N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 480, NOVEMBER 4, 1943

Pacific and Far East.

 

1. U. S. submarines have reported the sinking of ten enemy vessels and the damaging of three others in operations against the enemy in waters of these areas, as follows:

 

Sunk:

1 large tanker

1 medium tanker

1 patrol craft

4 medium freighters

1 large freighter

1 small freighter

1 large cargo transport

 

Damaged:

1 medium tanker

1 small freighter

1 large freighter

 

2. These actions have not been announced in any previous Navy Depart­ment Communiqué.

 

South Pacific.

 

3. On the early afternoon of November 2, 1943, (East Longitude Date) a reconnaissance plane, operating under the command of Admiral Halsey, at­tacked and sank a 1,000‑ton enemy freighter 30 miles southwest of Ocean island. The plane was damaged, apparently by antiaircraft fire, and a number if her personnel were wounded.

 

 

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 481, NOVEMBER 10, 1943

South Pacific (all dates are east longitude).

 

1. The U. S. destroyer Henley was sunk during October as the result of a torpedo explosion. The sinking took place in the early evening. The next of kin of the casualties aboard the Henley have been notified.

2. During the night engagement on October 6, off Vella LaVella, the U. S. destroyer Chevalier was severely damaged by the enemy and collided with mother destroyer in the formation. The Chevalier subsequently brake in two and sank. The next of kin of the casualties aboard the Chevalier have been notified.

3. Because of the nature of pending operations at the time, the losses of he USS Henley and USS Chevalier were not given earlier announcement.

 

Atlantic.

 

4. The destroyer USS Borie was lost in the Atlantic recently as the result of damage received by herself in ramming and sinking an enemy submarine.

 

82

 

5. The Borie, while engaged in patrol, encountered a submarine, which she sank with depth bombs. Encountering a second submarine a short time later, the Borie rammed and sank this enemy vessel also. The force of the ramming, however, opened holes in the Borie's hull below the water line. Although the Borie managed to rejoin the task force to which she was as­signed, the extent of her damage was so great that it was necessary for her personnel to abandon ship; after which the U. S. destroyer was sunk by bombs from her own group's planes.

6. The next of kin of casualties aboard the Borie will be notified by tele­gram as soon as possible.

 

Memorandum to the Press:

 

The night engagement referred to in paragraph 2 (loss of the USS Chevalier) was previously announced in Southwest Pacific Communiqué No. 546, on October 9, 1943, as follows

"Vella LaVella; The enemy was frustrated in an apparent attempt to evacuate the remnants of his defeated ground force. Our Naval units at night intercepted and engaged an enemy force consisting of one light cruiser and four destroyers. The cruiser and one destroyer exploded and sank as a result of our gunfire, one destroyer was sunk by torpedo action and the remaining two destroyers were damaged and fled. Two other groups of ships to the rear reversed course and retired at high speed. Our losses were moderate."

 

 

ARMY AND NAVY JOINT STATEMENT, NOVEMBER 10, 1943

 

The Army Air Forces has withdrawn from anti‑submarine operations and the United States Navy was assumed full responsibility, it was announced today by the War Department.

An outgrowth of the First Bomber Command, which since December 8, 1941, has been engaged in anti‑submarine activities, the Army Air Forces Anti­submarine Command was activated in October, 1942, under Brigadier General Westside T. Larson. Wings and Squadrons were organized for combat patrol work, assignments were made to theaters of operations, depth charges were dropped in a number of oceans and seas, with much success directed against enemy submarines.

It also was announced that the Navy has now acquired sufficient planes and trained sufficient crews to take over complete responsibility against the submarine menace.

Units which operated for the Army Air Forces will be absorbed for other combat duty by various air forces, some in theaters of operations, but an exchange of aircraft between the Army and Navy will be effected.

The Army planes were land‑based and operated in connection with several theaters of operations.

The Anti‑submarine Command discloses that millions of miles have been flown in combat operations by planes of its various wings and squadrons, con­stituting a substantial portion of the total number of miles flown since Pearl Harbor by all Allied Aircraft engaged in anti‑submarine warfare.

Operating world‑wide with a mission to seek out and destroy hostile sub­marines wherever at sea, the Anti‑submarine Command had spread out to four continents, fighting the U‑boat in three different theaters of operations.

 

83

 

 

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 482, NOVEMBER 12, 1943

Mediterranean.

 

1. The destroyer USS Beatty was sunk in the Mediterranean on Novem­ber 6, 1943, as a result of enemy aircraft action. The next of kin of the casualties aboard the Beatty have been notified.

 

 

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 483, NOVEMBER 13, 1943

South. Pacific (all dates are east longitude).

 

1. During the night of November 11, about 12 Japanese bombers dropped bombs on Nanomea, Ellice Islands. Reports indicate one killed and two wounded. Minor material damage was sustained. One enemy plane was shot down by antiaircraft fire.

 

 

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 168, NOVEMBER 13, 1943

 

Early this morning (13 November west Longitude date), six Japanese bombers raided our installations on Funafuti, Ellice Islands, dropping about thirty bombs in two high‑altitude runs, causing minor material damage. Per­sonnel casualties were two wounded.

 

 

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 484, NOVEMBER 14, 1943

Pacific and Far East.

 

1. U. S. submarines have reported the sinking of seven enemy vessels and the damaging of two others in operations against the enemy in waters, of these areas, as follows:

 

Sunk:

1 plane transport

1 large freighter

1 medium cargo transport

4 medium freighters

 

Damaged:

1 large freighter

1 medium freighter

 

2. These actions have not been announced in any previous Navy Depart­ment Communiqué.

 

 

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 169, NOVEMBER 15, 1943

 

Army Seventh Air Force Liberators raided enemy installations on Betio Island, Tarawa atoll, Gilbert Islands, during the night of 13 November, West Longitude date.

Several large fires were started near the runways. No enemy interception was attempted. Our planes encountered intense antiaircraft fire over the target without damage or personnel casualties.

 

84

 

On 14 November Army Liberators from this force made further raids on Betio and on Mille atoll, Marshall Islands. No air opposition was encountered in either raid. Our planes and personnel suffered no damage from antiaircraft fire.

 

 

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 16, NOVEMBER 18, 1943

 

1. Late afternoon raids were made on enemy positions on Jaluit and Mille Atolls in the Marshall Islands and on Makin Island in the Gilberts on November 15 (West Longitude Date) by Liberator bombers of the Army's Seventh Air Force.

2. At Jaluit many fires were started by our bombs in the hangars, shops, and dump areas at the seaplane bases on Imieji and Jabor Islands. Of the five ships anchored in the lagoon one was left burning. Three others were possibly damaged. Several fires resulted from the Mille attack but cloud con­ditions prevented accurate observance of damage at Makin.

3. No air interception was encountered in any instance. Antiaircraft fire was intense at Mille, weak at Makin and at Jaluit. No damage was suffered by our planes or personnel.

 

 

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 170, NOVEMBER 18, 1943

 

Bombs were dropped on the airdrome area, Jaluit, Marshall Islands, on 16 November, West longitude date, by Liberators from the Seventh Air Force. Large fires were started.

One of several enemy float planes which attacked our formation was probably shot down. No damage was suffered by our planes or personnel.

At noon on 17 November, West Longitude Date, Liberators from the same force made low‑altitude bombing and strafing runs on the enemy airfield at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands. No enemy aircraft was sighted. No damage was suffered by weak antiaircraft fire from Betio Island.

About 10 enemy bombers made a medium altitude raid on our installations at Funafuti, Ellice Islands, before dawn on 17 November, West Longitude Date. Our losses were two killed and several planes damaged.

 

 

NOVEMBER 19, 1943

 

THE TENTH FLEET

 

When deliveries of ships and aircraft reached sufficient proportions to warrant such a move, about six months ago, the Tenth Fleet was organized to exercise unity of control over the U. S. Navy's war against the U‑boat in the Atlantic.

In addition to his other duties, Admiral Ernest J. King, U. S. Navy, Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations, retained the immediate direction of anti‑submarine operations and is the Commander, Tenth Fleet.

Rear Admiral Francis S. Low, U. S. Navy, Assistant Chief of Staff (Anti-Submarine), U. S. Fleet, is Chief of Staff, Tenth Fleet.

The Tenth Fleet was assigned the following tasks:

 

(a) Destruction of U‑boats.

(b) Protection of Allied shipping in the Sea Frontiers concerned.

(c) Support of other Anti‑Submarine Forces operating in the Atlantic

Areas.

 

85

 

(d) Control of convoys and shipping that are U. S. responsibilities.

(e) Correlation of U. S. anti‑submarine research and personnel instruction.

 

To accomplish its assigned mission, the Tenth Fleet was organized into four principal divisions: Operations; Anti‑Submarine Measures (materiel, training, analysis and statistics and operational research); Convoy and Routing; and a Scientific Counsel (composed of civilian scientists).

Through this organization Tenth Fleet Headquarters makes available the latest information regarding anti‑submarine developments and intelligence and training and operating procedures to Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll, U. S. Navy, Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, and the several other Fleet and Sea Frontier Commanders who direct the actual operations in that part of the Atlantic Ocean under U. S. strategic control.

 

 

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 171, NOVEMBER 19, 1943

 

Carrier aircraft raided Betio Island, Tarawa atoll, Gilbert Islands, on 18 November, (all dates herein West Longitude), starting large oil fires.

The following raids were made against enemy installations in the Marshall end Gilbert Islands by Liberators of the Army's Seventh Air Force:

 

(a) Before dawn on 17 November, barracks, runways and oil dumps on Mille were bombed. No enemy planes were encountered. No damage was suffered by our planes or personnel from intense antiaircraft fire.

(b) At sunset on 17 November, bombs were dropped on Maloelap. Two of our planes were damaged by intercepting Zeros. There were no personnel casualties. One Zero was shot down, one was probably shot down and several were damaged.

(c) At noon on 18 November, raids were made against the Mille and Tarawa installations. There was no enemy air interception, although five Zeros were sighted over Tarawa.

 

 

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 172, NOVEMBER 19, 1943

 

Enemy installations on Nauru Island were heavily‑hit by carrier aircraft on 18 November, West longitude date.

Our planes dropped ninety tons of bombs in the airdrome and shop areas, starting fires and destroying several aircraft on the ground. One small ship vas set afire. Of the seven Zeros which appeared during later stages of the attack, two were shot down. Accurate antiaircraft fire was encountered. All four planes returned. One pilot was wounded.

 

 

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 485, NOVEMBER 20, 1943

South Pacific (all dates are east longitude).

 

1. The small vessel reported lost in the communiqué dated November 18, 1943, issued from Allied Headquarters Southwest Pacific, was the USS McKean, destroyer transport. This vessel sank November 17, 1943, as a result of attack by enemy aircraft off the southwest coast of Bougainville Island.

2. The next of kin of the casualties will be notified as soon as possible.

 

86

 

 

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 17, NOVEMBER 21, 1943

 

Marine Corps and Army forces covered by powerful units of all types of the Pacific Fleet have established beachheads on Makin and Tarawa Atolls, Gilbert Islands, meeting moderate resistance at Makin and strong resistance at Tarawa. Fighting continues during these operations. Army Liberators made diversionary attacks in the Marshalls.

 

 

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 18, NOVEMBER 22, 1943

 

Our troops have improved their positions on Tarawa and Makin Atolls, but are still encountering considerable enemy ground resistance. We have landed on Apamama Atoll. Liberators heavily bombed the airdromes area at Nauru Island on November 20 (West Longitude Date) and on November 21 Army Liberators continued diversionary attacks in the Marshalls. The Central Pacific operations are being directed by Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, U. S. Navy. The amphibious forces are under command of Rear Admiral Richmond Turner, U. S. Navy. Landings were made on Tarawa by the Second Marine Division in command of Major General Julian C. Smith, USMC; those on Makin by troops of the 27th Infantry Division, commanded by Major General Ralph Smith, U.S.A. Major General Holland McT. Smith, USMC, is in command of the landing forces.

 

 

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 19, NOVEMBER 23, 1943

Central Pacific.

 

1. Our forces have captured Makin. On Tarawa, the Marines have con­solidated their positions and are making good progress against enemy con­centrations on eastern end of Betio Island with capture assured. The situation on Abemama is well in hand.

2 Raids are being continued against the Marshalls by carrier aircraft and Army Seventh Air Force Liberators.

 

 

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 20, NOVEMBER 24, 1943

Central Pacific.

 

1. Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, was captured shortly after noon, November 23 (West Longitude Date), following a desperate enemy counterattack which was crushed by troops of the Second Marine Division.

2. Remnants of the enemy are being hunted down on Abemama, Tarawa and Makin Atolls.

3. Seventh Army Air Force Liberators continued diversionary attacks in the Marshalls.

 

 

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 173, NOVEMBER 25, 1943

 

One of our carrier divisions covering the Gilberts operations to 24 Novem­ber (West Longitude Date) shot down 34 enemy fighters, nine bombers and three four‑engine patrol seaplanes. Its losses in these operations total three fighters and one torpedo bomber. Seventh Air Force Liberators which raided Imieji, Jaluit atoll, on 23 November, observed three float‑fighters, airborne,

 

87

 

which did not attempt interception. One of our planes was damaged by anti­aircraft fire.

Mopping up operations on Tarawa, Makin and Apamama are virtually complete. Few live Japanese remain in the Gilberts.

 

 

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 486, NOVEMBER 26, 1943

Pacific and Far East.

 

1. U. S. submarines have reported the sinking of nine enemy vessels in operations against the enemy in waters of these areas, as follows

 

Sunk:

1 medium tanker

1 medium plane transport

7 medium freighters

 

2. These actions have not been announced in any previous Navy Depart­ment Communiqué.

 

 

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 177, NOVEMBER 29, 1943

 

Islands in the Gilberts are being developed according to plan.

A few enemy stragglers remain in the northern end of Tarawa Atoll.

Seventh Army Air Force Liberators continue their raids against Nauru and the Marshalls.

 

 

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 178, NOVEMBER 30, 1943

 

Admiral C. W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas, has returned to his headquarters following an inspection of the Gilbert Islands area, including Tarawa atoll. Admiral Nimitz was accompanied by Lieutenant General Robert C. Richardson, Jr., Commanding General, U. S. Army Forces, Central Pacific, and members of their staffs.