XV Corps: The Third Arakan Campaign, December 1944– April 1945

By December 1944 Christison had four infantry divisions, the 50th Tank Brigade and the 3rd Commando Brigade at his disposal in XV Corps. Intimate naval support was provided by Force 64, comprising the Arakan Coastal Forces of inshore gunboats and the 90-odd minor landing craft too decrepit to have been sent to the Mediterranean in 1943. These forces had been working closely alongside XV Corps throughout the previous campaigning season together with the corps’ own substantial IWT group, providing waterborne tactical and logistic support along the coast and rivers. In addition Amphibious Force W, which arrived at last from the Mediterranean at the end of 1944 with some 82 landing ships and heavier landing craft, was to support an amphibious assault on Akyab. Christison formed a joint service headquarters to command the forthcoming operations, with Rear Admiral Martin, commanding Force W as the Naval Commander, and Air Vice Marshal the Earl of Brandon commanding 224 Group, as the Air Commander.

The first phase of the advance was to be the 25th Indian Division's seizure of Foul Point, at the southern tip of the Mayu Peninsula, during January 1945. Once that had been achieved the 26th Indian Division was to make an amphibious assault on Akyab, landed by Force W, with a planning date of 20 January (see Map 4). ALFSEA LofC Command would then take control of Akyab and develop the new base to support the 14th Army while XV Corps carried on with the clearance of north Arakan, sustained by naval amphibious craft and its own IWT. The 25th Division's advance down the Mayu Peninsula began on 14 December 1944, just as the main breakout of XXXIII Corps was starting from the bridgehead east of the Chindwin at Kalewa, and it proceeded a good deal quicker than anticipated. The Mayu Peninsula was cleared by 27 December, three weeks before Force W and the 26th Division were ready to make the landing on Akyab.