Chicago & Samuel Gompers Sunk

SAT 30 JAN 1943
Pacific
Battle of Rennell Island ends as F4Fs (VF 10) engage Japanese land attack planes (751st Kokutai) attacking the retiring TF 18. Japanese land attack planes torpedo crippled heavy cruiser Chicago (CA 29), now under tow of tug Navajo (AT-64), and torpedo destroyer LaVallette (DD-448). Consequently, Chicago sinks 30 miles east of Rennell Island, 11°26'S, 160°56'E.

Japanese submarine I-10 torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter Samuel Gompers 115 miles from Amadee Lighthouse, New Caledonia, 24°28'S, 166°20'E; one of the 17-man Armed Guard dies, and three of the 43-man merchant complement perish in the sinking. French fishermen and U.S. Army crash boat P 111 rescue the survivors.

Naval Station, Akutan Harbor, Fox Island, Alaska, is established.

Floating drydock YFD-220 founders and sinks in heavy weather off California coast.

Atlantic
Grossadmiral Karl Doenitz succeeds Grossadmiral Erich Raeder as Commander in Chief of the German Navy.