"Precipitately abandoned ..."

TUE 16 MAR 1943
Pacific
Four U.S. destroyers (Commander Francis X. McInerney) shell Japanese positions at Vila.

Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese victualling stores ship Hyuga Maru west of the Marianas.

Submarine S-32 (SS-137) damages Japanese submarine RO 103 off Silipuaka Island, 52°54'N, 173°13'E.
Mediterranean

Vice Admiral H. Kent Hewitt becomes Commander Naval Forces Northwest African Waters.

Atlantic
SBDs (VC 29) from aircraft escort vessel Santee (AVG-29) attack German submarine, 07°15'S, 29°15'W.

German submarine U-172, stalking convoy UGS 6, torpedoes U.S. freighter Benjamin Harrison at 39°09'N, 24°15'W. Precipitately abandoned, the ship is scuttled by gunfire of destroyer Rowan (DD-405), which rescues three survivors. Freighter Alan A. Dale rescues the remainder.

German submarines attack convoy HX 229 as it proceeds toward the British Isles; U-758 torpedoes U.S. freighter James Oglethorpe at 50°00'N, 36°00'W; 13 merchant seamen, 15 Armed Guard sailors and two passengers are rescued by British corvette HMS Pennywort. U-435 torpedoes freighter William Eustis at 49°57'N, 37°06'W; British destroyer HMS Volunteer rescues the entire crew (which includes a 30-man Armed Guard). Both "Liberties" remain afloat (see 17 March ).