Operation Krohcol

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Operation Krohcol was a British operation in 1942 to move into Siam just after the Japanese attack on Malaya during World War II.

It was named Krohcol as it was a column operating on the Kroh–Patani road. It crossed the frontier and met some stubborn opposition from Thai police and army forces who were attacking both invaders. Krohcol was a mechanised column consisting of two companies of infantry and the carriers of the 1/8th Punjab Regiment with some anti-tank guns and engineers attached. The column crossed the frontier at 1730 hours on 8th December 1941 and moved towards Singora to harass and delay the enemy. Krohcol reached Ban Sadao, 10 miles north of the frontier at dusk, where it halted and took up a position north of the village. It made contact with a Japanese mechanised column, headed by tanks and moving in close formation with full headlights. The two leading tanks were knocked out by the anti-tank guns, but the Japanese infantry quickly debussed and started an enveloping movement. Krohcol withdrew on 11th December through the outpost position at Kampong Imam, destroying two bridges and partially destroying a third on the way back.

Concurrently an armoured train, with a detachment from the 2/16 Punjab Regiment and some engineers, advanced into Thailand from Padang Besar in Perlis. This armoured train party reached Klong Gnea, in Thailand, and successfully destroyed a large bridge before withdrawing back to Padang Besar.