Marshal Mannerheim on 24 July 1941 reaches his conclusion regarding the advance of Finnish VI Corps to the old Finnish-Soviet border on the eastern shore of Lake Ladoga: halt. Finnish troops there are refusing to cross the border, as nobody wants to provoke the Soviet Union. Instead of ordering the troops to continue heading southeast, Mannerheim orders them to form a line along the Tuulema River. The Germans are dismayed, as they want the advance to continue, but there is nothing that they can do.
On the other side of Lake Ladoga, Finnish VII Corps continues forcing its way forward against heavy Soviet resistance. It approaches the town of Sortavala on the road that runs along the fringes of Lake Ladoga. The Finns capture Vidlitsa and Rajakonru northeast of Lake Ladoga. Further north, Finnish 14th Infantry Division (Colonel Erkki Raappana) takes Omelia, wiping out Soviet 337th Rifle Regiment.
In the Army Group North sector, the Wehrmacht consolidates its position as it prepares for the final advance on Leningrad.
In the Army Group Center sector, Soviet troops attack the exposed Panzer Group 2 bridgehead at Yelnya. At Velikiye Luki, Soviet counterattacks cut German lines of communication and the Wehrmacht retreats in the area. The Germans are under heavy pressure in this sector and have to throw service troops into the line.
In the Army Group South sector, Romanian Third and Fourth Armies in conjunction with the German 11th Army complete the occupation of Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, and Hertsa. These are territories ceded by Romania to the Soviet Union in 1940. This completes OPERATION MÜNCHEN. Romania intends to reincorporate the region into the Romanian State. By 26 July, the Romanians establish air supremacy over Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina. They flew a total of 5,100 missions, claiming 88 enemy aircraft shot down in aerial combat plus 108 destroyed on the ground for the cost of 58 of their own aircraft. An additional 59 Soviet aircraft were shot down by Romanian flak.
The Luftwaffe, after a night off, again attacks Moscow. Tonight, the number of bombers is reduced to 100. Red Army night fighter pilot Kapitan Konstantin Titenkov claims a bomber for his third success in three nights.
Mussolini offers to add another Italian army corps to the one already allocated to the eastern front.
After a long siege, the last Soviet defenders of Brest-Litovsk are forced to surrender.
General der Panzertruppe Walther Kurt Josef Nehring is awarded the Knight’s Cross. He is Generalmajor and commander of the 18th Panzer-Division.
Steady progress in face of stiff resistance and despite bad roads this was the German summary tonight of the war against Russia. The eastern campaign was called a methodical working out of a carefully arranged plan. The Germans admitted the Russians were putting up the stiffest kind of defense, but asserted tough opposition had been foreseen. Motorized German detachments were slowed by bad road conditions, especially in the Kiev area.
During his evening talks with cronies, Adolf Hitler opines:
“The German army is technically the most perfect in the world; and the German soldier, in a moment of crisis, is safer and sounder than any other soldier. I’m truly happy that it has been granted to me to see, in my lifetime, the German soldier rewarded by Providence. For an elite force, like our SS, it’s great luck to have suffered comparatively heavy losses. In this way, it’s assured of the necessary prestige to intervene, if need be, on the home front — which, of course, won’t be necessary. But it’s good to know that one disposes of a force that could show itself capable of doing so, on occasion.”
Ordinary soldiers may not agree that their losses are worth it for the prestige granted their formations. There is no question, however, that the SS is loaded with fanatical troops who might, in fact, agree with Hitler.
The Romanian governor of the Kishinev (Chișinău) district of Bessarabia (Moldova) and the local German commander of the Einsatzkommando order a Ghetto established for Jews who have survived previous executions. Some 11,000 people squeeze into the confined space.
A local SS commander reports to headquarters that 4,435 Jews have been exterminated at Lachowicz.
German SS troops execute all of the Jewish citizens of Grodz, Lithuania.
The partisan revolt in the Balkans continues. Italian troops, attempting to regain control, engage in repressive measures. This includes executing civilians in the Croatian town of Sinj.
Free France, distrustful of British command of its troops in the Middle East, took back control effective at 1200 hours.
U.S. troopship USS West Point (AP-23) arrives in Lisbon. It carries German and Italian consular personnel and their families who have been ordered to return to Europe by the United States government.
68 Dutch officers arrived at the Oflag IV-C camp at Colditz Castle in Germany; they were the first Dutch prisoners at this prisoners of war camp.
Following Operation SUBSTANCE a group of empty merchantmen leave Malta for Gibraltar. South of Sardinia they are attacked by SM79 torpedo bombers (280 Sqd), the tanker Hoegh Hood is sunk. Italian torpedo boat MAS-533 torpedoes and damages 11,219-ton freighter Sydney Star. Destroyer Nestor tows the Sydney Star to Malta, where the freighter is put in drydock for repairs. Most of the ships of Convoy GM.1 reach Malta safely despite continued Italian air and motor torpedo boat attacks. Royal Navy destroyer HMS Nestor (Cmdr. A. S. Rosenthal, DSO, RAN) unloads 487 troops at Malta. Royal Navy submarines Perseus and Regent engage in fake radio traffic designed to create the impression to the Italians that the main Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet based at Alexandria is at sea, when in fact it is in port.
An Italian CANT Z.506 reconnaissance seaplane, escorted by 42 Macchi C.200 fighters, spots the Operation SUBSTANCE ships arriving in Malta. The RAF launches 22 Hawker Hurricanes to attack the Italian formation, and the British shoot down three of the Italian fighters without loss to themselves. Overall, the Italians lose about a dozen aircraft during their operations surrounding Operation SUBSTANCE.
Operation GUILLOTINE, the reinforcement of Cyprus, continues. Royal Navy transport Gujarat, escorted by Australian sloop HMAS Parramatta, travels from Port Said to Famagusta without incident.
The German battlecruiser Scharnhorst was hit five times by bombs from a force of 15 Halifax bombers in the port of La Pallice, France.
German destroyer Hermann Schoemann, operating off of Kharlov Islands, uses gunfire to sink 540-ton Soviet whaler Meridian.
Operation EF, a large raid on Kirkenes and Petsamo, continues northward toward Seidis Fjord, Iceland, and remains undetected.
The RAF submitted a report for the week ending 24 July 1941. Coastal Command flew 252 patrols (364 sorties) and escorted 94 convoys (264 sorties). Fighter Command flew 704 shipping protection patrols (1,476 sorties).
RAF Bomber Command, Day of 24 July 1941
Brest
A major daylight raid (OPERATION SUNRISE) against the German warships at Brest had been under preparation for some time. The original plan was to send approximately 150 aircraft but this had to be changed at the last minute because of the departure of the Scharnhorst for La Pallice. The force actually dispatched to Brest was 100 aircraft and the tactical plan was as follows:
- 3 Fortresses bombing from 30,000 ft would, it was hoped, draw up German fighters prematurely.
- 18 Hampdens, escorted by 3 squadrons of Spitfires with long-range fuel tanks, would complete the process of ‘drawing-up’ of the fighters.
- The main bombing force of 79 Wellingtons, provided by 1 and 3 Groups, would then attack.
No fighter escort was available for the Wellingtons. The operation proceeded according to this plan in clear visibility. 6 hits were claimed on the Gneisenau but these cannot be confirmed. The German fighter opposition was stronger and more prolonged than expected and 10 Wellingtons and 2 Hampdens were lost to fighter attack or Flak.
Cherbourg
As a diversion for the Brest raid, 36 Blenheims in several waves and all escorted by Spitfires, attacked Cherbourg docks with good bombing results but the diversionary aspect of the plan failed. No German fighters appeared. No Blenheims lost.
La Pallice
15 Halifaxes of 35 and 76 Squadrons carried out an entirely unescorted raid on the Scharnhorst at La Pallice. The Halifaxes met fierce fighter opposition and some Flak; 5 were lost and all the remainder damaged. 5 direct hits were scored on the Scharnhorst but 3 of these were armour-piercing bombs which passed straight through the ship, leaving small holes in the bottom only, and the 2 bombs which did explode caused only light damage. The Germans decided, however, that Scharnhorst should return at once for the better repair facilities and Flak cover at Brest and she sailed that night with much water inside the ship (reports vary between 3,000 and 7,000 tons of water). This operation was, therefore, a major success in that it ensured that this powerful warship was forced to stay in harbour for a further prolonged period, 4 months being required for repairs.
During the raid on La Pallice, the German defenders accidentally down a returning Focke-Wulf FW-200 returning from an Atlantic reconnaissance flight.
The total effort for the day: 151 sorties with 17 aircraft (11.3 percent) lost.
RAF Bomber Command, Night of 24/25 July 1941
Kiel
34 Wellingtons and 30 Hampdens; 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost. Kiel reports only a few bombs with 2 people injured but 5 people were killed in the nearby village of Wellsee.
Emden
31 Whitleys and 16 Wellingtons; 2 Wellingtons lost.
Minor Operations: 4 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 6 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians. No losses.
The RAF flies a Circus mission to Hazebrouck. James Lacey engaged two German Bf 109 fighters and claimed kills on both of them after the two German aircraft collided in mid-air during the dogfight.
Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn, Kommodore of JG 53 and a 42-victory ace, is awarded the Eichenlaub.
German scouts spot Allied convoys OG.69 and SL.80 at sea and U-boat Command (BdU) directed U-boats toward them.
Light cruiser HMS Euryalus, escorted by destroyer HMS Croome, departed Rosyth at 0800 for Scapa Flow, where they arrived at 2030.
Anti-aircraft ship HMS Alynbank departed Scapa Flow at 0800 and escorted convoy WN.56 from the Pentland Firth until meeting convoy EC.49 at approximately midnight. After parting with convoy EC.49 in Pentland Firth, the ship arrived at Scapa Flow at 1800 on the 25th.
A British raid of 149 RAF bombers was launched at the German battleships at La Pallice and Brest. Battlecruiser Scharnhorst was badly damaged at La Pallice. Battlecruiser Gneisenau at Brest was not damaged.
Submarine HMS Upholder damaged Italian steamer Dandolo (4964grt), escorted by a destroyer, off the west coast of Sicily in 38-08N, 12-37E.
Submarine HMS Upright unsuccessfully attacked floating dock G022 off Cape Dell’Armi. The submarine was heavily counterattacked.
Aircraft carrier HMS Formidable, after temporary repairs at Alexandria, departed Alexandria for Port Said escorted by minelaying cruiser HMS Latona and destroyers HMS Jervis, HMS Kandahar, and HMS Jaguar.
Australian sloop HMAS Parramatta departed Port Said escorting motor transport ship Gujarat to Famagusta in Serial S.5 of the GUILLOTINE Operation. The sloop arrived back at Port Said on the 28th.
Australian destroyer HMAS Voyager departed Alexandria to return to Australia. The destroyer passed through the Suez Canal on the 25th. The destroyer arrived at Port Darwin on 25 September.
Italian submarine Squalo claimed damaging a British tanker in 32-20N, 24-53E.
Convoy OS.1 departed Liverpool, escorted by sloop HMS Folkestone and corvettes HMS Azalea and HMS Penstemon. The corvettes were detached on the 26th and 25 July, respectively. The convoy was joined on the 25th by destroyers HMS Bath, HMS Vanoc, and HMS Walker. The destroyers were detached on the 28th, 26 July, and 3 August, respectively. Also joining on the 25th were anti-aircraft ship HMS Ariguani which was detached on the 28th, corvettes HMS Carnation, HMS Heliotrope, HMS La Malouine, and HMS Mallow which were detached on the 28th, trawlers Balta, Kos IX, and Lorinda which were detached on 3 August, boom defense vessels Consbro, Lord Gainsford, Panorama, and Phyllisia which were detached on the 26th. Sloops HMS Londonderry and HMS Weston joined on the 26th and were detached on 9 August. Destroyer HMS Chelsea joined on the 28th and was detached on the 30th. Corvettes HMS Anchusa, HMS Asphodel, and HMS Calendula joined on 9 August and arrived with the convoy at Freetown on 10 August.
Convoy SL.82 departed Freetown escorted by armed merchant cruiser HMS Derbyshire to 10 August, destroyer HMS Vansittart to and corvettes HMS Armeria, HMS Aster, HMS Burdock, and HMS Marguerite to 31 July. Corvette HMS Amaranthus joined the convoy from 25 to 27 July. On 10 August, destroyers HMS Viceroy and HMS Woolston joined the convoy and on 11 August, destroyers HMS Vanoc and HMS Walker joined. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 15 August.
President Roosevelt in Washington today convened the first meeting of the Volunteer Participation Committee of the Office of Civilian Defense. His callers included Louis B. Kirstein, chairman of the American Retail Federation, Lincoln MacVeagh, former Minister to Greece, Senators Norris and Lee and Secretary Ickes. He left for Hyde Park.
The Senate completed Congressional action on the $250,000,000 defense highway appropriation, confirmed the nomination of Thomas M. Wilson as United States Commissioner to India; received the Hill resolution declaring a state of national emergency and adjourned at 12:35 PM until noon on Monday. The Military Affairs Committee received the War Department’s substitute resolution for the extension of military service of selectees.
The House received and debated the $8,063,238,478 Supplemental Deficiency Appropriation bill and adjourned at 3:42 PM until noon Monday. Conferees agreed on an amendment to the Selective Service Act permitting seizure of strike-bound defense plants.
President Roosevelt meets with Japanese Ambassador Nomura in the Oval Office. Roosevelt defends his policy in the Pacific, noting that he has permitted oil to be shipped to Japan. However, he notes that the Japanese occupation of French Indochina is a problem for relations. Nomura says that he personally disagrees with the aggressive Japanese policies in the Pacific and is a good friend of new Foreign Minister Toyoda. Both Roosevelt and Nomura agree that Germany’s goal is world conquest and is pressuring Japan. Nomura promises to ask his government not to occupy French Indochina, and Roosevelt promises to guarantee that the Allies would leave it alone if Japan does as well. Nomura responds that it may be too late because Japan would lose face if it pulled out of Indochina now.
After the meeting, Acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles issues a statement regarding the Japanese/Vichy French agreement regarding Japanese use of French Indochina. It notes in part:
“By the course which it has followed and is following in regard to Indochina, the Japanese Government is giving clear indication that it is determined to pursue an objective of expansion by force or threat of force.”
The statement does not, however, indicate that the United States will take any direct action as a result of the Japanese establishment of military bases in the territory.
The United States denounced the actions of Japan in French Indochina: “…the action of Japan is undertaken because of the estimated value to Japan of bases in that region primarily for purposes of further and more obvious movements of conquest in adjacent areas… In the light of previous developments, steps such as are now being taken by the Government of Japan endanger the peaceful use by peaceful nations of the Pacific. They tend to jeopardize the procurement by the United States of essential materials such as tin and rubber which are necessary for the normal economy of this country and the consummation to them of our defense program.”
Branding Japan’s move in French Indo-China a threat to American security and a step toward further conquest, the United States hinted at strong counter-measures today and warned Tokyo against a drive on Singapore, the Netherlands East Indies and the Philippines. From President Roosevelt himself gave some plain-talking about why the United States had not heretofore shut off all oil shipments to Japan all in the past tense. He told a civilian defense group bluntly that this policy was designed to make it unnecessary for Japan to go down to the East Indies for oil, and the president said “it has worked for two years,” thus keeping war out of the Pacific. But from his past-tense discussion of American methods in seeking the south Pacific peace, some observers drew the inference the president now might be ready to impose a full embargo on oil shipments to Japan and take other strong economic measures.
FDR publicly questions the political logic of exporting to Japan while a gasoline shortage is expected on the U.S. east coast following the loan of 50 U.S. tankers to take Lend-Lease oil to New York for transfer to British ships. The 50 tankers comprise 20% of the Texas-to-east-coast fleet which deliver 96% of the east coast’s oil.
In a move to simplify the legislative task of extending the Army service of selectees, National Guardsmen and reservists, and to give Congress a rallying point for support of President Roosevelt in the international crisis, Secretary Stimson sent to the Capitol today the draft of a resolution declaring a national emergency and giving the President authority to retain the temporary soldiers in camp “for the duration.”
Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War, accused Senator Burton K. Wheeler, isolationist leader, today of action “that comes very near the line of subversive activities against the United States, if not treason.” Secretary Stimson based this accusation on evidence that two cards, urging persons opposed to Intervention to write to the President and Congressmen that they should “keep the country out of the European war,” had been received by soldiers. These cards, of which he gave photostats to reporters, showed that one was addressed to the civilian address of an officer; the other sent addressed to a staff sergeant at an Army camp in Georgia. Mr. Stimson said that the cards had the effect of impairing discipline and training of the Army at a time of national peril and thus struck at the nation’s defense. This, he believed, bordered on treason.
Defense officials approved yesterday a non-strike agreement with A.F.L. building trades designed to keep construction moving on defense jobs employing about 800,000 men. An additional 1,500,000 will be affected indirectly, officials said in announcing the plan calling for uniform overtime pay equal to time and a half and barring work stoppages in jurisdictional disputes “or for any other reason.”
Senate and House conferees approved a bill today to authorize President Roosevelt to seize and operate any strike-bound defense plant during the national emergency. This provision was included in amendments to the Selective Service Act which directed the President to defer from military service all men 28 years of age and over.
The New York Times publishes a quote from Senator Harry Truman of Missouri regarding the German invasion of the Soviet Union: “If we see that Germany is winning we ought to help Russia, and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany, and in that way let them kill as many as possible.”
[Ed: This is brutally realpolitik and distasteful and arguably somewhat rational, but certainly not a good thing to tell the press, Harry.]
Wendell Willkie called for a positive defense against the Nazi machine in an address tonight before an overflow crowd at the Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California at a mass meeting held under the auspices of Americans United.
The transport USS West Point (AP-23) disembarked German and Italian consular officials and their families at Lisbon, Portugal. On June 16 the United States had requested the withdrawal of German and Italian consular staffs from the United States by July 10.
Dr. Jerome C. Hunsaker was elected Chairman of the NACA and Chairman of its Executive Committee.
30 P-40C Warhawk fighters and three Stearman PT-13 Kaydets of the 33rd Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) are loaded on the aircraft carrier USS Wasp at Naval Operating Base Norfolk, Virginia. The ship will sail for Iceland on 28 July and the aircraft are launched on the morning of 6 August 1941.
Heavy cruiser USS Astoria departed San Pedro, California, United States.
U.S. Marine Corps established a Marine Detachment under the 1st Defense Battalion at Johnston Island.
Major League Baseball:
Connecting in the 5th off Bill Dietrich Jim Tabor slugs his 2nd grand slam of the year and the Red Sox roll over the visiting White Sox, 11–1. After losing seven, games in a row, Lefty Mickey Harris pitched the Red Sox to the victory today in the last game of the series.
Babe Dahlgren, a member of the Braves until five weeks ago, gave the Cubs a 5–4 victory over his old teammates today with a sixth-inning home run, his fourteenth of the campaign.
Joe DiMaggio blazed the trail for the first Yankee run with a smashing single to extend his latest hitting streak to seven games in a row. In its wake came other damaging blows, including Charlie Keller’s twenty-fourth homer of the year. Lefty Gomez pitched skillfully until the heat wilted him, then big Ernie Bonham finished the job with neatness and dispatch, and the whole thing added up to a 4–1 triumph for the Bronx Bombers over the Cleveland Indians.
Hammering three pitchers for thirteen hits, including two home runs, the Athletics defeated the Browns, 9–7, today for a sweep of a three-game series. The Athletics scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back.
With a two-run rally in the ninth inning, the Pirates scored their fifth straight victory by defeating the Phillies today, 3–2, in the finale of a three-game series. Lefty Lee Grissom held Pittsburgh in check until the ninth inning. Debs Garms, a pinch hitter, opened with a single and advanced to third on a sacrifice and a wild pitch. Frankie Gustine scored him with a double to deep left and the Pirate second sacker scored the winning run when Stu Martin pinch-hit to center with the bases full.
The New York Giants lose again to the St. Louis Cardinals, this time by a score of 3-2. Bouncing away to a two-run lead, the Giants coursed steadily behind the pitching of John Wittig without giving a run until the seventh. Then, in the ninth inning, Billy Southworth’s fighting band came on to tie the score, and in the tenth the Cards jammed over the winning run to make a clean sweep of the three-game series as they slapped the fourth straight reverse on the New Yorkers
The Senators capitalized on Hal Newhouser’s wildness, an error and two hits to tally four runs in the ninth inning today and defeat the Tigers, 6–5. The triumph gave Washington a sweep of the three-game series.
Chicago White Sox 1, Boston Red Sox 11
Boston Braves 4, Chicago Cubs 5
Cleveland Indians 1, New York Yankees 4
St. Louis Browns 7, Philadelphia Athletics 9
Philadelphia Phillies 2, Pittsburgh Pirates 3
New York Giants 2, St. Louis Cardinals 3
Detroit Tigers 5, Washington Senators 6
Some 700 employees of the Alcan aluminum company went on strike in Arvida, Quebec, Canada. Since the industry had been classified as essential to the war effort, the strike was illegal.
The Japanese government presented an ultimatum to the Vichy government, on the 19th, demanding bases in southern Indochina. Vichy has conceded today. The Japanese will begin to occupy these bases on the 28th. The ultimatum was decided in the Japanese Imperial Conference on July 2.
Foreign consulates said today their representatives in Hanoi had been advised by the Indo-China government of a French-Japanese agreement granting the Japanese certain naval and military concessions in southern Indo-China. These sources declared the agreement had been reached by representatives of the Tokyo and Vichy governments July 19, but details concerning its provisions could not be learned immediately. While Saigon remained outwardly calm awaiting further news. Japanese authorities ordered the loading of Japanese boats halted and advised their nationals to stand by for evacuation if necessary.
Japanese marines land at Cam Ranh Bay to secure port facilities, pursuant to the recent Japanese agreement with the Vichy French. Army troops are following along behind..
Japanese warships were reported off the coast of southern French Indo-China tonight and 12 Japanese troop transports were said on their way to Saigon as Japan followed up quickly French acceptance of her demands for new military concessions in the colony.
The British Government is awaiting a United States lead tonight before making up its mind what to do about the Japanese move southward into French Indo-China. Officially, the British do not yet know that such a move has taken place.
The Japanese Foreign Office organ, which only yesterday was urging that Japan assume protection of French Indo-China, dropped that subject today as if it were already settled and directed its attention in strongly similar vein toward the little Kingdom of Thailand.
The British Government is awaiting a United States lead tonight before making up its mind what to do about the Japanese move southward into French Indo-China. Officially, the British do not yet know that such a move has taken place. . This, these sources say, would be a magnificent opportunity for China to prepare for large-scale counter-attacks, except for the ominous fact that Japan cannot ease pressure against Chungking’s armies and at the same time permit the uninterrupted inflow to Free China of the one billion dollars’ worth of war supplies that General Chiang is to receive under the lease-lend act. To do so would incur, for Japan, the grave risk of losing all that she has conquered in four years of costly warfare. Therefore, it is argued, the occupation of naval and air bases in French Indo-China can only be the prelude to some action against Burma and Rangoon, for only by such action can the supply of vital war materials to China from the United States be cut off. The military experts here point out that mere bombings of the Burma Road have not effectively interrupted the traffic, and that Japan’s newly acquired bases in Southern Indo-China would be of no use against the Burma Road itself.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 128.59 (-0.57)
Born:
Barbara Love, American soul singer (Friends of Distinction — “Going in Circles”), in Los Angeles, California.
Bobby Matos, American session percussionist, Latin jazz timbalero, and bandleader, in The Bronx, New York, New York (d. 2017).
Laraine Stephens, American TV and film actress (“The Thousand Plane Raid”), in Oakland, California.
Died:
Rudolf Ramek, 60, 6th Chancellor of Austria.
Naval Construction:
The U.S. Navy YMS-1-class auxiliary motor minesweeper USS YMS-90 is laid down by the Hubbards South Coast Co. (Newport Beach, California, U.S.A.).
The Royal Navy YMS-1-class auxiliary motor minesweeper HMS BYMS 2001 (J 801) is laid down by the American Car and Foundry Co. (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.).
The Royal Navy Algerine-class (Turbine-engined) minesweepers HMS Albacore (J 101) and HMS Acute (J 106) are laid down by Harland & Wolff Ltd. (Belfast, Northern Ireland).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXC/40 U-boat U-186 is laid down by AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1026).
The Royal Navy LCT (Mk 2)-class landing craft, tank HMS LCT 120 is launched by Tees-Side Bridge (Middlesbrough, U.K.).
The Royal Navy LCT (Mk 2)-class landing craft, tank HMS LCT 144 is launched by Stockton Construction (Thornaby, U.K.).
The U.S. Navy Accentor-class coastal minesweeper USS Barbet (AMc-38) is launched by W.A. Robinson Inc. (Ipswich, Massachusetts, U.S.A.).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIID U-boat U-213 is launched by F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 645).
The Royal Navy Flower-class corvette HMS Genista (K 200) is launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd. (Belfast, Northern Ireland).
The U.S. Navy Accentor-class coastal minesweeper USS Accentor (AMc-36) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant (jg.) Gordon Abbott.
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type 37 torpedo boat T16 is commissioned.
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boat U-454 is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Kapitänleutnant Burckhard Hackländer.
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boat U-580 is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Oberleutnant zur See Hans Günther Kuhlmann.
The Вое́нно-морско́й флот СССР (ВМФ) (Soviet Navy) “S” (Stalinec)-class (2nd group, Type IX-modified) submarine S-12 is commissioned.
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