Air Operations, Europe

The RAF raid Brest. Manchester 2-engined bombers are used for the first time. These aircraft will be withdrawn in June 1942 because of repeated engine failures.

RAF Raid on Boulogne - Playing 'Tit-For-Tat'

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-123 sinks the Dutch steamer Grootekerk (8685t) 330 miles west of Rockall with the loss of her entire crew of 52.
• U-96 sinks the Norwegian steamer Svein Jarl (1908t) from the dispersed Convoy OB-288 with the loss of all 22 of her crew. The u-boat also sinks the British steamer Sirikishna (5458t) south of Iceland with the loss of her entire crew of 43.
• U-95 sinks the British steamer Marslew (4542t) also from the dispersed Convoy OB-288 300 miles north-northwest of Rockall with the loss of 13 of her crew. 23 survivors are picked up by the British steamer Empire Cheetah.
• U-97 sinks the British steamers Mansepool (4894t) with the loss of 2 crewmen and Jonathan Holt (4973t) with the loss of all 52 of her crew, both from Convoy OB-289, southwest of the Faroe Islands. 39 survivors from the Mansepool are picked up by the British steamer Thomas Holt. The u-boat also sinks the British tanker British Gunner (6894t) 273 miles northwest of Cape Wrath with the loss of 3 of her crew. 41 survivors are picked up by the British corvette Petunia.
• The Italian submarine Bianchi sinks the British steamer Linaria (3385t) from the dispersed Convoy OB-288 southwest of Iceland.
• U-73 sinks the British steamer Waynegate (4260t) from displersed Convoy OB-288 south of Iceland. The entire crew of 41 is picked up by the French destroyer Leopard.
• U-48 sinks the British steamer Nailsea Lass (4289t), straggling behind Convoy SLS-64, 60 miles southwest of Fastnet with the loss of 5 crewmen. 2 of the crew are taken prisoner, 29 others are rescued.

Britain, Policy

The British War Cabinet agrees to send troops to aid the Greeks, though it can not possibly provide the many divisions and support forces Athens thinks necessary.

Italian East Africa

In Italian Somaliland the British succeed in crossing to the left bank of the lower Juba river as the Italians fall back towards Mogadishu.

Mediterranean

The British destroyer HMS Dainty is sunk in Tobruk harbor by German dive-bombers.

North Africa

The first skirmish between the British and the Afrika Korps occurs among patrols on the coast road west of El Agheila

Vichy France

Adm Darlan forms a cabinet.