Swatow Operation
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The Swatow Operation, (June 21–27,1939) was part of a campaign by Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War to blockade China to prevent it from communicating with the outside world and importing needed arms and materials. Control of Swatow would provide a base to make the blockade of Guangdong province more effective.
[edit] Order of battle Swatow Operation
Part of Goto Detachment and a part of Sasebo 9th SNLF landed on the east coast on June 21st near the airfeild east Swatow. Other Japanese troops in more than ten motor boats proceaded up the Han river and landed at Mei-hsi(near modern Anbu) cutting the road between Swatow north to Chao-chow. A coordiated attack by the Japanese drove the Chinese defenders, Hua Chen-chung's Brigade and local militia units, from the city of Swatow. They fell back to a line Yenfu–Meihsi on June 23rd.
The Japanese also had landed at Jiao Yu, the island south of Swatow, on June 22nd. They occupied whole island on June 24th. The Chinese fell back to Fuyang on the 24th to block the approaches to Chao-chow as the Japanese landed reinforcements.
Proceading north in pursuit the Japanese also sent forces up the river and landed to the Chinese rear, part of the Chinese force then fell back into the city while the remainder moved into the mountains northwest of the city. The Japanese advancing from the west captured Chao-chow by June 27th after heavy street fighting. Later the Chinese sent reinforcements of the 5th Reserve Division, and 1st Advance Column to block the Japanese from further advances and conduct guerrilla warfare on their positions and lines of communications.
Sources
- Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) 2nd Ed. ,1971. Translated by Wen Ha-hsiung , Chung Wu Publishing; 33, 140th Lane, Tung-hwa Street, Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China. Pg. 492-493
- The Japanese OOB of Swatow Operation
