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Hong Kong 1941-1945 - First Strike in the Pacific War

By: Osprey

Type: Softcover

Product Line: Campaign Series - World War II - Pacific Asian Theater

MSRP old price: $25.00


Product Info

Title
Hong Kong 1941-1945 - First Strike in the Pacific War
Publisher
Category
Author
Benjamin Lai
Publish Year
2014
Pages
96
Dimensions
7.5x10x.25"
NKG Part #
2147551740
MFG. Part #
OSPCAM263
Type
Softcover
Series
CAM263

Description

On 8th December 1941, as part of the simultaneous combined attack against Pearl Harbor, the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) invaded the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia and the British colony of Hong Kong. After only 18 days of battle the defenders, a weak, undermanned brigade, were overwhelmed by a superior force of two battle-hardened IJA divisions. What defines the battle of Hong Kong was not the scale - just 14,000 defended the colony - but the intensity of this battle, fought not only by the British Army, Navy and Air Force but also Canadians, Hong Kong’s own defense force, the Indian Army and many civilians.

The campaign itself is characterized by a fierce land battle, with long artillery duels and as well as fast naval actions with intense actions at the Gin Drinkers Line as well as the battle of Wong Nai Chung Gap where a handful of defenders took on an entire Japanese regiment. Less known but equally important are individual acts valor such as CSM John Robert Osborne winning a posthumous VC, throwing himself over a Japanese grenade to save fellow combatants.