To The Victors, The Spoils

FRI 3 MAR 1944
President Roosevelt announces that the Italian Fleet will be distributed among the United States, Great Britain, and Soviet Union.

Pacific
TF 94 (Rear Admiral Wilder D. Baker), comprising light cruiser Richmond (CL-9) and eight destroyers, begins two-day sweep of the Kurils. Adverse weather, however, not only results in the cancellation of the scheduled bombardments of Japanese positions in the Musashi Wan area but causes damage to the ships. The poor weather plays no favorites: Japanese minelayer Shirakami is sunk in collision with army transport Nichiran Maru in a gale south of Urup Island, 45°30'N, 150°00'E; Japanese supply ship No.2 Ten-Yo Maru is sunk by storm south of Paramushiro, 50°17'N, 155°55'E.

Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) damages Japanese river gunboat Karatsu (ex-Luzon (PR-7)) in Sulu Sea, 08°55'N, 123°20'E; ironically, Karatsu had been engaged in hunting down an enemy submarine at the time.

Submarine Rasher (SS-269) attacks Japanese convoy in Celebes Sea, sinking army transport Nittai Maru about 290 miles northwest of Waisile, Halmahera, 03°18'N, 123°56'E. Ironically, one of the escorts for the convoy is Patrol Boat No.103 (ex-minesweeper WHICH)*.

Submarine Sand Lance (SS-381) attacks Japanese convoy and sinks transport Akashisan Maru west of Uruppu, Japan, 46°00'N, 149°10'E; later that same day, however, the submarine accidentally sinks Soviet cargo ship Belorussia at 46°28'N, 149°18'E, mistaking the ship for an earlier victim Akashisan Maru.

British submarine HMS Sea Rover sinks Japanese army cargo vessel No.1 Matsu Maru in Strait of Malacca, 04°56'N, 100°17'E.

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*Minesweeper Finch (AM-9).