Nottinghamshire miners vote to forgo part of their holidays to boost the war effort.

London: Long evening dresses are making a come-back, particularly in restaurants and clubs frequented by young soldiers on their way to France. In contrast to the utilitarian wear of the early war months, luxury fabrics such as chiffon, lace, tulle and taffeta are now favoured for a night out on the town. Far from their wives and girlfriends, the soldiers are happy to find places where partners are provided. The latest new dance, a great favourite among the soldiers and their dancing partners, is "The Blackout Stroll" during which the lights go out and everyone changes partners.

RAF Fighter Command: Collier and 3 trawlers attacked off Scottish coast. Enemy aircraft driven off.

GERMANY: Berlin: Dr. Fritz Todt, an engineer and master road builder, is appointed Minister for Weapons and Munitions, ushering in a new era in the efficient use of German industry and forced labor. Todt caught the attention of Adolf Hitler in 1932 as Todt spoke out about the importance of building new roads to jumpstart a moribund German economy. Once Hitler came to power, Hitler placed Todt in charge of a massive road-building project, the Autobahn. 

ATLANTIC OCEAN: MS Argentina left Copenhagen and radioed for the last time on 17 March. She was reported missing thereafter west of Scotland. At 2325 hours on 17 Mar 1940, U-38 torpedoed and sunk an unknown steamer of 5000 GRT west of Scotland. This must have been the Argentina.
 

Ernest Bevin, Minister of Labour, calls on 'The Women of Britain' to man the factories and invites 100,000 volunteers to come forward. His basic rules is that no man will do any job in the services or industry which could be done by a woman.

Next month all women aged 20 and 21 will be registered. Thousands of women will then take jobs in new munitions factories, fill positions vacated by men who will soon be de-reserved under new regulations, and provide enough labour to work continuous three-shift systems in shell-filling factories.

London: The Admiralty:

Plans are sent to the C-in-C Med. concerning the intended sailing of the SS Parracombe early in April carrying about 12 Hurricanes, a number of Harvey projectors with their ammunition and other stores direct to Malta. The SS Parracombe will be disguised as Vichy French, unescorted and manned by picked crew. It will be scuttled if captured.

Destroyer KNM Arendal (ex-HMS Badsworth) launched.

Minesweeping trawler HMS Orfsay launched.

Corvette HMS Dianthus commissioned.

GERMANY: A daily report by the SS on the mood of the German people pays attention to anti-Nazi feeling, especially spread by the church. It notes: "Even a foreign-language prophecy which admits of no ambiguity has been used in church circles, saying that the time has come for Germany to be called the most warlike nation of the world ... the most dreadful warrior will rise from her ranks to spread war throughout the world and the peoples of the world will bear weapons and call him the Antichrist."

U-218 laid down.

ADRIATIC SEA: Italian torpedo boat Andromeda is sunk off Albania by RAF bombers. 

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Two German U-boats that were attacking Halifax/UK Convoy HX112, are sunk about 380 miles (612 kilometres) southeast of Reykjavik, Iceland, in a battle with convoy escorts of the 5th EG commanded by Commander MacIntyre.

(1) U-100 (Type VIIB), commanded by Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant Commander) Joachim Schepke who had sunk 26 ships on 14 patrols for 137,819 tons, is sighted by HMS SCIMITAR which drives U-100 under. SCIMITAR then calls up destroyers HMS WALKER and HMS VANOC. At last some of HMS VANOC's depth charges explode close to their target sending U-100 sliding, stern first to 750 feet, deeper than any U-boat had ever gone. Schepke, in fear of the pressure hull imploding, blew all ballast tanks and surfaced. At 1,000 yards the technicians manning the nonrotating Type 286M radar on HMS VANOC pick out the contact with U-100, the first verifiable British surface-ship radar contact on a U-boat. HMS VANOC rams U-100 at 0318 killing Schepke during the collision. Six of the 44-man crew survive; and

(2) U-99 (Type VIIB), commanded by Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant Commander) Otto Kretschmer who had sunk 38 ships on 16 patrols for 244,749 tons, commences an attack at 2200 hours, sinking five ships including three tankers with one salvo of torpedoes. At 0130 MacIntyre in HMS WALKER gets a firm sonar contact with U-100. MacIntyre calls on HMS VANOC to commence depth-charge attacks on the U-boat. At length, HMS WALKER leaves to rescue merchant seamen, leaving HMS VANOC to continue the hunt.  U-99 is scuttled at 0343 hours after being depth charged by the British destroyer HMS Walker, who was surprised to find another U-boat so close to the site of the previous sinking. U-99 is forced to the surface and the crew abandon ship, although its engineer re-enters the U-boat to ensure that it would sink and is lost; 40 of the 43-man crew, including Kretschmer, survive. The loss of two U-boat aces in one night lowers the morale of the German submarine service.  Kretschmer holds the Knight's Cross with Swords. (106)

SS J.B. White, Canadian merchantman, torpedoed and sunk between Iceland and the Faeroe Islands by U-99, Kptlt Otto Kretschmer, Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, CO. Two lives are lost from her crew of 40 men.

U-850 laid down.

U-521 launched.

Clearwater- Following an all day trial, a Circuit Court Jury yesterday handed down a verdict for the defendant in the $250,000 damage suit of W.Ellison Whormald vrs. John Torrio, Al Capone and others. SPECIAL RUSSIAN FILM TO BE SHOWN "One Day in Soviet Russia", a remarkable documentary film, with commentary by Quentin Reynolds, comes to the Roxy Theater for a special two days' engagement tomorrow and Thursday. The film was photographed in one day by 97 Soviet cameramen. Included with the film are the latest Soviet war news with actual shots of the Red Army in Action. Associate Attractions on the two days bill is "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", with Spencer Tracy , Ingrid Bergman and Lana Turner.

(Bill Howard)

The United States, in agreement with Allied governments, assumes responsibility for the strategic defence of entire Pacific Ocean. 

Destroyers USS Eaton, McCord and Trathen laid down.

Corvette USS Fury commissioned.

Destroyers USS Doyle and Frazier launched.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Three unarmed merchant ships are attacked by German submarines off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, U.S.A..: (1) U-124 torpedoes and damages a U.S. tanker about 20 miles southeast of the cape and later torpedoes and sinks a Greek freighter in the same area; and (2) U-124 torpedoes and sinks a Honduran freighter about 116 miles east northeast of the cape. 

Honduran Banana boat Ceiba sunk by U-124 at 35.43N, 73.49W, about 116 miles east northeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, U.S.A. Six men on a raft were picked up two days later by destroyer USS Hambleton. Among the dead were wives and children of some crewmembers.

At 2352, the unescorted and unarmed Acme was hit in the stern directly aft of the stack by a torpedo from U-124 about one mile west of the Diamond Shoals Light Buoy, 20 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The explosion destroyed the engine room, killing the three men on watch and blew away the rudder and propeller, however the bulkheads forward of the engine room held. In all one officer and ten men died in the explosion and four men were wounded. When she was hit, the Acme had proceeded completely blacked out and on a nonevasive course, because many other ships were in the vicinity. Two tankers and two freighters lay ahead and the Greek steam merchant Kassandra Louloudis and two other tankers astern. Destroyer USS Dickerson and USCGC Dione were two and four miles distant, respectively. The remaining crew of six officers and 14 men abandoned ship in two lifeboats at 0120 on 18 March, but before they left they searched the ship and found the 2nd Engineer and a fireman with both legs broken. They were helped into the boats and Dione picked up all ten minutes later and landed them at Norfolk. Acme settled by the stern and came on ground in the shallow water. The tanker was later towed to Lynnhaven Roads, Virginia by Navy and Coast Guard vessels, where she was anchored. The ballast was shifted until they were able to negotiate the channel into Hampton Roads and was towed to Newport News where she was repaired and returned to service. 3 Nov 1943 requisitioned by US Navy, renamed and classified Abarenda (IX 131) and converted to a floating storage tanker. 26 Feb 1944 purchased by the Navy and commissioned on 18 Apr 1944 under LCDR Benjamin F. Langland, USCGR. Assigned to Service Squadron 10 and served at Manus, Admiralty Islands until 20 Feb 1945. 13 Mar 1945 stationed at Leyte until VJ and dispensed fuel to the warships of the 3rd and 5th Fleet. Then fueled the ships supporting the occupation forces in the Far East until decommission on 26 Feb 1946. Returned to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) reserve fleet at Subic Bay as Acme. 3 Mar1948 sold for scrapping to the Asia Development Corporation.

At 1508, U-373 sank an unescorted ship with two torpedoes. This vessel must have been Mount Lycabettus, which was reported missing after 14 March.

Motor tanker San Demetrio sunk by U-404 at 37.03N, 73.50W. The U-boat inspected the lifeboats but did not communicate with the survivors and soon submerged again. The survivors drifted for 2 days before being rescued.

At 2153, the unescorted Allende was torpedoed and sunk by U-68 20 miles south of Cape Palmas, Liberia. Six crewmembers were lost. The master, 30 crewmembers and two gunners landed at Taba, French Ivory Coast and were interned by the Vichy French authorities at Bobo Dinlassu.

At 0635, the unescorted Ile de Batz was torpedoed and damaged by U-68 28 miles SW of Cape Palmas. The ship was sunk after 0751 with 33 high explosive rounds of 10.5cm gunfire. Four crewmembers were lost. The master, 34 crewmembers and four gunners landed at Cape Palmas and were brought to Freetown by corvette HMCS Weyburn.

MS Scottish Prince sunk by U-68 at 04.10N, 08W. 

At 1858, the unescorted Ranja was hit near the bridge by two torpedoes from U-71 about 450 miles ESE of Philadelphia. The tanker caught fire in the foreship and developed a port list. A coup de grâce at 1954 hit under the forward mast and stopped the vessel that was now on fire from stem to stern. The U-boat left the area at 2000 when it became clear that the ship would sink. The master, 31 crewmembers and two gunners were lost.

Motor tanker Crista damaged by U-83 at 32.21N, 25E.
 

U-874 laid down.

U-546 launched.

U-715 commissioned.

Submarine USS Cobia laid down.

Submarine USS Pompon commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 2034, U-167 fired one T-3 and three FAT torpedoes at Convoy UGS-6 about 500 miles west of Lisbon and heard one detonation after 3 minutes and sinking noises. Molly Pitcher on her maiden voyage in station #82 was struck by one torpedo on the port side at the #3 hold. The blast damaged the forward bulkhead between holds #2 and #3, resulting in the flooding of both compartments. The helmsman deserted the wheel and the ship veered to port toward the centre of the convoy. After getting the ship under control, the master ordered the eight officers, 34 crewmen, 27 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in and nine 20mm guns) and one passenger (US Army Major) on board to abandon ship. They left the vessel with great confusion in three lifeboats and by jumping overboard, the engines still running and leaving 17 men behind. Two officers and two armed guards drowned. The ship began making circles and those left on board under command of the third mate managed to avoid the survivors and get the ship under way at 10 knots to rejoin the convoy. But the compass had been damaged and they were not able to find the convoy, so they abandoned ship at 23.30 hours on one raft and two improvised ones. 66 survivors were rescued by destroyers USS Champlin and Rowan along with the American SS William Johnson and landed at Casablanca on 20 and 21 March. The license of the master was later suspended on a charge of misconduct. Champlin tried to scuttle Molly Pitcher by a torpedo, but the ship remained afloat and was sunk by a coup de grâce from U-521 at 0550 on 18 March.

At 2309, U-305 fired a spread of two torpedoes at Convoy SC-122 southeast of Cape Farewell and hit the Port Auckland in station #93 in the engine room on the starboard side and Zouave in station #84, which sank within five minutes. A second spread of two torpedoes was fired at 2310 and one of them hit again the Port Auckland, which sank behind the convoy after her back was broken by a coup de grâce at 00.41 hours on 18 March. Eight crewmembers from the Port Auckland were lost. The master, 87 crewmembers, 12 gunners and ten passengers (RAF personnel) were picked up by HMS Godetia and landed at Gourock.

At 0305, U-338 fired a spread of two torpedoes at Convoy SC-122 SE of Cape Farewell and Kinzel thought that he had hit one ship, but in fact the Kingsbury in station #51 and the King Gruffydd in station #52 were hit and sunk. At 0306, a second spread of two torpedoes was fired, one of them struck Alderamin in station #61, which sank later in 51°30N/34°55W. At 0307, the stern torpedo was fired, which missed the intended target, the Alderamin, but damaged the Fort Cedar Lake in station #124. Fort Cedar Lake on her maiden voyage fell behind the convoy and was finished off by U-665 with a coup de grâce at 1157. The master, 42 crewmembers and seven gunners were picked up by the British rescue ship Zamalek and landed at Gourock on 22 March. The master, 21 crewmembers and two gunners from the King Gruffydd (Master Hywell Griffiths) were lost. 18 crewmembers and seven gunners were picked up by Zamalek and landed at Gourock on 22 March. Three crewmembers and one passenger from Kingsbury were lost. The master, 36 crewmembers, six gunners and one passenger were picked up by the British rescue ship Zamalek and landed at Gourock on 22 March.

At 1452, U-338 fired torpedoes at Convoy SC-122, observed one hit and heard three detonations, which were probably depth charges. Granville was struck by one torpedo on the port side at the #2 hatch, starting a fire in the hold. The engine room flooded as the watertight door between the coalbunkers and fireroom was open, because coal was being transferred from the bunkers to the fireroom. Ten crewmembers working in the engine room were killed. The vessel broke in two amidships and sank within 15 minutes, taking two armed guards with her. The surviving men of her complement of 35 crewmembers, eleven armed guards and one passenger (a US Army Lt. Colonel) abandoned ship in lifeboats and rafts. The survivors, including the master, were picked up about an hour later by corvette HMS Lavender and landed at Liverpool on 23 March. The second mate was rescued but died of wounds on the corvette and was buried at sea.

At 1405, U-384 fired three torpedoes at Convoy HX-229 NE of St John's, heard three detonations and claimed two ships sunk and another as damaged. At the same time U-631 reported the sinking of a tanker with one torpedo. It is unlikely that the Coracero in station #92 and the Terkoelei were hit by the same U-boat, apparently U-384 sank the first ship and U-631 the latter. Five crewmembers from Coracero were lost. The master, 44 crewmembers, seven gunners and one passenger (DBS) were picked up by destroyer HMS Mansfield and landed at Gourock.

SS William Eustis sunk by U-435 in Convoy HX-229 at 50.10N, 35.02W.

At 0556, U-600 fired a spread of four FAT torpedoes at Convoy HX-229 in 50°36N/34°30W and observed a hit amidships on the Nariva in station #91 and two on the Irenee Du Pont in station #81. A further detonation was heard, this was the hit on the Southern Princess in station #72, which caught fire and sank during the morning. At 0558, the stern torpedo was fired and was seen to hit another freighter amidships, which sank after 10 minutes, but this can not be confirmed from Allied sources. Southern Princess suffered 4 killed with 96 survivors. At 0839 the same day, U-91 fired a spread of three torpedoes at some ships behind the convoy in 50°38N/34°46W and noted two hits, one on a moving freighter and the other on a burning ship. These hits finished off Nariva and Irenee Du Pont and their sinking in 51°05N/33°55W was observed by U-91 in the afternoon and reported at 1608 by a radio message. Two torpedoes struck Irenee Du Pont on the starboard side at holds #2 and #3. The explosions knocked out the generators, flooded both holds and also flooded slowly the engine room and hold #1. The ten officers, 39 crewmen, 26 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) and nine passengers (naval personnel) abandoned ship 45 minutes after the hits in two lifeboats and three rafts. Some of the men jumped overboard because a third lifeboat fouled a cargo net and other rafts could not be launched. Six armed guards, six crewmen and one passenger drowned. The Dutch steam merchant Tekoa picked up 55 survivors and destroyer HMS Mansfield rescued 16 others, of which one later died from shock and was buried at sea. Corvette HMS Anemone tried to sink the ship with 4in gunfire and a depth charge, but the ship remained afloat and was later finished off by U-91. The master of the Irenee Du Pont asked to leave the convoy since his ship could steam at 16 knots, but this permission was denied. HMS Mansfield and Anemone had tried to scuttle the Nariva by gunfire after the corvette picked up the master, 86 crewmembers and seven gunners.

SS Terkoelei sunk by U-631 in Convoy HX-229 at 51.45N, 31.15W.

Between 0023 and 0025, U-758 fired two FAT and two G7e torpedoes at Convoy HX-229 and reported three ships sunk and another damaged. In fact, Zaanland and James Oglethorpe were sunk and the Dutch motor tanker Magdala (8248 tons) missed. James Oglethorpe on her maiden voyage in station #93 was struck by one torpedo on the starboard side at the forward section of the #2 hold. The ship began settling by the head with her rudder stuck and a starboard list. A fire in the #1 hold was extinguished within 15 minutes by the crew. 43 men of the eight officers, 36 crewmen, 26 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) and four passengers (US Navy personnel) abandoned ship without orders in two lifeboats, while the vessel made large circles to port at 8 knots. The fall of one boat was cut prematurely and threw its occupants into the sea, drowning 13 men. Another man died when he fell into the water while trying to get into the second boat. The three officers, 10 crewmen, two passengers and 15 armed guards in the second boat were picked up by HMS Pennywort and landed at Londonderry on 22 March. James Oglethorpe tried to reach St John's, but was never seen again. The master and 29 men who remained on board were lost. The ship probably foundered en route by the damage received by the torpedo hit or she was sunk in the morning by a coup de grâce from U-91. But this U-boat is credited with sinking the stragglers Irenee Du Pont and Nariva.

Between 0337 and 0341, U-91 fired five torpedoes at Convoy HX-229 about 400 miles ESE of Cape Farewell and observed detonations on two ships, but in fact only the Harry Luckenbach was hit and sunk. Harry Luckenbach was assigned to station #111; the ship had been so exposed that the master had nervously steamed a zigzag course out in front of the convoy until ordered to return to his station. Two torpedoes struck the vessel on the starboard side amidships in the machinery spaces, causing her to sink within 3 minutes in the rough seas. However, some of the nine officers, 45 crewmembers and 26 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) abandoned ship in three lifeboats, which were first spotted by destroyers HMS Beverley and Volunteer but not picked up. Corvette HMS Anemone was ordered to find the lifeboats, after corvette HMS Pennywort had come across them and could not pick up the men because she already had 108 survivors on board. But the other corvette was unable to locate the boats and it is possible that the boats were also seen by corvette HMS Abelia on her way from St John's to join the convoy. None of the men from the Harry Luckenbach were seen or heard from again.

U-69 sunk in the North Atlantic east of Newfoundland in position 50.36N, 041.07W, after a depth charge attack by destroyer HMS Fame.

Minesweeper USS Augury commissioned.

Destroyer USS Gendreau commissioned.

Destroyer USS Newman K Perry launched.

Escort carrier USS Saidor launched.

Submarine USS Cutlass commissioned.

Destroyer USS Bristol commissioned.