November 30th, 1941 (SUNDAY)
GERMANY: The German Raider "Komet" returns to Hamburg. It has been at sea for 516 days and sunk 3 ships for 31,000 tons and an additional 7 ships in company with Orion.
U.S.S.R.: Field Marshal
Rundstedt has refused to cancel his orders for a withdrawal of his Army Group
South in the area around Rostov. Hitler relieves him of his command.
Stalin approves Zhukov's plans for a counteroffensive in the Moscow area.
2 Pz. Div. units reach Khimki (about 5 mi Northwest of Moscow). This is the closest that any German unit will get to Moscow. (Jeff Chrisman)
WESTERN DESERT: As the Allies Operation Crusader drags on into the 13th day, Rommel has finally succeeded in driving the 6th New Zealand Brigade off the Sidi Rezegh ridge, the scene of the worst fighting yet in the desert war. He is now in an excellent position to disrupt the effective relief of Tobruk garrison - the principal aim of the operation. New Zealand troops linked up with forces from the garrison on 27 November.
Throughout the latest campaign Rommel has lived up to his reputation, with bold, offensive action in response to the Allied assault. On 24 November the German commander led his forces in a "dash for the wire", attempting to outflank the Allies heading for Tobruk. Having advanced some 60 miles in five hours, Rommel then turned back to rejoin units that were following on. Picked up by one of his senior commanders, General Cruwell, the "Desert Fox" found himself in the bizarre position of spending the night in a vehicle captured from the British, surrounded by enemy forces.
The next day Rommel discovered that further advance was impossible: the Italians bringing up the rear had been stopped by the 1st South African Brigade, and transport columns had not arrived. Delivered from this threat, the British then received the psychological boost with the replacement of Lt-Gen Cunningham, who had been urging retreat, by General Ritchie.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES:
MacArthur
orders Fort Mills on Corregidor put on full alert.
17th
Pursuit Squadron pilots ferry 17 P-35A’s from 3rd Pursuit at Iba to
21st Pursuit at Nichols. (Marc Small)
Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur, Commanding General U.S. Army Forces Far East, orders Fort Mills on Corregidor Island put on full alert. (Andy Etherington)
U.S. passenger liner SS President Madison arrives at Olongapo and disembarks the 2d Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. The ship will then proceed on to Singapore.
PACIFIC OCEAN: In the South China Sea, river gunboats USS Luzon (PR-7) and Oahu (PR-6) rendezvous with submarine rescue vessel USS Pigeon (ASR-6) and minesweeper USS Finch (AM-9); they will remain in company until 3 December.
FIJI ISLANDS: Japanese submarine HIJMS I-10 launches a €œGlen€ seaplane (Kugisho E14Y1, Navy Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane) to fly a reconnaissance mission over Suva Bay, Viti Levu Island.
HAWAII: Communication Intelligence Summary, November 30, 1941: "General.-Traffic volume less than for past few days. Today's traffic consisted largely of dispatches bearing old dates, some as far back as 26 November. No reason can be given for the retransmission of these messages unless the high volume of traffic for past few days has prevented the repetition of dispatches. The number of dispatches originated on the 30th is very small. The only tactical circuit heard today was one with AKAGI and several MARUs. The TOKYO Intelligence activity originated two WIWI dispatches to Major Fleet Commanders. One urgent dispatch was sent by NGS to Chiefs of Staff Combined, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Fleets, Combined Air Force; Submarine Force and China Fleets.
- Combined Fleet.-The Chiefs of Staff of the Combined Fleet and First Fleet are in KURE. In the same message the Chief of Staff Second Fleet was nor at any location. Other traffic indications are that he is at sea. Commander in Chief Second Fleet sent one to his usual addressees of the Third Fleet and Combined Air Force but also included KONGO and HIYEI, which places them as members of his Task Force. The Commander in Chief Second Fleet is no longer adding PALAO activities and has not for past two days. The RNO PALAO today addressed two messages to TAIWAN GUNSIREIBU (TAIWAN Army Headquarters).
- Third Fleet.-Commander in Chief Third Fleet addressed two messages to COMDESRON Two, Four and Five; COMCRUDIV Five; First and Second Base Forces and Defense Division One for information to Commander in Chief Second Fleet. No information obtained as to the location of the Commander in Chief Third Fleet, which gives the strong impression that he is underway.
- Fourth Fleet.-Believed to be still in TRUK area. D. F. activity in Marshalls a little greater today than normal. JALUIT addressed Commander Submarine Force and AIRRON 24 in one dispatch. The continued association of JALUIT and Commander Submarine Force plus his known progress from the Empire to CHICHIJIMA to SAIPAN makes his destination obviously the Marshalls. Since one of his large units (SITI4) arrived in the Marshalls some time ago this unit cannot agree with Com 16 that there is not a submarine concentration in that area. Every evidence points to a concentration of not only the small Fourth Fleet submarines there but also a good portion of the Fleet submarines of the Submarine Force. AIRRON 24 plus YOKOHAMA AIR CORPS presence in that area points to intended air-submarine operations from the Marshalls. Also the presence of a unit of plane guard destroyers indicates the presence of at least one carrier in the Mandates although this has not been confirmed.
- South China.-BAKO active with dispatches to Second and Third Fleets. Combined Air Force and SAMA. Commander in Chief China Fleet becoming more and more active as an originator with dispatches to the Task Force. He made a movement report with the South China Fleet as an information addressee. The Staff Communication Officer of the South China Fleet was addressed at Shanghai today."
CANADA: Corvette HMCS Midland arrived Halifax from builder Montreal, Province of Quebec.
U.S.A.: Washington: President Roosevelt is tonight hurrying back to Washington by car and private train from Warm Springs, Georgia, where his brief holiday has been interrupted by the grave situation in the Pacific. It was only yesterday that he left Washington, saying that the policy of the United States towards Japan was one of "infinite patience."
Three days ago Roosevelt delivered a ten-point note of final terms to the Japanese, after talks with Tokyo's special envoy, Saburu Kurusu, had foundered. At the same time a Japanese fleet with five divisions of troops on board was reported sailing south of Formosa. A cabinet meeting on 28 November agreed that these and other Japanese troop movements posted a "terrific" threat to the British, Dutch and Americans in the Far East.
President Roosevelt is aware of the danger of a surprise attack. He asked top advisers "how we should manoeuvre them into firing the first shot". In an informal Thanksgiving speech he warned his friends that by next year American boys might be fighting "for the defence of American institutions." More news of Tokyo's troop movements made Roosevelt hurry back to the White House.
The first Northrop produced Vultee Vengeance dive-bomber (AN 838) flies today. It will be for service with the RAF in the Far East. (22)
The following message is sent from the Chief of Naval Operations to the Commanders-in-Chief of the Asiatic and Pacific Fleets: "Indications that Japan about to attack points on Kra Isthmus by overseas expedition. In order to ascertain destination this expedition and for security our position in the Philippines desire you cover by air the line Manila-Camranh Bay on three days commencing upon receipt this dispatch. Instruct planes to observe only. They must not approach so as to appear to be attacking but must defend themselves if attacked. Understand British air forces will search arc 180 miles (333 kilometers) from Tedta Bharu and will move troops to line across Kra Isthmus near Singora. If expedition is approaching Thailand inform MacArthur. British mission here informed." (Jack McKillop
The Army General Headquarters Maneuvers in North and South Carolina that began on 15 November conclude.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: The U-206 is sunk in the Bay of Biscay with the aid of ASV (Air to Surface Vessel) radar, by a British Whitley bomber. First, Bletchley Park intercepted an Enigma transmission and was able to locate U-206 in the Bay of Biscay, heading for the Mediterranean. A Whitley VII (Z 9190) of No. 502 Squadron, flying from Chivenor, was tasked to hunt for her. Its ASV radar located the U-boat at a range of five miles, enabling the aircraft to home in on and destroy the sub with its Mk VIII depth charges. This is the first success with ASV radar and marks the beginning of British anti-submarine efforts in the Bay of Biscay.
USN destroyer USS Decatur (DD-341), in Task Unit 4.1.4, escorting slow convoy ONS-39 (U.K. to North America), carries out depth charge attack on suspicious contact about 320 nautical miles (592 kilometers) south-southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland in position 59.24N, 27.03W.