Map Description

History Map of WWII: Southern Asia January - May 1942

• Japanese Centrifugal Offensive and Continued Operations
  


• Fifteenth Army and Southern Force (Navy) Operations
  

Illustrating:

:: Indian Ocean Raid ::


The Indian Ocean Raid (April 4-12, 1942) was commanded by Admiral Kondo with the Southern Force, overseeing Vice Admiral Nagumo's First Air Fleet consisting of five carriers (Akagi, Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku). The Japanese attacked Ceylon twice (Colombo on April 5, Trincomalee on April 9), sinking British carrier HMS Hermes, cruisers Cornwall and Dorsetshire, destroyer Vampire, and corvette Hollyhock.



:: Disrupting Shipping ::

Allied merchant shipping faced coordinated air-naval attacks on April 6, while Japanese submarines targeted shipping along India's western coast.



:: Fifteenth Army ::

The Japanese Fifteenth Army, led by Lieutenant General Shojiro Iida, initially comprised the 33rd Division (minus one regiment), 55th Division (minus one regiment), Army Troops, and 5th Air Division support. Significant reinforcements later included the 18th Division from Malaya, 56th Division from Netherlands East Indies, an Infantry Regiment from the 33rd Division, two tank regiments (1st and 14th), and air brigades from Malaya and Netherlands East Indies.



:: Burma Campaign ::

The Burma Campaign began with an invasion from Thailand in January 1942. Japanese forces captured Rangoon by March 8, severing the Burma Road supply route to China. The Fifteenth Army advanced northward through central Burma, and by May 1942, Japanese forces controlled most of Burma, forcing Allied retreat into India.



:: Malayan Force ::

The Malayan Force, after Singapore's fall (February 15, 1942), supported Netherlands East Indies operations, provided naval support for Burma operations, and joined the First Air Fleet for the April Indian Raid. By the way, the term "Malayan Force" is not a standard historical designation. Japanese forces in Malaya were formally the 25th Army, under Lt. Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita.

Credits

Courtesy of the United States Military Academy Department of History.

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