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.
Date12 February 1916
Location
Salaita, near Mount Kilimanjaro
Result German victory
Belligerents

 Germany

 United Kingdom

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.