For the British Empire it was a military disaster, but for Imperial Japan the conquest of Malaya was one of the pivotal campaigns of World War II. Giving birth to the myth of the Imperial Japanese Army's invincibility, the victory left both Burma and India open to invasion. Although heavily outnumbered, the Japanese Army fought fiercely to overcome the inept and shambolic defense offered by the British and Commonwealth forces.

Detailed analysis of the conflict, combined with a heavy focus on the significance of the aerial campaign, help tell the fascinating story of the Japanese victory, from the initial landings in Thailand and Malaya, through to the destruction of the Royal Navy's Force Z and the final fall of Singapore itself.

Mark E. Stille (Commander, United States Navy, retired) received his BA in History from the University of Maryland and an MA from the Naval War College. He has worked in the intelligence community for 35 years. He is currently a senior analyst working in the Washington, D.C. area. He is the author of numerous Osprey titles.