Air Operations, Pacific

Japanese H6K reconnaissance bombers attack Wake Island at dawn followed by 30 G3M 'Nell' bombers at 1100. One of the two remaining VMF-211's F4Fs is destroyed by a bomb in the attack.

Axis Diplomacy

A treaty of alliance is signed between Japan and Thailand. Bangkok retains a measure of independence but the Japanese will exercise whatever control necessary to operate in Thailand.

Battle of the Atlantic

Convoy HG-76(HX-76?) sails from Gibraltar for the UK. There are 32 ships in the convoy and the escort includes the escort carrier Audacity and 12 other ships. The escort is led by perhaps the most famous of the British escort leaders, Cmdr Frederic John Walker. During the 10 days of the convoy's passage 12 U-boats are involved in attacks, but 5 are sunk and in addition 2 Condor aircraft are shot down. This success is termpered by the sinking of the Audacity on the 21st by U-751 commanded by Korvettenkapitän Gerhard Bigalk. 1 destroyer and 2 merchant ships are also lost to the attacks which are called off by Dönitz on the 23rd.

Dönitz records in his war diary: 'The risk of being sunk is greater than the possible success. The presence of aircraft make 'wolf pack' tactics impossible. U-boat High Command now issues standing directives to U-boat commanders telling them to make the location and destruction of aircraft carriers their prime objective.

U-108 sinks the Portuguese steamer Cassequel 160 miles southwest of Cape St Vincent. The entire crew of 57 are rescued.

Eastern Front

The Russians continue to advance on all fronts. Berlin reports great loss of material through the freezing of vehicles, tanks and guns stuck in deep mud.

Group Chanchibadze, with 2 cavalry and 1 motorized division (assigned to the 30th Army) cut the road west from Klin, isolating the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th Panzer and 14th Motorized Divisions. As the group pushes west, it enters Dyatkovo but is halted by heavy fore from elements of the 6th Panzer and 14th Motorized Divisions.

Russian Troops March through Newly-Liberated Klin

Malaya

The Japanese forces from Patani have now pushed on beyond The Ledge to Kroh. They have also moved into Panang and Gurun.

Mediterranean

• In their continuing effort to bring supplies to Benghazi, the Italians suffer damage to their battleship Vittorio Veneto by a torpedo from the British submarine Urge.
• U-557 sinks the British light cruiser Galatea off Alexandria upon returning from an unsuccessful cruise against Italian convoys. 368 are lost on the cruiser. 154 men are rescued by the British destroyers Griffin and Hotspur.

Pacific

The Japanese submarine I-4 sinks the Norwegian steamer Hoegh Merchant (4858t) 29 miles from Cape Makapuu, Oahu. The entire crew are rescued.

Philippines

There are more Japanese landings. With support from 2 heavy cruisers, the Myoko and the Nachi, and 2 destroyers, troops are put ashore at Lagazpi in Luzon.