World War II Database

• Home
• » Events
• » WW2 Timeline
• » 13 May 1943

• The remaining Axis troops surrendered in Tunisia. For the first time in the war, the British claimed more German prisoners than the number of British captives in Germany. ww2dbase [Conclusion of the Desert War | TH]
• Danish resistance damaged a railway installation at Tønder, Denmark. ww2dbase [TH]
• USS Snook sank a Japanese freighter with 1 of 2 torpedoes fired. ww2dbase [Snook | CPC]
• The false documents found on the body of Glyndwr Michael/William Martin was returned by the Spanish to the British, apparently unopened but actually shared with and photographed by the Germans. ww2dbase [Operation Mincemeat | CPC]
• B-17 bomber 'Hell's Angels' of US 303rd Bomb Group became the first aircraft to complete 25 combat missions. ww2dbase [B-17 Flying Fortress | CPC]
• Italian torpedo boats stationed at Yalta, Ukraine conducted their last sortie from this base. ww2dbase [CPC]

• Submarine USS Growler departed Brisbane, Australia on her fifth war patrol. ww2dbase [Growler | Brisbane, Queensland | DS]

• British Royal Navy warships bombarded Pantelleria Island, Italy. ww2dbase [Battle of Pantelleria and Pelagie Islands | Pantelleria, Sicilia | TH]

• Yamato departed Yokosuka, Japan for Kure, Japan. ww2dbase [Yamato | Yokosuka, Kanagawa | CPC]
• Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru arrived at Yokosuka, Japan. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | Yokosuka, Kanagawa | CPC]

• USS Wahoo damaged a Japanese transport east of Japan, hitting her with 2 of 4 torpedoes. ww2dbase [Wahoo | CPC]

• Squadron X of the No. 5 Group of the British Royal Air Force, led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, received water-skipping "Upkeep" bombs for the upcoming mission against German dams in the Ruhr region. ww2dbase [Dambuster Raid | CPC]

• The keel of Bergall was laid down by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut, United States. ww2dbase [Electric Boat Company | Bergall | Groton, Connecticut | CPC]

13 May 1943 Interactive Map