Battle of Elephant Point

Battle of Elephant Point
Part of Operation Dracula, the Burma campaign, the South-East Asian theatre of World War II and the Pacific Theater of World War II
Gurkha paratroopers check their equipment before being dropped on a series of strategic points around Rangoon
Date 1 May 1945 Location Near Rangoon 16°27′N 96°19′E / 16.45°N 96.32°E / 16.45; 96.32 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  India	Japan
Commanders and leaders
Major Jack Newland	Unknown
Strength
Composite parachute battalion	Japanese forces
Casualties and losses
Disputed (see notes)	Disputed (see notes)
First major airborne operation by 44th Indian Airborne Division

The Battle of Elephant Point was an airborne operation at the mouth of the Rangoon River conducted by a composite Gurkha airborne battalion that took place on 1 May 1945. In March 1945, plans were made for an assault on Rangoon, the capital of Burma, as a stepping-stone on the way to recapturing Malaya and Singapore. Initial plans for the assault on the city had called for a purely land-based approach by British Fourteenth Army, but concerns about heavy Japanese resistance led to this being modified with the addition of a joint amphibious-airborne assault. This assault, led by 26th Indian Division, would sail up the Rangoon River, but before it could do so, the river would have to be cleared of Japanese and British mines. In order to achieve this, coastal defences along the river would have to be neutralized, including a battery at Elephant Point.

This task was given to the 44th Indian Airborne Division. However, as the division was in the middle of a reorganisation, a composite battalion was formed from two Gurkha parachute battalions. The battalion assembled and trained throughout April, and was then dropped near Elephant Point early in the morning of 1 May. As it advanced towards the battery one of the battalion's companies was attacked by American bombers, causing a number of casualties. Despite this friendly fire incident, and torrential rain, the battalion successfully assaulted Elephant Point, neutralising the battery there after a fierce firefight. The battalion held the area around Elephant Point until 2 May, when the 26th Indian Division conducted its amphibious assault up the river and secured Rangoon.