January 29th, 1943 (FRIDAY)
GERMANY: Dr. Ernst Kaltenbrunner succeeds the late Reinhardt Heydrich as head of the RSHA. Controlling the SS, Gestapo, extermination squads and death camps.
U.S.S.R.: Soviet forces liberate Kropotkin, in the Caucasus.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Auxiliary AA ship HMS Pozarica is damaged by an Italian air-launched torpedo, but manages to make port at Bougie in tow of minesweeper Cadmus. However, during salvage operations at Bougie on 13 February, she capsized and was written off. (Alex Gordon)(108)
SOLOMON ISLANDS: The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-1 is detected off Guadalcanal by New Zealand corvettes HMNZS Moa and Kiwi. The I-1 was making a supply run and is loaded with cargo for Guadalcanal. After depth charging and ramming by Kiwi, the I-1 severely damaged is run aground on Guadalcanal. This submarine proves to be a treasure trove of intelligence material.
Battle off Rennell Island. The USS Chicago, CA-29 is torpedoed in a night time air strike from a Betty probably belonging to the 701st Air Group. By midnight she is being towed south by the USS Louisville.
CANADA: Submarine HMS Seawolf arrived Halifax, Nova Scotia for ASW training.
U.S.A.:
Light cruiser USS Birmingham commissioned.
ATLANTIC OCEAN:
At 0547, U-255 reported one Myronich-class freighter (2274 GRT) sunk with one torpedo in the Barents Sea. The Krasnyj Partizan left the Kola Inlet on 24 January and went missing thereafter; the last radio message was received on 26 January.
Minesweeper HMCS Goderich rescued survivors from aft section to US tanker Brilliant which had broken in tow during a storm.