Siege of Myitkyina

Siege of Myitkyina Part of the Second Sino-Japanese War of the Pacific War A 75-mm pack howitzer supports GALAHAD's siege operations at Myitkyina Date 17 May – 3 August 1944[1] Location Myitkyina, Burma Result Allied victory Belligerents  United States  Republic of China  Empire of Japan Commanders and leaders Joseph Stilwell Wei Li-huang Genzo Mizukami[2] Strength Chinese Expeditionary Force Northern Combat Area Command Garrison (3,000) Casualties and losses Chinese[3] 972 killed 3184 wounded 188 invalid U.S. 272 killed 955 wounded 980 invalid 790 killed 1180 wounded 187 captured[4]

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

250pxAdvance to Myitkyina

The siege of Myitkyina was an engagement during the Burma Campaign of WWII. 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". Merrill's Marauders led the Allied advance.

Siege

Crossing 100 miles of Burmese jungle to capture the airfield outside Myitkyina. The Japanese forces within Myitkyina were seriously underestimated and the Allied advance bogged down into a siege of the city. Though not a true siege, the Japanese were able to receive a small trickle of supplies and reinforcements. British Chindits arrived from the south in an effort to prevent Japanese reinforcements. On August 3, General Genzo Mizukami ordered the town abandoned and took his life in a literal compliance to "defend Myitkyina to the death".^[5]

Aftermath

The operation against Myitkyina was particularly hard on the Marauders. Owing to excessive casualties the unit ceased to exist as a fighting force and was therefore disbanded. The Allied victory 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