01/01 Sat. Aircraft from carrier task group (Rear Adm. F. C. Sherman) bomb Japanese convoy escorted by cruisers and destroyers off Kavieng, New Ireland. Naval Air Facility, Honolulu, Oahu, T. H., is established. United States naval vessels damaged: Destroyers SMITH (DD-378) and HUTCHINGS (DD-476), by collision, eastern New Guinea area, 05 d. 00' S., 146 d. 00' E. LST 446, by accidental explosion, Solomon Islands area, 06 d. 15' S., 155 d. 02' E. 01/02 Sun. Army troops land at Saidor, New Guinea, under cover of cruisers and destroyers (Rear Adm. D. E. Barbey). 01/03 Mon. Submarine BLUEFISH (SS-222) lays mines off eastern Malayan coast. United States naval vessel sunk: Destroyer TURNER (DD-648), by explosion, Ambrose Channel, New York Harbor. 01/04 Tue. Aircraft from carrier task group (Rear Adm. F. C. Sherman) bomb enemy shipping at Kavieng, New Ireland. Submarine RASHER (SS-269) lays mines off Cochin China. United States naval vessel sunk: PT-145, damaged by grounding, eastern New Guinea area, 05 d. 34' S., 146 d. 10' E.; sunk by United States forces. 01/06 Thu. United States naval vessels sunk: Gunboat ST. AUGUSTINE (PG-54), by collision, off North Carolina, 38 d. 01' N., 74 d. 05' W. 01/08 Sat. Cruiser and destroyer task force (Rear Adm. W. L. Ainsworth) bombards enemy shore installations on Faisi, Poporang, and Shortland Islands in the Solomon Islands Group. 01/09 Sun. German submarine sunk: U-81, by Army aircraft, Pola, Italy. 01/10 Mon. United States naval vessel sunk: Motor minesweeper YMS-127, by grounding, Aleutian Islands area. 01/11 Tue. Naval land-based aircraft (Rear Adm. J. H. Hoover) from Gilbert and Ellice Islands bomb Japanese shipping and installations at Kwajalein, Marshall Islands. 01/12 Wed. United States Naval Air Station, Port Lyautey, French Morocco, is established. 01/14 Fri. United States naval vessel sunk: Fuel oil barge (self-propelled) YO-159, damaged by submarine torpedo, South Pacific area, 15 d. 27' S., 171 d. 28' E.; sunk by United States forces. Japanese naval vessel sunk: Destroyer SAZANAMI, by submarine ALBACORE (SS-218), Central Pacific area, 05 d. 15' N., 141 d. 15' E. 01/15 Sat. Submarine CREVALLE (SS-291) lays mines east of Saigon, French Indochina. 01/16 Sun. German submarine sunk: U-544, by aircraft (VC-13) from escort carrier GUADALCANAL (CVE-60), mid-Atlantic area, 40 d. 30' N., 37 d. 20' W. 01/19 Wed. Naval land-based aircraft from Attu, Aleutian Islands, bomb Paramushiro-Shimushu area, Kurile Islands; similar attacks are made on three succeeding nights. 01/20 Thu. Submarine TINOSA (SS-283) lands personnel and equipment in northeast Borneo. United States naval vessel sunk: LST 228, by grounding, Azores area, 38 d. 39' N., 27 d. 12' W. 01/22 Sat. Combined United States-British Army force under the command of Maj. Gen. J. P. Lucas, USA, lands at Anzio-Nettuno area, Italy; the naval commander is Rear Adm. F. J. Lowry, USN. Naval gunfire continues to support the troops ashore during the 3-months struggle for the beachhead. United States naval vessel sunk: Minesweeper PORTENT (AM-106), by mine, Anzio, Italy, 41 d. 24' N., 12 d. 44' E. United States naval vessel damaged: Oiler CACHE (AO-67), by submarine torpedo, South Pacific area, 12 d. 08' S., 164 d. 33' E. Japanese naval vessels sunk: Submarine RO-37, by destroyer BUCHANAN (DD-484), South Pacific area, 11 d. 47' S., 164 d. 17' E. Auxiliary submarine chaser No. 40, by Army aircraft, off Admiralty Islands, 01 d. 50' s., 147 d. 20' E. 01/24 Mon. United States naval vessels damaged, Anzio, Italy, area: Destroyer PLUNKETT (DD-431), by dive bomber, 41 d. 15' N., 12 d. 37' E. Destroyer MAYO (DD-422), by external explosion, 41 d. 24' N., 12 d. 43' E. Minesweeper PREVAIL (AM-107), by horizontal bomber, 41 d. 00; N., 12 d. 00' E. 01/25 Tue. United States naval vessel sunk: Motor minesweeper YMS-30, by mine, Anzio, Italy, 41 d. 23' N., 12 d. 45' E. 01/26 Wed. Cruiser and destroyer task group (Rear Adm. R. S. Berkey) bombards enemy installations in Madang- Alexischafen area of New Guinea. United States naval vessel sunk: PT-110, by collision, off New Britain, 06 d. 17' S., 150 d. 09' E. United States naval vessel damaged: PT-114, by collision, off New Britain, 06 d. 17' S., 150 d. 09' E. Japanese naval vessels sunk: Destroyer SUZUKAZE, by submarine SKIPJACK (SS-184), Caroline Islands area, 08 d. 51' N., 157 d. 10' E. Submarine chaser No. 14, by naval land-based aircraft, Central Pacific area, 11 d. 10' N., 163 d. 25' E. 01/28 Fri. German submarine sunk: U-271, by naval land-based aircraft (VB-103), North Atlantic area, 53 d. 15' N., 15 d. 52' W. 01/29 Sat. Aircraft from fast carrier force (Read Adm. M. A. Mitscher) begin series of strikes to destroy Japanese air power and shipping in the Marshall Islands. Attacks continue daily until 6 February 1944. Submarine BOWFIN (SS-287) lays mines off southeastern coast of Borneo. United States naval vessel damaged: Ocean tug ATR-1, by horizontal bomber, Anzio, Italy, 41 d. 27' N., 12 d. 40' E. 01/30 Sun. Naval land-based aircraft from Midway Island bomb Wake Island. United States naval vessel damaged: Destroyer ANDERSON (DD-411), by coastal defense gun, Marshall Islands area, 09 d. 33' N., 170 d. 18' E. Japanese naval vessels sunk: Submarine chasers Nos. 18, 19, 21, and 28, auxiliary submarine chaser No. 25, by carrier-based aircraft and surface vessel, Marshall Islands area. 01/31 Mon. Marines and Army troops (Maj. Gen. H. M. Smith, USMC) land on Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls in the Marshall Islands. The operation is under the overall command of Commander Central Pacific Force (Vice Adm. R. A. Spruance) and is composed of Southern Attack Force (Rear Adm. R. K. Turner), Northern Attack Force (Rear Adm. R. L. Conolly), and Reserve Force and Majuro Attack Group (Rear Adm. H. W. Hill). Landings are supported by carrier-based aircraft (Rear Adm. M. A. Mitscher) and land-based aircraft (Rear Adm. J. H. Hoover). Aircraft from fast carrier group (Read Adm. F. C. Sherman) bomb aircraft and airfield facilities at Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Attacks by this carrier group continue on the first three days of February and afterward by Rear Adm. S. P. Ginder's carrier group through 7 February. Carrier FRANKLIN (CV-13) is commissioned at Newport News, Va. United States naval vessels damaged: Heavy cruiser LOUISVILLE (CA-28), by naval gunfire, Marshall Islands invasion, 09 d. 00' N., 167 d. 00' E. Destroyer COLAHAN (DD-658), by grounding, Marshall Islands invasion, 08 d. 52' N., 167 d. 38' E. Cargo ship ENCELADUS (AK-80), by storm, Solomon Islands area, 08 d. 09' S., 157, 38' E. Japanese naval vessels sunk: Submarine I-171, by destroyers GUEST (DD-472), and HUDSON (DD-475), Bismarck Archipelago area, 05 d. 37' S., 154 d. 14' E. Minelayer NASAMI, by submarine TRIGGER (SS-237), Central Pacific area, 09 d. 50' N., 147 d. 06' E. Auxiliary submarine chaser No. 33, by aircraft, Central Pacific area.