Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer J. D. Paddon (570t) is sunk by German bombing off Hornsea. The entire crew are rescued.

Britain, Command

Lt-Gen Sir Henry Pownall replaces Air Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham as Commander-in-Chief, Far East. This command will shortly be superseded by Wavell's ABDA to which Pownall will become Chief of Staff.

Eastern Front

Soviet troops reach the Volkhov at Kirishi, clearing the Germans of all their gains on the east bank of the river.

The XLII Corps counterattacks north of Kerch and succeeds in inflicting heavy casualties upon the Soviet forces. The Germans are unable to clear up the Soviet bridgeheads because of a lack of strength, enabling the Soviets to land reinforcements and strengthen those units that are already ashore.

Malaya

Kampar, on the west coast, and Kuantan on the east coast of the peninsula, are both being threatened by the Japanese.

North Africa

The Germans halt at Agedabia. They are attacked here unsuccessfully by the 22nd Guards Brigade. At the same time the 22nd Armored Brigade attempts an outflanking move through the open desert, but Lt-Gen Ludwig Crüwell, now with 60 tanks, attacks this column knocking out 37 British tanks to only a loss of 7 on the German side.

Infantry landing craft head for the shore.

Raid on Vaagso

Norway

About 600 British commandos land on Vaagso and Maaloy. Again fish factories and radio stations are the targets. The raids are a success with various merchant and patrol craft being sunk (about 16,000t worth) and 243 volunteers being taken to join the Norwegian forces in Britain. The raid also contributes to fears of Hitler's about a British invasion of Norway. In the short term Dönitz will be ordered to station U-boats to guard against this and in the long term considerable German forces will be sent to idle in Norway.

Four German prisoners, one of whom carries a white flag of surrender, being escorted to a British transport.

German Prisoners

LCA-106 (Landing Craft Assault) during Operation ARCHERY, the commando raid at Vaagso on 27 December 1941.

Landing Craft Used In Vaagso Raid

Philippines

Manila is declared an open city by the American authorities while in the fighting to the north the American forces have now fallen back to their third line running east and west from Paniqui.

There is a lull in the fighting on Luzon while the Japanese consolidate their line on the Agno River. The American and Filipino forces on northern Luzon form a line from Tarlac to Cabanatuan in an attempt to hold up the Japanese advance. In the south of the Japanese follow up the retiring American.

South China Sea

The American submarine Perch (SS-176) sinks the Japanese ammunition ship Nojima Maru (7190t) southwest of Hong Kong.