Perang Dunia Kedua ( Second World War)

Perang Dunia Kedua merupakan peperangan yang paling meluas dan mengakibatkan paling banyak kerosakan. Perang Dunia Kedua melibatkan banyak negara. Ia telah mengorbankan sekitar 50 juta nyawa.

Sejarah Pendaratan Jepun di Tanah Melayu

Pendaratan Jepun di Tanah Melayu berlaku secara sepantas kilat. Jepun mengambil masa tiga hari sahaja untuk sampai di Kota Baharu. Konvoi Jepun berlepas dari Saigon menuju ke arah selatan pada 6 Disember 1941 sehingga pendaratannya di Kota Bharu, Kelantan pada 8 Disember 1941.

Pesawat A6M Zero tentera laut Jepun dari Flotia Udara ke-22 di Lapangan
Terbang Kota Bharu selepas penawanannya.

6 Disember 1941

Pada 6 Disember 1941, pegawai-pegawai Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat masuk ke persidangan di Manila, Filipina antara Laksamana Thomas C. Hart, pegawai pemerintah Angkatan Asia Amerika Syarikat (U.S. Asiatic Fleet), dan Laksamana Sir Thomas Philips.

Sebuah pesawat peninjau Lockheed Hudson Australia terjumpa konvoi Jepun yang berlepas dari Saigon. Komander pesawat tersebut, Pegawai Penerbangan Ramshaw, melaporkan pada mulanya hanya tiga buah kapal belayar, diikuti dengan lebih kurang 25 buah kapal pengangkut lain. Ia diiringi oleh sebuah kapal tempur, lima buah penjajap dan tujuh buah kapal pembinasa. Pada pendapatnya, kapal-kapal tersebut tengah menuju ke arah Thailand.

Isyarat yang amat jelas ini bahawa perang akan meletus. Kedua-dua laksamana itu bertindak dengan segera. Empat buah kapal pembinasa Amerika Syarikat di Balikpapan belayar ke laut lepas, sementara HMS Repulse membatalkan pelayarannya ke Darwin, Australia, dan kembali ke Singapura secepat mungkin.  Pesawat British melakukan lebih banyak penerbangan peninjauan lanjut. Pada pukul 7 petang, angkatan Jepun bertukar arah dan belayar ke utara menujui Teluk Siam.

7 Disember 1941

Pasukan penyerang utama Jepun iaitu Tentera Ke-25 di bawah pimpinan Leftenan Jeneral Tomoyuki Yamashita, telah belayar daripada Pelabuhan Samah pada 4 Disember 1941. Pada 6 dan 7 Disember, pesawat Lockheed Hudson yang diterbangkan oleh Skuadron No.1 RAAF, Kota Bharu, dan Skuadron No.8 RAAF, Kuantan, menjumpai dan cuba mengekori kapal-kapal ini.

Leftenan-Jeneral Yamashita, Komander tentera Jepun ke-25

Bot terbang PBY Catalina dari Skuadron No. 205 RAF ditembak jatuh oleh pesawat Jepun. Pegawai Penerbangan Bedell dan anak-anak kapalnya menjadi korban. Pada pukul 10.00 malam, konvoi penjajahan Jepun berpecah mengikut arah kedudukan pendaratan yang telah diatur sebelumnya.

8 Disember 1941

Pada pukul 10.30 malam, persidangan Panglima diadakan di Bilik Perang Pangkalan Tentera Laut di Singapura. Marsyal Udara Sir Robert Brooke-Popham iaitu pegawai pemerintah pasukan British di Timur Jauh, teragak-agak untuk melancarkan Operasi Matador  bagi menghalang pendaratan Jepun di Singora dan Pattani. Beliau melewatkan operasi tersebut, sekurang-kurangnya bagi malam itu. Ini kerana ia mungkin akan mencetuskan perang dengan Thailand. Di samping itu, persiapan logistik tentera British juga masih belum bersedia sepenuhnya. Pada tengah malam 7/8 Disember, sekumpulan pengawal India di Kota Bharu ternampak bayangan besar, iaitu kapal pengangkut Tentera Laut Imperial Jepun (IJN) berlabuh sekitar 3 kilometer dari pantai Kota Bharu. Ia membawa lebih kurang 5200 askar daripada Detasmen Takumi. Sebahagian besar daripada mereka merupakan bekas perajurit, yang pernah melalui beberapa bulan latihan lasak dan pertempuran di dalam hutan China.

Mereka diiringi oleh angkatan pengiring yang kuat dan terdiri daripada penjajap ringan Sendai, kapal pembinasa Ayanami, Isonami, Shikinami, dan Uranami, kapal penyapu periuk api No. 2 dan No. 3, serta pemburu kapal selam No. 9.

Tidak lama kemudian, pengawal pantai terdengar bunyi peluru meriam. Perang Dunia II telah bermula. Pesawat pendarat mulai dilepaskan. Pada jam 12.45 pagi, gelombang pertama kapal pendarat menghala ke pantai. Briged Infantri India Ke-8, sebahagian Divisyen Infantri Ke-9 India (British) disokong oleh Pasukan Meriam Gunung Ke-21 yang terdiri daripada empat laras meriam katak 3.7 inci (Mejar J.B. Soper). Tentera tersebut telah memasang periuk api dan kawat duri serta membina beberapa kubu kecil. Mereka disokong oleh Pasukan Meriam Medan Ke-73 daripada Rejimen Artileri Medan Ke-5.

Pendaratan Jepun di Kota Bharu

Pada tengah malam, tentera Jepun bergerak ke arah pantai. Pasukan meriam British mula membedil sepanjang kawasan persisiran pantai dan laut setelah tentera Jepun mula mendarat. Unit Dogra mula menembak ke arah pesawat pendarat dengan bersungguh-sungguh tetapi mereka menghadapi serangan yang sengit.

Kubu mesingan (MG) di pantai digunakan dengan berkesan terhadap tentera Jepun yang mula mendarat di pantai, dan membunuh ramai askar Jepun termasuk komander batalionnya, Mejar Nakamura, yang mengetuai orang-orangnya menyerbu kedudukan musuh. 

Tentera Jepun berjaya menumpaskan tentera India British. Gelombang penyerang kedua dihujani oleh tembakan meriam British yang mengakibatkan ramai tentera Jepun terkorban. Namun, apabila kubu kecil dimusnahkan, pasukan ini dapat bergerak ke hadapan dan membolosi kedudukan Dogra. Kedudukan tentera India tidak dapat dipertahankan dan mereka terpaksa berundur.

9 Disember 1941

Serangan udara RAF

Sewaktu pasukan penjajah berada beberapa batu di utara landasan pesawat mereka, pegawai kanan tentera udara di Kota Bharu meminta kebenaran untuk melancarkan serangan. Setelah tentera Jepun mula mendarat, Skuadron Hudsons No. 1 mula berlepas untuk mengebom pesawat pengangkut. Gelombang pertama, yang terdiri daripada tujuh buah pesawat yang diketuai oleh Leftenan Penerbangan Lockwood, melakukan serangan pertama sekitar 02.10 pagi.

Leftenan Penerbangan O.N. Diamond Skuadron No. 1 memilih kapal pengangkut terbesar dan mengebom junam. Dua butir bom 250 paun dilepaskan dalam serangan pertamanya dan dua butir bom dilepaskan dalam serangan kedua. Ia mengenai pesawat tersebut sehingga terbakar. Skuadron No. 1 RAAF terus melakukan pengeboman. 17 serangan dilancarkan, mendarat, mengisi bom dan berlepas kembali sehingga 05.00 pagi. Kapal pengiring tentera Jepun melepaskan tembakan anti pesawat dan menembak jatuh sekurang-kurangnya dua pesawat Lockheed Hudson itu dan merosakkan tiga yang lain.

Sebuah pesawat yang rosak menjunam tepat ke sebuah pesawat pendarat yang berisi sarat. Semua kapal pengangkut dihujani peluru dengan beberapa buah terbakar. Pesawat musuh dua dan tiga mula menyerang kapal pengangkut kita. Menjelang 04.30 pagi komander pengiring mengemukakan permohonan untuk berundur.

Mejar Jeneral Takumi membantah dan bertegas untuk memperkukuhkan tenteranya di pantai. Pada pukul 6.00 pagi, kedua-dua kapal pengangkut dan pengiring berundur ke utara. Kira-kira jam 2:00 pagi pada 8 Disember, lapangan terbang Kuantan menerima isyarat bahawa tentera Jepun cuba mendarat di Kota Bharu. Skuadron No. 8 membentukkan empat penerbangan tiga buah Hudson dengan penerbangan pertama pada jam 06.30 pagi.

Pesawat Hudson menyerang kapal pengangkut IJN. Pada 08.00 pagi, ia kembali ke Kuantan disebabkan sebahagian daripadanya rosak. Leftenen Penerbangan "Spud" Spurgeon dalam A16-41 mengebom kapal tetapi terpaksa mendarat hempas di Kota Bahru akibat kerosakan pesawat Hudsonnya. Pesawat Hudson A16-81nya terkena peluru dan menerbang ke Seletar. Dalam serangan ini, lima rosak dengan satu mendarat hempas daripada jumlahnya 12.

Jepun berjaya mendarat

Pesawat pejuang tentera Jepun yang sebelum ini sibuk melindungi pendaratan utama di Thailand, mulai sampai. Menjelang waktu pagi, tentera Jepun berjaya mendaratkan pasukan penjajah mereka. Pada pukul 10:30 pagi, pasukan Jepun akhirnya tiba ke Kota Bahru.

Pada waktu pagi, Mejar Jeneral H. Takumi berjaya mendaratkan sejumlah tiga batalion penuh. Brigadier Key cuba menyerang balas tetapi gagal dan beliau mulai berundur. Apabila lapangan terbang tempatan tidak dapat dipertahankan lagi, Key memohon dan menerima kebenaran untuk berundur.

Tentera Jepun memaksa tentera India British berundur sehingga ke kawasan Kuala Lipis dan maju ke utara untuk menawan bandar Kota Bharu pada jam 2 petang pada 9 Disember.

Pertempuran tersebut telah mengorbankan banyak nyawa. Louis Allen menyebut sumber Jepun meletakkannya sebagai 500 orang. Kolonel Tsuji menulis dalam bukunya bahawa 320 orang askar Jepun terkorban serta 538 orang tercedera dalam pertempuran itu dan menggelarkan Kota Bharu sebagai "salah satu kawasan pertempuran yang paling ganas dalam Kempen Tanah Melayu".

Rujukan:

http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sejarah_pendaratan_Jepun_di_Tanah_Melayu

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World War II was the most widespread war cause the most damage. World War II involving many countries. It has claimed about 50 million lives.

Japanese invasion of Malaya

Japanese landings in Malaya happen lightning fast. Japan took three days just to get in Kota Baharu. Japanese convoy departing from Saigon, French Indochina heading south on December 6, 1941 until landing in Kota Bharu, Kelantan on December 8, 1941.

Aircraft A6M Zero Japanese navy of Flotia 22nd Airborne Field Kota Bharu
Airport after its conquest.

December 6, 1941

December 6, 1941, officers of the United States Navy go to a conference in Manila, the Philippines between Admiral Thomas C. Hart, government officials Forces Europe United States (US Asiatic Fleet), and Admiral Sir Thomas Philips.

A reconnaissance aircraft Lockheed Hudson Australiastumbled  Japan convoy departing from Saigon. The aircraft commander, Flight Officer Ramshaw, reported initially only three ships sailed, followed approximately 25 other carriers. Was accompanied by an armed battleships, five cruisers seven destroyers. In his opinion, the ships were heading towards Thailand.

The clear signal show that the war will erupt. Both the admiral act promptly. Four US destroyers in Balikpapan sailed out to sea, while HMS Repulse cancel the voyage to Darwin, Australia, and returned to Singapore as soon as possible. British aircraft perform more advanced reconnaissance flights. At 7 pm, the Japanese navy sailed to change direction and head north of the Gulf of Siam.

December 7, 1941

Japan's main attacking force of the 25th Army under the command of Lieutenant General Tomoyuki Yamashita, had sailed from Port Samah on 4 December 1941. On 6 and 7 December, Lockheed Hudson aircraft flown by 1 Squadron RAAF, Kota Bharu, and Squadron 8 RAAF, Kuantan, find and try trailed these ships.

Lieutenant-General Yamashita, the Japanese
military commander of the 25th

PBY Catalina Flying Boat Squadron No. 205 RAF shot down by Japanese aircraft. Aviation officials Bedell and his crew became victims. At 10:00 pm, a convoy of Japanese colonialism split in the direction of the landing position prearranged.

December 8, 1941

At 10.30 pm, a conference was held at the Chief of Naval War Room in Singapore. Air Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham ie government officials British troops in the Far East, hesitating to launch Operation Matador to prevent the Japanese landing in Singora and Pattani. He skipped the operation, at least for that night. This is because it might trigger a war with Thailand. In addition, the British military logistical preparations are still not fully prepared. At midnight on 7/8 December, a group of guards in Kota Bharu India saw a big shadow, ie the carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) anchored about 3 miles from the coast of Kota Bharu. It takes approximately 5200 soldiers of the detachment Takumi. Most of them are veterans, who had been through some tough months of training and battle in the woods China.

They were accompanied by armed escorts strong and consists of a light cruiser Sendai, destroyer Ayanami, Isonami, Shikinami, and Kuranami, mine sweeper ship No. 2 and No. 3, as well as submarine chaser No. 9.

Soon, coastguard heard cannonball. World War II had begun. Lander began to be released. At 12.45 am, the first wave of landing craft heading to the beach. Indian Infantry Brigade 8th, part of the 9th Infantry Division India (British) supported by the Artillery Mountains 21st consisting of four 3.7-inch gun barrel frog (Major JB Soper). The Army has installed mines and barbed wire and built several small fortress. They are supported by Ke Field Artillery Regiment 73 of the 5th Field Artillery.

Japanese landing in Kota Bharu

In the middle of the night, Japanese forces moved towards the coast. British troops began firing shells along the coastline and sea after Japanese troops landed. Dogra units began firing toward the lander in earnest but they face a fierce attack.

Fort machine gun (MG) on the beach used effectively against Japanese troops landed on the beach, and killed many Japanese soldiers, including the battalion commander, Major Nakamura, who led his men stormed the enemy positions.

Japanese forces successfully defeated the British Indian army. The second wave of attackers bombarded by British artillery fire which caused many Japanese soldiers were killed. However, when a small fort was destroyed, this team can move forward and bypass the Dogra position. Indian military position untenable and they had to retreat.

December 9, 1941

RAF air raid

During the colonial forces were a few miles north of the airfield them, senior air force officer in Kota Bharu ask permission to launch attacks. After the Japanese troops began landing, Squadron Hudsons No. 1 began taking off to bomb an aircraft carrier. The first wave, which consists of seven aircraft led by Flight Lieutenant Lockwood, the first attack around 2:10 am.

Flight Lieutenant O.N. Diamond Squadron No. 1 pick largest carriers and bomb drop. Two 250-pound bombs were released in the first attack and two bombs were released in the second attack. It is about the aircraft up in flames. Squadron No. 1 RAAF continue doing the bombing. 17 attacks were launched, landing, take-off and re-fill the bomb until 5:00 am. Japanese military escort ships fired anti-aircraft and shoot down at least two Lockheed Hudson aircraft and damaging three others.

A damaged aircraft plunged right into a lander that contains the term. All carriers showered with bullets by several burns. Two and three enemy aircraft carriers began to attack us. By 4:30 am the commander of the escort submit an application to withdraw.

Major General Takumi objected and insisted on strengthening the forces on the beach. At 6:00 am, two escort carriers and retreated to the north. Around 2:00 am on December 8, Kuantan airport receives a signal that the Japanese attempt to land in Kota Bharu. Squadron No. 8 forming the four flights of three Hudson with the first flight at 6:30 am.

Hudson aircraft carrier IJN attack. At 8:00 am, he returned to Kuantan due in part is damaged. Flight Lieutenant "Spud" Spurgeon in A16-41 bombed the ship but was forced to land in Kota Bahru buffeted by the damaged plane in Hudson. A16-81nya Hudson aircraft hit by a bullet and fly to Seletar. In this attack, five broken with a landing buffeted from 12.

Japan successfully landed

Japanese military fighter aircraft that were previously busy protecting the main landing in Thailand, started up. By morning, the Japanese managed to land their colonial troops. At 10:30 am, the Japanese team finally arrived to Kota Bahru.

In the morning, Major General H. Takumi managed to land a total of three full battalions. Brigadier Key tried to fight back but failed and he began to retreat. When the local airport is no longer tenable, Key applied for and received permission to withdraw.

Japanese soldiers forced the British Indian army retreated up to Kuala Lipis district and advanced to the north to the town of Kota Bharu at 2 pm on December 9.

The battle has cost many lives. Louis Allen mentioned Japanese sources put it as 500 people. Colonel Tsuji wrote in his book that the 320 Japanese soldiers were killed and 538 were wounded in the fighting and called Kota Bharu as "one of the most vicious fighting in the Malayan Campaign".

Reference:

http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sejarah_pendaratan_Jepun_di_Tanah_Melayu