Britain Strikes Back Against Japan - Pacific War #65 DOCUMENTARY

Consider using the DONATE button to the right of the video (below on mobile) to help out the victims of the recent earthquake in Turkey!
Kings and Generals' historical animated documentary series covering the Pacific War week by week continues. The China-Burma-India theater is one of the most important theaters of the Pacific War. It was here that the Japanese had been fighting since 1937, it was here that the Empire of the Rising Sun had most of its land forces. Today, we finally return to China, Burma and India to cover some new developments that were unfolding during the months of January and February, with new operations taking place in China, with more political bickering going on in India and with the start of one of the most recognizable long-range penetration expeditions: Operation Longcloth. Britain finally strikes back against Japan.
Podcast: thepacificwar.podbean.com
#1 - Pearl Harbor: • Attack on Pearl Harbor...
#2 - Japanese Invasion of Malaya: • Japanese Invasion of M...
#3 - Japan attacks Guam, Wake, the Philippines: • Japan Attacks Everywhe...
#4 - Japan attacks Borneo, Philippines: • Japan Continues Attack...
#5 - Wake Island: • Fall of Wake Island - ...
#6 - Kampar: • Battle of Kampar - Pac...
#7 - Slim River: • Battle of Slim River -...
#8 - Dutch East Indies: • Battle for the Dutch E...
#9 - Invasion of New Britain: • Invasion of New Britai...
#10 - Fall of Malaya: • Fall of Malaya - Pacif...
#11 - Makassar: • Battle of Makassar Str...
#12 - Fall of Singapore: • Fall of Singapore - Pa...
#13 - Sumatra: • Japanese Invasion of S...
#14 - Timor: • Japanese Invasion of T...
#15 - Java: • Fall of Java - Pacific...
#16 - Rangoon: • Fall of Rangoon - Paci...
#17 - US Response: • How the US Responded t...
#18 - Tojo: • Hideki Tojo: Bringing ...
#19 - Japanese Raids in the Indian Ocean: • Japanese Raids in the ...
#20 - Fall of Bataan: • Fall of Bataan & The B...
#21 - Doolittle Raid: • Doolittle Raid: Americ...
#22 - Japanese Advance on Burma Road: • Japanese Advance on Bu...
#23 - Australia's Pearl Harbor: • Australia's Pearl Harb...
#24 - Coral Sea: • Battle of the Coral Se...
#25 - Fall of the Philippines: • Fall of the Philippine...
#26 - Fall of Burma: • Fall of Burma - Pacifi...
#27 - Sei-Go: • How Japan Responded to...
#28 - Midway: • Battle of Midway - Pac...
#29 - Japanese Invasion of Alaska: • Japanese Invasion of A...
#30 - Japanese Attack on Sydney: • Japanese Attack on Syd...
#31 - MacArthur and the Philippines Disaster: • How MacArthur Caused t...
#32 - Attacks New Guinea: • Japan Attacks New Guin...
#33 - Biological Warfare in China: • Japanese War Crimes: B...
#34 - Japan Attacks the Continental United States: • Japan Attacks the Cont...
#35 - Invasion of Buna-Gona: • Invasion of Buna-Gona ...
#36 - Kokoda: • Battle of Kokoda - Pac...
#37 - Invasion of Solomon Islands: • Invasion of Solomon Is...
#38 - Savo Island: • Battle of Savo Island ...
#39 - Raid on Makin Island: • Raid on Makin Island -...
#40 - Battle of Eastern Solomons: • Battle of Eastern Solo...
#41 - Isurava: • Australia's Thermopyla...
#42 - Milne Bay: • Battle of Milne Bay - ...
#43 - Bloody Ridge: • Battle of the Bloody R...
#44 - Ioribaiwa: • Battle of the Ioribaiw...
#45 - Matanikau: • Battle of Matanikau - ...
#46 - Cape Esperance: • Battle of Cape Esperan...
#47 - Kokoda Track Counteroffensive: • Kokoda Track Counterof...
#48 - Henderson Field: • Battle for Henderson F...
#49 - Santa Cruz Islands: • Battle of the Santa Cr...
#50 - Oivi-Gorari: • Battle of Oivi-Gorari ...
#51 - Guadalcanal: • Naval Battle of Guadal...
#52 - Buna-Gona: • Battle of Buna-Gona - ...
#53 - Carlson's Patrol: • Carlson's Long Patrol ...
#54 - Tassafaronga: • Battle of Tassafaronga...
#55 - Fall of Gona: • Fall of Gona - Allied ...
#56 - Battle of Mount Austen: • Battle of Mount Austen...
#57 - 1st Arakan Campaign: • First Arakan Campaign ...
#58 - Fall of Buna: • Fall of Buna - Pacific...
#59 - Sanananda: • Sanananda Campaign - P...
#60 - Galloping/Sea Horse: • Galloping Horse and Se...
#61 - End of Buna-Gona: • End of the Battle of B...
#62 - Rennell Island: • Battle of Rennell Isla...
#63 - End of Guadalcanal: • End of the Guadalcanal...
#64 - Wau: • Battle of Wau - Pacifi...
Video: Zakuan Musa ( / @vectorhistoria7767 )
Script: Ivan Moran, Craig Watson (bit.ly/3UgWAbt)
Narrator: Devin (bit.ly/3XzSCgV & bit.ly/3GUO9iT)
✔ Merch store ► teespring.com/stores/kingsand...
✔ Patreon ► / kingsandgenerals
✔ Podcast ► www.kingsandgenerals.net/podcast/
✔ Twitter ► / kingsgenerals
✔ Facebook ► / kingsgenerals
✔ Instagram ► / kings_generals
Production Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com
#Documentary #PacificWar #WorldWar

[@KingsandGenerals]

Consider using the DONATE button to the right of the video (below on mobile) to help out the victims of the recent earthquake in Turkey!

[@crosskoyamayandaytugay3508]

thx

[@NobleKorhedron]

For the map from 10:20 - 10:22, why is Greece not marked as occupied? Or Albania?

[@KingsandGenerals]

@@NobleKorhedron just a mistake, no particular reason

[@ydnsr1137]

@@KingsandGenerals great video man,

[@lauramartin-bk9nr]

@@KingsandGenerals Great channel. Please look into the Siege of Castelnuovo (1539). I think you will be amazed. Please make a video!

[@louisavondart9178]

For those of who don't know, standard rations for British troops was Corned beef in tins. Otherwise known as Bully beef. While quite nutritional, it was a very salty food. Wingate told his troops to mix it with onions and make a stew of it. It worked out to be the best idea he ever had. The onions mixed well and as a stew, the corned beef didn't dehydrate the soldiers.

[@grahvis]

During 1915 in Gallipoli when the trenches were close together, a major used a tin of bully beef to demonstrate the throwing of a hand grenade. The tine landed in a Turkish trench, and they sent back a letter thanking the soldiers for their gift. They later threw back a bag of tobacco. I believe swapping bully beef for bags of dates also took place.

[@augustosolari7721]

Im from Argentina, which was one of the largest providers of corned beef to the British Army.

[@augustosolari7721]

@@vatsal7640 yes. But they were not our leaders. We did not elect them. They were a murderous bunch of idiots that took power in a military coup. Sad that a Lot of people supported that stupid decision.

[@adamjones826]

I am corned beef

[@UnNuclear]

A lot of people say that the Pacific is under-covered when it comes to WW2 history, but the CBI theater is often barely a footnote in WW2 history. I can't wait to see more of it, because my knowledge is pretty lacking in it.

[@Selva29491]

My Grandfather fought in Burma. He was a part of Madras Regiment, British Indian Army.

[@jacksprat9172]

Had to have been a strong man to fight through that nightmare.

[@RaidRoyce]

Thank you very much for the donations to Turkey. As a Turk and long supporter of this channel, it warms my heart and is highly appreciated. I've suggested this before but can you do a video about the history of devastating earthquakes? It has been the topic of many discussions by historians last week. Huge earthquakes throughout history seem to have many interesting political, social and militaristic results. Could be a very interesting video and would help to spread awareness.

[@yagzkart2772]

gerçekten güzel fikir, günlerdir bekliyorum türk tarihi hakkında sayısız videoda imzası olan k&g türkiye'nin yaşadığı en büyük felakete dair herhangi bir girişimde bulunacak mı diye, parayı topladıktan sonra bir de uluslararası kamuoyu yaratmak adına depreme dair bir içerik hazırlasa çok değerli bir etkinlik yapmış olur. başımız sağ olsun ve thanks K&G!

[@LEVITHA_.1991]

i can understand turkish

[@cpurssey982]

My great uncle Peter was a Chindit. He joined up at 15 but due to his height his lies were believed and he was enlisted. His father (a veteran of both world wars) kept trying to get him back home but after two attempts he gave up. Peter had bullet holes all over his legs from a Japanese MG. I was told he survived for days in the jungle until was we luckily recovered by allied forces. He died of old age in Australia, but he suffered all his life from PTSD. RIP Uncle Pete 🙏🏼.

[@Old_8_gauge]

Truly an underreported/ uncovered part of WW2, thanks for excellent videos.

[@GnomaPhobic]

Man that Wingate was a trip. How have they not made a movie about this guy?

[@wolfu597]

Orde Wingate has been described by many historians as a man born at the wrong time in history, and that he had more in common with the explorers of the Victorian era. Like his trademark tropical helmet. In addition to chewing constantly on onions, he used a rubber brush to clean himself, rather than relying on soap. While in Sudan, he often went on hyena hunts, using a handgun as his preferred weapon.

[@UnNuclear]

I am going to base one of my NPCs for my Savage Worlds campaign off of Wingate. He was a very fascinating man.

[@MrGksarathy]

Unions? That seems like an odd thing to chew on?

[@wolfu597]

@@MrGksarathy Well, according to Wingate, it is good for your health. And the troops soon discovered that it also tastes good with bully beef.

[@MrGksarathy]

@@wolfu597 You do mean onions, right? Organized labor seems difficult to chew.

[@wolfu597]

@@MrGksarathy Ooops, my error.

[@lukeskywalker3329]

The operations to liberate Ethiopia from the Italians was a true blitzkrieg. If Orde Wingate was involved in that . Very impressive 👏

[@yakupyldrm8105]

As a Turk i am very glad because of your channel announcement of charity. Earthquake devastated southern east part of Turkey. Because of the economic problems of Turkey we desperately need help. Thank you for helping.

[@blockmasterscott]

Man, I love those little captions with snippets of information. I read every single one of them.

[@EnclaveEmily]

Britain decides to go gamer mode. Thanks for the video guys! Idk if you get enough comments thanking you, but your documentaries are, dare i say, life changing. Because they make learning really fun

[@Dlopwoo]

my phone shows your comment 14 hr ago

[@EnclaveEmily]

@@Dlopwoo because i get early access due to being a channel member

[@richardmeo2503]

I'm glad you brought out how the bulk of Japan's Army was fighting in CBI. That was one of the reasons FDR was so supportive of Chiang, and sent forces and aid to him well before Pearl Harbor. Like Russia was to Germany, China tied up much of Japan's military power enabling the allies to start the road back. This episode also displays the extreme distances and topography of the war. And that the US alone was supplying the war effort for all!! To learn more see my works FATAL FLAWS Books 1-3

[@timfirth977]

The only flaw in that strategy was that it was the Chinese Communists, not Chaing Kai Chek's Nationalists that were doing the bulk of the fighting. Even though they weren't being supplied by the Americans (a mistake later acknowledged by Stillwell), they could buy American equipment from corrupt Nationalist commanders.

[@joycechuah6398]

US best effort was in supplying the war.

[@richardmeo2503]

@@timfirth977 I'm not sure that is correct. Mao was doing some fighting, but he was saving his forces to fight Chiang as soon as Japan was beaten. It was Chiang who stopped fighting Mao in 36 to go after Japan. Their "truce" was supposed to ensure Japan was beaten, but skirmishes continued. A day after Hiroshima, Stalin ordered his Pacific forces to advance as rapidly as possible. They crushed the Jap defenses with their armor and entered Manchuria and N. Korea, even though the fighting had ended. (Stalin always saw the upside to war) He then held onto Manchuria so Mao's forces could arrive and setup a puppet regime. That was when Chiang decided he had to attack, but Truman gave him minimal support. (He showed them who was boss.) I researched and wrote a history series called FATAL FLAWS Books 1-3 over 12 years. It is unreal how many major screwups occurred. Most have been "hidden from view".

[@richardmeo2503]

@@joycechuah6398 Sadly after FDR no one took a long view into the future, until the damage had been done

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@@richardmeo2503 Yeah China kept 2 million Japanese tied up, the British another 300,000 men in Burma.

[@lureyourpery5569]

Should have named it "The Empire strikes back"

[@grapeshott]

Right. India-Burma theater is often ignored, though it was one of the bloodiest, that too which lasted till the end of the war.

[@minoru5760]

Brilliant movie as always! Roosevelt's recognition of China as a great power helped China becoming a permanent member in postwar UN so present communist China should be grateful to him. Not sure if all Asians should be grateful

[@user-hj9xv4gp5e]

At 6:23 you call it operation loincloth and it made my day

[@tolgatosun5675]

Thank you very much! I have been following this channel for years. And I am really glad that this channel haven't forgotten the devastating earthquake.

[@jtarchitecture8939]

Whoa, so much going on in SE Asia during WWII that I had never heard of. Thank you K&G.

[@theoutlook55]

Thank you so much for helping Turkey!

[@guyprovencal1742]

Love the series. I have enjoyed every installment. The only issue I have, are the numerous infobox’s that require stopping the video to read them. It seems they are increasing in number with each weekly installment. It makes it difficult to follow the story line, and requires more time to get through the video. Regardless, I will continue to enjoy each new episode. Thank you for the great work!!

[@KingsandGenerals]

They are mostly there for additional information. The idea is that if you are missing context, you can pause and read. Honestly, we just haven't found a better way of doing it :-)

[@timfirth977]

Excellent episode as always. Have read an account of Vinegar Joe Stillwell's time in China. He was actually an old China hand, as an engineer he had helped build a railway in central China in the '20s. He was wasn't well liked at all by the commanders of the Chindits as he appeared to blame the failings of his Chinese divisional leaders on the Chindit's strategy, which was unfair, however he in turn was constrained by Chaing Kai Shek's priorities which was to use the Western equipment against the Communists rather than the Japanese.

[@muic4880]

Stillwell's issue in CBI theater was that he doesn't care for politics, which given his command an task he should be at least adept in it as it would help him along the way. Chennault was successful because he knows how to politically tread with the nationalist.

[@docbailey3265]

I live close to the mangroves of South Florida. I go over boardwalks where I see waist deep water with dense mangrove trees. I imagine this is similar to the rain forests of the Pacific Rim. I cannot imagine existing here, to say nothing of fighting in it. Also, donated to Turkey relief.

[@mahir5024]

I just love history and really really love your channel❣️ Love from Bangladesh ❣️🇧🇩

[@zainmudassir2964]

Beautiful country Bangladesh

[@paulceglinski7172]

Love this series. Thanks K&G. Cheers

[@brokenbridge6316]

Nice video. Also I hope the earthquake victims all recover soon enough from this tragedy.

[@edgiefive1317]

great series

[@thecrazy4618]

Love this channel!! ❤️

[@samwill7259]

Become the onion Love the onion Understand the onion For onions have layers

[@apexnext]

🧅

[@bigrichman100]

I love this series, it gives more information that isn't as talked about by other means.

[@Optable]

It's all heavily talked about, you just need to open a damn book. Those reading means eh?

[@matiasbarth5121]

Amazing video. Keep up the good work, K&G!

[@bennyday1175]

A truly educational and underreported part of WW2! Thank you

[@peterblood50]

I pray for the victims of the earthquakes 🙏

[@-RONNIE]

Thank you for the video but more importantly my thoughts & prayers go out to the Turkish people

[@carlorrman8769]

Absolutely brilliant channel.

[@theanglo-lithuanian1768]

Great video as always!

[@stevelebreton3489]

Thanks for the video 👍

[@Martijn_Steinpatz]

You keep forgetting the scale of the Japanese conquest. The action radius of the Imperial Army is insane.

[@a.basarakbay1763]

Thank you everyone for your generous donations. And thank you, Kings and Generals. It is impossible to find words to appreciate our sincere appreciation of your thoughtful efforts.

[@henkwilliemadriannusvander1955]

Excellent. Very informative. Thank you.

[@ronjohnson6916]

Nice job. Glad to hear more about CBI -- and a little look at Wingate.

[@Galnar]

missed the opportunity to call this episode "The Empire Strikes Back" (at Japan)

[@canaanclb]

@@user-mg3xr9tz7m All of the major Allied powers did at the start of the war. But all of them later scored impressive victories over the Axis powers. The British had victories in North Africa and Europe. In Burma they defeated the Japanese at Kohima and Imphal. Doesn't really sound like they suffered one defeat after another. Maybe at the start of the war that was true, but by the end, they were rarely defeated. In fact, I think the only major Allied country that continuously lost battles was China. They were still losing major battles as late as 1944, and even when they began to take some of their territory back, the war ended.

[@robbabcock_]

Wonderful stuff!

[@MrHurch]

Quality CBI Theater coverage

[@fantasyfleet]

Great to see you cover the Burma campaign

[@porten1277]

Love the series, lets hope the algorithm does so as well!

[@brettmay2859]

I learn new things with every video you put out. I had never heard of the free French colony Guangzhouwan. While it seemed like a minor operation, I like how its importance to the Japanese was explained

[@davidryan9008]

great content

[@behrukhkhan1277]

Good work buddy.....!!

[@thehistorybox1163]

Thanks 👍

[@jonbaxter2254]

Empire strikes back? No, it'll never stick...

[@marktaylor6491]

Great stuff, please keep up the good work. They need to create a companion series to 'Rogue Heroes'. Any takers of who should Wingate? Or Slim or Wavell?

[@barbiquearea]

Another reason for why the Japanese allowed the French to have nominal control over Vietnam was because it was more efficient for them to just keep the French bureaucrats running things in Vietnam than to replace them with their own.

[@markusskram4181]

Love The vid ❤️

[@MoroccoGamer]

good job

[@davidhance3204]

great story!!!

[@t5ruxlee210]

There were other ridiculous, incompetent, events besides the infamous mail drop. One behind the IJA lines foray had to be called off shortly after getting underway because the Gurkha soldiers in the group started drowning at the initial river crossing. It turned out that either: a) No one had bothered to ask any of them if they could swim, or b) No one had thought it might have been a good idea to rehearse a river crossing first before heading into the jungle. Today there are large post WW2 swimming pools still in operation at the main recruiting centers in Nepal and at training bases in India to make sure everyone involved is on the same page "when it comes to coping with field conditions".

[@timfirth977]

To be fair, not that many British were confident in the water either.

[@Lee-vk1xy]

For those interested in a troopers view of this war I recommend "Quartered Safe Out Here" by George MacDonald Fraser

[@vortega472]

Okay, now Tuesday can begin.

[@adrianybas778]

10:44 isnt it Air Marshal Charles Portal? Anyway, good series overall

[@petergray7576]

"Operation Loincloth and it's follow up, Operation Jockstrap, took place in the moistest, most jungle covered part of the British Empire. The Japanese were hard up to defend the tangle of land they had captured, and the British would have to take great care in penetrating their fortifications." I misread the thumbnail😅

[@augustosolari7721]

When I heard the name of the operation I thought: what a horrendous name!

[@ThomasWLalor]

"A misdirected 'MAIL Drop'!?!?!? w/in a mile of a Japanese outpost?!?!? WTF !?

[@RasVoja]

Brits ALWAYS strike back!

[@TommyGlint]

The Chindit story is a truly remarkable one. Literally 100’s of miles in some of the worst terrain in the world. Succesfully (mostly) engaging the Japanese. The second incursion, Operation Thursday and the heroic defences of ‘Aberdeen’ and ‘White City’ block. The failure of the later ‘Blackpool’ block with Passchendaele like fighting during the monsoon. And finally how they at the end, sadly were pissed away by Stillwell. Some of the men suffered the rest of their lives from the marks the jungle and terrain had inflicted on them, never mind the Japanese.

[@personnelente]

It would be very helpful to have a distance scale on the maps.

[@daniellemartin5689]

I would love to hear about the forgotten 500

[@darrylc1562]

Thank you for your charity my lord.

[@MsDboyy]

Really fascinating ☯️☯️☯️

[@dipankarroy7215]

Please make a video about battle of Haifa.

[@katyp.2495]

Agreed, that would be very interesting.

[@gonuhi]

Can u guys do the taungoo empire of Burma? And it’s war and stuff

[@flyingeagle3898]

This episode was great but I don't remember any real previous coverage of the Flying Tigers or the supplies over the Hump. If I am being forgetful and there are previous segments please let me know, but as is the coverage in this episode felt like it was missing some previous context.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

The US should never have stopped supplying the ROC post-war if they wanted FDR's dream of making them a bulwark in the first place.

[@ONI_002]

shit the "long range penetration" caught me off guard

[@edwardgilmour9013]

I'd like to read what is in the boxes but because you place them at the bottom of the screen they get covered by the youtube text translation The boxes of text would be better at the top of the screen. please

[@anothercommunist4752]

Real honest question, How do you animate the animations of units moving through fields? Is it a downloadable program?

[@KingsandGenerals]

It is After Effects

[@anothercommunist4752]

@@KingsandGenerals Great! thank you so much!

[@scottkrater2131]

Anyone of you history nerds know why Japan had such need of raw cotton imported from the United States? It was often specified exactly how much raw cotton would be allowed to be imported. During negotiations before the outbreak of the war. Thanks if you know.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

It's a matter of time before Slims masterpiece Indian campaign.

[@josephcole8875]

I like the videos very much, but the info boxes get annoying. I want to read them so I have to keep pausing the video because they overlap the narrative. I would prefer just include the info box information in the presentation narrative. I cant read 8 paragraphs through the presentation and also listen to the narrative at the same time.

[@th3falleng0d69]

I recommend also checking out willy OAM here on youtube. He is on the ground in turkey and prior was in ukraine. Hopefully turkey can see aid to start actual recovery and rebuilding.

[@selimbektas06]

Hello, can you add Turkish subtitles for Turkish viewers, Most of your videos have them but not recently. I know that there are many people like me who follow and watch you from Turkey.

[@user-zm6sq7wp1w]

Is there any film about this event ? Like "Objective, Burma!" but it is by the USA side

[@mikkokhun397]

I never known exact Burma strategy from you. They never taught details from school. I am a Myanmar boy.

[@bigsarge2085]

👍👍👍

[@jasoncox7257]

Pretty sure Wavell pronounced correctly, as in wave, didn't write "realized" as in "realised" spelt correctly.

[@jeremyromero2000]

Can you do videos on the Syrian civil war like you’re doing for Ukraine? Or has it been too low intensity?

[@M3chUpN8y]

Yes, the first Chindit campaign!

[@md.ridoanpasha5099]

Why there is Arjen Robben on 5.01?

[@THEDAVILAK1]

All hail the yt algorithm

[@kylelee9474]

[@ericvanljackwax1982]

build up china churchill said well winston you shit the bed on that one lol

[@RoboticDragon]

Is that not the wrong pronunciation for Wavell?

[@Artist_1889]

👍🏻

[@paul5475]

I don't understand why everyone underestimated Japan? The fact that Japan is the only Superpower that being able to occupy much of Americans territory while Italy and Germany struggle in the sea. The fact that Germans and Italians has bigger navy compare to Japan while US is the biggest Navy during the war since the US invested in Navy. The fact that it was in Pacific totally change the modern warfare. It's not all about tanks, it's about aircraft carriers, warships submarines. Germany itself couldn't penetrate Britian even the fact it was just near in their mainland. The fact that China has bigger man power equal towards USSR have. Also add to the fact that after WW2 and during Korean War the US was completely defeated earlier by the Chinese communist who help the North Koreans. The arrogance of the West towards Asia. The fact that the President of US understand that China would became a huge power in the future. And damn say it no mare today. Russia, Germany and Britian ain't close even combine towards China. War do change a lot of things

[@mariusmarcu4892]

sacrifice for the algorithm

[@infoscholar5221]

I remember a british documentary from the 80s, wherein Lord Mountbatten said of Wingate, "The last time I saw him, he looked ill and exhausted. In my opinion, he was a sick man in a hurry." Of course the IRA did for that snob.

[@benefactr1840]

General H H Arnold HS in Wiesbaden Germany. Glad to see the person behind the name.

[@xe2594]

Only 4 years to go

[@burgeryoufoundbehindthegrill]

Who else read the thumbnail as operation loincloth?

[@hatac]

The voice software still can't do long vowels. Wavell wave`ll. Long a.

[@KingsandGenerals]

Not a voice software. Humans do make mistakes.

[@hatac]

@@KingsandGenerals Note while the British could not find ships for the bay of Bengal; months earlier, before Rangoon fell, there was a fleet in the "area". A fleet of ships, including US ships, carrying Australians from the middle east back to Australia was near Ceylon/ Sri Lanka. Churchill tried to redirect them to save Rangoon. The Australian PM threatened to pull all Australians from all theaters of war and go neutral. Australian forces on the ships were secretly ordered to take the ships by force if they turned towards Rangoon. The spat got very heated. In the end the fleet showed up in Perth everyone. Everyone Australians and Americans had read and ignored Churchill's order. All the documents were declassified a few years ago.