First American shots fired in World War II
Encyclopedia
Determining when the first engagement of the United States in World War II occurred may depend from scholar and if such actions led to formal entry of the United States into the conflict.
in 1937 by Japanese
forces in China
(usually referred to as the Panay incident
) could be considered as the first hostile American action during World War II. Although the war was not officially declared in Europe until Germany
invaded Poland
on September 1, 1939, Japan had been involved in military actions against China since 1931.
The first American military death in the European Theatre occurred on April 21, 1940, during the German invasion of Norway
. Military attaché Robert M. Losey
was killed during a German bombardment of Dombås
while assisting with the evacuation of U.S. embassy personnel and others to Sweden.
Either the casualties inflicted on USS Kearny
by U-boat
U-568 on October 17, 1941, or the sinking of the USS Reuben James
by U-552 on October 31, 1941 might be considered the first American naval losses of World War II
. The United States was neither officially involved in the war at the time nor did the incidents cause them to declare war. By coincidence, the Niblack was in the same convoy as the Reuben James when the Reuben James was sunk and picked up survivors from the Reuben James.
forces was on April 10, 1941, when the destroyer USS Niblack
attacked a German U-boat
that had just sunk a Dutch
freighter
. The Niblack was picking up survivors of the freighter when it detected a U-boat preparing to attack. The Niblack attacked with depth charges and drove off the U-boat. There were no casualties on board the Niblack or the U-boat.
The first American hostile action against Axis forces that resulted in physical destruction was on 14 September 1941, when destroyed a German weather station in northeast Greenland
. The action was based on an agreement with Ambassador to the United States
Henrik Kauffmann
in April 1941 to patrol the Danish island.
The first American-caused casualties occurred on December 7, 1941 when the USS Ward attacked and sank a Japanese midget submarine
near the entrance to Pearl Harbor
prior to the commencement of the Japanese air attack upon Hawaii
later that day. As a result of the attack on Hawaii, America declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941. Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. two days later.
The first planned offensive action by Americans in World War II came in January 1942 when the aircraft carrier
USS Enterprise
attacked Japanese bases in the Marshall Islands
.
Attacks on American armed forces
The attack on the United States gunboat USS PanayUSS Panay (PR-5)
|-External links:* * *...
in 1937 by Japanese
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
forces in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(usually referred to as the Panay incident
Panay incident
The USS Panay Incident was a Japanese attack on the American gunboat while she was anchored in the Yangtze River outside Nanking , China on December 12, 1937. Japan and the United States were not at war at the time. The Japanese claimed that they did not see the American flags painted on the deck...
) could be considered as the first hostile American action during World War II. Although the war was not officially declared in Europe until Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
invaded Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
on September 1, 1939, Japan had been involved in military actions against China since 1931.
The first American military death in the European Theatre occurred on April 21, 1940, during the German invasion of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Military attaché Robert M. Losey
Robert M. Losey
Captain Robert M. Losey , an aeronautical meteorologist, is considered to be the first American military casualty in World War II. While serving as a military attaché prior to America's entry into the war, Losey was killed on April 21, 1940 during a German bombardment in Norway...
was killed during a German bombardment of Dombås
Dombås
The village of lies in the Dovre municipality and serves as an administrative center in the upper Gudbrandsdal, Norway. It lies at an important junction of roads: south leading to the current capital of Norway, Oslo, west via Lesja leading to Åndalsnes on the sea and north to the old capital,...
while assisting with the evacuation of U.S. embassy personnel and others to Sweden.
Either the casualties inflicted on USS Kearny
USS Kearny (DD-432)
USS Kearny , a Gleaves-class destroyer, was a United States Navy ship named for Commodore Lawrence Kearny, who was known for his tenacity in capturing slave traders in West-Indian waters and his tireless efforts in fighting Greek pirates in the Mediterranean.-Early history:Kearny was launched 9...
by U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
U-568 on October 17, 1941, or the sinking of the USS Reuben James
USS Reuben James (DD-245)
USS Reuben James —a post-World War I four-funnel Clemson-class destroyer—was the first United States Navy ship sunk by hostile action in World War II and the first named for Boatswain's Mate Reuben James , who distinguished himself fighting in the Barbary Wars.Reuben James was laid down on 2 April...
by U-552 on October 31, 1941 might be considered the first American naval losses of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The United States was neither officially involved in the war at the time nor did the incidents cause them to declare war. By coincidence, the Niblack was in the same convoy as the Reuben James when the Reuben James was sunk and picked up survivors from the Reuben James.
Attacks by American armed forces
The first American hostile action against AxisAxis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
forces was on April 10, 1941, when the destroyer USS Niblack
USS Niblack (DD-424)
USS Niblack , a Gleaves-class destroyer, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Albert Parker Niblack. Niblack became the Director of Naval Intelligence 1 March 1919, and Naval Attache in London 6 August 1920. As Vice Admiral, he commanded U.S...
attacked a German U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
that had just sunk a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
freighter
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
. The Niblack was picking up survivors of the freighter when it detected a U-boat preparing to attack. The Niblack attacked with depth charges and drove off the U-boat. There were no casualties on board the Niblack or the U-boat.
The first American hostile action against Axis forces that resulted in physical destruction was on 14 September 1941, when destroyed a German weather station in northeast Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. The action was based on an agreement with Ambassador to the United States
Denmark–United States relations
Denmark – United States relations refers to the current and historical relations between Denmark and the United States. Denmark has an embassy in Washington D.C. The United States has an embassy in Copenhagen. Denmark has a trade office in Atlanta, Georgia. and a consulate general in New York...
Henrik Kauffmann
Henrik Kauffmann
Henrik Kauffmann was the Danish ambassador to the United States during World War II. On April 9, 1941, the anniversary of the German occupation of Denmark, he signed on his own initiative "in the Name of the King" an "Agreement relating to the Defense of Greenland" authorizing the United States...
in April 1941 to patrol the Danish island.
The first American-caused casualties occurred on December 7, 1941 when the USS Ward attacked and sank a Japanese midget submarine
Midget submarine
A midget submarine is any submarine under 150 tons, typically operated by a crew of one or two but sometimes up to 6 or 8, with little or no on-board living accommodation...
near the entrance to Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
prior to the commencement of the Japanese air attack upon Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
later that day. As a result of the attack on Hawaii, America declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941. Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. two days later.
The first planned offensive action by Americans in World War II came in January 1942 when the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
USS Enterprise
USS Enterprise (CV-6)
USS Enterprise , colloquially referred to as the "Big E," was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the seventh U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. Launched in 1936, she was a ship of the Yorktown class, and one of only three American carriers commissioned prior to World War II to...
attacked Japanese bases in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
.
External links
- USS Niblack site
- USS Ward, Report of Pearl Harbor Attack Naval History & Heritage Command