Air Operations, Mediterranean

There is a British air raid in the area of Castelvetrano, Sicily.

Air Operations, East Indies

8 17th Provisional Pursuit Squadron P-40s attemp a low-level bombing and strafing attack on shipping at Palembang, Sumatra, but are attacked by Japanese fighters before they can release their bombs. 3 of the P-40s make their bomb run while the others defend themselves against the Japanese aircraft shooting down 5 of them. No P-40s are lost.

Australia, Home Front

Prime Minister Curtin orders 'total mobilization'.

Battle of the Atlantic

U-136 sinks the British steamer Empire Comet (6914t), a straggler from Convoy HX-174, 33 miles north of Rockall with the loss of all 46 of her crew.

Britain, Politics

There is debate in the House of Commons on the escape of the German battlecruisers from Brest. Churchill announces a commission of inquiry will be set up under Justice Bucknill.

Eastern Front

The German relief force from Velikiye Luki links up with Group Sinzinger at Velizh, The 4th Shock Army, however, remains at the gates, making an all-out effort to overrun the garrision before it can be reinforced. The 4th Shock also attempts to overcome Demidov, but agains the Germans beat back each attack.

Fighting erupts around Rzhev as the 30th and 39th Armies attempt to relieve the remnants of the 29th Army trapped near the town. A counterattack by the 1st Panzer Division isolates the 29th west of Rzhev. The Soviets attack with the 39th Army and 30th Army from the west and north to try to free the 29th.

The next phase of Marshal Zhukov's attack begins as the 14th Airborne Brigade drops west of Yukhnow. Losses are again heavy, many of the men being scattered on landing. Over the next few days, the Soviets will continue to drop paratroopers into the Yukhnow area.

North Africa

Gen Auchinleck receives orders to transfer two divisions to the Far East. The British 70th Div leaves, but the 9th Australian Div stays in Africa. Axis aircraft bomb Tobruk and an airfield near Mersa Matruh. Rommel has been called to the Führer's headquarters at Rastenburg in East Prussia. He asks Hitler for reinforcements trying to convince him of the importance of the African front to the war generally. The Führer, however, is now concentrating on the Russian front and does not want his forces to be dispersed. Rommel is only given the 15th Parachute Bde, which is sent to him from Greece by Gen Harmann Ramcke.

Grant tanks of 5th Royal Tank Regiment on the move in the Western Desert, 17 February 1942.

Grant Tanks of 5th Royal Tank Regiment

Occupied Singapore

The Japanese rename Singapore to Shonan, 'Light of the South'.

Pacific

• The Americans land a battalion (1st Naval Construction Battalion) of Seabees, 'militarized civilians', at Bora-Bora, Society Islands, to build and equip an airfield.
• The Japanese submarine I-25 launches a small Yokosuka seaplane for a reconnaissance flight over Sydney. Over the next 3 weeks similar flights will be made over Melbourne, Hobart and Wellington.
• The US submarine Triton (SS-201) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese gunboat No. 5 Shin'yo Maru off Nagasaki, Japan.
• The Dutch destroyer Van Nes and the Dutch steamer Sloet van der Beele (2977t), carrying evacuees from Billiton, Dutch East Indies, are sunk by Japanese bombing south of Banka. There are no survivors from either ship.

Philippines

In the Bataan peninsula the situation remains unchanged. The Japanese are withdrawing to more favorable positions.