Air Operations, Europe

13 Manchesters and 6 Lancasters are sent on a daylight mine-laying mission in the Frisians. Only 11 aircraft reach the correct area. 2 Wellingtons are sent to Essen but return due to lack of clouds.

Battle of the Atlantic

The unarmed US tanker Oakmar (5766t) is shelled by the U-71 and abandoned. US submarine R-6 (SS-83) is sent to Oakmar's assistance. U-71 then torpedoes and shells Oakmar until she sinks. The Greek steamship Panos Pladelis picks up 30 survivors, 6 men perish.

Eastern Front

Manstein commits the 22nd Panzer Division to the fighting on the Kerch peninsula but the new and inexperienced division suffers a severe mauling. The German counterattack, however, succeeds in breaking up new Soviet assaults, giving the XLII Corps a brief respite.

The Stavka revises it sorders to the Kalinin and West Fronts. The objectives are to reach the line Belyi-Dorogobuzh-Elnya-Krasnoye by mid April. By the end of March, the West Front is to establish contact with those units in the German rear, while the 5th Army is to capture Gzhatsk. The 5th will then co-operated with the 43rd, 49th and 50th Armies to take Vyazma using the 29th, 30th, 39th and 31st Armies ant then co-operated with the 22nd Army to destroy the Germans around Olenino. Group Kolpakchy, a force of 5 rifle divisions, is to take Belyi.

Japan, Home Front

Japanese Navy Minister, Adm Shimada, announces that Japan will no longer observe the recognized rules of naval warfare, since Allied forces in the Pacific are waging 'extreme warfare, based on retaliation and hatred'.

Mediterranean

• Over the next few days there is an important British convoy operation to supply Malta, but because of British losses in late 1941 and the demands of the Far East there is only a relatively small escort. It is led by Adm Vian, and has 5 light cruisers and 17 destroyers to face perhaps the whole Italian navy.
• U-652 sinks the British destroyer Heythrop 40 miles northeast of Bardia with the loss of 15 of her crew.

North Africa

In order to draw away as many Axis aircraft as possible from a supply convoy en route to Malta, the RAF attack airfields in the area of Derna and Benghazi. 8th Army raiding parties also hit these 2 locations in further efforts to divert attention form the Malta convoy.

Philippines

Gen Wainwright is appointed to command all American forces in this theater.

United States, Planning

Army Air Force (AAF) planners lay out a concept for a strategic bombing campaign against Germany launched from bases in Britain. The US will emphasize precision daylight attacks against critical industrial targers, complemening the British emphasis on night area bombing.