BRITISH CHECK MARETH LINE ATTACKS AND SEIZE INITIATIVE IN NORTH TUNISIA (3/8/43)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 3/8/43 | Frank L. Kluckhohn, Henry C. Cassidy

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
Southwest Russia, 1942: German Counteroffensive, Operations, 19 February-18 March 1943
Tunisia, 1942: Situation 22 April and Operations Since 26 February 1943
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941: Status of Forces and Allied Theater Boundaries, 2 July 1942
India-Burma, 1942: Allied Lines of Communication, 1942-1943

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Rommel Battered (Kluckhohn) – 2
Russians Closing New Trap on Enemy West of Moscow – 3
War News Summarized – 3
Soviet War News Termed Accurate (by Henry C. Cassidy, first-time contributor) – 4
Danish Youths Sallied Nightly from Prison to Commit Sabotage against German Army – 4
Japanese Retreat on Salween Front – 6
14 on Army Barge Feared Dead as Its Ramp Drops in Gulf Storm – 6
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on Fighting in Various Zones – 7-8

[Homer_J_Simpson]

We must have the new server in place. That was the fastest ping list posting ever. And only one post!

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1943/mar1943/f08mar43.htm

Red Army attacks on the central front
Monday, March 8, 1943 www.onwar.com

Red Army armored cars advancing [photo at link]

On the Eastern Front... The Soviets take Sychevka between Rzhev and Vyazma, from the forces of German Army Group Center.

In the Atlantic... A change in the standard encoding machine used by the German U-boat fleet creates problems for Allied anti-submarine warfare. A fourth rotor is added to the Engima to ensure secure communications. Allied cryptographers are able to decipher the German communication, after a brief delay.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/frame.htm

March 8th, 1943 (MONDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: Boom defence vessel HMS Barnaby is launched. Frigate HMS Prince Salvor is launched. Destroyer HMS Urchin is launched. Minesweeping trawlers HMS Proof, Sir Lomorack commissioned.
Destroyer HMS Troubridge commissioned.
Submarine HMS Universal commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

GERMANY: The Navy switches from the usual three wheeled Enigma cipher machine to a four-wheeled one, cutting off UK intelligence just as a U-boat “wolfpack” starts to attack Atlantic convoys.

U-1060 is launched. U-489 is commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

U.S.S.R.: Admiral Standley, United States Ambassador to Russia, made statement in Moscow that news of important American aid was being kept from Russian people. “It is not fair to mislead Americans into giving millions from their pockets, thinking that they are aiding the Russian people, without the Russian people knowing about it”. (Dave Shirlaw)

CHINA: Japanese forces cross the Yangtze river.

U.S.A.: USS Sable (IX-81) had been launched in 1923 as SS Greater Buffalo and was commissioned today. The conversion consisted of removing the old superstructure and building a flight deck of 500 to 535 feet (152.4 to 163.1 meters) over the hull. A small island was build on the starboard side and smoke stacks were placed behind the island to vent the gases. USS Sable’s flight deck was steel, the first US aircraft carrier to be constructed of that material. The Sable was one of two paddlewheelers used on the Great Lakes for training. (Jack McKillop)

Destroyer escorts USS Amesbury and Joyce laid down.
Destroyer USS Knapp laid down.
Light cruiser USS Dayton laid down. Escort Carrier USS Block Island is commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-156 (Type IXC) is sunk at 1315hrs east of Barbados, position 12.38N, 54.39W, by depth charges from a US Catalina aircraft (VP-53/P-1). 53 dead (all hands lost).

Previously on 12 September, 1942 U-156 sank the Allied liner Laconia west of Africa in what has become known as the Laconia incident. 16 Feb, 1942 U-156 began to shell the oil refinery at Aruba in the Caribbean, but the gun crew forgot to remove the water plug from the barrel, causing an explosion that killed one man [Matrosengefreiter Heinrich Bössinger]. The gunnery officer [II WO Leutnant zur See Dietrich von dem Borne, see right] lost his right leg in this incident, and so had to be put ashore into captivity at Martinique on 21 February. The commander decided to saw off the ruined portion of the gun barrel, and using this shorter barrel, on 27 February U-156 sank a 2,498-ton British steamer. (Alex Gordon)

At 2020, the unescorted Liberty Ship James B. Stephens was torpedoed by U-160 about 150 miles NE of Durban, while steaming a nonevasive course at 11.5 knots. A torpedo struck one the port side between the #2 and #3 hatches. The explosion set the fuel oil in the double bottoms on fire and the ship settled rapidly by the bow. At 2032, a coup de grâce was fired, which struck on the port side at the #4 hatch and broke the ship in two. Both sections remained afloat, but the ship burned until the following morning. An Allied warship sank the stern section by gunfire and a British warship tried to tow the fore section to Durban, but it sank under tow in heavy seas. The eight officers, 35 crewmen and 20 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and four 20mm guns) began abandon ship after the first hit in four lifeboats and three rafts. The explosion of the second torpedo overturned the motor lifeboat and also blew three men from another boat into the water. The other lifeboats picked up all men with exception of one armed guard who drowned because he did not have a life jacked and could not swim. On 11 March, an aircraft spotted one of the boats and directed armed trawler HMS Norwich City to it. 19 survivors were picked up by the trawler and taken to Durban. 30 survivors were picked up by cruiser HMS Nigeria the next day and taken to Durban. Six days after the attack, the remaining 13 survivors were rescued by a SAAF crash boat one mile off Durban, after they were spotted by an aircraft.

At 2155, SS Empire Lakeland, a straggler from Convoy SC-121, was sunk by two torpedoes from U-190 NW of Rockall. The master, 55 crewmembers and eight gunners were lost.

At 1823, SS Fort Lamy, a straggler from Convoy SC-121, was torpedoed and sunk by U-527 SE of Cape Farewell. The HMS LCT-2480 on board was lost with the vessel. The master, 39 crew members and six gunners died. Three crewmembers and two gunners were picked up after 12 days by the HMS Vervain and landed at St John’s.

SS Vojvoda Putnik in Convoy SC-121 sunk by U-591 at 58.42N, 31.25W.

At 0855, SS Guido was torpedoed and sunk by U-633 about 450 miles ESE of Cape Farewell. The vessel was a romper 10 miles off the starboard bow of the convoy SC-121. Eight crew members and two gunners were lost. The master, 28 crewmembers and six gunners were picked up by USCGC Spencer and landed at Londonderry.

At 2303, SS Leadgate, a straggler from Convoy SC-121, was hit by one torpedo from U-642 and sank west of the Hebrides. The master and 25 crewmembers were lost. (Dave Shirlaw)

[EternalVigilance]

I always enjoy reading these posts.

Thanks for what you do to provide them.

[BroJoeK]

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March 8, 1943:

• March 8-13: "Jews are part of a Red Army force that mounts a massive offensive against the Germans at Sokolov, Russia.
  Three hundred Jewish casualties, including 140 fatalities, are tallied by battle's end."

"Dimitur Peshev, vice-president of the Bulgarian National Assembly, was one of the delegation deputies elected by the citizens of Kyustendil to appeal the order to evacuate the local Jewish population.
The deputies presented a statement of protest to Parliament, but withdrew it after the king exerted pressure on them.
Although Peshev's refusal to withdraw his signature resulted in his being dismissed from his government post, the deportation orders for the Kyustendil Jews were rescinded."

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[fso301]

That P1 article about homes being searched for hoarded goods needs to be posted on the assorted prepper threads.

[colorado tanker]

Rommel’s position is increasingly perilous. Behind his Mareth Line is a narrow corridor with a long exposed flank. Any penetration to the sea by the Allies and he’s cut off without a port.