22 December 1941

Minesweeper HMS Algerine launched.

ASW trawler HMS Inkpen launched.

Minesweeping trawler HMS Othello commissioned.

GERMANY:

U-380 commissioned.

U.S.S.R.: Moscow: After a week of talks between Stalin and Eden, and their military and diplomatic advisers, the two sides achieved "identity of views" on the conduct of the war against Hitlerite Germany, according to the official communiqué.

On questions relating to the postwar settlement, however, the communiqué is evasive. "An exchange of views," it says, "providing much important and useful material which will facilitate the future elaboration of concrete proposals." The talks were rounded off with a banquet in the Kremlin given by Stalin. Earlier, Eden was taken to the battlefront. He said the Russian troops were "truly magnificent". He met German PoWs who wore only thin unlined coats and poor boots, and lacked gloves; they were suffering in the bitter cold.

Eden arrived in Moscow by a roundabout route that included a 72-hour train journey. In five sessions he talked with the Russians for some 20 hours.

CHINA: At a meeting of Allied leaders in Chungking, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek offers the Chinese 5th and 6th Armies for the defense of Burma. British General Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India accepts the Ch 6th Army's 93d Division, elements of which are approaching the border of Burma from China. A regiment of the 49th Division is to be held in reserve on the northern Burma frontier.

HONG KONG: The Japanese capture Sugar Loaf Hill at 1200 hours, but Canadians from C Company of the Royal Rifles recapture the hill; later taken out to Stanley Fort down the peninsula, for a rest; will hold out until their ammunition, food and water are exhausted.

JAPAN: The Japanese Navy postpones the shelling of U.S. cities on the west coast by nine submarine until 27 December. The original date was 25 December.

MALAYA: As the Indian 11th Division continues their withdrawal across the Perak River, the RAF begins a regular reconnaissance of the west coast to prevent Japanese landings. The Indian 9th Division completes their planned withdrawal in eastern Malaya to positions from which to defend Kuantan airdrome and protect the Indian 11th Division from an attack from the east.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: The US submarine S-38 sailing from Manila sinks the Hayo Maru, a cargo ship of 445 tons during this war patrol. During the patrol she will fire torpedoes at 5 ships. (Skip Guidry)

The US Provisional Tank Group goes in support of General Wainwright (commander North Luzon Force) at Damortis on Lingayen Gulf. Wainwright sends his corps cavalry (the 26th Cavalry (PS)) forward to act as the divisional screen. 26 Cav's Scout car platoon runs into the Japanese 48th Reconnaissance and 4th Tank Regiments north of Damortis and falls back. Damortis is important because as long as it is held the Japanese invasion force is bottled-up between the landing beaches and the mountains.

26 Cav called for assistance. Wainwright requested a company of tanks from Weaver. Weaver could only send a platoon of five tanks because of shortage of fuel. They met the enemy light tanks about 6 miles north of Damortis. The lead Stuart was hit and burst into flames. Each of the other four Stuarts were hit and they all withdrew to Rosario where they were destroyed by air attack the next day.

Morton says the Stuarts were hit by 47mm "anti-tank" fire. If he means that the Japanese tanks carried a 47mm gun, then the Stuarts were badly outgunned. However, if these were infantry anti-tank guns, then the US tank-men had been 'Rommelled' - unsupported US tanks attacking an enemy mixed infantry-armour force. If so, they wouldn't be the last to make this mistake.

A further problem arose later that afternoon because of the divided command (i.e. that the tanks were not placed under Wainwright's command). At dusk the rest of C Coy 192 Tank Battalion pulled out of joint defensive positions (with 26 Cav) and fell back on Rosario, citing orders from Brig-Gen Weaver. 26 Cav stayed in position. As C Coy left, Japanese tanks attacked the 26 Cav rear guard and got among the horses, causing heavy casualties. Despite this disaster, 26 Cav maintained its cohesion and successfully covered the withdrawal from Damortis and Rosario. It was to repeat this performance several times more in the bitter weeks ahead proving the value of well-led cavalry in a withdrawal. (Michael Alexander)

The Japanese begin their main landings along the coast of Lingayen Gulf on Luzon before dawn. One assault force goes ashore near Bauang, another at Aringay, and a third near Agoo. They move forward at once without serious opposition from 11th and 21st Divisions (Philippine Army). The 71st Infantry Regiment, 71st Division (Philippine Army), and 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) move out to help halt the Japanese. The Bauang assault force seizes that town, effects a junction with the Japanese Vigan force at San Fernando, La Union, and pushes inland toward Baguio, while the other forces overrun Rosario and face south toward Manila. U.S. submarines and a few aircraft attack enemy armada in Lingayen Gulf.

Nine Far East Air Forces B-17 Flying Fortresses from Batchelor Field near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, attack shipping in Davao Bay, Mindanao Island and land at Del Monte Field on Mindanao Island. This is the first action in the Philippines by Australian-based planes.

AUSTRALIA: The USN's "Pensacola" Convoy, consisting of the heavy cruiser USS Pensacola (CA-24), the gunboat USS Niagara (PG-52), the transports USS Chaumont (AP-5) and Republic (AP-33), the Army transports USAT Meigs and Willard A. Holbrook, the U.S. freighters SS Admiral Halstead and Coast Farmer and the Dutch freighter MV Bloemfontein, arrive in Brisbane, Queensland. Brigadier General Julian F. Barnes' Task Force South Pacific is redesignated U.S. Forces in Australia (USFIA). This is the first U.S. troop detachment to arrive in Australia.

WAKE ISLAND Since the 11th the island has been regularly bombarded by the Japanese. Today the 2nd landing attempt is offshore, supported by aircraft from carriers Hiryu and Soryu yesterday and today. The first landings against fierce resistance from the defending Marines.

Task Force 14, the Wake Relief Expedition, including the USS Saratoga is recalled at 0911 hours (Hawaii Time) with the lead ships 515 miles northeast of Wake. (Gordon Rottman)

USN Task Force Fourteen (TF 14), the relief force for Wake Island, slows down to refuel. At Pearl Harbor, Vice Admiral William S. Pye, the temporary commander of the Pacific Fleet pending the arrival of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, cannot make up his mind to risk what is left of the fleet. During the evening, a compromise is reached between Pye and Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, commander of TF 14. Tomorrow, the F2A Buffalos of Marine Fighting Squadron Two Hundred Twenty One (VMF-221) in aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3), would be flown off at maximum range. The seaplane tender USS Tangier (AV-8) is carrying 300 marines of the 4th Defense Battalion, including two batteries and detachment of to other batteries, plus ground elements of VMF-221, a radar set, and 21,000 rounds of 3-inch (7,62 centimeter) and 5-inch (12,7 centimeter) ammunition and 3 million rounds of machine gun ammunition, would make a speed run to Wake while the remainder of Task Force 14 retired with Task Force 11 built around the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-2).

Major James P. S. Devereux, the commander of the Wake Island Detachment, 1st defence Battalion, spends a lot of time in consultation with First Lieutenant William W. Lewis, the commander of Battery E. Battery E was the closest 3-inch antiaircraft battery to Wake's south beach, the most probable scene of a Japanese landing. Devereux and Lewis compute the distances, azimuths, and fuse settings required for Battery E to shower the shoreline with accurate airbursts. (Gregory J. W. Urwin, Temple University)

PACIFIC OCEAN: Japanese submarine HIJMS I-19 surfaces and shells an unarmed 10,763-ton U.S. tanker off the coast of California about 15 nautical miles (28 kilometers) west-southwest of Lompoc, California. The submarine breaks off the attack when a USN aircraft arrives and drops a depth charge allowing the tanker to escape.

U.S.A.: The Arcadia Conference, in Washington DC, between the British and the US begins. They confirm the policy from Placentia Bay in August of Germany first. They also establish the Combined Chiefs of Staff for the entire Allied military effort. A general strategic program is approved of a US buildup in Britain and continuing the bombing offensive. The concept of further losses in the Pacific is accepted with the understanding that a stiff defence will hold these to a minimum. This conference will last through the 7th of January.

Richard G. Casey, Australian Minister to the U.S., reports to his government that President Roosevelt might press to have an American accepted as the commander-in-chief of a Pacific and Far East theater and that Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur, commanding the US Army Forces Far East in the Philippines, might be nominated. Casey suggests that it might be advantageous for the Australian government to suggest an American as commander-in-chief.