01/01 Fri. Submarine NAUTILUS (SS-168) evacuates 29 civilians from Teop Island, Solomon Islands. United States naval vessel sunk: Salvage vessel RESCUER (ARS-18), by grounding, Aleutian Islands area. 01/02 Sat. Japanese supply-carrying destroyers are bombed by Naval and Army aircraft west of Rendova, Solomon Islands, and attacked by motor torpedo boats off Cape Esperance, Solomon Islands. One enemy destroyer is damaged. Japanese submarine sunk: I-18, by submarine GRAYBACK (SS-208), Solomon Islands area, 08 d. 49' S., 157 d. 09' E. 01/05 Tue. Cruiser and destroyer group (Rear Adm. W. L. Ainsworth) heavily bombards airfield and enemy installations at Munda, Solomon Islands. 01/06 Wed. United States naval damaged: Light cruiser SAN JUAN (CL-54), by dive bomber, Solomon Islands area, 08 d. 30' S., 166 d. 40' E. German submarine sunk: U-164, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-83) off Brazil, 01 d. 58' S., 39 d. 23' W. 01/10 Sun. United States naval vessel sunk: Submarine ARGONAUT (APS-1), in attack on convoy southeast of New Britain. Japanese naval vessel sunk: Destroyer OKIKAZE, by submarine TRIGGER (SS-237), off Honshu, Japan, 35 d. 02' N., 140 d. 12 ' E. 01/11 Mon. Motor torpedo boats attack Japanese destroyers off Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands; two enemy destroyers are damaged. United States naval vessel sunk: PT-112, by naval gunfire, Solomon Islands area, 09 d. 15' S., 159 d. 42' E. United States naval vessel lost: PT-43, damaged by naval gunfire, Solomon Islands area, 09 d. 15' S., 159 d. 42' E.; beached and abandoned. 01/12 Tue. Army forces occupy Amchitka, Aleutian Islands. United States naval vessels sunk: Destroyer WORDEN (DD-352), by grounding, Amchitka, Aleutian Islands. PT-28, by grounding, Dora Harbor, Alaska. Japanese naval vessel sunk: Patrol boat No. 1, by submarine GUARDFISH (SS-217), near New Ireland, 02 d. 51' S., 149 d. 43' E. 01/13 Wed. German submarine sunk: U-507, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-83), off Brazil, 01 d. 38' S., 39 d. 52' W. 01/14 Thu. Submarine GUDGEON (SS-211) lands personnel and equipment near Catmon Pt., Negros, P. I. 01/15 Fri. Aircraft from Henderson Field, Gudalcanal, attack 9 Japanese destroyers off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands; 2 enemy destroyers are damaged. 01/17 Sun. United States Naval Base and Naval Air Station, Brisbane, Australia, are established. 01/19 Tue. Japanese land Wewak, New Guinea. 01/20 Wed. Destroyer escort BRENNAN (DE-13), is commissioned at Mare Island, Calif.; first ship of this type to be placed in commission. 01/21 Thu. United States Naval Base and Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Corrinto, Nicaragua, are established. United States naval vessel sunk: Submarine chaser SC-709, by grounding, off Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. 01/23 Sat. Casablanca Conference, in session since 14 January, ends. President, British Prime Minister, and Combined Chiefs of Staff reach decisions on invasion of Sicily and cross-channel amphibious assault on Western Europe. Japanese naval vessel sunk: Destroyer HAKAZE, by submarine GUARDFISH (SS-217), near New Ireland, 02 d. 47' S., 156 d. 38' E. 01/24 Sun. Bombardment group of cruisers and destroyers (Rear Adm. W. L. Ainsworth) and carrier group (Rear Adm. D. C. Ramsey) bombard and bomb Vila-Stanmore area, Kolombangara, Solomon Islands. 01/26 Tue. Submarine WAHOO (SS-238) sinks entire group of 4 Japanese ships north of New Guinea; 2 freighters, 1 transport, and 1 tanker. 01/29 Fri. Battle of Rennell Island (29-30 January) commences as cruiser and destroyer task force (Rear Adm. R. C. Giffen), covering movement of troop transports to Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, is bombed near Rennell Island by Japanese aircraft. 01/30 Sat. Land and carrier-based naval aircraft engage Japanese aircraft attacking Rear Admiral Giffen's cruiser and destroyer force (Battle of Rennell Island, 29-30 January). Naval Station, Akutan Harbor, Fox Island, Alaska, is established. Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz succeedss Grand Admiral Erich Raeder as Commander of Chief of the German Navy. United States naval vessel sunk: Heavy cruiser CHICAGO (CA-29), by aircraft torpedo, Battle of Rennell Island, Solomon Islands area, 11 d. 25' S., 160 d. 56' E. United States naval vessel damaged: Destroyer LA VALLETTE (DD-448), by aircraft torpedo, Battle of Rennell Island, Solomon Islands area, 11 d. 25' S., 160 d. 56' E.