Japanese Conquest of Burma 1942

The Advance to the Gates of India

Japanese Conquest of Burma 1942 cover

Description

This book provides a fascinating exploration of the Japanese conquest of Burma, as the Allied forces were forced back in disarray to India and China.

The Japanese invasion of Burma in January 1942 marked the beginning of the single longest campaign of World War II. In the Burmese jungles, the battle-hardened, highly trained and lightly equipped Imperial Japanese Army quickly proved itself a vastly superior fighting force in clashes against the British, Indian and Gurkha troops that formed Burma Army and Chinese nationalist forces deployed in eastern Burma.

This superbly illustrated book narrates Burma Corps' epic fighting retreat northwards, carried out mostly in contact with the enemy and across hundreds of miles of highly malarial and extremely difficult terrain, to safety in India. Among the battles covered are the disaster at the Sittang Bridge on 22 February 1942 (where 17th Indian Division was all but destroyed), the fall of Rangoon in March 1942 and the clashes at Yenangyaung, Monywa and Shwegyin.

The performance of the opposing commanders and forces is also examined in detail, highlighting the success of Japanese aggressive light infantry tactics, which ruthlessly exploited the cover and concealment provided by the jungle to outflank, bypass and encircle their bewildered enemy.

Table of Contents

ORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN

CHRONOLOGY

ALLIED COMMANDERS AND FORCES
British, Indian and Burmese
Chinese

JAPANESE COMMANDERS AND FORCES

Orders of Battle

THE CAMPAIGN
Opening rounds: from Kawkareik to the Bilin River
The Battle of the Sittang Bridge
The Fall of Rangoon and the Taukkyan roadblock
The battle for central Buram: Prome, Toungoo and Yenangyaung
The final Allied withdrawal from Burma

Assessment
The Battlefield Today
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Select Bibliography
Index

Product details

Published Nov 22 2022
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472849731
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Colour illustrations throughout, including battlescene artworks, maps, 3D diagrams and photographs.
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Campaign
Short code CAM 384
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Tim Moreman

Tim Moreman is a freelance military historian livi…

Illustrator

Johnny Shumate

Johnny Shumate works as a freelance illustrator li…

Resources

Discover More

Visit our exclusive member's website to see artwork, maps, and more from this book.

Resources

Book Vote

Tell us what titles you would like to see published by Osprey, then vote for your favourites in our monthly book vote!

Related Titles

Sign up for Osprey membership for access to thousands of plane profiles, maps, battle scenes and more. Plus up to 30% off website purchases