Borneo campaign (1945) order of battle

An Allied estimate of Japanese units in Borneo at the end of April 1945

A map showing the progress of the Borneo campaign

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.

Summary order of battle[]

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

Japanese forces[]

Southern Expeditionary Army Group (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)
(Singapore)
- Japanese 10th Independent Flying Brigade
  - 83rd Flying Regiment

Battle of Tarakan (1945)[]

Allied units ("Oboe One Force")[]

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

2nd Company, 1st Battalion Netherlands East Indies Army ^[2]

United States Army

Composite Company, 727th Amphibian Tractor Battalion
Company,

Air units[]

No. 77 (Attack) Wing Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
- No. 76 Squadron RAAF (Kittyhawk) (from 15 May)
- No. 22 Squadron RAAF (Beaufighter) (from 4 June)
- No. 30 Squadron RAAF (Beaufighter) (from 4 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)
42d Bombardment Group USAAF (Palawan Is.)
- 69th Bombardment Squadron (B-25)
- 70th Bombardment Squadron (B-25)
- 75th Bombardment Squadron (B-25)
- 100th Bombardment Squadron (B-25)
- 390th Bombardment Squadron (B-25)
5th Bombardment Group USAAF (Samar Is.)
- 23d Bombardment Squadron (B-24)
- 31st Bombardment Squadron (B-24)
- 72d Bombardment Squadron (B-24)
- 394th Bombardment Squadron (B-24)
307th Bombardment Group USAAF (Morotai Is.)
- 370th Bombardment Squadron (B-24)
- 371st Bombardment Squadron (B-24)
- 372nd Bombardment Squadron (B-24)
- 424th Bombardment Squadron (B-24)
868th Bombardment 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

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

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

Battle of Balikpapan (1945)[]

Allied units ("Oboe Two Force")[]

Ground forces[]

7th Australian Division^[3]
- Divisional Units
  - 2/7 Cavalry (Commando) Regiment
  - 2/1 Pioneer Battalion
  - 2/1 Machine Gun Battalion
  - B Company 2/1 Guard Regiment (4 platoons)
- Divisional Artillery
  - 2/4 Field Regiment (Ordnance QF 25 pounder gun-howitzers)
  - 2/5 Field Regiment (25 pounder guns)
  - 2/6 Field Regiment (25 pounder guns)
  - 2/2 Tank Attack Regiment
- Divisional Engineers
  - 2/4 Field Company
  - 2/5 Field Company
  - 2/6 Field Company
  - 2/9 Field Company
  - 2/25 Field Park Company
- 18 Infantry Brigade
  - 2/9 Battalion
  - 2/10 Battalion
  - 2/12 Battalion
- 21 Infantry Brigade
  - 2/14 Battalion
  - 2/16th Battalion
  - 2/27 Battalion
- 25 Infantry Brigade
  - 2/25 Battalion
  - 2/31 Battalion
  - 2/33 Battalion
I Australian Corps units
- (Attached to the 7th Division for operational purposes.)
  - 1st Armoured Regiment (Matilda II tanks)
  - Armoured Squadron (Special Equipment) (Matilda tank specialist variant)
  - 2/1 Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment
  - 2 Beach Group
    - 2/2 Pioneer Battalion
      - 2/11 Field Company
        12 Aust. Light Wireless Section
Royal Netherlands East Indies Army
- 1 Company, 1 NEI Battalion
United States Army
- 727th Amphibian Tractor Battalion (less one company)
- One company, 672nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion
- One boat company, Boat Battalion, 593rd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment

Air units[]

Royal Australian Air Force

79 (General Reconnaissance – Bomber) Wing Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
- No. 2 Squadron RAAF (North American Mitchell)
- No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron (North American Mitchell)
78 (Fighter) Wing RAAF (from June 30)
- No. 75 Squadron (Curtiss Kittyhawk)
- No. 78 Squadron (Curtiss Kittyhawk)
- No. 80 Squadron (Curtiss Kittyhawk)
- No. 452 Squadron (Supermarine Spitfire)
82 (Bomber) Wing RAAF
- No. 21 Squadron (Consolidated Liberator heavy bomber)
- No. 23 Squadron (Consolidated Liberator)
- No. 24 Squadron (Consolidated Liberator)
Detachment, 83 (Army Co-Operation) Wing
- Detachment, No. 4 Squadron (CAC Boomerang)
- Detachment, No. 16 Air Observation Post Flight
Detachment,
No. 54 Squadron RAF (Supermarine Spitfire)

United States Army Air Forces

13th Air Force
- 42nd Bombardment Group (North American B-25 Mitchell)
  - 69, 70, 75, 100, 390 Bombardment Squadrons (Palawan Island)
- 5th Bombardment Group (Consolidated B-24 Liberator)
  - 23, 31, 72, 394 Bombardment Squadrons (Samar Island)
- 307th Bombardment Group (Consolidated B-24 Liberator)
  - 370, 371, 372, 424 Bombardment Squadrons (Morotai Island)
- 868th Bombardment Squadron (Consolidated SB-24 Liberator, LAB: Low Altitude radar Bomb.) flew maritime surveillance patrols
- 18th Fighter Group (Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter)
  - 67, 68, 339 Fighter Squadrons (Palawan Island)
- 419th Night Fighter Squadron (Northrop P-61 Black Widow) (Zamboanga and Palawan)
- 4 Reconnaissance Group (Lockheed F-5 Lightning and North American B-25 Mitchell)
  - 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron Det. (Palawan Island)
5th Air Force
- 22nd Bombardment Group (Consolidated B-24 Liberator)
- 38th Bombardment Group (North American B-25 Mitchell)
  - Attached to 42nd Bombardment Group
- 90th Bombardment Group (Consolidated B-24 Liberator)
- 380th Bombardment Group (Consolidated B-24 Liberator)

United States Marine Corps

(North American PBJ Mitchell) flying from Zamboanga
(flying from the USN escort carriers)
- Marine Escort Carrier Group 1 (MCVEG-1) on USS Block Island (CVE-106)
  - VMF-511 (Goodyear FG-1D Corsair) & Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat
  - VMTB-233 (Grumman TBM-3 Avenger)
- Marine Escort Carrier Group 2 (MCVEG-2) on carrier USS Gilbert Islands (CVE-107)
  - VMF-512 (Goodyear FG-1D Corsair)
  - VMTB-143 (Grumman TBM-3 Avenger)

United States Navy

Fleet Air Wing 17 (Palawan Island)
- Patrol Bombing Squadron 128 (VPB-128) (Lockheed PV-1 Ventura)
- Patrol Bombing Squadron 106 (VPB-106) (Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer)
- Patrol Bombing Squadron 111 (VPB-111) (Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer)
Navy Escort Carrier Group 40 (CVEG-40) on carrier USS Suwannee (CVE-27)
- Fighter Squadron 40 (VF-40) (Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat)
- Torpedo Squadron 40 (VT-40) (Grumman TBM-3 Avenger)

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 (Newman, Liddle, Kephart, Lloyd, Diachenko), 1 LCF(F), 22 LSM, 35 LST, 16 LCI(L),19 LCT, 2 PC, 3 SC
- Close Support: 10 LCS(L) (No. 8, 27, 28, 29, 30, 41, 43, 44, 48, 50), 8 LCI(R) (No. 31, 34, 73, 226, 230, 331, 337, 338), 6 LCI(G) (No. 21, 22, 24, 61, 66, 67), 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. Rutherford, Key), 1 Frigate (HMAS Gascoyne)
- Minesweeping Group: 1 APD (Cofer), 3 AM (Sentry, Scout, Scuffle), 39 YMS, 1 LSM
- Service, Salvage and miscellaneous units: Tugs Cable, ATR-61, Pinto, Oilers Chepachet, Sakatonchee, Gualala, , Cargo Poinsett, Repair ship Creon
Covering Force 74
- Covering Group 74.1
  - Heavy Cruiser: HMAS Shropshire (from 27 June)
  - Light Cruiser: HMAS Hobart (from 27 June)
  - Destroyers: USS Metcalf, Hart
- Covering Group 74.2
  - Light Cruisers: US Ships Montpelier (from 15 June), Denver (from 15 June), Columbia (from 23 June), Cleveland (30 June – 1st? July), HNLMS Tromp (From 19 June)
  - Destroyers: Conway, Cony, Eaton, Stevens, Killen, Albert W. Grant and HMAS Arunta
- Covering Group 74.3
  - Light Cruisers: US Ships Phoenix (4–6 July), Nashville (4–6 July)
  - Destroyers: USS Charrette, Conner, Bell, Burns
- Destroyers: 4 from 15 June, 7 from 27 June.
- High Speed transport: USS Schmitt, Kline (from 23 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.

Japanese units[]

IJA 37th Army^{[citation needed]}
- 432nd,^{[citation needed]} 454th,^[4] 455th, 553rd, 554th, 774th Independent Infantry Battalions^{[citation needed]}
- 20th, 22nd Independent Machine Gun Battalions
- 64th Independent AA Gun Company
- 307th, 332nd Independent Motorcar Company
- 103rd Field Road Unit
- 75th Construction Duty Unit
- 147th Line-of-Communication Hospital
- 37th Army MP
- 4th Signal Unit^{[citation needed]}

IJN 22nd Special Base Force^[4]
- 2nd Guard Unit
- 995th Air Unit
- 103rd Air Unit
- 6th Shinyo Unit
- 2nd Harbor Duty Unit^{[citation needed]}

Notes[]

^ Stanley (1997). Pages 213–218.
^ http://www.nederland-australie2006.nl/geschiedenis/au/html/bondgenoten_operaties4.html]^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Long 1963, p. 507
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Long 1963, p. 526

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

External links[]

"Last Battles: The Landings", WW2 Australia
Borneo campaign at AWM London
Borneo Campaign at WW2 Database

[1] Stanley (1997). Pages 213–218.

[2] ttp://www.nederland-australie2006.nl/geschiedenis/au/html/bondgenoten_operaties4.html]^{[permanent dead link]}

[3] Long 1963, p. 507

[Long526-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b Long 1963, p. 526

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