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• » 15 Jan 1944

• Soviet forces launched a new offensive near Leningrad, Russia. ww2dbase [Siege of Leningrad | TH]
• Prichett was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Prichett | CPC]

• USS Nashville arrived at Circular Quay, Sydney, Australia for ten days of recreation and upkeep. ww2dbase [Nashville | Sydney, New South Wales | DS]

• Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for light cruiser Nagara at Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Akashi | Truk | CPC]

• Allied convoy JW-56A sailed into a storm off the Faroe Islands; it was redirected to Akureyri, Iceland for shelter. ww2dbase [Arctic Convoys | Akureyri | CPC]

• German XIV Panzer Corps abandoned Monte Trocchio, Italy and fell back across the Rapido River; US II Corps would capture Monte Trocchio later in the same day. Meanwhile, General Juin's French troops captured Monte Santa Croce. ww2dbase [Advance to the Gustav Line | Monte Trocchio | TH, CPC]
• Free French Expeditionary Corps reached Castel Sant'Elia, Italy. ww2dbase [Battle of Monte Cassino | Castel Sant'Elia, Lazio | AC]

• With heavy seas running in the Luzon Strait, submarine USS Thresher had trouble maintaining periscope depth so she surfaced only to find she was in the path of a Japanese aircraft carrier with destroyer escort. The carrier quickly turned away while the destroyer attacked. Thresher went deep and avoided the attack. Five hours later, Thresher encountered a convoy of four ships with a single patrol boat as escort. Thresher fired four torpedoes at the 4,000-ton Toho Maru with two hits in her stern; Toho Maru sank quickly. Thresher then fired three torpedoes at the 8,000-ton Tatsuno Maru loaded with gasoline. Tatsuno Maru took three evenly spaced hits along her starboard side and "literally blew him to pieces." Tatsuno Maru was broken into two pieces with the bow section sinking almost immediately and the stern section sinking a short time later. ww2dbase [Thresher | Luzon Strait | DS]

• Dwight Eisenhower arrived at the airport at Prestwick, Scotland, United States, where he was met by his new British military aide Lieutenant Colonel James Gault, a member of the Scots Guards regiment. ww2dbase [Dwight Eisenhower | Scotland | CPC]

• Gato-class submarine USS Silversides arrived at Midway, ending her eighth war patrol. Her commanding officer, LtCdr J.S. Coye, received his second Navy Cross for his actions during this patrol. ww2dbase [Silversides | Midway | DS]

15 Jan 1944 Interactive Map