Japanese invasion of Thailand

The Japanese invasion of Thailand occurred on December 8, 1941. It was fought between Thailand and the Empire of Japan. Despite fierce fighting in Southern Thailand, the fighting lasted only a few hours before ending in a ceasefire.

Hakkō Ichiu
The origin of Japanese invasion of Thailand can be traced to the principle of hakkō ichiu as espouced by Tanaka Chigaku in the mid to late 1800s. Tanaka interpreted the principle as meaning that imperial rule had been divinely ordained to expand until it united the entire world. While Tanaka saw this outcome as resulting from the emperor's moral leadership Japanese nationalists used it in terms of freeing Asia from colonizing powers and establishing Japan as the leading influence in East Asia. The concept became expressed in the New Order in East Asia (東亜新秩序).

In 1940 the concept was expanded by Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe who sought to create the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, comprising Japan, Manchukuo, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. This would, according to imperial propaganda, establish a new international order seeking "co prosperity" for Asian countries which would share prosperity and peace, free from Western colonialism and domination under the umbrella of a benevolent Japan.

Taiwan Army Unit 82 (Strike South planning) was formed in 1939 or 1940 to bring this about. In its final planning stages the unit was under the then Colonel Yoshihide Hayashi.

Prelude to the invasion
As part of freeing South East Asia from Western colonialists, the Japanese military planned to invade Malaya and Burma. In order to do this, they needed to make use of Thai ports, railways, and airfields. They did not want conflict with the Thai military as this would delay the invasion and significantly reduce the element of surprise. The Japanese plan was seen by the Germans as helpful in diverting Britain's military forces, and thus assisting Germany in their conflict. Thailand had a well disciplined military, and in 1940–41 had invaded neighbouring French Indo-China to recover provinces lost in the Sino–French War of 1884–85. The Japanese, who were wanting to use the Indo-Chinese ports and air-bases, acted as negotiators to bring about a settlement between the French and Thais on 31 January 1941. As part of the process, secret discussions were held with the Thai Prime Minister Phibun Songkhram, in which the Japanese military sought free passage through Thailand. Phibun had responded positively, but his later actions showed he may have been very uncertain, as he had concluded the British-Thai Non-Aggression Pact on 12 June 1940. By February, the British were beginning to suspect the Japanese were planning to attack its possessions in South-East Asia and were concerned that they might set up bases in Thailand to that end.

The situation Phibun faced was that France had been defeated by Germany, and Britain was heavily engaged on that front; the United States had until then taken a neutral stance on both the European war and the Japanese war with China; Japan was at that time a superpower with a growing build-up of forces in French Indochina. Phibun could have considered he had little choice as his own forces would have been unable to defeat the Japanese alone. Thailand's aggression against French Indo-China in 1940 made it difficult for the United States government to support Phibun.

Mid-way through 1941, Phibun sought British and American guarantees of effective support if Thailand were invaded. Neither Britain nor the USA could give them, although British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was in favour of giving a public warning to Japan that an invasion of the Southeast Asian kingdom would result in a British declaration of war. The United States was unable to support this proposition, and Britain was not prepared to make the declaration alone.

By August, Britain and the United States had put in place severe sanctions against Japan. (For further information, see Hull note and the McCollum memo.) The Japanese sought to have the sanctions lifted by promising not to encroach into Thailand and to withdraw its forces from Indo-China, provided the United States withdrew its support for China. This proposal was unacceptable to both Britain and the United States because of its impact on China.

The final days
In late November the British had become aware of a probable attack on Thailand by Japan because of the rapid build up of Japanese troops in Indochina. On 1 December 1941, Prime Minister Tojo of Japan stated that he was uncertain where Thailand stood regarding allowing Japanese troops free passage through its territory, but was hopeful a clash could be avoided. Further negotiations took place between the Japanese diplomatic representative, Tamara, and Phibun on 2 December. Phibun was prepared to look the other way if Japan invaded the Kra Peninsula, but wanted them to avoid passing through the Bangkok Plain. After further discussions on 3 December, Phibun agreed to passage through Thailand, provided Thailand could regain the territories ceded in the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909, as well as Burma's Shan State.

On 2 December the Japanese military had issued the order "Climb Mount Niitaka" which set in motion the war in the Pacific. The main invasion fleet for Operation "E" - the invasion of Malaya and Thailand, sailed from Sanya, Hainan Island, China on 4 December. Further troops and ships joined the fleet from Cam Ranh Bay, Indochina. While the Japanese were preparing, the British and Americans were formulating their response to the Japanese troop build up and the potential invasion of Thailand. Phibun, on the same day as he reached agreement with the Japanese advised the British that Thailand was about to be invaded by the Japanese.

There is a possibility of imminent Japanese invasion of your country. If you are attacked, defend yourselves. The preservation of the true independence and sovereignty of Thailand is a British interest, and we shall regard an attack on you as an attack upon ourselves. - Prime Minister Winston Churchill's message to Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram. At noon on 6 December one of three RAAF No 1 Squadron Lockheed Hudsons on a reconnaissance flight over the South China Sea located three Japanese ships steaming west then, about 15 minutes later, sighted the IJN Southern Expeditionary Fleet convoy consisting of a battleship, five cruisers, seven destroyers and 22 transports. One of the two merchant seaplane tenders with the convoy, the Kamikawa Maru, launched a Mitsubishi F1M Pete float-plane to intercept the Hudson, but the Hudson eluded it by taking cover in the clouds. A few minutes later, a second Hudson also sighted the convoy.

Air Chief Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham was advised of the sightings at 2pm. He was not authorised to take any action against the convoy as Britain was not at war with Japan, the Japanese intentions were unclear, and no aggressive action had been taken against British or Thai territory. He put his forces in Malaya on full alert and ordered continued surveillance of the convoy.

On 7 December at 3am Vice-Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa ordered patrols in the area between the convoy and Malaya. The convoy was about 100 nautical miles from Kota Bharu. There was heavy rain and zero visibility. The Kamikawa Maru and [Sagara Maru] launched 11 F1M2's and six Aichi E13A's. About 20 miles WNW of Panjang Island at 8:20am, an E13A1 ZI-26 from the Kamikawa Maru and piloted by Ensign Ogata Eiichi, spotted a No. 205 Squadron RAF Consolidated PBY Catalina reconnaissance flying boat W8417, piloted by Warrant Officer William E Webb. Ogata attacked the Catalina from the rear, damaging it and destroying its radio. Ogata shadowed the Catalina for 25 minutes until five Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate" fighters from the JAAF's 1st Sentai in Indo-China arrived and shot it down. Webb and his crew were the first casualties of the Pacific War. Unaware of this incident, the British took no action. Ogata was later killed in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

At 11pm on 7 December the Japanese presented the Thai government with an ultimatum to allow the Japanese military to enter Thailand. The Thai were given two hours to respond.

Thailand
Thailand had a reasonably well trained military of 26,500 men, together with a reserve force which bought the army numbers up to about 50,000. It also had an air force of some 270 aircraft, of which 150 were combat aircraft and many of which were American. Japan had provided Thailand with 93 more modern aircraft in December 1940. The Thai navy was poorly trained and equipped, and lost a substantial number of vessels in its conflict with French Indo-China.

The Royal Thai Army started to set up the new military units in the Kra Peninsula including:
 * Chumphon
 * the 38th Infantry Battalion stationed at Ban Na Nian, Tambon Wang Mai, Muang District of Chumphon (9 km from Provincial Hall)
 * Nakhon Si Thammarat
 * the 39th Infantry Battalion stationed at Tambon Pak Phoon, Muang District of Nakhon Si Thammarat
 * the 15th Artillery Battalion stationed at Tambon Pak Phoon, Muang District of Nakhon Si Thammarat
 * Headquarter of the Sixth Division at Tambon Pak Phoon, Muang District of Nakhon Si Thammarat
 * Trang
 * the 40th Infantry Battalion
 * Songkla
 * the 5th Infantry Battalion stationed at Tambon Khao Kho Hong, Hat Yai District of Songkla, transferred from Bang Sue to Hat Yai by military train on 18 February 1940 - the first Unit that move to the South
 * the 41st Infantry Battalion stationed at Suan Tun, Tambon Khao Roob Chang, Muang District of Songkla
 * the 13th Artillery Battalion stationed at Suan Tun, Tambon Khao Roob Chang, Muang District of Songkla
 * Pattani
 * the 42nd Infantry Battalion stationed at Tambon Bo Thong, Nong Jik District of Pattani

Army Units
Japan had units of its 15th Army under Lieutenant General Shōjirō Iida and 25th Army under Lieutenant General Tomoyuki Yamashita stationed in Indo-China. Both Armies had combat aircraft units within their respective commands. The 15th Army was tasked with the attack on Burma and the 25th with Malaya and Singapore. In order to attack Burma the 15th Army needed to pass through the Bangkok plain, while the 25th Army needed to attack Malaya via the Kra Peninsula. The attack through Thailand on Malaya and Singapore was planned by Colonel Masanobu Tsuji while he was part of Unit 82. The Japanese had about 100,000 troops who needed to pass through Thailand. The army's included combat aircraft.

Naval forces
Ships from IJN 2nd Fleet under Admiral Nobutake Kondō provided support and cover for the landings in Thailand and at Kota Baru in Malaya.

The known IJN ships participating, apart from those sent to Kota Baru, were:
 * Cruiser: IJN Kashii escorted seven transports carrying troops of the 143rd Regiment from Saigon
 * Destroyers: Asagiri, Amagiri, Sagiri, Yugiri, Shirakumo, and Shinonome supported the 25th army landings in Southern Thailand
 * Escort ship: IJN Shimushu escorted transports Zenyo, Miike and Toho Maru's to Nakorn Sri Thammarat, Southern Thailand with more of the 143rd Regiment
 * Merchant seaplane carriers: Kamikawa Maru, Sagara Maru

In total there were 18 transports involved, which included three landing troops at Kota Baru.

Japan Invades
Japanese troops invaded Thailand from Indo-China and with landings south of Bangkok and at various points along the Kra Peninsula because Thailand had not responded to the ultimatum. The problem for the Thai government was that Songkhram, their Prime Minister, was not able to be contacted.

Phra Tabong Province
At dawn the IJA 33rd Division under Lieutenant-General Shōzō Sakurai and IJA 55th Division under Lieutenant-General Hiroshi Takeuchi of the 15th Army, and spearheaded by the Imperial Guards Division crossed the border from Indo-China into Thailand's recently reclaimed Phra Tabong Province at Tambon Savay Donkeo, Athuek Thewadej District (Russei) of Battambang. The Japanese encountered no resistance, and from Sisophon swung north-westwards into Aranyaprathet (then still a district of Prachinburi Province) along the nearly finished railway link between Aranyaprathet and Monkhol Bourei. (the actual opening date for traffic was 11 April 1942)

Chumphon
The Japanese 1st Infantry Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment (part of the IJA 55th Division) landed at Chumphon on the morning of December 8 from two troop ships. They managed to form a perimeter around their landing areas, but were pinned down by determined resistance by Thai Youth Army (the 52nd Youth Army Training Unit, Sriyaphai School) along with the 38th Infantry Battalion and Provincial Police of Chumpon. Fighting ended in the afternoon when the Thais received orders to cease fire. Thai Forces has lost Captain Thawin Niyomsen (the 52nd Youth Army Training Unit - posthumously promoted to Lt. Col.), a few provincial police and a few civilians.

Nakhon Si Thammarat
Nakhon Si Thammarat was the site of the Thai Sixth Army Division’s Headquarters and 39th Infantry Battalion. Three Japanese troopships, Zenyo, Miike and Toho Maru's, land troops at Nakorn Sri Thammarat, S Siam, covered by the Shimushu, dropped anchor a few kilometres off the coast during the night of December 7. The ships carried 1,510 men and 50 trucks of the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment, the 18th Air District Regiment along with an army air force signals unit, the 32nd Anti-Aircraft Battalion, and the 6th Labour Construction Company. Shortly after midnight, they began disembarking their troops at Tha Phae canal (AKA Pak Phoon Canal) - North of Camp Vajiravudh.

The landing was made adjacent to the main Thai army camp, Camp Vajiravudh. The Thais, notified earlier of the Japanese invasion at Songkhla, immediately went into action. The battle lasted until midday, when the prime minister’s orders for a cease fire were received.

Prachuap Khiri Khan
Prachuap Khiri Khan was home to the Royal Thai Air Force’s Fifth Wing, under the command of Wing Commander M.L. Pravat Chumsai. The Japanese 2nd Infantry Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment under Major Kisoyoshi Utsunomiya landed at 03:00 from one troopship, and occupied the town after having crushed police resistance there.

Further landings took place near the airfield to the south. The Japanese laid siege to the airfield, but the Thai airmen along with Prachuap Khirikhan Provincial Police managed to hold out until noon on the next day, when they received orders from the Thai government to cease fighting. The Japanese lost 115 dead according to Japanese estimates and 217 dead and 300+ wounded according to Thai estimates. The Thais lost 37 dead and 27 wounded.

Samut Prakan
The Japanese 3rd Battalion of the Imperial Guards Regiment landed at Samut Prakan in the early hours of December 8. It was tasked with the capture of Bangkok. The force was met by a small Thai police detachment. Despite a tense confrontation, fighting did not occur and the Japanese subsequently agreed not to enter the Thai capital until formal negotiations were concluded.

Bangkok
The Japanese bombed Bangkok with one bomb falling on the main post office, which failed to explode. While police rounded up Japanese residents, the Thai cabinet debated its options. Some favoured continued resistance, including the establishment of a government-in-exile, but when Phibun finally returned they relented, and the Thais caved in to Japan's demands.

Don Muang
The Japanese air force attacked Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base, which was defended by the Thai air force. The Thai's lost six fighter planes against a numerically superior Japanese force.

Surat Thani
A Japanese infantry company from the 1st Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment landed from one troopship at the coastal village of Ban Don in the early hours of December 8. They marched into Surat Thani, where they were opposed by Royal Thai Police and civilian volunteers. The desultory fighting took place amid a rainstorm, and only ended in the afternoon when the hard-pressed Thais received orders to lay down their arms. The Thais lost 17-18 dead but the number of injured was not known exactly. The Japanese then moved into Bangkok occupying Chinatown (Sampeng) and turning the Chamber of Commerce Building into a command post.

Pattani
Due to its closeness to the Malayan border, Pattani was the second most important objective of the Japanese 25th Army. Eight IJN destroyers including the Shirakumo and Shinonome provided support for the 5 troop transports.

The landings by the 42nd Infantry Regiment of the IJA 5th Division led by Major Shigeharu Asaeda were made despite the rough seas and on unsuitable landing grounds. The invaders were effectively opposed by the Thai 42nd Infantry Battalion, Pattani Provincial Police and Thai Youth Army units (the 66th Youth Army Training Unit from Benjama Rachoothit School) until the battalion was ordered to cease fire at midday. The Thai battalion commander, Khun Inkhayutboriharn, was killed in action along with 23 other ranks, 5 Provincial Police, 4 Youth Army members and 9 Civilians.

Major Shigeharu Asaeda, when a member of Taiwan Army Unit 82, had been involved with intelligence-gathering in Burma, Thailand, and Malaya prior to the outbreak of war and had selected Pattani as a suitable landing site. Unknown to him, beyond the sandy beach, was a muddy sea bed which caused the invading force considerable difficuly.

Songkhla (also known as Singora)
The port city of Songkhla was one of the main objectives of Yamashita’s 25th Army. The Japanese landings from 10 troop transports by 3 Regiments of the IJA 5th Division led by Colonel Tsuji under Lieutenant General Matsui Takuro occurred during the early hours of December 8. They were supported by IJN destroyers Asagiri, Amagiri, Sagiri, and Yugiri.

Thai garrison at Khao Khor Hong (the 41st Infantry Battalion and the 13th Artillery battalion) immediately occupied positions alongside the roads leading down to Malaya, but were brushed aside into positions the main Japanese advance could ignore. A further clash occurred at Hat Yai. The Thais lost 15 dead (8 KIA from 41st Inf. Bat. and 7 from the 5th Inf. bat.) and 30-55 wounded.

The fighting ceased at noon when orders for an armistice to be arranged was received.

Malaya
While these landings were taking place in Thailand, troops from the Japan's 25th Army also landed further south at Kota Bharu in Malaya.

Once Thailand was secured the 15th Army's 143rd Regiment moved north to replace the Imperial Guards. The Imperial Guards headed south to join the 25th Army and participate in the invasion of Malaya and Singapore. The 15th Army moved to attack Burma.

Aftermath
Plaek Pibulsonggram's decision to sign an armistice with Japan effectively ended Churchill's hopes of forging an alliance with Thailand. He also granted Japan permission to use Thailand as a base of operations to invade Malaya. Within hours after the armistice came into effect, squadrons of Japanese aircraft had flown into Songkla airfield from Indochina, allowing them to carry out air raids on strategic bases in Malaya and Singapore from a short distance. At the time of the ceasefire, Britain and the United States regarded Thailand as Japanese-occupied territory.

On 14 December, Pibulsonggram signed a secret agreement with the Japanese committing Thai troops in the Malayan Campaign and Burma Campaign. An alliance between Thailand and Japan was formally signed on December 21, 1941. On January 25, 1942, the Thai government declared war on the United States and the United Kingdom. In response, all Thai assets in the United States were frozen by the federal government. While the Thai ambassador in London delivered the declaration of war to the British administration, Seni Pramoj, Thai ambassador to Washington D.C., refused to do so, instead organising a Free Thai movement.