Vichy France Opens Northern Indochina

THU 20 JUN 1940
Bureau of Ships is established with Rear Admiral Samuel M. Robinson as chief; Bureau of Construction and Repair and Bureau of Engineering are abolished.

Office of Undersecretary of the Navy is created for duration of emergency (see 22 August).

Heavy cruiser Vincennes (CA-44), escorted by destroyers Truxtun (DD-229) and Simpson (DD-221), arrives at New York Navy Yard and transfers the Bank of France gold reserves ashore for deposit in U.S. banks.

Destroyer Herbert (DD-160), attached to Squadron 40-T, departs Lisbon for French Morocco (see 21 June).

Heavy cruiser Quincy (CA-39) reaches Montevideo, Uruguay, as part of the American effort to counteract German propaganda in Latin America (see 21, 27 and 30 June).

Destroyer O'Brien (DD-415) reaches Buenos Aires, Argentina, as her shakedown cruise to Latin American ports continues (see 25 June).

Light cruiser Phoenix (CL-46) departs Lahaina, Maui, T.H., for the Panama Canal Zone, on the first leg of her goodwill cruise to the Pacific coast of South America (see 3 July).

Vichy France opens northern Indochina to Japanese military mission and supporting troops.