This Day in Naval History - Dec. 08

From the Navy News Service

1933 - The Secretary of the Navy establishes the Fleet Marine Force, integrating a ready-to-deploy Marine force with their own aircraft into fleet organization.

1941 - The United States declares war on Japan.

1941 - USS Wake (PR 3), a river gunboat moored at Shanghai, is only U.S. vessel to surrender during World War II.

1942 - Eight PT boats (PT 36, PT 37, PT 40, PT 43, PT 44, PT 48, PT 59 and PT 109) turn back eight Japanese destroyers attempting to reinforce Japanese forces on Guadalcanal.