Battle of the Atlantic

• Focke-Wulf Condors sink 5 ships in large convoy, HG-53, off the Azores. The ships sunk are the British steamers Jura (1759t), Dagmar I (2471t), Varna (1514t), Brittanic (2490t) and the Norwegian steamer Tejo. 17 crew are lost from the Jura, 5 from the Dagmar I, 1 from the Brittanic and 4 from the Tejo. The British submarine Velox picks up 26 survivors from these ships.
• U-37 sinks the British steamers Courland (1325t) and Estrellano (1983t) east of the Azores. 3 crewman are lost from the Courland, 30 are rescued by the British steamer Brandenburgh. 6 crewmen are lost from the Estrellano, 21 are picked up by the British sloop Deptford.

Britain, Home Front

Churchill in a major broadcast urges Bulgaria not to join the Axis and tells the Americans: "Give us the tools and we will finish the job."

Mediterranean

In an audacious attack the battleship Malaya and the battlecruiser Renown from Force H bombard the harbor at Genoa with 300 tons of shells. The carrier Ark Royal also takes part in the operation, sending aircraft to attack Leghorn and La Spezia. 5 Ships in Genoa are sunk and 18 damaged. This surprise attack highlights the inefficiency of the Italian defenses which identified the force as a Vichy French convoy. An Italian naval squadron and air reconnaissance fail to spot the British ships.

North Africa

The British advance comes to a halt at El Agheila, 265 km southwest of Benghazi, on the border between Cyrenaica and Tripolitania. There is little Italian opposition to prevent a further move, but Wavell is being compelled to withdraw troops which will be sent to Greece. He is also responsible for the campaign in East Africa and for making some provision for the defense of Palestine. In the near future, this will demand more of his attention because of German activity in Iraq and Syria.

Vichy France

Vichy Foreign Minister Flandin resigns. Adm Darlan is appointed Vice-Premier.