Battle of Yenangyaung

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Battle of Yenangyaung
Part of the
Burma Campaign

The Japanese conquest of Burma (the left red arrow represents Japanese movements to Yenangyaung)
Date (1942-04-16) (1942-04-19)16–19 April 1942
(3 days)
Location
Result Allied victory
Belligerents

 China
 United Kingdom

 Japan
Commanders and leaders
Shozo Sakurai
Units involved

Chinese Expeditionary Force

  • 38th Division
    • 113th Regiment
1st Burma Division
7th Armoured Brigade
33rd Division
Strength
: 1,121
: 7,000
10,000
Casualties and losses
204 killed
318 wounded
20 missing
700 killed

The Battle of Yenangyaung (

Burma Campaign of World War II, the battle was fought between Chinese and British allied forces on one side and Japanese forces on the other. The battle took place in the vicinity of Yenangyaung
and its oil fields.

Background

The Japanese 55th Division

, they were able to use divisions released due to their conquest. They also captured trucks to reinforce their army in Burma and launch attacks into Central Burma.

One objective for the Japanese forces in the Irrawaddy River valley was to capture the

HQ and the 2nd RTR into three forces.

On April 15, Lieutenant General Slim gave orders for the oil fields and refinery to be demolished.

into the Yenangyaung area immediately.

Battle

On 16 April, almost 7,000 British soldiers, along with 500 prisoners and civilians, were encircled by an equal number of Japanese soldiers from the IJA 33rd Division at Yenangyaung and its oil field.

The 33rd Division was able to advance between Slim's 17th Division at Taungdwingyi and the 1st Burma Division south of Yenangyaung. Fearing that the Burma Corps may become trapped, Slim called upon Sun Li-jen's Chinese 38th Division for help.[3]

Fires at Yenanguang emanating from destroyed equipment and facilities

General Sun requested to lead his entire division to help the 1st Burma Division, but General

25-pounder guns.[4]

For the next three days, the Chinese forces attacked southwards. The temperatures reached 114 °F (46 °C) and smoke from the demolished oil wells and refineries hung over the battlefield.[5]

Meanwhile, the 1st Burma Division fought its way to and across the Pin Chaung river, where they met with the relief column on 19 April. On the next day, the Chinese forces attacked southwards toward Yenangyaung and Pin Chaung. The attack caused the Japanese to suffer casualties, but the Allied forces could not keep the oil fields and had to retreat to the north.[6]

Results

According to Allen,[clarification needed] the British were "deprived of a supply port at Rangoon, [and] then of [their] source of fuel at Yenangyaung[;] the question was no longer whether to retreat, but where to?"[3]: 70 

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Slim, p.64
  2. ^ Slim, p.72
  3. ^ .
  4. ^ Slim, pp.71-73
  5. ^ Slim, p.74
  6. ^ Slim, p.83

Sources

  • Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), 2nd Ed., 1971. Translated by Wen Ha-hsiung, Chung Wu Publishing; 33, 140th Lane, Tung-hwa Street, Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China. Pg. 377
  • Slim, William (1956). Defeat into Victory. London: Cassell. .

External links