LITMIR.BIZ

      Beneath the 14-inch guns of Turret III of battleship Pennsylvania (BB 38), Admiral James O. Richardson (left) turns over command of the U.S. Fleet to Admiral Husband E. Kimmel (right), Pearl Harbor, T.H., 1 February 1941. (Paul C. Crosley Collection, NHF)

      3 Monday

      Navy Department General Order No. 143 creates three independent fleets, each commanded by an admiral. Admiral Husband E. Kimmel becomes Commander in Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet (and also Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet in the event that two or more fleets operate together); Patrol Force U.S. Fleet becomes U.S. Atlantic Fleet under command of Admiral Ernest J. King; and Admiral Thomas C. Hart continues as Commander in Chief U.S. Asiatic Fleet.

      During routine exercises in Hawaiian Operating Area off Oahu, destroyers Dale (DD 353) and Hull (DD 350) contact what they believe is a submarine. With all U.S. boats accounted for, Commander Destroyers Battle Force orders Lamson (DD 367) to join Dale and Hull. The ships are to maintain contact and to take offensive action only if attacked. Mahan (DD 364) joins in search as well. With speculation that the only possible reason a submarine would be in those waters would be to obtain supplies or land agents, Lamson accordingly searches the shoreline east of Diamond Head (see 4 February).

      4 Tuesday

      Fleet Landing Exercise (FLEX) No. 7 begins in Culebra-Vieques, Puerto Rico, area, with all available ships of the Atlantic Fleet and elements of the First Marine Division and the U.S. Army’s First Division, to train “Army and Navy Forces in the amphibious operations incident to a Joint Overseas Expedition.” Unlike FLEX No. 6 in 1940, bona fide transports are available for, and participate in, the maneuvers.

      Search for submarine off Oahu, begun the previous day, continues. After destroyers Dale (DD 353) and Hull (DD 350) return to Pearl Harbor, destroyers Flusser (DD 368) and Drayton (DD 366) join Lamson (DD 367) in the hunt. Ultimately, however, the search is called off.

      7 Friday

      U.S. Naval Academy class of 1941 graduates four months early because of national emergency.

      10 Monday

      “S” operation: Japanese heavy cruisers Suzuya, Mikuma, Mogami, and Kumano call at Bangkok, Thailand (see 13 February).

      13 Thursday

      Light cruisers Brooklyn (CL 40), Philadelphia (CL 41), and Savannah (CL 42) and stores issue ship Antares (AKS 3) arrive at Midway in the Central Pacific with the remainder of the Third Defense Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel Robert H. Pepper, USMC).

      “S” operation: Japanese heavy cruisers Suzuya, Mikuma, Mogami, and Kumano call at Saigon, French Indochina.

      14 Friday

      Fleet Landing Exercise No. 7, which had begun on 4 February in Culebra-Vieques, Puerto Rico, area, concludes.

      15 Saturday

      Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, T.H., is established.

      19 Wednesday

      Rear Admiral William H. P. Blandy relieves Rear Admiral William R. Furlong as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance.

      Coast Guard Reserve is established.

      21 Friday

      Carrier Enterprise (CV 6) arrives off Oahu and launches 30 USAAC P-36s that will be based at Wheeler Field.

      24 Monday

      Auxiliary Bear (AG 29) and Interior Department motorship North Star rendezvous off Adelaide Island to begin evacuation of U.S. Antarctic Service East Base. Heavy pack ice south of this area, however, prevents the ships from reaching their destination. The two vessels retire north to Dallman Bay. The time spent in the Mechior Archipelago, however, is not unfruitful, as North Star’s people conduct surveys, make soundings, and make a geological study of the island group, in addition to collecting further examples of flora and fauna. Bear, meanwhile, gets under way soon thereafter to attempt passage through the pack ice to reach East Base. She is unsuccessful. Amid growing concern as to whether or not a full or partial evacuation can take place since mid-March and the shortening of the polar days is approaching, North Star, running short of supplies and fuel, is sent to Punta Arenas, Chile, to replenish and return if required (see 22 March).

      MARCH

      1 Saturday

      ATLANTIC. Support Force Atlantic Fleet (Rear Admiral Arthur L. Bristol), composed of destroyers and patrol plane squadrons and supporting auxiliaries, is established for protection of convoys in North Atlantic.

      EUROPE. Bulgaria joins the Axis as German troops occupy the country.

      3 Monday

      PACIFIC. Heavy 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); destroyers Clark (DD 361), Conyngham (DD 371), Cummings (DD 365), Cassin (DD 372), Case (DD 370), Shaw (DD 373), Tucker (DD 374), Reid (DD 369), and Downes (DD 375); and oiler Sangamon (AO 28) depart Pearl Harbor for Samoa (see 9 March).

      7 Friday

      ATLANTIC. Carrier Wasp (CV 7) encounters foundering U.S. lumber schooner George E. Klinck in storm off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and rescues her crew.

      PACIFIC. Transport William P. Biddle (AP 15), escorted by light cruiser Concord (CL 10), arrives at Pago Pago, Samoa, and disembarks the Seventh Defense Battalion, the first unit of the Fleet Marine Force deployed to the Southern Hemisphere in World War II.

      9 Sunday

      PACIFIC.

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