Battle of Bhamo

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14 Nov 1944 - 14 Dec 1944

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

The market town of Bhamo, located on the navigable Ayeyarwady River, had been built up by the Japanese as a defensive fortress since the beginning of 1944. The area was divided into three fortress areas that stood at high grounds. Starting in Nov 1944 elements of the 38th Division launched attacks at the fortress with various degrees of success, wearing down the 1,200 defenders. By Dec, the 114th Regiment of the Chinese 38th Division was able to eliminate Japanese bunkers one by one, but their successes brought alarm to the Japanese command, who reinforced Bhamo by sending Colonel Yamazaki's 3,000-strong force. Yamazaki's men, however, were blocked by the 90th Infantry Regiment of the Chinese 30th Division. Without proper reinforcements, Bhamo fell to Chinese control on 14 Dec, placing the Chinese in Burma only fifty air miles from their fellow Chinese soldiers in Yunnan, China. It also meant that the Allies were starting to see the last of the road blocks preventing the Allies from fully utilizing the Burma Road.

Sources: Vinegar Joe's War, Wikipedia.

Battle of Bhamo Timeline

14 Nov 1944

American and Chinese troops began the main attack on the Burmese town of Bhamo.

Photographs