Borneo Campaign (1945) order of battle

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An Allied estimate of Japanese units in Borneo at the end of April 1945 Japanese forces Borneo.jpg
An Allied estimate of Japanese units in Borneo at the end of April 1945
A map showing the progress of the Borneo Campaign Borneo Campaign CMH.jpg
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.

In modern use, the order of battle of an armed force participating in a military operation or campaign shows the hierarchical organization, command structure, strength, disposition of personnel, and equipment of units and formations of the armed force. Various abbreviations are in use, including OOB, O/B, or OB, while ORBAT remains the most common in the United Kingdom. An order of battle should be distinguished from a table of organisation, which is the intended composition of a given unit or formation according to the military doctrine of its armed force. As combat operations develop during a campaign, orders of battle may be revised and altered in response to the military needs and challenges. Also the known details of an order of battle may change during the course of executing the commanders' after action reports and/or other accounting methods as combat assessment is conducted.

Allies of World War II Grouping of the victorious countries of World War II

The Allies of World War II, called the United Nations from the 1 January 1942 declaration, were the countries that together opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War (1939–1945). The Allies promoted the alliance as a means to control German, Japanese and Italian aggression.

Empire of Japan Empire in the Asia-Pacific region between 1868–1947

The Empire of Japan was the historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 to the enactment of the 1947 constitution of modern Japan.

Contents

Summary order of battle

Allied forces

RAAF Command

RAAF Command was the main operational arm of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during World War II. The command was formed in September 1942 and by April 1943 comprised 27 squadrons, including units from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as Australia. Coming under the operational authority of Allied Air Forces Headquarters in the South West Pacific Area, RAAF Command exercised control of its units through geographically based area commands in Australia and, later, New Guinea, as well as large mobile formations including the Australian First Tactical Air Force. The command reached a strength of 41 squadrons in October 1944. From the time of its establishment, until its disbandment in September 1945, it was led by Air Vice Marshal Bill Bostock.

Australian First Tactical Air Force

The Australian First Tactical Air Force was formed on 25 October 1944 by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Its purpose was to provide a mobile force of fighter and ground attack aircraft that could support Allied army and naval units fighting the Empire of Japan in the South West Pacific Area. One of several Allied tactical air forces formed during World War II, it evolved from the RAAF's No. 10 Operational Group, established a year earlier. Following action in the assaults on Aitape and Noemfoor, the group was renamed the First Tactical Air Force to better reflect its size and role. It was beset with morale and leadership issues in early 1945, but recovered to take part in the battles of Tarakan, North Borneo, and Balikpapan. Reaching its peak strength of over 25,000 personnel in July 1945, No. 1 TAF's squadrons operated such aircraft as the P-40 Kittyhawk, Supermarine Spitfire, Bristol Beaufighter, and B-24 Liberator. The formation remained active following the end of hostilities in the Pacific until it was disbanded on 24 July 1946.

Thirteenth Air Force former United States Air Force numbered air force

The Thirteenth Air Force was a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It was last headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States. It was one of the oldest continuously active numbered air forces in the United States Air Force.

Japanese forces

Battle of Tarakan (1945)

Allied units ("Oboe One Force")

Ground forces

Royal Netherlands East Indies Army

United States Army

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

Air units

Japanese units

Battle of Balikpapan (1945)

Allied units

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

Air units

Royal Australian Air Force

United States Army Air Forces

United States Marine Corps

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

Japanese Units

Notes

  1. Stanley (1997). Pages 213–218.

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