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Table 1
The Battles of Crete, Hong Kong and Singapore
Compared
British possessions Crete Hong Kong Singapore taken by Axis forces (date) 14 16 (evacuation: 31.5.1941) (surrender: 25.12.1941) (surrender: 15.2.1942) Land area defended (approx, square km) 8,30017 1,01318 58219 Local British air superiority immediately before and during the battle no no no (virtually no air combat capabilities force ab initio) Local British naval superiority immediately before and during the battle yes no no (due to loss of the Prince of Wales and Repulse) Length of fighting prior to evacuation/surrender 11 days (20.5.1941-31.5.1941) 17 days (8.12.1941-25.12.1941) 7 days (8.2.1942-15.2.1942) [Battle of Malaya: 70 days: 8.12.1941-15.2.1942] No. of British POW taken by Axis forces 12,000 approx. 10,000 approx. 130,000 approx. Strength of defenders prior to Axis invasion 42,640 12,931 85,000 Strength of invading Axis forces (excluding naval and air forces) 22,000 40,000 35,000 Ratio of strength of invading to defending forces (X) 0.52 3.09 0.42 [Battle of Malaya: 0.5] British Losses During hostilities [loss rate] 15,743 [37%] 4,413 [34%] 3,708 [4%] (killed in action: 3,000) (killed in action: 2,113) [Battle of Malaya: 138,708 killed, wounded and captured]