Destroyer Melvin (DD-680) Sinks Japanese Submarine RO-36

TUE 13 JUN 1944
Pacific
TF 58 (Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) strikes against Saipan continue; Navy carrier-based planes sink aircraft transport Keiyo Maru, which had been damaged in the 11 June fighter sweep, and destroy convoy of small cargo vessels: No.11 Shinriki Maru, Sekizen Maru, Myogawa Maru, Shigei Maru and Suwa Maru. F6Fs from TF 58 attack Japanese convoy spotted the previous day and damage fast transport T.1 southwest of the Marianas, 11°43'N, 140°42'E.

During the strikes, Commander William I. Martin, commanding officer of Enterprise's VT-10, is shot down and parachutes into the sea off Red Beach Three, Saipan. Before he is rescued, he observes that the Japanese have marked the length of the reef offshore with red and white pennants, indicating pre-sited artillery ranges--valuable intelligence information quickly disseminated to the approaching amphibious forces.

TG 58.7 (Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee) battleships and destroyers conduct an almost day-long bombardment of Japanese installations on Saipan and Tinian.

TF 94 (Rear Admiral Ernest G. Small) cruisers and destroyers bombard Japanese position on Matsuwa Island in the Kurils.

Submarine Barb (SS-220) sinks Japanese army transport Takashima Maru in Sea of Okhotsk, 50°53'N, 151°12'E, despite presence of escorting destroyer Hatsuharu, which carries out ineffective countermeasures.

Submarine Flier (SS-250) damages Japanese merchant tanker Marifu Maru in South China Sea west of Luzon, 15°57'N, 119°42'E (see 6 November 1944).

Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) shells oil tanks at Bula, Ceram Island, N.E.I.

Destroyer Melvin (DD-680) sinks Japanese submarine RO-36 between 50 and 75 miles east of Saipan, 15°21'N, 147°00'E.

Atlantic
Unarmed U.S. fishing boat Lark is shelled and machine-gunned by German submarine U-107 32 miles off Cape Sable Light, 42°54'N, 65°25'W, and abandoned with the exception of the master and the cook. Lark remains afloat as the U-boat leaves the scene, whereupon she rescues every man who had abandoned ship at the approach of the enemy submarine.