Map of WWII: Japanese Offensive 1941 Southeast Asia

Map Description

History Map of WWII: Southeast Asia December 1941

Illustrating:

Japanese Centrifugal Offensive

Southern Army and Southern Force (Navy) Operations

"The Japanese Centrifugal Offensive of 1941 -1942, stretching across 7,000 miles and nine time zones, is one of the most dramatic campaigns in modern military history."

Read Maj C.P. Howard's
Tactical Examination of the Japanese Army's Centrifugal Offensive

After taking Bangkok, the Imperial Guards Division moved south on the railroad into Malaya.
Its lead regiment arrived near Kuala Kangsar on December 23.
Fifteenth Army was based in Indochina.
143rd Inf Regiment from 55th Division was under Fifteenth Army control.
Twenty Fifth Army troops were originally stationed in Indochina, Hainan and Canton.
December 10: Prince of Wales and Repulse sunk.
Admiral Kondo commanded all naval forces. His Second Fleet was a battle fleet. The Third Fleet was basically an amphibious fleet. Southern force included.
Operations in British Borneo subsidiary to Malayan operation and under Southern Army.
Sixteenth Army was based originally in the Palaus and Formosa.
⚠️ Somewhat incorrect: The 16th Army was raised for the Java invasion and based in Indochina, not originally from the Palaus or Formosa. Troops for the Java campaign did embark from various places, but the 16th Army was not garrisoned in the Palaus/Formosa.
Fourteenth Army was based on Formosa, the Ryukyus, and Palaus.
⚠️ Not quite right: The 14th Army was responsible for the Philippines campaign and was based in Formosa (Taiwan) before the invasion. Ryukyus and Palaus were Japanese territories, but the 14th Army wasn't based there in any significant sense.

Courtesy of the United States Military Academy Department of History.