0800 Hours, 4 February 1943, Near Akyab, Burma – The weather front was rolling in as predicted and the low-lying clouds promised to have a significant impact on Allied air operations. Major General Koga would have preferred a few more days to prepare but Lieutenant General Iida who had conveniently taken up residence in his divisional command post made it clear that was not an option.
The 65th Infantry Brigade had successfully extracted itself from the vise that was closing on it between the British and the Indian troops and with the brigade joining the 55th Infantry Division, Koga now had the equivalent of a full-strength division for the upcoming attempt to break the Allied lines around Akyab. The attack was scheduled to begin at sunset. The more lightly armed troops from the 65th Brigade were tasked with the initial assault with lead battalion primarily composed of the grounded IJN sailors who had been drafted into the IJA on Ramree Island. There was nothing particularly sophisticated about Koga’s plan. Send in the lightly equipped second line troops against the dug in East Africans in rushes. While there was no doubt many of these men would die for the Emperor, if they could punch enough holes in the East Africans’ lines, the 55th Division could break through and drive toward Akyab.