March 22-23
Sea War, Mediterranean
A superior Italian force engages a British convoy sailing from Alexandria to Malta. A relatively small escort of five light cruisers and 17 destroyers initially resists an attack led by the battleship Littorio at the Battle of Sirte. A storm, however, results in the loss of two Italian destroyers. The convoy subsequently faces air attacks and only 5000 of the original 25,000 tons (25,400 metric tonnes) of supplies arrive. British naval losses and commitments in the Mediterranean have reduced the number of ships available for convoy escorts.

March 27
Politics, Britain
Admiral Sir James Somerville assumes command of the Far East Fleet in Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka).

Politics, Australia
Australian General Sir Thomas Blamey becomes commander-in-chief of the Australian forces and commander of Allied Land Forces in Australia, under the supreme command of US General Douglas MacArthur.

March 28-29
Air War, Germany
RAF bombers, including the new Lancaster, attack Lübeck on the Baltic coast. The raid on the historic, timber-built houses of the town signals a change in Bomber Command's strategy, which is now concentrating on the civilian population.

Sea War, Bay of Biscay
Britain's Combined Operations launches an operation to destroy the St. Nazaire dry-dock in France with a force of 611 men. The objective is to prevent the German battleship Tirpitz (currently in Norway) being able to use the only dock large enough to enable it to mount commerce-destroying operations in the Atlantic. An old destroyer, Campbeltown, is filled with explosives and destroys the lock gates after ramming them. A commando force attacks St. Nazaire's dock facilities, but 144 men die and over half are captured.

March 29
Politics, Britain/India
Britain announces its proposals to grant India semi-independent status when the war ends.

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