The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II. Robert J. Cressman
cruisers Chicago (CA 29) (Rear Admiral John H. Newton, Commander Cruisers Scouting Force) and Portland (CA 33), light cruisers Brooklyn (CL 40) and Savannah (CL 42), nine destroyers, and oiler Sangamon (AO 28), that had departed Pearl Harbor on 3 March, arrive at Samoa (see 12 March).
10 Monday
PACIFIC. Japan steps in to mediate undeclared war between France and Thailand; France cedes territory to Thailand and gives Japan monopoly of Indochinese rice crop and right to airfield at Saigon.
Rear Admiral Edward J. Marquart is detached as Commander Minecraft Battle Force.
11 Tuesday
UNITED STATES. Congress passes Lend-Lease Act; “cash and carry” provisions of Neutrality Act of 1939 are changed to permit transfer of munitions to Allies. Although criticized by isolationists, the act proves to be the primary means by which the United States will provide Great Britain, the USSR, and other belligerents with war materiel, food, and financial aid without the United States entering combat.
12 Wednesday
PACIFIC. Heavy cruisers Chicago (CA 29) (Rear Admiral John H. Newton, Commander Cruisers Scouting Force) and Portland (CA 33), accompanied by destroyers Clark (DD 361), Conyngham (DD 371), Cassin (DD 372), Downes (DD 375), and Reid (DD 369), depart Samoan waters for Sydney, Australia (see 20 March).
Light cruisers Brooklyn (CL 40) and Savannah (CL 42) and destroyers Case (DD 370), Shaw (DD 373), Cummings (DD 365), and Tucker (DD 374) depart Samoa for Auckland, New Zealand (see 17 March).
Oiler Sangamon (AO 28), which had accompanied the aforementioned cruisers and destroyers from Pearl Harbor, sails to return to Hawaiian waters.
UNITED STATES. Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas, is established.
17 Monday
PACIFIC. TG 9.2 (Captain Ellis S. Stone), comprising light cruisers Brooklyn (CL 40) and Savannah (CL 42) and destroyers Case (DD 370), Cummings (DD 365), Shaw (DD 373), and Tucker (DD 374), arrive at Auckland, New Zealand, beginning a three-day goodwill visit (see 20 March).
ATLANTIC. Heavy cruiser Vincennes (CA 44) arrives at Pernambuco, Brazil, en route to her ultimate destination of Simonstown, South Africa (see 20 March).
Coast Guard cutter Cayuga departs Boston, Massachusetts, with South Greenland Survey Expedition, composed of State, Treasury, War, and Navy Department representatives, embarked. The expedition’s mission is to locate sites for airfields, seaplane bases, and radio and meteorological stations and aids to navigation on Greenland’s soil (see 31 March).
18 Tuesday
PACIFIC. Rear Admiral William R. Furlong breaks his flag as Commander Minecraft Battle Force.
19 Wednesday
PACIFIC. Destroyers Aylwin (DD 355) and Farragut (DD 348) are damaged by collision during night tactical exercises in Hawaiian Operating Area, 23°35′N, 158°14′W. One man dies on board Aylwin.
20 Thursday
PACIFIC. Heavy cruisers Chicago (CA 29) (Rear Admiral John H. Newton, Commander Cruisers Scouting Force) and Portland (CA 33) and destroyers Clark (DD 361), Conyngham (DD 371), Reid (DD 369), Cassin (DD 372) and Downes (DD 375) arrive at Sydney, Australia, beginning a three-day goodwill visit (see 23 March).
TG 9.2 (Captain Ellis S. Stone), comprising light cruisers Brooklyn (CL 40) and Savannah (CL 42) and destroyers Case (DD 370), Cummings (DD 365), Shaw (DD 373), and Tucker (DD 374), concludes its port visit to Auckland, New Zealand, and sails for Tahiti (see 25 March).
ATLANTIC. Heavy cruiser Vincennes (CA 44) departs Pernambuco, Brazil, for Simonstown, South Africa (see 29 March).
22 Saturday
ANTARCTIC. Emergency evacuation of U.S. Antarctic Service East Base, Marguerite Bay, is carried out. Two R4C flights (Aviation Chief Machinist’s Mate Ashley C. Snow and Radioman First Class Earl B. Perce, Naval Aviation Pilots) bring out the entire complement of 24 people to Mikkelson Island, the emergency landing field 25 miles northeast of Adelaide Island, whence they embark in Bear (AG 29), which soon sails for Punta Arenas, Chile, to rendezvous with Interior Department motorship North Star (see 1 April).
23 Sunday
PACIFIC. Heavy cruisers Chicago (CA 29) (Rear Admiral John H. Newton, Commander Cruisers Scouting Force) and Portland (CA 33) and destroyers Clark (DD 361), Conyngham (DD 371), Reid (DD 369), Cassin (DD 372), and Downes (DD 375) depart Sydney, Australia, for Brisbane (see 25 March).
25 Tuesday
PACIFIC. Heavy cruisers Chicago (CA 29) (Rear Admiral John H. Newton, Commander Cruisers Scouting Force) and Portland (CA 33) and destroyers Clark (DD 361), Conyngham (DD 371), Reid (DD 369), Cassin (DD 372), and Downes (DD 375) arrive at Brisbane, Australia, beginning a three-day goodwill visit (see 28 March).
TG 9.2 (Captain Ellis S. Stone), comprising light cruisers Brooklyn (CL 40) and Savannah (CL 42) and destroyers Case (DD 370), Cummings (DD 365), Shaw (DD 373), and Tucker (DD 374), arrive at Tahiti, (see 27 March).
27 Thursday
ATLANTIC. U.S.-British-Canadian staff discussions in Washington, D.C., end; ABC-1 Staff Agreement embodies the basic strategic direction of the war in the event of U.S. entry, making the defeat of Germany a priority and establishing a Combined Chiefs of Staff. U.S. Atlantic Fleet is to help the Royal Navy convoy ships across the Atlantic. The agreement inextricably links the U.S. Navy in the effort against Germany.
PACIFIC. TG 9.2 (Captain Ellis S. Stone), comprising light cruisers Brooklyn (CL 40) and Savannah (CL 42) and destroyers Case (DD 370), Cummings (DD 365), Shaw (DD 373), and Tucker (DD 374), departs Tahiti for Pearl Harbor, ending its goodwill cruise.
Illustrating the transition from plowshare to sword, Long Island (AVG 1) (ex–Moore-McCormack Lines’ freighter Mormacmail) undergoes conversion from freighter to aircraft escort vessel, Newport News, Virginia, 1 April 1941. Note flight deck under construction and temporary retention of neutrality markings (the prominent U.S. flag) on her side, as well as her original name and hailing port on the stern: “MORMACMAIL, NEW YORK, N.Y.” (NHC, NH 96711)
28 Friday
MEDITERRANEAN. Battle of Cape Matapan begins as British Force B (Rear Admiral Henry D. Pridham-Wippell, RN) (four light cruisers and four destroyers) encounters Italian Fleet’s 3d Division (three heavy cruisers and three destroyers). Italian forces break off action but the British force interposes itself between the 3rd Division and the fleet flagship, battleship Vittorio Veneto, with its three screening destroyers. FAA Swordfish and Albacores from carrier HMS Formidable and RAF Blenheims from Crete damage Vittorio Veneto and heavy cruiser Pola (from Italian Fleet’s 1st Division), stopping the latter. Furious night action ensues as British Force A (Admiral Sir Andrew B. Cunningham, RN), formed around three battleships, engages Pola and her sister ships Zara and Fiume, sinking the latter two cruisers as well as two destroyers. British destroyers HMS Jervis and HMS Nubian finish off Pola. Lieutenant Commander Steadman Teller, U.S. naval observer, witnesses the night action from the bridge of HMS Formidable.
PACIFIC. Heavy cruisers Chicago (CA 29) (Rear Admiral John H. Newton, Commander Cruisers Scouting Force) and Portland (CA 33) and destroyers Clark (DD 361), Conyngham (DD 371), Reid (DD 369), Cassin (DD 372), and Downes (DD 375) depart Brisbane, Australia, for Suva, Fiji Islands (see 1 April).
29 Saturday
ATLANTIC.