 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Mapoka engarava dzepasi pemvura akapinda mukurovedza kunoverengeka muna 1938 na 1939. Muna November 1940, pashure pokurwisana kwakawanda pamuganhu, Hondo yeFrance neThailand isina kuziviswanharaunda dzomuganhu dzinopokanidzwa dzakatanga apo Royal Thai Air Force yakaita kurwisa kwemhepo pazvivako zvemauto muFrench Indochina. Mauto ehondo akaunganidzwa kuti adzivirire mvura dzeThailand, uye ngarava dzepasi pemvura dzakaita basa rokuongorora muGulf of Thailand. Zvisinei, havana kukwanisa kudzivisa kurwisa kwechimbichimbi kwechikepe cheFrance, izvo zvakakonzera kurasikirwa kukuru kwechikepe cheThai muHondo yeKo Chang musi wa17 Ndira 1941. Pashure pehondo yacho, ngarava dzepasi pemvura dzakatumirwa kunorinda pedyo neReam Naval Base muCambodia yanhasi, asi hapana kumwe kurwisana kwezvikepe kwakaitika uye Japan yakakurumidza kutaurirana kupera kwehondo. 