15 Jul 1941
- Erwin Rommel was officially declared the commanding officer of Panzergruppe Afrika. ww2dbase [Erwin Rommel | CPC]
- Werner Mölders claimed his 100th and 101st victories over the Soviet Union. He was awarded Diamonds to his Knight's Cross for achieving 100 victories, which was to be presented later by Adolf Hitler personally. ww2dbase [Werner Mölders | CPC]
- The British Military Application of Uranium Detonation (MAUD) Committee issued its final report on atomic weapons. ww2dbase [Operation Trinity and Manhattan Project | CPC]
- Kashii was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Kashii | CPC]
- The keel of Canadian destroyer Huron was laid down at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The keel of German submarine U-223 was laid down. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The keel of German submarine U-224 was laid down. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The keel of German submarine U-623 was laid down. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The keel of German submarine U-624 was laid down. ww2dbase [CPC]
- German submarine U-507 was launched. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Soviet troops began a counter offensive in the Lake Ilmen area near Leningrad, Russia. ww2dbase [Siege of Leningrad | CPC]
- Soviet commandos attacked the island of Morgonland in Finland and captured the 5 men stationed at the observation station. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Honoring Charles de Gaulle's previous proclamation that the Allies had invaded the Vichy-held French Mandate of Syria and the Lebanon as liberators rather than conquerors, the British who had accepted the Vichy surrender on the previous day handed control of the territory to the locals. ww2dbase [Campaigns in the Middle East | CPC]
- All pilots of the US Army 3rd Pursuit Squadron and 20th Pursuit Squadron based in the Philippine Islands were certified to fly the P-35A fighters. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The United States established a Naval Air Station and a Naval Operating Base at Argentia Bay, Newfoundland. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The keel of carrier Cabot was laid down at Quincy, Massachusetts, United States. ww2dbase [Lexington (Essex-class) | CPC]
- The keel of cruiser Oakland was laid down. ww2dbase [CPC]
- ShCh-401 attacked German auxiliary submarine chasers UJ 177 and UJ 178 off Kiberg, Norway with a torpedo; the torpedo missed. ww2dbase [ShCh-401 | CPC]
- Hartwig von Ludwiger was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his service during Operation Barbarossa. ww2dbase [Hartwig von Ludwiger | CPC]
- Alessandro Malaspina continued to pursue Greek freighter Nikoklis in the Atlantic Ocean, which she detected on the previous date. At 0110 hours, she fired two bow torpedoes at the distaince of 700 meters, followed by a third bow torpedo very shortly after; one of the torpedoes struck Nikoklis amidships, and another hit the engine room. The Greek freighter broke in two and sank; 11 were killed, 17 survived. 11 of the survivors in a lifeboat would later land at Cape Juby in Morocco. ww2dbase [Alessandro Malaspina | CPC]
- Alpino Bagnolini sighted a merchant ship in the Atlantic Ocean at 0758 hours. She identified the target as a ship of the American Export Line, and the pursuit was broken off. ww2dbase [Alpino Bagnolini | CPC]
- Morosini continued to observe British freighter Rupert de Larrinaga of convoy OG 67d in the Atlantic Ocean at the start of the day, which had been hit by a torpedo launched by Morosini. At 0059 hours, she fired a stern torpedo, hitting Rupert de Larrinaga yet again. Rupert de Larrinaga sank at 0105 hours. All 44 aboard survived and were later picked up by Spanish tanker Campeche. At 0344 hours, Morosini sighted smoke from British ocean boarding vessel HMS Lady Somers. At 0524 hours, she fired a bow torpedo and recorded a hit, but it actually missed. At 0525 hours, she fired a second bow torpedo, hitting HMS Lady Somers in the stern section. HMS Lady Somers opened fired with her two deck guns, forcing Morosini to submerge at 0530 hours. At 0832 hours, Morosini sighted a tanker and moved to attack, but the pursuit was abandoned after recognizing the ship as Spanish tanker Campeche, answering the distress call of Rupert de Larrinaga. At 1002 hours, a bow torpedo was fired in close range, hitting and sinking HMS Lady Somers. 138 out of her crew of 175 survived the sinking; they were also picked up by Campeche. ww2dbase [Morosini | CPC]
- Leonardo da Vinci arrived at Bordeaux, France at 1140 hours, ending a war patrol. ww2dbase [Leonardo da Vinci | Bordeaux, Aquitaine | CPC]
- Inigo Campioni was appointed governor of the Italian Aegean Islands, also known as the Italian Dodecanese. ww2dbase [Inigo Campioni | Dodecanese | CPC]
- German troops encircled Smolensk, Russia. ww2dbase [Operation Barbarossa | Smolensk | TH]
- German 228th Regiment cleared four Stalin Line bunkers and crossed the Ljadowa River, a tributary of the Dniester River, in Ukraine. ww2dbase [Operation Barbarossa | CPC]
- The US Marine Corps activated the Marine Detachment at the American Embassy in London, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [London, England | CPC]
![Light cruiser Kashii at Yokohama, Japan, July 15, 1941](/images/imagemagick/tmb_ship_kashii2.jpg)
15 Jul 1941 Interactive Map
Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis
Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you. Share this article with your friends: Stay updated with WW2DB: |
Search WW2DB
News
- » WW2DB's 19th Anniversary (29 Dec 2023)
- » Looted Painting "Madonna with Child" Returned to Poland (2 Jun 2023)
- » Wreck of USS Mannert L. Abele Found (29 May 2023)
- » Wreck of Montevideo Maru Found (25 Apr 2023)
- » Accidental Detonation of a WW2-Era Bomb in Great Yarmouth (10 Feb 2023)
- » See all news
Random Photograph
Current Site Statistics
- » 1,150 biographies
- » 337 events
- » 43,556 timeline entries
- » 1,240 ships
- » 349 aircraft models
- » 207 vehicle models
- » 372 weapon models
- » 123 historical documents
- » 259 facilities
- » 469 book reviews
- » 28,452 photos
- » 432 maps
Famous WW2 Quote
"Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue."Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, 16 Mar 1945
Support Us
![](/images/icon_patreon_200x80.png)
Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!
![](/images/icon_teespring_200x80.png)
Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!