20 December 1943
Sulu Sea
USS Silversides found an unescorted 6600-ton cargo ship off the Philippine coast and put 2 torpedoes into it, sending it to the bottom. The cargo ship was carrying troops.
USS Robalo found a light cargo ship nearby and attacked from the surface, striking with gunfire and one torpedo hit, sinking it. This ship was carrying artillery.
South China Sea
SS Hake hit a PB with a torpedo near Jesselton. The PB looks like it will survive.
China
Air raids:
Anking (ground forces): 16 casualties
Kiukiang (ground forces): 31 casualties
Burma
Air raids:
Port Blair (ground forces): 0 casualties
Rahaeng (ground forces): 6 casualties
DEI
Air raids:
Koepang (ground forces): 0 casualties
Kendari (ground forces and airbase): 9 hits, 0 casualties
Mindanao (southern Philippines) is the next target. We're loading up at Darwin. The carriers at Truk are moving out to support the operation, plus there will be CVEs and land based air providing cover. The exceptions are the torpedo-damaged Yorktown and Princeton, which are headed to Pearl for repairs.
Reinforcements
DE Sederstrom arrives at Mare Island
VF(N)-75 Det 11 arrives at Eastern USA
47th Aviation Base Force arrives at San Francisco
33rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment arrives at Karachi
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