's History, for this day March 1: 1942:
1942 Elanor Roosevelt visited Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Not a large event, in the overall context of things, but something memorable locally.

She was a political force in her own right, something that was well appreciated during her own time. Arguably politically to the left of her husband, the era guaranteed that her role would be largely behind the scenes, but it was as out in the open as the times would allow and then some.  Given her husband's role and his limited mobility, she took on roles that were really unique for a First Lady up until then, and frankly up until the present time.

In big, and disastrous, events:
Today in World War II History—March 1, 1942: In the Battle of Sunda Strait off Java, Japanese ships sink heavy cruiser USS Houston, light cruiser HMAS Perth, and Dutch destroyer Evertsen.
The Japanese also sank the HMS Exeter, the HMS Encounter and the USS Pope.  It was not a good day, although US ships sank five Japanese transports.

The USS Pecos was sunk by a Japanese dive bomber and the USS Edsall was sunk by surface fore from Japanese battleships.

The Navy, as her blog relates, had the first victory against a U-boat, that scored by a Hudson flying off of Newfoundland.