Battle of the Atlantic

• U-204 sinks the Belgian steamer Mercier (7886t) 450 miles east of St John's, Newfoundland with the loss of 7 of her crew. 61 survivors are picked up by the Finnish steamers Hammarland and Kemi.
• U-108 sinks the Norwegian steamer Christian Krohg (1992t) from Convoy OB-328 in the middle of the North Atlantic with the loss of her entire crew of 23.
• U-552 sinks the British steamer Ainderby (4860t) 130 miles northwest of Bloody Foreland with the loss of 12 crewmen. 29 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Veteran.
• The British steamer Royal Scot (1444t) sinks on a mine near the Humber River entrance with the loss of 11 of her crew.

Bolivia

All tungsten mines over the next 3 years will be sold to the U.S., following the rejection of a Japanese counterbid.

Britain, Home Front

During a debate in the House of Commons, Churchill answers critics on the operation in Crete. Hore-Belisha declares: 'For the first time in history an island has been captured by an airborne attack.' He asks why all the mistakes made in Norway have been repeated in Crete. Churchill defends the decision to fight in Crete and declares it will pay future dividends.

Italian East Africa

In Operation CHRONOMETER the British launch a strong attack on the centers of Italian resistance in the Galla Sidamo region, southwest of Addis Ababa.

The Italians are commanded by Gen Pietro Gazzera, the senior Italian commander in East Africa since the capture of Amba Alagi and the surrencer by the Duke of Aosta. An Indian battalion lands and captures Assab, the last Red Sea port held by the Italians.

Italy, Policy

Mussolini announces that Italy will occupy Greece.

Mediterranean

The British submarine Torbay sinks the Italian steamer Guiseppina Ghirardi (3319t) 15 miles off Cape Helles.

Syria

Australian forces advancing along the coast north of Tyre begin improvising crossings over the Litani River. A commando raid on the 9th failed to take an important bridge in this sector.