The British Are Here*
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Date: January 8, 1943*
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Battle Location: Mayu peninsula, Arakan, Burma*
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Battle Type: Japan delay vs Britain advance*
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Description: In order to challenge the Japanese hold of Burma the British decided on an offensive which began in September 1942. Their aim was to mainly to gain ground in the Arakan region, and the burden of the operation fell largely on the 14. Division.*
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In early 1943 the Japanese 15th Army instructed Colonel Miyawaki Koksuka, commander of the Japanese 213th Regiment, who was responsible for the defence of the south western Arakan, to block the British advance while the Japanese 55th Division was brought up to take over the defence of the region.*
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North of Donbaik on the extreme Japanese left flank, troops of a mixed company was quickly forward deployed along a stream known as the F.D.L chaung, where they dug in. After a skirmish with Indian troops the British made an attack in company force on January 7th. It was beaten off. But the British tried again the next day, this time in Battalion force.
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Notes: Play from either side. It is harder from the British side. Historically the British failed after several costly tries to breach the Donbaik defence, because the Japanese used a defensive system the British were unprepared for. They had dug bunkers, which the British were unable to neutralise.*
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Sources:*
Allen, Louis; Burma - The Longest War 1941-45
Rooney, David ; Burma Victory*
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Design by:  Ulf Lundstrom.**

