Efforts made by the British to protect Singapore

On the 8th of December, 1941, slightly after 4 a.m., Japanese warplanes had flown over Singapore and bombed the whole city.  In less than 70 days, Singapore fell over to the Japanese.

Japanese 'zero' fighter plane

WHAT EFFORTS DID THE BRITISH MAKE TO DEFEND SINGAPORE?

After World War II, Britain was  financially drained and it could no longer maintain a strong naval presence in the Far East. However, Britain saw the need of defending its empire in the Far East as the Japanese were building a powerful navy.

Because they spent so much of money on the weapons, medical aids, ships, underground bunkers and various equipments for defence, they had no money left. Thus, they were financially drained. They couldn't afford to spend anymore money. As a human, if you are only given $1 to spend for the whole week, you would not go and spend on expensive things. This was the same case for Britain. They didn't wish to spend anymore money.

However, the Japanese was building a powerful navy. Their navy was beginning to be strong. It was so strong that nobody dared to challenge them.Japan could easily defeat any country, for their navy was strong.
Britain was beginning to be afraid and they had to do something. If they were not going to start early to protect the British empire from the Japanese, they were going to be doomed. They had to do something.

Conversation between British officials:

BO 1: The Japanese are building such a powerful navy out there. What should we do? If we don't do something in time, the whole British empire is going to vanish.They would take over all our land!

BO 2: If we want to solve this problem. There is only one thing that we could do.

BO 1: What is it?

BO 2: We have to maintain a strong naval presence in the Far East.  We have got no other choice than this.If you want to protect yourself from their powerful navy, that's the only choice. The naval presence would at least do a part in defending the British Empire from them.

BO 1: WHAT? What are you trying to say? We are already out of money and are financially drained because of the World War I. Don't tell me we have to even lose another penny.

BO 2: I know how much it costs. However, we have no other choice. This is the only way. Our people wouldn't be pleased if we let the Japanese take over them.

BO 1: Okay, we shall invest in our money. But I feel that we should come up with a strategy.


   



After Britain decided on defending its empire in the Far East, they came up with a strategy.
It was known as the "Main Fleet to Singapore". This strategy works like if there is any trouble in Asia, Britain would send ships from Europe to there. Ships can't just land like airplanes or move on land like cars. Even airplanes need runway. If you want to stop your ships or battleships, you need a dock, or historically known as a naval base. It is a base which holds ships which came over there for stopping. Britain had no other choice bu to maintain the fleet by building a naval base. They chose Singapore for the naval base.The naval base was successfully completed in 1938.

One cannot just leave a naval base alone, just like the way it was. The British built the naval base to contain the fleet of ships. This was a form of defence against the japanese. However, it is necessary to protect and defend the naval base itself and initiatives are to be taken.

                                                                 NAVAL BASE
                 

15- inch guns, mounted on
ships, were facing the sea.

Military airfields were built at Tengah
and Sembawang.

Underground bunkers were built
at Fort Canning, Labrador and Sembawang

         


Meanwhile, in 1937, Japan invaded China. Japan was beginning to attack other countries.
         

Poster of the Axis Powers

Several countries like the USA, protested against Japan's invasion on China (Second Sino-Japanese War). USA cut off their oil supply to Japan. Therefore, Japan had less oil. Japan had to somehow search for oil. Japan then targeted Southeast Asia, as it was rich in oil and other raw materials. 


In September 1937, war broke out in Europe. In September, 1937, Japan signed a treaty of friendship with Germany and Italy. They claimed themselves as the Axis Powers. At that point of time, Germany was ruled by a fascist group, known as the Nazis, which was led by Adolf Hitler. The whole view and aim of signing the treaty of friendship, was due to the desires of Germany and Japan. Germany wanted to rule the whole of Europe, whereas Japan wanted to rule the whole of Asia and the Pacific region.

HMS Repulse

In 1941, more Indian, British and Australian troops arrived in Singapore to defend both Malaya and Singapore from a possible Japanese attack. The British needed more men for defence and protection. On the 2nd of December, 1941, the battleships, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse arrived in Singapore. However, the British could not send more naval and air reinforcements because of its involvements in the war in Europe and North Africa.

HMS Prince of Wales

On 7 December 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
Simultaneously, the Japanese began their attacks on Malaya and other parts of Southeast Asia. On 10 December 1941, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were sunk off the coast of Kuantan by the Japanese.
The two ships sank just within 8 days they reached Singapore. It was a waste that the British send those two ships to Singapore.