Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Koepang, Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

• 8 Mosquitos carry out a nuisance raid on Berlin.
• 1 Mosquito crashes into the sea.

Air Operations, Mediterranean

• Allied bombing is intensified on the lines of communication leading from the north to the south of the peninsula and the main southern towns. Naples is the principal target.
• Messina is hit by 212 Allied bombers which drop 800 tons of bombs. This Sicilian city is the funnel for Axis reinforcements and supplies from the Italian mainland.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 3d Light Bomb Group A-20s attack targets around Orodubi.
• 1 43rd Heavy Bomb Group B-17 attacks Lae.
• P-40s of the 49th Fighter Group’s 7th Fighter Squadron downs 3 D3A 'Val' dive bombers near Salamaua between 0825 and 0845 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

A total of 11 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack small craft off New Georgia.

Battle of the Atlantic

The German submarine U-160 is sunk by aircraft (VC-29) from the escort carrier Santee (CVE-29).

Eastern Front

Despite the formal order to abandon the battle, Hoth's forces continue to make local efforts in the southern part of the Kursk salient. To the north both of the Soviet pincers make good progress toward Orel. The Voronezh Front, under Vatutin, now goes over to the offensive in the southern sector of the Kursk salient opposite the 4th Panzer Army and the Kempf Operational Group.

Soviet SU-122 ~ Prokhorovka ~ July 14, 1943

German forces in the south of the Kursk salient continue limited offensives. The Grossdeutschland and 3rd Panzer Divs counterattack the Soviet V Guards and X Tank Corps, which have been reinforced by the VI Tank Corps. The German units drive the Soviets back. In addition, the III Panzer Corps and the Das Reich Div wipe out an enemy pocket between the Lipovyi Donets River and the Northern Donets River.

The West Front brings up its 4th Tank Army to add weight to the attacks by 11th Guards Army. In addition the 11th Army moves up from reserve to support the 11th Guards. Bryansk Front moves its 3rd Guards Tank Army up behind the 3rd and 63rd Armies to crush the apex of the German salient. Further heavy fighting rages as the Germans slowly withdraw.

South of Kursk the German attacks are dying down but heavy fighting continues around Prokhorovka. Soviet forces are beginning to launch strong counterattacks, sapping the strength of the exhausted XLVIII Panzer and II SS Panzer Corps.

The XLVIII Panzer Corps counterattacks in an effort to regain Heights 247.0 and 243.0. As the Germans move they are brought under intense arty fire. Soviet attacks from the north and west are beaten off but disrupt the German plan. Despite this the Germans retake Height 243.0.

Sicily

A Universal carrier with men of Black Watch on a road near Palazzolo, 14 July 1943.

Universal Carrier of the Black Watch

The American 1st Div enters Mazzarino and Niscemi, while on the outskirts of Vizzini the British 51st Div, with support from the American 45th Div, overcomes forceful resistance by the Axis troops. While the US division is shifted out on to the left sector, the village is taken by a brigade of the 51st Div. The Canadian 1st Div now moves northwest towards Enna. The Germans counter-attack at Augusta. Near Lentini, in the British XIII Corps sector, an attack by the 5th and 51st Divs is now contained by the Axis forces. The British capture Primo Solo Bridge, south of Catania. The paratroopers at Ponte Primasole hold out all day. As the evening falls they run out of ammunition and withdraw over a hill south of the river, where they are joined by the men of the Durham brigade of the 50th Div.

The first issue of the 'Eight Army News' is published in Syracuse edited by Warwick Charlton.

A British Sherman tank in the streets of Francofonte. During 13 – 14 July, XIII Corps, Eighth Army began a major effort to reach Catania. Their efforts were resisted by German paratroops in and around Francofonte who delayed the British advance for two days.

British Sherman in Francofonte

Solomons

Heavy fighting continues in the jungles of New Georgia. New reinforcements and tanks are landed at Laiana.

Trobriand Islands

The Americans complete the construction of the airfield begun by the Seabees immediately after landing.