Battle of Kota Bharu
Beaches near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
What happened
British and Indian troops under Brigadier B. W. Key, with Australian aircraft, fought a Japanese landing force under Major General Hiroshi Takumi, part of Lieutenant General Tomoyuki Yamashita's army. Just after midnight on 8 December 1941, Japanese troops landed on beaches near Kota Bharu in northern Malaya. Indian soldiers defended the beaches from bunkers and trenches, and Allied aircraft attacked the invasion ships. After hard fighting the Japanese broke through, and the defenders were allowed to withdraw.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the first major battle of the Pacific War, starting more than an hour before the attack on Pearl Harbor. It began Japan's campaign to conquer Malaya and Singapore.
What came next
Japan took Kota Bharu town and its airfield within days. Singapore fell to Japan on 15 February 1942.
Did you know?
Because of time zones, the landings at Kota Bharu began before the first Japanese planes reached Pearl Harbor, even though both happened on the same morning.
Timeline
- 8 December 1941Japanese troops land at Kota Bharu.
- 7-8 December 1941Japan attacks Pearl Harbor.
- 9 December 1941Japan takes Kota Bharu town.
- 15 February 1942Singapore falls.