Another Six Mos. Pass Like Nothing

JULY 1943

THU 1 JUL 1943
Pacific
Naval Operating Base, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, is established.

Motor torpedo boat PT-162, operating out of Rendova, is damaged by Japanese plane, south of Mbalumbala Island.

Submarine Gar (SS-206) lands commandoes on south coast of Timor, N.E.I.

Submarine Gurnard (SS-254) unsuccessfully attacks Japanese landing craft transport/aircraft transport Akitsu Maru, 07°39'N, 134°20'E. [Bad luck or incompetent? See 29 JUN 1943. — M.B.]

Submarine Thresher (SS-200) attacks Japanese convoy off the northwest coast of Celebes, in the Straits of Makassar, damaging destroyer Hokaze, 00°43'N, 119°34'E, and sinking army cargo ship Yoneyama Maru, 00°20'N, 119°32'E, 38 miles from Balikpapan. Hokaze is grounded in Sibaya harbor, Celebes, to prevent sinking and to permit salvage.