1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 24 ]
ABDA COMMAND—Vice Adm Conrad E. L. Helfrich
of Royal Netherlands Navy succeeds Adm Hart
as commander of ABDA Combined Naval
Striking Force.
SINGAPORE—Japanese continue to make main
effort against W part of S Area and gain ground
near Alexandra. Water supply of garrison is in
danger of failing within a short time. Supplies of
food and ammunition are also dwindling rapidly.
Br flotilla withdrawing from Singapore is attacked
by enemy naval and air forces in approaches to
Bangka Strait and suffers heavily. Boat carrying
Rear Adm, Malaya, and Air Officer Commanding,
Far East, is driven ashore on small deserted island
where the men later perish.
NEI—Japanese invade Sumatra, dropping paratroopers
in Palembang area after air attack on
Palembang I airdrome. Small force defending airdrome
( 150 Dutch infantry and about 60 RAF
ground defense gunners) is forced to withdraw toward
W coast, Japanese having blocked road to
town of Palembang. Allied naval TF moves N to
engage enemy shipping in Bangka Strait but comes
under heavy air attack and retires to base. Palembang-based
aircraft are attacking enemy shipping in
Bangka Strait and cannot be notified in time to
intercept invasion force.
IRAQ—Siboney reaches Basra where American
civilian construction force debarks and proceeds by
lorry to Umm Qasr, hq of Iranian District engineer,
to begin construction projects. Cargo does not arrive
at Umm Qasr until end of month.
15 February
LUZON—In II Corps area, Japanese attack in
limited strength to ease pressure against troops
withdrawing northward from I Corps sector. I
Corps continues to make steady progress against
salient in MLR.
SINGAPORE—Malayan campaign ends with surrender
of Singapore, W anchor of Malay Barrier,
to Japanese. Gen Percival meets with Japanese commander,
Gen Tomoyuki Yamashita, and surrenders
his forces (more than 64,000 troops—Indian, British,
and Australian) unconditionally, effective at nightfall.
NEI—Japanese invasion fleet enters river mouth
near Palembang, Sumatra, and unloads troops despite
repeated and costly attacks by aircraft from
Palembang II airdrome. Dutch and RAF personnel
withdraw from Palembang, where demolition of
refineries is only partially completed. Br personnel
holding landing grounds in central and N Sumatra
are ordered to W coast for withdrawal.
AUSTRALIA—Allied convoy with reinforcements
for Koepang, Timor (Aus 2/4 Pioneer Bn and U.S.
[ 15–18 FEBRUARY 1942 ]
148th FA Regt, less one bn), sails from Darwin.
The units are to secure Penfoie airdrome, the only
staging point on Timor for flights to Java.
BURMA—Ind 17th Div begins withdrawal behind
Bilin R line, 46th Brig abandoning Thaton.
Japanese follow closely and try to outflank div.
16 February
CARIBBEAN SEA—German submarines attack
Aruba I., off coast of Venezuela.
LUZON—I Corps reduces salient in MLR to
area 75 by 100 yards. In South Sector, enemy remnants
from Silaiim Pt, attempting to escape northward,
are detected about 7 miles from the point
and destroyed in 2-day fight. In Manila Bay area,
Japanese destroy section of pipeline on Cavite shore
through which Fort Frank on Carabao I. received
fresh water. Distillation plant is put into operation
at Fort Frank.
NEI—Withdrawal of Br personnel and operational
aircraft from Sumatra to Java is completed.
Equipment is left behind at Oesthaven. Allied convoy
bound for Timor is recalled to Darwin because
of heavy attacks by Japanese planes.
17 February
BORA BORA—U.S. Army units arrive.
LUZON—I Corps completely restores MLR without
opposition as enemy continues to withdraw.
BURMA—Japanese maintain pressure against
Ind 17th Div along Bilin R and continue outflanking
attempts.
MIDDLE EAST—Gen Auchinleck is ordered to
release a more divs for action in Far East—Br 70th
and Aus 9th. Aus 9th Div is subsequently allowed
to remain in Middle East.
18 February
U.S.—War Department orders overseas contract
activities throughout the world militarized.
All civilian contract activities are to be terminated
by 18 August 1942.
NEI—Japanese invade Bali, off E coast of Java,
landing on SE coast, night 18–19. This completes
isolation of Java. Br volunteer party from Batavia
(Java) sails to Oesthaven (Sumatra), where equipment
is salvaged and demolitions are performed
without interference from enemy.
BURMA—Situation of Ind 17th Div deteriorates
as Japanese gain foothold on W bank of Bilin R
near Bilin and continue pressure on flanks. TF’s
are formed by Burma Army to protect Pegu from
SE and sea approaches to Syriam.