Battle of Shangshak | |||||||
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Part of the Battle of Imphal | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
British India Nepal[1] | Japan | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Maxwell Hope-Thomson | Shigesaburō Miyazaki | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
approx. 1 understrength parachute brigade, elements of two infantry battalions, one mtn bty | approx. 1+ infantry regiment, elements of two regiments | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
652 | 400+ |
The Battle of Shangshak took place in Manipur in the forested and mountainous frontier area between India and Burma, from 20 March to 26 March 1944. The Japanese drove a parachute brigade (fighting as infantry) of the British Indian Army from its positions with heavy casualties, but suffered heavy casualties themselves. The delay imposed on the Japanese by the battle allowed British and Indian reinforcements to reach the vital position at Kohima before the Japanese.