February 7th, 1944 (MONDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Frigates HMS Hargood and Sarawak commissioned.
GERMANY: U-1015 launched.
BALTIC SEA: During the boat's trials in the Baltic near Hela one man died when he fell overboard from U-1003 while transferring to an outpost boat (V-Boot). [Funkgefreiter Werner Guhl].
U.S.S.R.: Hitler orders German troops trapped in the Korsun pocket to break out.
ITALY: Anzio: Maj. William Philip Sidney (b.1909), Grenadier Guards, led two attacks which forced off the enemy; later, he refused to have wounds seen to until the position was secure. (Victoria Cross)
BURMA: Imphal Last night the 1st/7th Gurkhas attacks a Japanese position known as "Bare Patch". This position (also known to the Gurkhas as "Nango") is a strongly-held network of trenches and bunkers on high-ground east of the Tiddim-Fort White Road. Major Peter Sanders led his men of the 1st/7th Gurkhas down a difficult winding path for 1,500 feet, before beginning a 1,200 foot climb up to the objective. There was no path, and it was so steep that both hands and feet had to be used - a considerable challenge for Sanders, who had lost an arm in action on the North-West Frontier five years earlier; all stores had to be carried by the men.
When the assault began at 8.30 pm, there was fierce resistance. Repeated efforts to find a way into or around the enemy’s elaborate defences were unsuccessful, and Sanders decided to dig in on the rocky ground just 20 yards from the Japanese trenches and to hold on till dawn. A thick morning mist gave his men the chance to consolidate their positions and do some wiring but, as the day progressed, casualties mounted form enemy light machine gun and mortar fire, and from sniping and grenade attacks.
Under Sander’s leadership the Gurkhas held their ground throughout the day and night, while aggressive patrolling around the Japanese flanks succeeded in locating their water point. (Daily Telegraph, 21.10.2003, p.27)
CANADA: Destroyer HMCS Algonquin (ex-HMS Valentine) commissioned.
Frigate HMCS Meon commissioned.
U.S.A.:
Destroyer escort USS Gandy commissioned.
Submarine USS Sea Owl laid down.
Destroyer escort USS Melvin R Nawman launched.
Aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga launched.