030 - Long Way to Singapore

Singapore, the tiny island region located off the southern tip of modern Malaysia, was an important part of the Japanese strategy in obtaining critical raw materials for the war effort. If the Japanese could occupy Singapore and make use of its port, they’d cut the distance between Japan and Australia by more than half. This would also act as a springboard in the upcoming attack on Port Moresby, a British stronghold that linked England to its colonies in southeastern Asia.

Also, its location in the South China Sea gave it access to important shipping lanes. The British had feared that Japan might attack Singapore directly. However, the Japanese favored attacking British Malaya in the north and proceeding southward to Singapore, as it would be more advantageous to the experienced Japanese Army.

Just like most of the islands in the Pacific, British Malaya was attacked on the morning of December 8^th. After a brief period of bombing runs, the Naval attack force, which consisted of one light cruiser, four destroyers, two mine sweepers, and three large landing craft set anchor approximately three kilometers off the coast of Kota Bharu in eastern British Malaya. The Japanese Army’s 25^th Infantry Division, comprised of over 5,200 soldiers skilled at jungle welfare, army engineering, and artillery quickly deployed on the beaches and drove south. In just over two months, the Japanese Army conquered the entire Malay Peninsula.