Operation Matador: World War II: Britain's Attempt to Foil the Japanese Invasion of Malaya and Singapore [Paperback]

Ong Chit Chung (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2003 | ISBN-10: 9812102663 | ISBN-13: 978-9812102669

'Operation Matador' was the code name for Britain's WW2 plan to defend Singapore by holding the whole of the Malayan mainland. This involved entering southern Thailand to forestall Japanese landings on her eastern coastline. Singapore's seaward defences were well developed for the protection of the naval base unlike landward defence. British plans for the latter were considered as early as 1918, 24 years before the actual Japanese landings in southern Thailand and northeast Malaya. However, while 'Operation Matador' was approved as a contingency plan, the resources for its implementation, especially in aircraft, were never made available. As events soon showed, sending naval ships Prince of Wales and Repulse proved a woefully inadequate counter to superior Japanese air power which sank the ships in December 1941 off the east coast of Malaya. This signalled the start of the Japanese invasion and occupation of Malaya and Singapore for the next three years. Dr Ong presents a gripping account of the historical events that went on behind the scenes that delayed and effectively prevented the launch of 'Operation Matador'.

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About the Author

Dr Ong Chit Chung is Professor (Adjunct) of History , Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He was formerly Head, Military History Branch, Singapore Command and Staff College. A Member of the Singapore Parliament since 1998, he is the present Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 305 pages
• Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Academic (July 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9812102663
• ISBN-13: 978-9812102669
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,474,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)