Defence of Malaya

Defence of Malaya
"British Defence Plans"
The "Main Fleet to Singapore" StrategyFrom the 1920s, Japan had begun to emerge as a serious threat to British outposts in the Far East. With drastic cuts in her defence budget after World War I, the British could no longer maintain a strong permanent naval presence in the area. Britain therefore decided to implement the "Main fleet to Singapore" strategy, to defend not only Singapore, but the rest of her empire in the Far East, and Australasia.Singapore's strategic location as the western gateway to the Far East prompted Britain's 'Overseas Defence Committee' to choose her, in 1921, as the site for a naval base. The Main Fleet would be based in Europe. It would sail to Singapore to protect Britain's Far East interests and possessions should they be threatened.The success of this strategy hinged on the swift dispatch of the Main Fleet, and on keeping Singapore secure until it arrived.To the British Overseas Defence Committee, it seemed clear that an attack could come from the sea and, or from Johore. They therefore devised a strategy that took these alternatives into account.By 1939, the main defences of Singapore consisted of a series of Guns Batteries. Contrary to popular belief, the guns were made to fire both landward and seaward.Certain that the Japanese would first attack from the sea, the British defence planners were confident that the Main Fleet and reinforcements would arrive in Singapore well before any landward attack.

Defence of Malaya
"Japanese Assault Plans"
Japanese StrategyMany years prior to their attack on Malaya in December 1941, the Japanese had studied the Malayan terrain and worked out their strategy, the troops and equipment needed to mount the campaign. Their immediate objective - the Capture of Singapore.Lieutenant-General Tomoyuki Yamashita, Commander-in-Chief of the 25th Japanese Army, had studied the science and technology of modern warfare. Before taking command, he had spent 6 months in Germany exchanging ideas with Adolf Hitler's military experts.The highly trained and battle hardened 25th Army led by the Imperial Guard Division, and elite troops of the 5th Division, were assigned to carry out the lightning offensive down the Malay Peninsula and capture Singapore, before the British could dispatch its reinforcements.