Japanese Invasion of Thailand
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The Japanese Invasion of Thailand occurred on December 8, 1941.
| Pacific Campaign 1941-42 |
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| Pearl Harbor – Malaya – Singapore – Wake Island – Thailand – Hong Kong – Philippines – Borneo – Rabaul – Balikpapan – Ambon – Singapore – Makassar Strait – Palembang – Darwin – Badung Strait – Timor – Java Sea – Java – Christmas Island – Indian Ocean – Bataan – Doolittle Raid – Coral Sea – Corregidor – Sydney – Midway |
Chumphon
The Japanese 1st Infantry Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment landed at Chumphon on the morning of December 8. They managed to form a perimeter around their landing areas, but were pinned down by determined Thai resistance. Fighting ended in the afternoon when the Thais received orders to cease fire.Nakhon Si Thammarat
Nakhon Si Thammarat was the site of the Thai Sixth Division’s Headquarters. Three Japanese troopships dropped anchor a few kilometres away from the coast on the night of December 7. The ships bore the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment, the 18th Air District Regiment along with an army air force signals unit, the 32nd Anti-Aircraft Battalion, and the 6th Labour Construction Company. They began disembarking troops a little while after midnight.Their landing grounds were located adjacent to the main Thai army base camp. The Thais, earlier notified of the invasion at Songkhla, immediately went into action. The battle lasted until midday when Field Marshal Phibunsongkhram’s orders for the Thais to cease fire were finally received.
Pattani
Pattani was the second most important objective of the Japanese 25th Army. The landings there were made in rough weather on unsuitable landing grounds, and were effectively opposed by the Thai 42nd Infantry Battalion. Fighting ceased at midday.Prachuap Khiri Khan
Prachuap Khiri Khan was home to the Royal Thai Air Force’s Fifth Wing, under the command of Wing Commander M.L. Pravasd Chumsai. The Japanese 2nd Infantry Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment landed at 03:00 am, and occupied the town after having crushed police resistance there.Further landings took place at the airfield to the south. They laid siege to the airfield, but the Thais managed to hold out until noon on the next day when they received orders from the government in Bangkok to cease fighting.
Samut Prakan
The Japanese 3rd Battalion of the Imperial Guards Regiment landed at Samut Prakan in the early hours of December 8. It was tasked with the capture of Bangkok. The force was met by a small Thai police detachment. The Japanese subsequently agreed not to enter Bangkok until formal negotiations were concluded.Songkhla
The port city of Songkhla was one of the main objectives of Yamashita’s 25th Army. The Japanese landings occurred during the early hours of December 8. Thai garrison immediately occupied positions alongside the roads leading down to Malaya, but were brushed aside into positions the main Japanese advance could ignore. A further clash occurred at Hat Yai.The fighting ceased at noon when orders for an armistice to be arranged was received.
Surat Thani
A Japanese infantry company from the 1st Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment landed at the coastal village of Ban Don in the early hours of December 8. They marched into Surat Thani, where they were opposed by Thai police and civilian volunteers. The desultory fighting took place amid a rainstorm, and only ended in the afternoon when the hard-pressed Thais received orders to lay down their arms.External links
- [Japanese Order of Battle]
- [Thai Order of battle]
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