The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II. Robert J. Cressman
15 Friday
Destroyer Plunkett (DD 431), on Neutrality Patrol off Tampico, Mexico, observes German freighter Orinoco and tanker Phrygia making preparations for sea (see 16 November).
Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA 28) arrives at Santos, Brazil, as she continues her goodwill cruise in Latin American waters (see 25 November).
16 Saturday
Destroyer McCormick (DD 223), on Neutrality Patrol off Tampico, Mexico, foils attempt by German freighter Orinoco to make a break for Europe. Destroyer Plunkett (DD 431), by her very presence, thwarts German tanker Phrygia’s bid for freedom; Phrygia’s crew scuttles her.
In accordance with Acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles’s request of 13 November, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim H. Freeman Matthews meets with Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain concerning the possible move of French battleships Richelieu and Jean Bart. Pétain assures the U.S. envoy that the two capital ships would be used to defend French territory and would never be used against the British. “Under present circumstances,” Pétain informs Matthews, “I have neither the right nor the possibility of selling them” (see 18 and 21 November).
17 Sunday
PBYs (VP 54) inaugurate flight operations from Bermuda; seaplane tender (destroyer) George E. Badger (AVD 3) provides support.
18 Monday
Acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles directs Chargé d’Affaires ad interim H. Freeman Matthews to communicate President Roosevelt’s concern over the French battleships Richelieu and Jean Bart being moved to a port such as Toulon to Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain, and reiterate the U.S. offer to acquire those two ships “as well as any other vessels of the French Navy” (see 21 November).
20 Wednesday
Hungary joins the Axis.
21 Thursday
Sixth and last group of ships involved in the destroyers-for-bases agreement—Bailey (DD 269), Meade (DD 274), Shubrick (DD 268), Swasey (DD 273), Claxton (DD 140), Fairfax (DD 93), Robinson (DD 88), Ringgold (DD 89), Sigourney (DD 81), and Tillman (DD 135)—arrives at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Turnover of the last 10 ships is under the charge of Commander Destroyer Squadron 33 (Captain Schuyler F. Heim) (see 26 November).
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim H. Freeman Matthews meets with Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain concerning the French battleships Richelieu and Jean Bart; the French admiral responds immediately: “Then why not leave those vessels at Dakar and Casablanca where they now are? I shall keep them there and if there should be any change in this plan I will give you previous notice.” This information, received in Washington, D.C., on the morning of 22 November, is communicated through channels by the President to the “Former Naval Person” (Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill) on 23 November.
23 Saturday
Romania joins the Axis.
Commander in Chief Asiatic Fleet (Admiral Thomas C. Hart) shifts his flag from heavy cruiser Augusta (CA 31) to sister ship Houston (CA 30) at Manila, P.I. Augusta departs this day to proceed to the United States via waters north of the Hawaiian chain to investigate reports of Japanese tankers operating in the region.
25 Monday
Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA 28) departs Santos, Brazil, for Rio Grande du Sol, continuing her goodwill cruise in Latin American waters (see 29 November).
26 Tuesday
Sixth and last group of ships involved in the destroyers-for-bases agreement is turned over to Royal Navy crews at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Bailey (DD 269) becomes HMS Reading, Meade (DD 274) becomes HMS Ramsey, Shubrick (DD 268) becomes HMS Ripley, Swasey (DD 273) becomes HMS Rockingham, Claxton (DD 140) becomes HMS Salisbury, Fairfax (DD 93) becomes HMS Richmond, Robinson (DD 88) becomes HMS Newmarket, Ringgold (DD 89) becomes HMS Newark, Sigourney (DD 81) becomes HMS Newport, and Tillman (DD 135) becomes HMS Wells.
27 Wednesday
Battle of Cape Spartivento: Two U.S. Naval Observers, Lieutenant Commander A. Dayton Clark in British battle cruiser HMS Renown and Lieutenant Commander Frederick P. Hartman in light cruiser HMS Southampton, witness the action that takes place between British and Italian forces off the coast of Sardinia.
29 Friday
Destroyers Simpson (DD 221) and Broome (DD 210), on Neutrality Patrol off Tampico, Mexico, trail German freighters Idarwald (see 8 December) and Rhein (see 11 December) as the latter ships make a bid for freedom.
Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA 28) arrives in Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil, as she continues her goodwill cruise in Latin American waters (see 3 December).
30 Saturday
United States lends $50 million to China for currency stabilization and grants an additional $50 million credit for purchase of supplies.
German freighter Helgoland, which has eluded the Neutrality Patrol, reaches St. Nazaire, France.
DECEMBER
1 Sunday
Headquarters for Alaskan units of Coast Guard is established at Ketchikan.
3 Tuesday
President Roosevelt embarks in heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA 37) at Miami, Florida, to inspect base sites acquired from the British under the destroyers-for-bases agreement. During the cruise, he will broach the lend-lease concept that he will implement upon his return to Washington, D.C. (see 11 March 1941).
Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA 28) departs Rio Grande du Sol, Brazil, to pay a return call at Rio de Janeiro, as her goodwill cruise continues in Latin American waters (see 6 December).
4 Wednesday
Admiral William D. Leahy, USN (Retired), tenders his resignation as Governor of Puerto Rico effective the following day (see 5 December).
5 Thursday
Admiral William D. Leahy, USN (Retired), takes oath of office as Ambassador to Vichy France (see 23 December).
Seaplane tender (destroyer) George E. Badger (AVD 3) runs aground in high winds off Hamilton, Bermuda, but is refloated without damage.
6 Friday
Heavy cruiser Louisville (CA 28) returns to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as she continues to “show the flag” in Latin American waters (see 6 December).
8 Sunday
Destroyer Sturtevant (DD 240) stands by while British light cruiser HMS Diomede intercepts German freighter Idarwald. Idarwald’s crew, however, scuttles their ship near the Yucatan Channel to prevent her capture by the British.
10 Tuesday
Naval Air Station, Tongue Point, Oregon, is established; although incomplete when placed in operation, it is being prepared for operation of patrol planes.
11 Wednesday
German freighter Rhein, having been trailed by destroyer Simpson (DD 221) and, later, MacLeish (DD 220), is intercepted by Dutch destroyer leader Van Kinsbergen near the Florida Straits, and is scuttled by her own crew to avoid capture. MacLeish and McCormick (DD 223) are present as the German ship’s bid to escape fails.
12 Thursday
Rear Admiral John M. Smeallie, Commandant Sixteenth Naval District and Commandant Cavite Navy Yard, is hospitalized at Cañacao, P.I., after attempted suicide (see 27 December).25
Lord Lothian, British Ambassador to the United States, dies in Washington, D.C. President Roosevelt, at sea in heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA 37), sends telegram to King George