On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces south of Nevel continue attacking and the Vitebsk-Polotsk rail line is cut.

In the Bismarck Archipelago... US Task Group 50.2 (Admiral Sherman) raids Kavieng with 86 aircraft. There are 2 carriers and 6 destroyers employed in the operation but they succeed in sinking only 1 Japanese transport ship.

In the Arctic... The German battle cruiser Scharnhorst under the command of Admiral Bey sets sail from northern Norway to attack convoy JW-55B which has been discovered by German air and submarine patrols. Bey is unaware that the British battleship Duke of York is in distant support of the convoy.