Swatow Operation

Swatow Operation
Part of the Second Sino-Japanese War and the interwar period

Troops of the Sasebo 9th SNLF shortly before landing in Swatow, June 21 1939
Date (1939-06-21) (1939-06-27)June 21–27, 1939
(6 days)
Location
Result Japanese victory
Territorial
changes
Japanese forces occupied Shantou and Chaozhou
Belligerents
 Japan  China
Commanders and leaders
Nobutake Kondō
Jūrō Gotō
Hua Chen-chung
Units involved
 Imperial Japanese Navy
 Imperial Japanese Army
 Republic of China Army
Strength
43,000 13,669
Casualties and losses
? Chinese claim:
754 killed
477 wounded
1,258 missing

The Swatow Operation (June 21–27, 1939; Chinese: 潮汕戰鬥) was part of a campaign by Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War to blockade China in order to prevent it from communicating with the outside world and importing needed arms and materials. Control of Swatow and its harbour would provide a base to make the blockade of Guangdong province more effective.