I don’t know about the carrier Iwo Jima mentioned at the end of today’s entry. There is yet to be a battle to name it after and the first Iwo Jima I could find was commissioned in 1961 - HJS.
http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/0/29.htm
January 29th, 1945 (MONDAY)
GERMANY:
U-3509 commissioned.
U-763 scuttled at Köningsberg at the Schichau Shipyard, in position 54.42N, 20.32E, after being damaged by Soviet bombs.
NORWAY: U-636 was attacked by shore-based friendly fire in Norwegian waters, but suffered no damage.
BURMA: Japanese forces try but fail to drive the Chinese from their positions defending the “Stilwell Road” near Lashio.
East INDIAN OCEAN: Operation Meridian II. British carrier-based aircraft have inflicted massive damage on Japan’s main source of aviation fuel with bombing raids on Japanese-controlled Palembang oil refineries in Sumatra, in the Dutch East Indies, over the last five days. The loss of the refineries means that crude oil will now have to be shipped to Japan for refining, doubling Japan’s need for tankers.
During this action a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm air sea rescue Supermarine Sea Otter (operating in conjunction with the RN submarine Rorqual) has an inconclusive contact with an unknown Japanese biplane off the Sumatra coast. (G.A. Mackinlay)
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: US landing at San Antonio, Luzon by XI Corps.
U.S.A.:
Aircraft carrier USS Iwo Jima laid down.
Submarine USS Pomodon laid down.
Frigate USS Greensboro commissioned.
USS Iwo Jima was laid down on this date but never finished or christened as she was cancelled after the Jap surrender. The name was selected after the Battle of Iwo Jima.
There were 32(!) Essex class carriers planned, with 24 completed.