Siege of Myitkyina

Siege of Myitkyina Part of the Second Sino-Japanese War of the Pacific War An American M1A1 75-mm pack howitzer supports GALAHAD's operations at Myitkyina. Date 17 May – 3 August 1944[1] Location Myitkyina, Burma Result Allied victory; Myitkyina airfield and town taken. Belligerents  Republic of China  United States  Empire of Japan Commanders and leaders Wei Li-huang Joseph Stilwell Genzo Mizukami  †[2] Strength Chinese Expeditionary Force Northern Combat Area Command Garrison from 56th division (3,000) Casualties and losses Chinese[3] 972 killed 3184 wounded 188 invalid U.S. 272 killed 955 wounded 980 invalid 2,400 killed or captured[4]

Burma Campaign Japanese conquest of Burma Bilin River Sittang Bridge Pegu Taukkyan Yunnan-Burma Road Tachiao Oktwin Toungoo Shwedaung Prome Yenangyaung Burma Campaign 1942–43 First Arakan The Hump Chindits Burma Campaign 1944 Chindits (II) Ngakyedauk U Go Imphal Sangshak Tennis Court Kohima Myitkyina Mount Song Burma Campaign 1944–45 Meiktila & Mandalay Pakokku Hill 170 Ramree Island Dracula Elephant Point Sittang Bend

Advance to Myitkyina

The siege of Myitkyina was an engagement during the Burma Campaign of World War II. The Allied victory was part of the larger operation of North Burma & Yunnan which succeeded in opening the Ledo Road.

Background

Joseph Stilwell intended to make a rapid march against Myitkyina prophesying it to be a "feat which will live in military history", wanting the town for the nearby airstrip, strategically vital to the campaign as it would be an invaluable source of supplies and aerial support in the notoriously difficult jungle fighting in the China-Burma-India theater. Chinese Expeditionary Force commander Wei Lihuang also played a fundamental role in striking the Imperial Japanese Army. Sun li-Jen,as the second commander of the new Chinese 1st Army, one of the best of the Chinese National Revolutionary army. The 1st Army has since changed their equipment from old, unsuitable-for-combat caps into US-supplied M1 helmets, and had exchanged their bolt-action Type Zhongzheng rifles for newer American and British rifles weaponry. In addition to that, the Chinese Expeditionary Force (CEF) had finally received artillery and air support from the US and British forces, as well, giving them a distinct advantage against the now-malnourished, low-morale Japanese forces around Myitkyina. The US and British played a relatively minor role during the battle, although they also had combat units, such as the famed 'Merrill's Marauders', active in the fighting.

Siege

Stilwell gave the Chinese 22nd Division orders to advance against the bridges held by the Japanese on March 15. After two months of fighting, Myitkyina was in reach. With the arrival of the rainy season, the incessant rain didn't stop until May 17. On that day, at 10:00 p.m., the Chinese Expeditionary Force launched an attack with the U.S. Army's 'Merrill's Marauders' against the Japanese airstrip at Myitkyina, supported by artillery. Eight Japanese planes were destroyed at the beginning of the battle. The Japanese were caught by surprise, and, not knowing where their enemies were, poured gasoline onto the airfield in an attempt to disable it and retreated into Myitkyina proper, intending to fight the Chinese and Americans on more favorable terms there. The Chinese and the Americans quickly overran the field intact, and, immediately, U.S. Army Air Forces and Royal Air Force C-47 transport aircraft moved the Chinese 89th Regiment of the 30th Division to the battlefield to supplement the exhausted C.E.F. and Marauder units at Myitkyina. Afterward, some Chinese units attacked the town itself, but the attack was soon called off when two Chinese battalions, in the confusion and excitement of the battle, mistakenly engaged each other in a fierce firefight, and when 2 other battalions were moved in, they too repeated the mistake. On August 3, General Genzo Mizukami ordered the town abandoned and took his life in a literal compliance to "defend Myitkyina to the death" as the Chinese and US forces gradually cleared the city and the surrounding area of Japanese troops.^[5]

Aftermath

The operations against Myitkyina was particularly hard on the Chinese Expeditionary Force, due to the hard fighting, difficult terrain, and disease. Owing to excessive casualties, the unit effectively ceased to exist as a fighting force and was therefore disbanded. The long-awaited taking of Myitkyina and its airfield allowed for the opening of the Ledo Road, connecting the old Burma Road with China.

Order of Battle

References

External links

• Stilwell's Command Problems
• Final Victories