Borneo Campaign (1945) order of battle

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Borneo campaign (1945)
Tarakan – Oboe Six – North Borneo – Balikpapan Order of battle

This is the complete order of battle of Allied and Japanese forces during the Borneo Campaign of 1945. As the campaign was fought in three geographically separate areas and the same air and naval units supported more than one of these battles the order of battle is split into the three areas.

Contents 1 Summary order of battle 1.1 Allied forces 1.2 Japanese forces 2 Battle of Tarakan (1945) 2.1 Allied units ("Oboe One Force") 2.1.1 Ground forces 2.1.2 Air units 2.1.3 Naval units 2.2 Japanese units 3 Operation Oboe Six 4 Battle of North Borneo 5 Battle of Balikpapan (1945) 5.1 Allied units 5.1.1 Ground forces 5.1.2 Air units 5.1.3 Naval forces 5.2 Japanese Units 6 References

[edit] Summary order of battle

[edit] Allied forces

• General Headquarters South West Pacific Area
  • Allied Land Forces
    • Australian I Corps
      • Australian 7th Division
      • Australian 9th Division
  • Allied Air Forces
    • Advanced RAAF Command
      • Australian First Tactical Air Force
      • United States Thirteenth Air Force
  • Allied Naval Forces
    • Seventh Amphibious Force
      • Amphibious Group Six

[edit] Japanese forces

• Southern Army (Saigon)
  • Japanese Seventh Area Army
    • Japanese 37th Army
      • 56th Independent Mixed Brigade (Brunei)
      • 71st Independent Mixed Brigade (Kuching)
      • 25th Independent Mixed Regiment (North Borneo)
      • 455th Independent Infantry Battalion (Balikpapan)
      • 553rd Independent Infantry Battalion (Miri)
      • 554th Independent Infantry Battalion (Sandakan)
      • 774th Independent Infantry Battalion (Tenom)
      • Army-Navy Headquarters Tarakan
      • 22nd Special Naval Base Force (Balikpapan)
• Japanese 3rd Air Army (Singapore)
  • Japanese 10th Independent Flying Brigade
    • 83rd Flying Regiment

[edit] Battle of Tarakan (1945)

[edit] Allied units ("Oboe One Force")

[edit] Ground forces

• 26th Brigade Group (detached from Australian 9th Division)^[1]
  • 2/23rd Infantry Battalion
  • 2/24th Infantry Battalion
  • 2/48th Infantry Battalion
  • 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion (fought as infantry)
  • 2/4th Cavalry Commando Squadron
  • C Squadron, 2/9th Armoured Regiment (Matilda II tanks)
  • D Company, 2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion
  • 2/7th Field Regiment (25 pounder guns)
  • 53rd Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment
  • 2/13th Field Company
  • 2nd Field Company
  • 2/12th Field Ambulance

• 2 Beach Group
  • 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion
  • Other units:
    • 2/11th Field Company
    • 2 Beach Workshop
    • B Royal Australian Navy Commando
    • 2nd Australian Army Medical Corps Company

Royal Netherlands East Indies Army

• 1st Netherlands East Indies Infantry Company

United States Army

• Composite Company, 727th Amphibian Tractor Battalion
• Company, 593rd Engineer Boat and Shore Battalion

[edit] Air units

• No. 77 (Attack) Wing Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
  • No. 76 Squadron RAAF (Kittyhawk) (from 15th May)
  • No. 22 Squadron RAAF (Beaufighter) (from 4th June)
  • No. 30 Squadron RAAF (Beaufighter) (from 4th June)
  • No. 31 Squadron RAAF (Beaufighter)

• No. 78 (Fighter) Wing RAAF
  • No. 75 Squadron RAAF (Kittyhawk)
  • No. 78 Squadron RAAF (Kittyhawk)
  • No. 80 Squadron RAAF (Kittyhawk)
  • No. 452 Squadron RAAF (Spitfire)

• No. 82 (Bomber) Wing RAAF
  • No. 21 Squadron RAAF (B-24 Liberator)
  • No. 23 Squadron RAAF (B-24)
  • No. 24 Squadron RAAF (B-24)

• 18th Fighter Group USAAF (Mindoro Is., Zamboanga from 4 May)
  • 12th Fighter Squadron (P-38)
  • 44th Fighter Squadron (P-38)
  • 70th Fighter Squadron (P-38)

• 347th Fighter Group USAAF (Palawan Is.)
  • 67th Fighter Squadron (P-38)
  • 68th Fighter Squadron (P-38)
  • 339th Fighter Squadron (P-38)

• 42nd (Medium) Bombardment Group USAAF (Palawan Is.)
  • 69th Bombardment Group (B-25)
  • 70th Bombardment Group (B-25)
  • 75th Bombardment Group (B-25)
  • 100th Bombardment Group (B-25)
  • 390th Bombardment Group (B-25)

• 5th (Heavy) Bombardment Group USAAF (Samar Is.)
  • 23d Bombardment Group (B-24)
  • 31st Bombardment Group (B-24)
  • 72d Bombardment Group (B-24)
  • 394th Bombardment Group (B-24)

• 307th (Heavy) Bombardment Group USAAF (Morotai Is.)
  • 370th Bombardment Group (B-24)
  • 371st Bombardment Group (B-24)
  • 372nd Bombardment Group (B-24)
  • 424th Bombardment Group (B-24)

• 868th Squadron USAAF (LAB-24)

• Fleet Air Wing 17 US Navy (Palawan Is.)
  • Patrol Bombing Squadron 128 (VPB-128) (PV-1 Ventura)
  • Patrol Bombing Squadron 106 (VPB-106) (PB4Y-2 Privateer) (from 3 May)
  • Patrol Bombing Squadron 111 (VPB-111) (PB4Y-2 Privateer)
  • Patrol Bombing Squadron 109 (VPB-109) (PB4Y-2 Privateer with Bat Bombs) (until 6 May)

• RAAF ground units on Tarakan during the campaign
  • No. 16 Air Observation Post Flight (4 Auster light aircraft)
  • No. 61 Operational Base Unit
  • No. 61 Airfield Construction Wing
    • No. 1 Airfield Construction Squadron
    • No. 8 Airfield Construction Squadron
  • No. 2 Aerodrome Security Squadron
  • No. 114 Mobile Fighter Control Unit

[edit] Naval units

• Covering Group 74.3
  • Light cruisers: USS Phoenix, USS Boise, HMAS Hobart
  • Destroyers: USS Taylor, USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Fletcher, USS Jenkins, HMAS Warramunga

• Attack Group 78.1:
  • Flagship: USS Rocky Mount
  • Landing ships: 2 LSI (HMAS Manoora and HMAS Westralia), 1 AKA (USS Titania), 1 LSD (USS Rushmore), 21 LST, 12 LCI, 4 LSM, 12 LCT
  • Support: 6 LCS, 4 LCI(R), 2 LCI(M), 2 LCI(D) with four demolition units
  • Screen: Destroyers: US Ships Waller, Bailey, Bancroft, Philip, Drayton, Smith, Caldwell; Frigates: HMAS Burdekin, Barcoo, Hawkesbury; Destroyer escorts: USS Formoe, Charles E. Brannon; 1 Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB) tender (USS Wachapreague), 21 MTBs
  • Landing craft control unit: 1 PC, 1 LCI(L), 2 LCS
  • Minesweeping unit: 1 APD, 11 YMS
  • Service unit: 1 AGS, 1 AN, 1 ATR, 1 ATO, 4 LCI(L) equipped for fire fighting and salvage

[edit] Japanese units

• Army-Navy Headquarters
  • 455th Independent Infantry Battalion
    • 1 Company
    • 2 Company
    • 3 Company
    • 4 Company
    • Machine Gun Company
  • 2nd Naval Guard Force
    • 1 Company
    • 2 Company
    • Air Defence Unit

[edit] Operation Oboe Six

[edit] Battle of North Borneo

[edit] Battle of Balikpapan (1945)

[edit] Allied units

[edit] Ground forces

• Australian 7th Division
  • 2/7th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment
  • 2/1st Pioneer Battalion
  • 2/1st Machine Gun Battalion
  • B Company, 2/1st Guard Regiment (4 platoons)
  • Artillery
    • 2/4 Field Regiment
    • 2/5 Field Regiment
    • 2/6 Field Regiment
    • 2/2 Tank Attack Regiment
  • Engineers
    • 2/4 Field Company
    • 2/5 Field Company
    • 2/6 Field Company
    • 2/9 Field Company
    • 2/25 Field Park Company
  • 18th Infantry Brigade
    • 2/9 Battalion
    • 2/10 Battalion
    • 2/12 Battalion
  • 21st Infantry Brigade
    • 2/14 Battalion
    • 2/16 Battalion
    • 2/27 Battalion
  • 25th Infantry Brigade
    • 2/25 Battalion
    • 2/31 Battalion
    • 2/33 Battalion
• I Australian Corps units allocated to the 7th Australian Division:
  • 1st Armoured Regiment
  • 2/1st Armoured Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron (-)
  • 2/1st Composite AA Regiment
• 2 Beach Group
  • 2/2 Pioneer Battalion
  • 2/11 Field Company

Royal Netherlands East Indies Army

• 1 Company, 1st NEI Battalion

United States Army

• • 727th Amphibious Tractor Battalion (less one company)
  • Company, 672nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion
  • Boat company, Boat Battalion, 593rd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment

[edit] Air units

Royal Australian Air Force

• No. 19 Wing
  • No. 2 Squadron (B-25)
  • No. 18 (NEI) Squadron (B-25)
• No. 78 Wing (from June 30th)
  • No. 75 Squadron (P-40)
  • No. 78 Squadron (P-40)
  • No. 80 Squadron (P-50)
  • No. 452 Squadron (Spitfire)
• No. 82 Wing
  • No. 21 Squadron (B-24)
  • No. 23 Squadron (B-24)
  • No. 24 Squadron (B-24)
• Detachment, 83 (Army Co-Operation) Wing
  • Detachment, No. 4 (Tactical Reconnaissance) Squadron (Wirraway and Boomerang
  • Detachment, No. 16 Air Observation Post Flight
  • Detachment, 9 Local Air Supply Unit
• No. 54 Squadron (Spitfire)

United States Army Air Force

• 13th Air Force
  • 42 (Medium) Bombardment Group (B-25)
    • 69, 70, 75, 100, 390 Bombardment Squadrons (Palawan Island)
  • 5 (Heavy) Bombardment Group (B-24)
    • 23, 31, 72, 394 Bombardment Squadrons (Samar Island)
  • 307 (Heavy) Bombardment Group (B-24)
    • 370, 371, 372, 424 Bombardment Squadrons (Morotai Island)
  • 868 Bombardment Squadron (SB-24, LAB: Low Altitude radar Bomb.) flew maritime surveillance patrols
  • 18 Fighter Group (P-38)
    • 12, 44, 70 Fighter Squadrons (Zamboanga)
  • 347 Fighter Group (P-38)
    • 67, 68, 339 Fighter Squadrons (Palawan Island)
  • 419 Night Fighter Squadron (P-61) (Zamboanga and Palawan)
  • 4 Reconnaissance Group (F-5 and B-25)
    • 17 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron Det. (Palawan Island)
• 5th Air Force
  • 22 (Heavy) Bombardment Group (B-24)
  • 38 (Medium) Bombardment Group (B-25)
  • 90 (Heavy) Bombardment Group (B-24)
  • 380 (Heavy) Bombardment Group (B-24)

United States Marine Corps

• Marine Aircraft Group 2 (flying from the USN escort carriers)
  • • VMF-512 (FG-1D)
    • VMTB-143 (TBM-3)

United States Navy

• Fleet Air Wing 17 (Palawan Island)
  • Patrol Bombing Squadron 128 (VPB-128) (PV-1)
  • Patrol Bombing Squadron 106 (VPB-106) (PB4Y-2)
  • Patrol Bombing Squadron 111 (VPB-111) (PB4Y-2)
• Navy Escort Carrier Group 40 (CVEG-40) on carrier Suwannee
  • Fighting Squadron 40 (VF-40) (F6F-5)
  • Torpedo Squadron 40 (VT-40) (TBM-3)

[edit] Naval forces

• Attack Group 78.2
  • Transports: 1 AGC USS Wasatch, 1 CGC, 3 LSI (HMAS Manoora, HMAS Westralia, HMAS Kanimbla), 1 AKA (USS Titania), 1 LSD (USS Carter Hall), 5 APD, 1 LCF(F), 22 LSM, 35 LST, 16 LCI(L), 2 PC, 3 SC
  • Close Support: 10 LCS(L), 8 LCI(R), 6 LCI(R), 3 LCI(M)
  • Screen: 10 Destroyers (USS Robinson, Saufley, Waller, Philip, Bailey, Frazier, Flusser, Drayton, Conyngham, Smith), 5 Destroyer Escorts (USS Chaffee, L.E. Thomas, E.A.Howard, J. Rutheford, Key), 1 Frigate (HMAS Gascoyne)
  • Minesweeping Group: 1 APD, 5 AM, 12 YMS, 1 LSM
  • Service, Salvage and miscellaneous units

• Covering Group 74.2
  • Heavy Cruiser: HMAS Shropshire (from 27 June)
  • Light Cruisers: US Ships Montpelier (from 15th June), Denver (from 15th June), Columbia (from 23rd June), Cleveland (30th june - 1st? July), Phoenix (4th-6th July), Nashville (4th-6th July), HMAS Hobart (from 27 June), HMNLS Tromp (From 19th June)
  • Destroyers: 4 from 15th June, 7 from 27th June.
  • High Speed transport: USS Schmidt (from 23rd June)

• United States Navy Escort Carrier Group 78.4: (from 1-3 July)
  • Escort Carriers: US Ships Suwannee, Block Island, Gilbert Islands
  • Destroyers: USS Helm
  • Destroyer escorts: USS Mitchell, Donaldson, Cloues, Lamons and Kyne

• 8 USN PT boats arrived with the tender USS Mobjack on 27 June, and this force was expanded to two PT boat squadrons (10 and 27) on 6 July.

[edit] Japanese Units

• 22nd Base Force
• 455th Independent Infantry Bn

[edit] References

• Australian Official Histories of World War II
  • Gavin Long (1963), The Final Campaigns. Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
  • G. Hermon Gill (1968), Royal Australian Navy 1942-45. Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
  • George Odgers (1968), Air War Against Japan, 1943-45. Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
• ‘Japanese Monograph Number 26: Borneo Operations. 1941-1945’ in War in Asia and the Pacific. Volume 6. The Southern Area (Part I).
• Wesley Craven and James Cate (1953), The Army Air Forces in World War Two. Volume V: Matterhorn to Nagasaki. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C.
• Samuel Eliot Morison (1989), The Liberation of the Philippines: Luzon, Mindanao, the Visayas 1944-1945. Little, Brown and Company, Boston.
• Royal Navy (1959), Naval Staff History Second World War: War with Japan, Volume VI; The Advance to Japan. British Admiralty, London.
• Peter Stanley (1997), Tarakan. An Australian Tragedy. Allen & Unwin, Sydney. ISBN 1-86448-278-8