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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]
• Destroyer Yukikaze led an attack on an US cruiser-destroyer group in the Battle of Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Yukikaze | CPC]

• 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 | CPC]

• Companies N and Q of the USMC 4th Raider Battalion departed New Georgia, returning to join the rest of the battalion at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. After dark, a Japanese force consisted of light cruiser Jintsu and destroyer-transports ran into a group of Allied light cruisers; the ensuing Battle of Kolombangara, which lasted into the next morning, saw the sinking of Jintsu and USS Gwin; the Japanese were able to land 1,200 men on New Georgia. ww2dbase [Solomon Islands Campaign | CPC]

• HMS Howe bombarded Trapani and Favignana, Sicily, Italy. ww2dbase [Howe | CPC]
• USS Ancon departed off Scoglitti, Sicily, Italy. ww2dbase [Invasion of Sicily and Italy's Surrender | Ancon | 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 | Yamato | CPC]
• I-168 departed Kure, Japan. ww2dbase [I-68 / I-168 | CPC]

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

• 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 [TH]

12 Jul 1943 Interactive Map