Background
Before the war, Balikpapan was a crucial center for Dutch economic enterprises in Borneo. Within the city, lies 2 crude oil processing plants, a paraffin and lube oil plant, a cracking plant, a sulfuric acid plant and a precious petroleum refining plant, a tin and drum factory and several workshops. Most importantly, Balikpapan housed an oil refinery with a complex of petroleum tanks that could hold eight times as much those at Tarakan, employing up to 7,000 native workers and 100 European employers, who produced up to one millions tons of oil annually before the war. As the Dutch began to contemplate the possibility of a Japanese military aggression, they began to bolster defenses to protect the facilities. In 1924, a detachment of 6 infantry brigades was stationed to defend the oilfields of Balikpapan, as well as that of Semboja and Sanga Sanga (supported by 3 additional brigades from Samarinda). Just as the detachment at Tarakan, troops from Java will reinforce the Balikpapan detachment if a threatening situation occurred. In 1933, a battalion staff and 2 companies was sent to strengthen Balikpapan's defenses, as tensions in the Pacific were brewing up at the time. After 4 months, the reinforcement returned to Java. Afterwards, strength of the detachment at Balikpapan was reduced to a single infantry battalion. In Japan's plan to conquer the Dutch East Indies, Balikpapan held both a strategic and tactical significance as a target. Strategically, its oil refinery was vital for Japan's own petroleum production; by occupying it, Japan could have direct access to the large oilfields in Borneo's interior. Tactically, the city also possessed both a harbor and an airfield (Manggar) that would be critical for Japan's occupation of southern Borneo and the capture of Java itself.Order of battle
Japan
Ground forces
Naval forces
Netherlands
United States
59th Destroyer Division (Commander: Paul H. Talbot): * USS ''John D. Ford'' * USS ''Parrott'' * USS ''Paul Jones'' * USS ''Pope''Dutch plans
Dutch garrison in Balikpapan was ordered to defend the city, particularly its oil refineries against ''a coup de main'' and to engage in a delaying action to make time to carry out the destruction of the facilities. Once it seemed clear that the city is to fall into enemy hands, the troops must wage a guerilla war in the hinterlands. For the facility destruction time span, Dutch demolition detachment allotted 3 hours and 8 hours for Balikpapan and Sambodja respectively. However, demolition exercise showed that it would take much more time if the destruction is to be carried out accordingly.Koninklijke Nederlands Indisch Leger (1948), p. 586 For the defensive preparations, van den Hoogenband established a defensive position at Klandasan to block the road from Manggar Airfield to the city. A second defensive line was placed surrounding the radio station (Radio position), with a third line (Rapak position) constructed to cover the retreat into the hinterlands for the guerrilla campaign. To prevent enemy landings, Dutch Navy ( Koninklijke Marine) minelayers ''Japanese plans
As the capture of Tarakan went faster than their predicted timetable, the Sakaguchi Detachment and Western Attack Unit moved up their date to occupy Balikpapan. Their orders are: # The enemy will be contacted and destroyed while very possible effort will be exerted to prevent destruction of the oil refinery installations. The airfield, after its capture, will be used for the invasion of Java. The assault unit will cooperate in the maintenance of the airfield. # The main force immediately upon landing in the vicinity of the airfield will capture it. Simultaneously, a part of the group will secretly go up the river below the port and make a surprise attack at the enemy's rear in order to break the organized resistance of the enemy garrison. As far as possible, they will prevent the destruction of the oil refinery installations. # After the capture of the Balikpapan, the Sanga Sanga Oilfield region will be mopped up and secured # Preparations will be made to make Balikpapan the center of military administration in South Borneo. Despite the timing that was already ahead of the timetable, the debarkation and construction activity to ensure the readiness ofBattle
Ultimatum and demolition (16-20 January)
To carry the aforementioned ultimatum to the defenders, Sakaguchi tasked Capt. Gerard Reinderhoff, former chief of staff to the Tarakan garrison commander, Lt.-Col. Simon de Waal and Capt. Anton Colijn, manager of the BPM oil company on Tarakan, KNIL reservist and son to the former Dutch prime minister Hendrikus Colijn. On the morning of 16 January, they steamed to Balikpapan aboard the captured BPM motor schooner ''Parsifal'' with an Indonesian captain and three Japanese interpreters (other sources say two Japanese naval lieutenants and two sailors; others mentioned three Japanese interpreters and two Indonesian police officers). Two Dornier Do-24 seaplanes of MLD's GVT.4 Squadron sighted ''Parsifal'', flying a Japanese flag on 19 January. Differing sources indicate that Colijn and Reinderhoff either overpowered or deceived their captors —some accounts claim the Japanese were drunk— and managed to lock them inside a cabin. Colijn then immediately tore down the Japanese ensign, while Reinderhoff waved a Dutch flag. As the seas were too rough for a landing, the Dorniers flew off and returned the next day. The Dorniers returned and landed the following morning, picked up Colijn and Reinderhoff and flew them to Balikpapan, where they delivered the ultimatum directly to van den Hoogenband. van den Hoogenband wasted no time and immediately gave the order for the demolition team to began destroying all the wells, refineries and port facilities in Balikpapan. The destruction had actually already begun ahead on 18 January. In the Louise oilfields located north of Balikpapan, Dutch demolition teams dismantled the well tubing, cut off to a depth of 15 meter, which were then dropped down the holes together with pump plungers and accessory rods. To complete the work, materials such as bolts, nuts, and heavy drilling bits was thrown after them. Finally, a tin containing four pieces of TNT was thrown in to destroy the casing strings. Within a few days “all motors, pumps, dynamos and turbines were blown up. At Balikpapan proper, stills and steam boilers were first wrecked, which took about a day and a half; about thirty hours of “heavy stoking” were required to collapse the shells of the stills, after which the teams destroyed the boilers for five to eight hours. The destruction of the installations then continued throughout the region and at the port itself. First, the teams set fire to the wharves by encircling the channels with burning oil from ignited gasoline drums. They then blew up the factories; the paraffin-wax factory, the packed lubricating-oil drum store, the saltwater pumping station were all dynamited. A newly constructed tin plant in the Pandansari factory was also burned down. The destruction efforts ended with the obliteration of laboratories, tank farms, and the power station, with chains of explosions shattering windows throughout the town. By nightfall on 20 January, the blaze from the destructions could be seen over 100 km away.Evacuation (20-23 January)
From mid-January 1942, BPM personnel and civilians still left behind began to be airlifted out of Balikpapan. After the fall of Tarakan, three Lockheed Lodestars from the ML-KNIL and a DC-2 from the KNILM were stationed at Surabaya to carry out resupply and evacuation flights. Hundreds of evacuees were flown toFleet interception (21-23 January)
At 17:00 on the 21 January, the Japanese invasion fleet of one light cruiser, ten destroyers, four minesweepers, three submarine chasers, three patrol boats and sixteen transport ships left Tarakan for Balikpapan. A MLD Dornier spotted the fleet that same day, but heavy clouds with strong winds and prolonged rain prevented the plane from shadowing the fleet. On the next day, U.S. Navy submarines ''S-40'', '' Pickerel'', ''Porpoise'', ''Saury'', ''Spearfish'' and ''Sturgeon'' were ordered to intercept the fleet. Later, they were joined by Dutch submarines ''K-XIV'' and ''K-XVIII''. ''Sturgeon'' fired several torpedoes on the convoy and reported sinking three ships. However, postwar records failed to confirm any damages to the convoy. On 23 January, an AmericanLand engagement (23-25 January)
Around midnight, reports reached van den Hoogenband of craft movements in Balikpapan Bay, heading towards the Klandasan position. Dense smoke from the burning facilities made it difficult for Dutch searchlights to observe the water front ahead of them, enabling Kanauji's Raid Unit to sail unhindered into Wain River behind the Dutch lines. A Dutch patrol soon reported this movement to van den Hoogenband, who ordered 2nd Company to secure the Dutch 120 mm guns and sent out overvalwagen armored cars to patrol and report for any enemy troop activities in their inland retreat route. At 03:30 on the 24th, the Raid Unit entered mouth of the Wain River, where they were greeted by two Indonesian police officers who guided them inland.Koninklijke Nederlands Indisch Leger (1948), p. 590Remmelink (2015), p. 359 At daybreak, 2nd Company reported that they managed to prevent Kanauji from reaching Balikpapan and threatening their retreat route. Yet at 06:30, van den Hoogenband received reports of Japanese troops advancing east towards their defensive lines, and by 07:00, Japanese troops were nearing the Klandasan position. With little reserve at his disposal, van den Hoogenband is left to choose on whether he should reinforce the Klandasan position, or attempt a break out through the Raid Unit and retreat inland. As there is little merit in defending a ruined city, van den Hoogenband chose to do the latter. He informed the General Headquarters in Bandung of his decision and ordered his troops to destroy the guns, searchlights and radio station and bolster the rear defenses for the breakout. 2nd Company was now ordered to go on the offensive and capture and hold the Wain River pumping station to enable the rest of the forces to retreat. Later, even though there were no reports from them, van den Hoogenband was under the impression that 2nd Company managed to hold the pumping station and that the overvalwagen patrols have kept the retreat routes safe from Japanese troops. At 09:00, he assembled his troops and their families, 700 in all in about 100 trucks and other vehicles. Led by an overvalwagen, they began their breakout push inland and retreated to Batoehampar (Batu Ampar). Kanauji's forces eventually landed at 17:30 that day. On the 25th, the Raid Unit split up, with one element advancing to seize the pumping station, another advancing toward Balikpapan, and the rest of the main force moving up on the road between Batu Ampar and Balikpapan. At 14:40, when the main force advanced into Batu Ampar, they defeated a Dutch force (unknown, either 2nd Company or parts of van den Hoogenband's column) and taking them prisoner, effectively cutting off any line of retreat inland. Earlier, at 02:40 on the 24th, the Airfield Seizure and Assault Units landed without meeting any resistance and by daybreak, they seized the airfield and the bridges. Even though van den Hoogenband's troops have destroyed the bridges on the coastal road, Yamamoto's troops managed to reach the north end of Balikpapan by night. By 04:00 on the 25th, the Assault Unit entered Balikpapan unopposed. After nightfall, the Raid Unit managed to link up with the Assault Unit when they entered the city, and with it, Balikpapan was in Japanese hands.Remmelink (2018), p. 195Naval engagement (24 January)
As Japanese forces embarked onto their landing crafts and made their way to Balikpapan, Dutch submarine HNLMS ''K-XVIII'', underRetreat into Samarinda II (24 January - 6 February)
Upon reaching Batu Ampar, van den Hoogenband realized that Japanese troops has occupied defensive points leading into the pumping station. His forces now had to retreat through the evacuation camps, upon which several hundred women and children, mostly families of the Indonesian soldiers, joined his column. On 25 January, they received report that the Wain River pumping station was already under Japanese control. Considering that his troops are too fatigued by now, van den Hoogenband refrained from attacking the pumping station and persuaded the women and children to return to Balikpapan, as there's better chance there to obtain food. Part of them went back to the evacuation camp, while others remained in the ''kampungs'' (villages) around Wain River. The remainder of 500 soldiers continued the retreat north.Koninklijke Nederlands Indonesisch Leger (1948), p. 636De Jong (1984), p. 830. Throughout the retreat, Dutch troops encountered difficulties in replenishing their equipment and obtain food, as most of the food depots had been taken over by Japanese forces. It was not until they reached the road between Mentawir and Semoi that they managed to find rice storages in a labor camp. On 3 February, the column reached the Boeat (Buat) ''kampung'', where they obtain more provisions, as well as additional intelligence. Local officials informed van den Hoogenband that Japanese troops had occupied Samarinda city that same day, but the Samarinda II airfield was still under Dutch control. Advised by the officials, the Dutch column now retreated into Kota Bangoen (Kota Bangun), where there are transport ships that can take them along theAllied air attacks on Balikpapan (24 - 30 January)
24 January
During and after the occupation of Balikpapan, ABDA Air Force, mainly that of the Dutch, launch daily air raids from Samarinda II airfield to help destabilize, if not dislodging Japanese forces. On 24 January, the first wave strike Japanese forces at 07:15, consisted of 10 Martin B-10 bombers of the 1-VLG-I Squadron escorted by 14 Buffalos of the 1-VLG-V and 2-VLG-V Squadrons. Despite heavy Japanese AA fire, no Dutch planes were shot down. Dutch pilots claimed that they sank a transport ship, damaged another one and strike the destroyer ''Kawakaze'' again. Yet Japanese reports showed that the attack failed to damage or sunk a single ship.Boer (1987), p. 179Remmelink (2018), p. 194 At approximately 08:00, three Japanese Navy Zeros operating out of Tarakan conducted a strafing run over Samarinda II airfield. A KNILM DC-3 with three BPM evacuees onboard was straddled but managed to crash land in the jungle. A group of Dayak people and a missionary later saved them, though one of the BPM evacuee died of his injury beforehand. Dutch AA fire from the airfield shot down a Zero that crashed intact, thus enabling Dutch forces to obtain intel on the fighter's strengths and weaknesses. Between 09:00 and 09:50, eight B-17 Flying Fortresses of the U.S.25 January
On the next day, the attack started with the deployment of nine Martin B-10s of the 1-VLG-I Squadron. Once again, bad weather scattered the formation. When the bombers reached Balikpapan at 08:00, they were immediately engaged by four Zeros. In a 25-minute aerial battle, the Zeros shot down one Martin and damaged three other, while losing one to the bomber's defensive fire. The remaining bombers then were moved to Oelin Airfield in Banjarmasin. The Dutch also send 6 Buffalos of 2-VLG-V Squadron for armed reconnaissance around Balikpapan. The flight yielded no results as the heavy smoke layers and dense rain obscure the pilot's visions. As soon as the Buffalos returned around 09:30, 27 Mitsubishi G4M 'Betty' bombers bombarded Samarinda II from a height of 21,000 ft (6,500 m), which makes them impervious to Dutch AA defenses. Three Buffalos took off and attempted to intercept them, but they did not damage or shot down any bombers. The raid rendered Samarinda II's runways partially unusable and damaged two Buffalos. Later at 15:30, four Zeros and a Babs strafed the airfield and destroyed a Martin and a Buffalo. The Americans followed up on this attack by sending eight B-17s of the 7th and 19th Bomb Group at 11:00. Bad weather forced four of them to turn back to Malang along the way, with three of the four eventually made emergency landings on the beach of Madura Island due to lack of fuel. Meeting the same fate as the Dutch planes before them, the remaining Flying Fortresses were promptly intercepted by Japanese Zeros. The B-17 defenses managed to shoot down two of them, but one of the four B-17 was so badly damaged, that it had to made an emergency landing at Oelin. By the end of the day, the attacks failed to generate any damages or loss to the Japanese fleet.27 January
The next raid took place two days later, as heavy cloud cover have been preventing both the Japanese and the Allies from launching any attacks at all. Beforehand, ML-KNIL withdrew a majority of their Martin-B10s and Buffalos from Borneo between 25 and 27 January, as Samarinda IIs discovery has rendered it useless as an effective airfield. The Martins were withdrawn to29 January
Two days later, five Flying Fortresses made another run on the Japanese fleet. One of the bomber returned en route, while the remaining four were attacked by 13 Zeros for 30 minutes over Balikpapan. One B-17 crashed on the return flight due to its damage. The Americans believed that they managed to shoot down six Zeros, but Japanese records indicated that only one was shot down, and another one was damaged on landing at Manggar Airfield.Remmelink (2018), p. 19930 January
The day after, the 19th Bomb Group conducted two separate raids, both of which did not inflict any damage as well. The first raid during the day by three B-17 did not succeed, as all three bombers had to turn back en route due to bad weather and engine failure. Later that night, two LB-30 bombers attacked the fleet individually, about an hour apart, to no avail. This night attack was the last Allied attempt to stem the Japanese fleet advance in the context of the battle of Balikpapan.Aftermath
After completed occupying Balikpapan's urban area the previous day, the Sakaguchi Detachment began mopping up any remaining Dutch resistance and setting up Manggar Airfield on 26 January. Although the Dutch had thoroughly destroyed the refineries and other supporting facilities, Japanese defense details managed to repair the oilfields and kept them running from June 1942 until August 1943, when the first Allied air raids began bombarding them once more. With a high octane rating, the Balikpapan refinery was greatly utilized in supporting Japanese military operations in the southwestern Pacific theater. Manggar Airfield was repaired on 27 January and on the next day, nine Zeros of the 23rd Air Flotilla landed there, and its established its headquarters on the airfield by the 30th. The Sakaguchi Detachment also placed its main force and established a military administration in the city.Casualties
In all, the loss sustained by the Sakaguchi Detachment in the operation was eight men killed on land and 39 at sea (when ''Tsuruga Maru'' sank). For the Japanese Navy, at least 121 naval crews perished. In all, the Japanese material losses were (bracket indicate ship's cargo): Sunk: * '' Nana Maru'' (Aviation fuel) * ''Tsuruga Maru'' (Field Artillery Battalion headquarters, one field artillery battery, the AA Battalion headquarters, one AA battery, medical unit) * ''Sumanoura Maru'' (Mines and depth charges) * ''Tatsugami Maru'' (Munitions) * ''Kuretake Maru'' (3rd Battalion headquarters, the 12th Company, the 3rd Machine Gun Company) Badly damaged: * Patrol boat ''P-37'' * ''Asahisan Maru'' Slightly damaged: * '' Kumagawa Maru'' * '' Sanuki Maru'' Out of 1,100 Dutch defenders, only 200 managed to reach Samarinda II on 6 February, where a majority of them were evacuated to Java.Koninklijke Nederlands Indonesisch Leger (1948), p. 636.Analyses
During the naval battle, TF 5 expended 48 torpedoes, but only managed to sink four of the 12 transports with seven confirmed hits (15% success rate). This poor performance is mainly caused by the unreliability of the Mark 15 torpedo that have the tendency to either run deeper than set or became duds when hitting its target.Womack (2016), p. 121 Commander Talbot was also criticized for attacking the transports at high speed, which might have impaired the torpedoes' accuracy, which was also being operated by inexperienced crews.Cox (2014), p. 162. Even though the battle did not have any effect on preventing the capture of Balikpapan, it was still the first surface engagement in Southeast Asia that the U.S. Navy had participated in since the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898. Its success helped boost the morale among the Americans and let the Dutch know that their ally are not shying away from a fight. Balikpapan remained under Japanese control until July 1945, when an Australian-led force liberated the city.Notes
References
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