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{{Main article|Battle of Hong Kong}}

The Battle of Hong Kong (8–25 December 1941) was one of the first battles of the [[Pacific War]] in [[World War II]].
{{TOC limit|3}}

==Allied==
[[File:ChrisMaltby.jpg|thumb|right|Maj. Gen. Christopher Maltby, Garrison Commander]]
*Garrison Commander & Fortress Command{{sfn|Lai|2014|p=22}}{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|pp=116–127}}
:General Officer Commanding, Hong Kong: Major General '''[[Christopher Maltby]]'''
:Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General: Brig. '''Andrew Peffers'''
:General Staff Officer, I: Col. '''Lancey Newnham'''

===Ground forces===
The British ground forces consisted of the following units:{{sfn|Banham|2003|pp=298–301}}{{sfn|Lai|2014|pp=22–23}}{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|pp=117–126}}<ref name="HKBU">{{cite web |url=https://digital.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/1941hkbattle/en/map.html|title=The Battle of Hong Kong 1941: A Spatial History Project|last=Kwong|first=C.M.|date=2021|work=Hong Kong Baptist University Library, History in Data|accessdate=2021-08-29}}</ref>
* 2nd Battalion, the [[Royal Scots|Royal Scots Regiment]] (Lt. Col. Simon E. H. E. White)
* 1st Battalion, the [[Middlesex Regiment]] (Lt. Col. Henry W. M. Stewart)
* [[Royal Rifles of Canada]] (Lt. Col. William J. Home)
* [[Winnipeg Grenadiers]] (Lt. Col. John L. R. Sutcliffe)
* 5th Battalion, 7th [[Rajput Regiment]] (Lt. Col. John. Cadogan-Rawlinson)
* 2nd Battalion, [[14th Punjab Regiment]] (Lt. Col. Gerald R. Kidd)
* [[Hong Kong Chinese Regiment]] (Maj. H. W. A. Mayer)
* [[Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps]]<ref name="HKBU"/> (Col. Henry B. Rose)
:: Infantry companies No. 1–7
:: Artillery batteries 1st–5th
:: Field Company Engineers
:: Signals
:: Armoured Car Platoon
:: Army Service Corps Company
:: Dispatch Sections
:: Hughes Group
:: Field Ambulance unit (Lt. Col. Lindsay Ride)
:: [[St. John's Ambulance]]
* Royal Artillery (Brigadier Tom McCleod{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|p=124}})
:: 8th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery (Lt. Col. Shelby Shaw)
::: 12th Coast Battery (Maj. W. M. Stevenson)
::: 30th Coast Battery (Maj. C. R. Templer)
::: 36th Coast Battery (Capt. W. N. J. Pitt{{efn|name=tempmaj|Made temporary Major{{sfn|Lai|2014|p=22}}}})
:: 12th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery (Maj. Richard L. J. Penfold{{efn|name=tempcol|Made temporary Colonel{{sfn|Lai|2014|p=22}}}})
::: 24th Coast Battery (Capt. E. W. S. Anderson{{efn|name=tempmaj}})
::: 26th Coast Battery (Lt. A. O. G. Mills{{efn|name=tempmaj}})
:: 5th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery<ref name="HKBU"/> (Lt. Col. Fred D. Field)
:::7th Battery
:::17th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery
:::18th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery
:::5th [[Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps|HKVDC]] Battery
:: [[965 Defence Battery, Hong Kong–Singapore Royal Artillery]] (Maj. Basil T. C. Forrester)
:: 1st Regiment, Hong Kong–Singapore Royal Artillery<ref name="HKBU"/> (Maj. John C. Yale{{efn|name=templtcol|Made temporary Lieutenant-Colonel{{sfn|Lai|2014|p=23}}}})
::: 1st Mountain Battery
::: 2nd Mountain Battery
::: 3rd Medium Battery
::: 4th Medium Battery
::: 25th Medium Battery
::: 26th Coast Battery
::: 17th Anti-Aircraft Gun Battery
* [[Royal Engineers]] China Command<ref name="HKBU"/> (Col. Esmond H. M. Clifford<ref name="HKBU"/>)
:: HQ Fortress Engineers
:: 22nd Fortress Company, Royal Engineers (Maj. D. C. E. Grose)
:: 40th Fortress Company, Royal Engineers (Maj. D. I. M. Murray)
:: Royal Engineers Services
====Brigades====
Infantry may be assigned to one of the two defensive brigades:{{sfn|Lai|2014|p=22}}
*Kowloon Infantry Brigade
:Brigadier '''[[Cedric Wallis]]'''{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|p=376}}
*Hong Kong Infantry Brigade
:Brigadier '''[[John K. Lawson|J. K. Lawson]]'''{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|p=376}}
====Headquarters and support corps====
British and local forces{{sfn|Banham|2003|p=298}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* Headquarters, China Command
* Head Quarters
* G
* Admin
* A
* Q
* Command Royal Artillery
* Command Engineers
* Command Signals
* Command RASC
* Command Ordnance
* Medical Service Branch
* Financial Advisor & Army Audit Staff
* Provost Marshall — Corps of Military Police
* 2nd Echelon
* [[Royal Army Service Corps]] (Lt. Col. Keble Theodore Andrews-Levinge)<ref name="HKBU"/>
* [[Royal Army Ordnance Corps]] (Lt. Col. Robert Macpherson)<ref name="HKBU"/>
* [[Royal Army Medical Corps]]<ref name="HKBU"/>
* [[Royal Corps of Signals]] (Lt. Col. Eustance Levett)<ref name="HKBU"/>
}}
Canadian{{sfn|Banham|2003|p=301}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* Canadian staff
* [[Corps of Military Staff Clerks]]
* [[Canadian Provost Corps]]
* [[Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps]]
* [[Royal Canadian Dental Corps|Canadian Army Dental Corps]]
* Canadian Service
* [[Royal Canadian Corps of Signals]]
* [[Royal Canadian Army Service Corps]]
* [[Royal Canadian Army Pay Corps]]
* [[Royal Canadian Postal Corps|Canadian Postal Corps]]
* [[Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps]]
* [[Royal Canadian Chaplain Service|Canadian Chaplains Service]]
* Canadian Auxiliary Services
}}
Indian{{sfn|Banham|2003|p=301}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* Indian Hospital Corps
* [[Indian Medical Service]]
* [[Indian Army Service Corps|Royal Indian Army Service Corps]]
* Hong Kong Mule Corps RIASC
}}

====Civilian====
Civilian forces were as follows:{{sfn|Banham|2003|pp=304–305}}
* [[MI6]]
* [[Hong Kong Police Force]]{{efn|Designated as "combatants" through the Police (Militia Status) Ordinance, Sept 1941{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|p=321}}}} (Commissioner of Police John Pennefather-Evans{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|p=323}})
:: Indian Company, Police Reserve
:: Chinese Company, Police Reserve
* Fire Brigade (Jack Fitz-Henry{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|p=326}})
* Air Raid Precautions
* St. John's Ambulance
* [[Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes]]
Auxiliary Services{{sfn|Banham|2003|pp=304–305}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* Auxiliary Services
* Auxiliary Communications Service
* Auxiliary Conservancy Corps
* Auxiliary Civil Pay and Accounts Service
* Auxiliary Fire Service
* Auxiliary Labour Corps
* Auxiliary Medical Corps
* Auxiliary Nursing Service
* Auxiliary Ordnance Corps
* Auxiliary Quartering Corps
* Auxiliary Public Works Corps
* Auxiliary Rescue and Demolition Corps
* Auxiliary Supply Corps
* Auxiliary Transport Service
}}

===Naval forces===
====Royal Navy====
[[File:HMS Thracian- IJN Patrol Boat No. 101.jpg|thumb|right|HMS ''Thracian'']]
Commander: Captain '''Alfred C. Collinson'''{{sfn|Lai|2014|p=23}}{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|p=127}}

The [[Royal Navy]] presence were as follows:{{sfn|Lai|2014|p=23}}{{sfn|Banham|2003|pp=301–302}}{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|pp=130–131}}
* [[Royal Marine]] detachment (Maj. Farrington)<ref name="HKBU"/>
* {{HMS|Tamar|shore station}}
* {{HMS|Thracian|1920|6}} (Lt. Cdr. Arthur Luard Pears<ref name="HKBU"/>)
* {{HMS|Scout|H51|6}}{{efn|name=left|Left for Singapore on the evening of 8 December{{sfn|Lai|2014|p=23}}{{sfn|Banham|2003|p=31}}}} (Lt. Cdr. Hedworth Lambton<ref name="HKBU"/>)
* {{HMS|Thanet|H29|6}}{{efn|name=left}} (Lt. Cdr. Bernard Davies<ref name="HKBU"/>)
* {{HMS|Tern|1927|6}} (Lt. John Douglas<ref name="HKBU"/>)
* {{HMS|Robin|T65|6}} (Cdr. Hugh M. Montague<ref name="HKBU"/>)
* {{HMS|Redstart|M62|6}} (Lt. Cdr. Henry C. S. Collingwood-Selby<ref name="HKBU"/>)
* {{HMS|Cicala}} (Lt. Cdr. John C. Boldero<ref name="HKBU"/>)
* {{HMS|Moth|1915|6}} (Lt. Cdr. R. C. Creer)
* [[Hong Kong Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve]] (Lt. Cdr. R. J. D. Vernall)
* [[Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service]]
* Royal Naval Dockyard Police
* Hong Kong Dockyard Defence Corps (Maj. D. Campbell)
Auxiliary patrol vessels{{sfn|Banham|2003|p=302}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* APV ''Minnie''
* APV ''Margaret''
* [[HMS St Aubin (W18)|APV ''St. Aubin'']]
* [[HMS St Sampson (W26)|APV ''St. Sampson'']]
* APV ''Indira''
* APV ''Henriette''
* APV ''Shun Wo''
* APV ''Han Wo''
* APV ''Frosty''
* APV ''Poseidon''
* APV ''Ho Hsing''
* APV ''Teh Hsing''
* APV ''Chun Hsing''
* APV ''Perla''
}}
Minor vessels{{sfn|Banham|2003|p=302}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* APV ''Stanley''
* APV ''Britannia''
* HMS ''Barlight''
* HMS ''Aldgate''
* HMS ''Watergate''
* [[SS Tai Hing|HMS ''Cornflower'']]
* Naval Armament Tug ''Gatling''
* ''Jeanette''
* RFA ''Ebonol''
* C410
* Minelayer ''Man Yeung''
* HMT ''Alliance''
* ''Poet Chaucer''
* ''Waterboat Wave''
* SS ''Matchlock''
* Diesel Launch ''Ah Ming''
}}
2nd MTB Flotilla (Lt. Cdr. Gerrard H. Gandy){{sfn|Lai|2014|p=23}}{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|pp=130–131}}{{sfn|Banham|2003|p=303}}<ref name="HKBU"/>
* MTB 07 (Lt. R. R. W. Ashby)
* MTB 08 (Lt. L. D. Kilbee)
* MTB 09 (Lt. A. Kennedy)
* MTB 10 (Lt. Cdr. G. H. Gandy)
* MTB 11 (Lt. C. J. Collingwood)
* MTB 12 (Sub-Lt. J. B. Colls)
* MTB 26 (Lt. D. W. Wagstaff)
* MTB 27 (Lt. T. M. Parsons)

====Merchant Navy====
Ships of the Merchant Navy:{{sfn|Banham|2003|pp=303–304}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* SS ''An Jou''
* SS ''Apoey''
* SS ''Ben Nevis''
* SS ''Cheng Tu''
* SS ''Fausang''
* SS ''Fook On''
* SS ''Glen Moor''
* SS ''Henry Keswick''
* SS ''Hsin Fuli''
* SS ''Kanchow''
* SS ''Kau Tung''
* SS ''Mausang''
* SS ''Nanning''
* SS ''Patricia Moller''
* SS ''Shun Chih''
* SS ''Soochow''
* SS ''St. Vincent De Paul''
* SS ''Tai Ming''
* SS ''Taishan''
* MV ''Tantalus''
* SS ''Tung On''
* SS ''Whithorn''
* SS ''Yat Shing''
}}

===Air forces===
* Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy (Lt. P. J. Milner-Barry){{sfn|Lai|2014|p=23}}{{sfn|Banham|2003|p=303}}
: [[Supermarine Walrus]] L2259
: Supermarine Walrus L2819
* Hong Kong Station, Royal Air Force (Wng. Cdr. Humphrey<ref name="HKBU"/> G. Sullivan){{sfn|Lai|2014|p=23}}{{sfn|Banham|2003|p=304}}{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|p=132}}
: [[Vickers Vildebeest]] K2924
: Vickers Vildebeest K2818
: Vickers Vildebeest K6370
* HKVDC Flight (Sq. Ldr. Donald "Sammy" Hill){{sfn|Lai|2014|p=23}}{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|p=132}}
: 1 x [[Avro Tutor|Avro 621 Tutor]]
: 2 x [[de Havilland Hornet Moth|Hornet Moth]]
: 2 x Cadet biplanes

==Japanese==
===Ground forces===
The Japanese ground forces consisted of the following units:{{sfn|Lai|2014|pp=23–24}}{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|pp=132–136}}{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|pp=364–365}}<ref name="JACAR">{{cite web |url=https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/image_C13031769200 |script-title=ja:Ref.C13031769200、第３８師団香港攻略戦戦闘詳報昭和１６年１１月３０日～１６年１２月２９日 |language=Japanese |work=Japan Center for Asian Historical Records |publisher=National Institute for Defense Studies, Ministry of Defense |accessdate=2021-01-29}}</ref>

[[File:Sakai Takashi.jpg|thumb|right|Lt. Gen. Takashi Sakai, Commander of the 23rd Army]]
*[[Twenty-Third Army (Japan)|23rd Army]]
:Commander: Lieutenant General '''[[Takashi Sakai]]'''
:Chief of Staff: Major General '''[[Tadamichi Kuribayashi]]'''
:Deputy Chief of Staff: Major General '''Keishichiro Higuchi '''

*[[38th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|38th Division]]
:Commander: Lieutenant General '''[[Tadayoshi Sano]]'''

* Infantry HQ, 38th Division (Maj. Gen. [[Takeo Itō]])
:: 228th Infantry Regiment (Col. Sadashichi Doi<ref name="HKBU"/>)
:: 229th Infantry Regiment (Col. Ryosaburo Tanaka)
:: 230th Infantry Regiment (Col. [[Toshinari Shōji]])
:: 38th Mountain Gun Regiment<ref name="HKBU"/> (Col. Takekichi Kamiyoshi<ref name="HKBU"/>)
:: 38th Engineers Regiment (Lt. Col. Tsuneō Iwabuchi<ref name="HKBU"/>)
:: 38th Logistic Regiment (Lt. Col. Shūichi Yabuta)
:: 19th Independent Engineer Regiment (Lt. Col. Shoshirō Inukai<ref name="HKBU"/>)
:: 20th Independent Engineer Regiment (Col. Kiyoshi Suzukawa)
:: 2nd Company, 14th Independent Engineering Regiment (Maj. Eiichi Kusagi)
:: 21st Independent Mortar Battalion (Maj. Shigeo Okamoto)<ref name="HKBU"/>
:: Signal Corps (Maj. Ryōichi Itō)
* Araki Detachment (Col. Masatoshi Araki<ref name="HKBU"/>)
:: [[66th Infantry Regiment (Imperial Japanese Army)|66th Infantry Regiment]] – Less 1 Company
* Attached Force
:: 10th Independent Mountain Gun Regiment<ref name="HKBU"/> (Col. Rikichirō Sawamoto<ref name="HKBU"/>)
:: 20th Independent Mountain Gun Battalion<ref name="HKBU"/> (Lt. Col. Jirō Kajimatsu<ref name="HKBU"/>)
:: 2nd Quick-Firing Gun Battalion<ref name="HKBU"/> (Lt. Col. Takeo Ōno)
:: 5th Quick-Firing Gun Battalion<ref name="HKBU"/> (Maj. Jirō Aoki<ref name="HKBU"/>)
* 1st Artillery Group<ref name="HKBU"/> (Lt. Gen. Kaneo Kitajima<ref name="HKBU"/>)
:: 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment (Col. Masayoshi Hayakawa<ref name="HKBU"/>)
:: 14th Heavy Field Gun Regiment<ref name="HKBU"/> (Col. Takeaki Satō)
:: 2nd Independent Heavy Artillery Battalion (Maj. Kiyotoshi Kanamaru<ref name="HKBU"/>)
:: 3rd Independent Heavy Artillery Battalion (Lt. Col. Hitomi Kanmei<ref name="HKBU"/>)
:: 2nd Heavy Mortar Battalion (Maj. Deiichi Namimatsu<ref name="HKBU"/>)
====Other divisional support====
* Armour Squadron (Capt. Jūrō Atami)
* 3rd Transport Regiment (Lt. Col. Otokazu Kobayashi) – Only 3 companies
* 19th Independent Transport Company
* 20th Independent Transport Company
* 21st Independent Transport Company
* 1st River Crossing Material Company, 9th Division (Lt. Hiroshi Furumori<ref name="HKBU"/>)
* 2nd River Crossing Material Company, 9th Division (Lt. Eda Asao<ref name="HKBU"/>)
* Ordnance team (Capt. Sadaharu Koide)
* 5th Field Gas Company<ref name="HKBU"/> (Capt. Magosaburō Suzuki)
* 18th Field Gas Company<ref name="HKBU"/> (Lt. Isamu Morimoto<ref name="HKBU"/>
* Veterinary (Vet. Maj. Jiro Hayashi)
* 1st Field Hospital (Dr. Maj. Toshimi Suzuki)
* 2nd Field Hospital (Dr. Maj. Takuzō Itō)
* Field Pigeon Carrier Company
* South China MP Platoon (Maj. Kennosuke Noma)
* Medical unit
* Medical unit, 51st Division (Col. Otokazu Hattori) – Only 1/3 of the unit
* 17th Field Water Purification and Supply Unit
* Army signal corps
* Two radio signal platoons
* One wire signal platoon

===Naval forces===
[[File:Kamikawa-maru 1939.jpg|thumb|right|Seaplane tender ''Kamikawa Maru'']]
* [[China Area Fleet#2nd China Expeditionary Fleet|2nd China Fleet]]{{sfn|Lai|2014|p=24}}
: Commander: Vice Admiral '''[[Masaichi Niimi]]'''
: Chief of Staff: Brigadier '''Yasuo Yasuba '''

* {{ship|Japanese seaplane tender|Kamikawa Maru||2}}{{sfn|Lai|2014|p=24}}{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|p=137}}
: 2 x [[Kawanishi E7K]]
: 3 x [[Kugisho B3Y]]

'''Bombardment Group''':{{sfn|Lai|2014|p=24}}{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|p=137}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Isuzu||2}}
* {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Tsuga||2}}
* {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Ikazuchi|1931|2}}
* {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Inazuma|1932|2}}
* {{ship|Japanese torpedo boat|Kasasagi|1935|2}}
* {{ship|Japanese torpedo boat|Hiyodori||2}}
* {{ship|Japanese torpedo boat|Kari|1937|2}}
* {{ship|Japanese torpedo boat|Kiji|1937|2}}
* ''Tosho Maru''
}}

'''Attack Group''':{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|p=137}}{{sfn|Lai|2014|p=25}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* {{ship|Japanese gunboat|Uji|1940|2}}
* {{ship|Japanese gunboat|Hashidate||2}}
* {{ship|Japanese gunboat|Saga||2}}
* ''Arashiyama Maru''
* ''Tsukushi Maru''
* ''Asashi Maru''
* ''Momo Maru''
* ''Ryujin Maru''
* ''Choun Maru No. 7''
* ''Shinsei Maru''
* ''Sozan Maru''
* ''Azuchi Maru''
* ''San Luis Maru''
* ''Shinko Maru''
* ''Toen Maru''
}}

===Air forces===
* 23rd Army Air Unit, 1st Air Group{{sfn|Lai|2014|p=24}}{{sfn|Kwong|Tsoi|2013|pp=138–139}}
** 45th Flying Sentai<ref name="HKBU"/> (Col. Shuji Habu) – 29 x [[Kawasaki Ki-32]]
** 10th Independent Chutai<ref name="HKBU"/> (Maj. Akira Takatsuki) – 13 x [[Nakajima Ki-27]]
** 18th Independent Chutai (Capt. Minoru Kobayashi) – 3 x [[Mitsubishi Ki-15]]
** 44th Independent Squadron (Capt. Yoshio Naito) – 6 x [[Tachikawa Ki-36]]
** 47th Air-Field Battalion (Maj. Sadayu Uemura)
** 67th Air-Field Company, 67th Air Field Battalion (Capt. Nobunaga Kodama)
** 57th Air-Field Company (2nd Lt. Mitsuhiro Makita) – Elements
* 14th Flying Sentai<ref name="HKBU"/>
* [[Kanoya Air Group]]<ref name="HKBU"/>

==See also==
*[[List of orders of battle]]
*[[British Forces Overseas Hong Kong]]
*[[C Force]]

==Notes==
{{notelist|30em}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last=Banham|first=Tony |author-link=Tony Banham|title=Not the Slightest Chance: The Defence of Hong Kong, 1941|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pr7ZjNCqyUsC|year=2003|publisher=UBC Press|isbn=978-0-7748-1045-6}}
*{{cite book |last1=Kwong |first1=Chi Man |last2=Tsoi |first2=Yiu Lun |trans-title=Exposed Outpost: the Battle of Hong Kong in the Pacific War|script-title=zh:孤獨前哨: 太平洋戰爭中的香港戰役 |location=Hong Kong |publisher=Cosmos Books Ltd. |language=zh|year=2013 |isbn=9789888254347}}
*{{cite book|last=Lai|first=Benjamin|title=Hong Kong 1941–45: First strike in the Pacific War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GISlCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA23|date=2014-06-20|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-78200-269-7}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:World War II orders of battle]]
[[Category:Battle of Hong Kong]]

Battle of Hong Kong order of battle - Revision history

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