31 January - 6 February 1942

NormanStewart · January 31, 2021, 8:43pm

merdiolu:

Marshal , Gilbert Islands , Pacific Ocean : The United States launched its first air offensive against the Gilbert Islands as aircraft from US carriers USS Yorktown and USS Enterprise struck Japanese bases in the island group.
The United States launched its first air offensive against the Marshall Islands as SBD and TBD aircraft from carriers USS Yorktown and USS Enterprise struck Japanese bases in the island group. Cruisers USS Northampton, USS Chester, and USS Salt Lake City also bombarded atolls in the Marshall Islands, sinking gunboat Toyotsu Maru and transport Bordeaux Maru and damaging cruiser Katori, submarine I-23, submarine depot ship Yasukuni Maru, minelayer Tokiwa, and several others. Vice Admiral Mitsumi Shimizu was wounded aboard Katori. USS Chester sustained damage from a Japanese dive bomber during the attack; 8 were killed, 21 were wounded. On top of that a Japanese Kate torpedo bomber aircraft from Kwajalein Atoll counter attacked , torpedoed and damaged American aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.

Would cover that in a day or two with the newspaper reports here: