Malayan campaign

The Malayan campaign, referred to by Japanese sources as the Malay Operation (馬来作戦, Maree Sakusen), was a military campaign fought by Allied and Axis forces in Malaya from 8 December 1941 – 15 February 1942 at the opening of the Pacific War and during the Second World War. It was dominated by land battles between British Commonwealth army units and the Imperial Japanese Army, with minor skirmishes at the beginning of the campaign between British Commonwealth and Royal Thai Police. The Japanese had air and naval supremacy from the opening days of the campaign. For the British, Indian, Australian, and Malayan forces defending the colony, the campaign was a total disaster. The operation is notable for the Japanese use of bicycle infantry, which supposedly allowed troops to carry more equipment and swiftly move through thick jungle terrain. Royal Engineers, equipped with demolition charges, destroyed over a hundred bridges during the retreat, yet this did little to delay the Japanese. Japanese air supremacy, infiltration tactics, superior leadership, and experienced infantry units ensured an overwhelming victory over the unorganized Allied forces. By the time the Japanese 25th Army had captured Singapore, they had suffered between 9,657 and 14,768 casualties. Allied losses were much heavier at 130,246 to 138,708, including around 7,500 to 8,000 killed, 10,000 to 11,000+ wounded and 120,000+ missing or captured. Between 20,000 and 83,000 civilians were killed in the campaign, mostly victims of the Sook Ching Massacre.