Battle of Christmas Island
| Battle of Christmas Island | |||||||||
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| Part of the Indian Ocean theatre and Pacific Theatre of World War II | |||||||||
 Christmas Island |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 United States United Kingdom India
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 Japan
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| unknown |
 Shōji Nishimura
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| Strength | |||||||||
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Land: 32 infantry Sea: 1 submarine |
Land: 850 infantry Sea: 3 light cruisers 8 destroyers 1 oiler 2 troop transports Air: unknown aircraft |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 27 captured | 1 light cruiser damaged | ||||||||
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The Battle of Christmas Island was a small engagement which began on 31 March 1942, during World War II. Because of a mutiny by Indian soldiers against their British officers, Japanese troops were able to occupy Christmas Island without any resistance. However, the American submarine Seawolf caused severe damage to the Japanese cruiser Naka.
At the time, Christmas Island was a British possession under administrative control of the Straits Settlement, situated 161 nmi (185 mi; 298 km) south of Java. It was important for two reasons: it was a perfect control post for the east Indian Ocean and it was an important source of phosphates, which were needed by Japanese industry.
After the occupation of Java, Japanese Imperial General Headquarters issued orders for "Operation X" (the Invasion and Occupation of Christmas Island) on 14 March 1942.
Rear Admiral Shōji Nishimura was assigned to command the Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet's Occupation Force, with the light cruiser Naka as his flagship. The fleet also consisted of the light cruisers Nagara and Natori, and destroyers Minegumo, Natsugumo, Amatsukaze, Hatsukaze, Satsuki, Minazuki, Fumizuki and Nagatsuki, oiler Akebono Maru and transports Kimishima Maru and Kumagawa Maru, with 850 men of the 21st and 24th Special Base Forces and the 102nd Construction Unit.
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