Rabaul Encircled

MON 20 MAR 1944
Pacific
TG 31.2 (Commodore Lawrence F. Reifsnider) lands 4th Marine Division (Brigadier General Alfred H. Noble, USMC) on undefended Emirau Island, Bismarck Archipelago, thus completing the strategic encirclement of Rabaul.

TF 37, including four battleships, two escort carriers, and destroyers (Rear Admiral Robert M. Griffin) bombards Kavieng, New Ireland.

Submarine Angler (SS-240) evacuates 58 people, including women and children, from the west coast of Panay, P.I.

Submarine Picuda (SS-382) sinks Japanese victualling stores ship Hoko Maru about 40 miles north of Yap, Carolines, 10°09'N, 138°10'E.

Submarine Pollack (SS-180) sinks Japanese auxiliary netlayer Hakuyo Maru about 30 miles northeast of Torishima, 30°53'N, 140°42'E. Accompanying submarine chaser Ch 44 carries out unsuccessful counterattack on Pollack.

Japanese submarine chaser Ch 35, sent from Hollandia to rescue survivors of cargo ships Yakumo Maru and Taiei Maru and auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 47 and Cha 49, sunk by USAAF planes the previous day, finds no trace of the four lost ships.

USAAF planes sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 62 130 nautical miles east of Hollandia, New Guinea, 02°55'S, 143°40'E.

U.S. aircraft sink Japanese guardboats Kaiun Maru and No.2 Taiho Maru off southern tip of Rabaul.

Indian Ocean
Survivors (who include 21 Armed Guard sailors) of U.S. freighter John A. Poor that had been sunk by German submarine U-510 the previous day, are rescued by British freighter Fort Worth.