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• Soviet forces launched a massive offensive along their Bryansk, Central, and West Fronts in Russia, toward Bryansk, Kursk, and Orel. Prokhorovka, Russia became the site of what would be hailed as the largest armor battle in history. ww2dbase [Battle of Kursk | TH]
• USS Mingo damaged a Japanese freighter with torpedoes. ww2dbase [Mingo | CPC]
• HMS King George V bombarded Trapani, Sicily, Italy. ww2dbase [King George V | CPC]
• Chiang Kaishek committed, in writing, to a Chinese offensive into Burma. ww2dbase [Chiang Kaishek | CPC]
• British 8th Army captured Augusta, Sicily, Italy, adding yet another useful harbour for the Allied invasion forces. ww2dbase [Invasion of Sicily and Italy's Surrender | AC]

• 432nd Fighter Squadron (flying P-38 aicraft) of USAAF 475th Fighter Group was out of Dobodura No. 15 airstrip of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua. ww2dbase [Dobodura Airfield | Dobodura | CPC]

• Yugure, Yukikaze, Hamakaze, and Kiyonami departed Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands, escorting a troop transport mission involving light cruiser Jintsu to Kolombangara, New Georgia, Solomon Islands. En route, they encountered Allied warships, resulting in the Battle of Kolombangara that lasted into the next morning. Jintsu and USS Gwin were sunk (Gwinn by a Type 93 torpedo launched by a Japanese destroyer), and USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis were damaged. The Japanese were able to land 1,200 men. ww2dbase [Type 93 | Yugure | Kolombangara, Solomon Islands | CPC]
• Companies N and Q of the USMC 4th Raider Battalion departed New Georgia in the Solomon Islands, returning to join the rest of the battalion at Guadalcanal. ww2dbase [Solomon Islands Campaign | New Georgia | CPC]
• Yugure, Yukikaze, Hamakaze, and Kiyonami departed Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands, escorting a troop transport mission involving light cruiser Jintsu to Kolombangara, New Georgia, Solomon Islands. En route, they encountered Allied warships, resulting in the Battle of Kolombangara that lasted into the next morning. Jintsu and USS Gwin were sunk (Gwinn by a Type 93 torpedo launched by a Japanese destroyer), and USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis were damaged. The Japanese were able to land 1,200 men. ww2dbase [Solomon Islands Campaign | Jintsu | Honolulu | Hamakaze | Yukikaze | St. Louis | Kolombangara, Solomon Islands | CPC]

• HMS Howe bombarded Trapani and Favignana, Sicily, Italy. ww2dbase [Howe | Sicilia | CPC]
• USS Ancon departed off Scoglitti, Sicily, Italy. ww2dbase [Invasion of Sicily and Italy's Surrender | Ancon | Scoglitti, Sicilia | CPC]

• Yamato was drydocked at Kure, Japan for upgrades. A Type 21, Mod 3, air and surface search radar was to be installed. Twelve (4x3) new 25-mm AA guns were to be fitted on the weather deck. Yamato's total 25-mm AA suite would be 36 guns. Her 155-mm wing mount guns were to be provided with coaming armor and their barbettes with 28-mm of additional armor. Yamato's fuel storage would be reduced and her main and auxiliary rudder controls were to be improved. ww2dbase [Yamato | Kure, Hiroshima | CPC]
• I-168 departed Kure, Japan. ww2dbase [I-68/I-168 | Kure, Hiroshima | CPC]
• Yamato was drydocked at Kure, Japan for upgrades. A Type 21, Mod 3, air and surface search radar was to be installed. Twelve (4x3) new 25-mm AA guns were to be fitted on the weather deck. Yamato's total 25-mm AA suite would be 36 guns. Her 155-mm wing mount guns were to be provided with coaming armor and their barbettes with 28-mm of additional armor. Yamato's fuel storage would be reduced and her main and auxiliary rudder controls were to be improved. ww2dbase [Kure Naval Arsenal | Kure, Hiroshima | CPC]

• USS S-38 fired four torpedoes at a Japanese transport northwest of Matamat Atoll, Marshall Islands; all four torpedoes missed. ww2dbase [S-38 | CPC]

• USS Yorktown (Essex-class) departed Balboa, Panama Canal Zone. ww2dbase [J. J. Clark | Yorktown (Essex-class) | DS]

• USAAF 59th Bombardment Squadron, operating B-18 Bolo bombers, arrived at Edinburgh Field in Trinidad. ww2dbase [Carlsen Field | Chaguanas | CPC]

• The National Committee for a Free Germany was formed in Krasnograd, Ukraine, made up of a number of captured German officers as well as exiled German communists. This group called for an uprising against Hitler and an end to the fighting between Germany and the Soviet Union. ww2dbase [Krasnograd | TH]

• USS Bogue and her escorts departed Norfolk, Virginia on a Hunter-Killer mission along the convoy routes to Africa. ww2dbase [Norfolk Navy Yard | Bogue | Conclusion of the Battle of the Atlantic | Norfolk, Virginia | DS]

12 Jul 1943 Interactive Map