Battle of Salaita Hill

Battle of Salaita
Part of the East African campaign
British 4-inch naval guns on improvised carriages in position above Njoro Drift during the two day bombardment of German positions at Salaita, 8 March 1916.
Date 12 February 1916 Location Salaita, near Mount Kilimanjaro Result German victory
Belligerents
Germany German East Africa	United Kingdom  South Africa Rhodesia  India
Commanders and leaders
Georg Kraut	Wilfrid Malleson
Strength
2,300	6,000 41 machine guns 18 field guns
Casualties and losses
Unknown (but light)	172 killed, wounded or missing

The Battle of Salaita Hill (German: Battle of Oldoboro Hill) was the first large-scale engagement of the East African Campaign of the First World War to involve British, Indian, Rhodesian, and South African troops. The battle took place on February 12, 1916, as part of the three-pronged offensive into German East Africa launched by General Jan Smuts, who had been given overall command of the Allied forces in the region.