RKS Uthong (CL-1910)

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The two Uthong class were typical broadside cruisers of the time. What differed from the French, German, and Royal Navy cruisers, which all had 6"/5.9" sized weapons, the Uthong had the same 5.5" guns as mounted on the Xiaowu class battleships, fitted with a shield. The smaller 84 pound shells were easier to load than the 100-110 pound shells in the bigger guns. Originally there were four 75mm anti-torpedoboat guns fitted. One on the bandstand in front of the mainmast was swapped out for a 75mm AA gun in 1917. All four had become 75mm AA guns by 1938. The one glaring omission from the ships was the lack of torpedo mountings either of surface or submerged tubes.

The two ships were still in existence in 1940, but they were both being used as static harbour defence vessels. One at Indrapura, and the other at Oc Eo. These were major ports and building facilities for the Empire and deserved first class defence measures. The three Liu class also provided a lot of the weapons mounted around the three major ports. The two Uthong class had the three 5.5" from the unengaged side dismounted and moved to concrete mountings around the port they were in.

I have used the three lots of 1908-1910 classes of ship to provide defence to the major ports and the oil port. The British did a similar thing by mounting the 18" guns from the Furious on Singapore Island pointing seaward as part of the Islands defences. The mighty Singapore Fortress, but so vulnerable to attack from the rear. I have read where the defenders were digging in to face the Japanese across the Johore Channel, part of this was across a golf course, where the Superintendent threw a hissy fit, as he did not want his perfectly manicured fairways and greens defiled by the Army. Such was the idiocy that faced the troops trying to do their job. Another idiocy. Indian troops were defending in Northern Malaya against the Japanese. The Indians were completely routed as they had never faced tanks before. They had never been taught how to defend against armoured vehicles. Malaya with its jungle terrain was thought to be immune to the use of tanks. Somebody should have told the Japanese.

I have been working out in my mind who I would like Khmer to join. The Greater Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere or the Allied Nations. Both sides have merit. Or could end in disaster very quickly. If Khmer joined Japan it would only be as a junior partner. The Japanese would feel they were superior in every way to the Khmer people. It is one of the things that go against any Asian country joining the Japanese voluntarily. Khmer would be told what to do and if losses were to be taken, Japan would try its best to insure they were Khmer losses. Quite frankly I can see a lot of problems with Khmer and Japan trying to work together. No common language, no common training, both very proud people. The two fleets would be unable to work with each other until signal books, code books, even enough interpreters are available so they can talk to each other. I can imagine the chaos with Khmer and Japanese forces attacking other Allied Asian countries. 'Friendly fire' would take on a whole new meaning. I can see it taking 6-12 months before the forces would be integrated enough to be able to fight as a cohesive force. Unfortunately, by then, Midway would have happened, and the Japanese would be on the defensive from then on. Khmer would be a sideshow and once they could see the writing on the wall, Khmer would be encouraged to stab the Japanese in the back. Especially after dealing with the Japanese first hand for 6-12 months.

On the flip side what would happen if Khmer joined the Allies? Khmer has a very long coast line and has its Northern border already under threat by the Japanese troops in China. The Khmer troops are well trained and are superior jungle fighters. Think of Gurkha's in the trees. But they also had the use of small tanks and armoured cars of French origin, so would be able to counter any Japanese armoured vehicles. They would be a tough nut to crack for the Japanese land forces. However it would be a different tune at sea. The Japanese forces were far superior in numbers and now battle training. After Pearl Harbour the Japanese carriers carried out raids against Darwin, Australis, and into the Indian Ocean against the Allied forces there. Would the Khmer Navy be more than just another bump in the road for the Japanese Navy in early 1942?

The same problem with integration of forces would apply to Khmer and the Allied nations. No common language. Khmer's second language was French. English was about fourth. Australis and the US were pretty racist toward Asian peoples. Look what the US did to its own people of Japanese origin - concentration camps. Besides the Khmer Empire had been bleeding tariff money out of the Allied nations for centuries. Why should they care about the fate of Khmer?

The only thing I can think of for that is: "my enemies, enemy, must be my friend". That applied to the Allies and Russia. Roosevelt was very happy to supply Russia with as much weaponry as they could. The Russians were slaughtering Germans by the division load. Less Germans the US would have to fight when the Allies went into Europe on D-Day and beyond. As long as Khmer was in the fight against the Japanese, then they would be drawing forces away from attacking Allied forces in the Pacific and Asia. The Japanese would want access to Khmer resources. Would the Japanese give Khmer the big ultimatum - join us or face the consequences?

I am still not near a decision. I can write scenarios for both.

 

General Uthong led the Army during the initial incorporation of the various states into what became the Khmer Empire.


 

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