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BORNEO CAMPAIGN

Borneo, with strategic waterways on all sides, was rich with oil, rubber, and other natural resources. The invasion of the island, which was defended by Dutch and British Indian troops, was Japan’s first move into the Netherlands East Indies. Resistance to the army’s Kawaguchi and Sakaguchi Detachments, each based on an infantry regiment and support units, was short-lived. The Japanese soon had control of the oilfields on the island and made preparations for future campaigns towards Sumatra and Java.

The animation takes approximately 1–2 minutes. Click on the numbered tabs to view (or print) the individual frames.

Animation

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Campaign name

Borneo campaign

Campaign dates

15 December 1941 – 10 February 1942

Campaign codename

B Operation

Campaign overview

Frame 1	Dec 1941 – Feb 1942 Borneo was Japan’s first step into the Netherlands East Indies to secure oilfields and provide a base for the push on Sumatra and Java.
Frame 2	15–16 Dec 1941 The Kawaguchi Detachment, supported by the Yokosuka 2nd Special Naval Landing Party (SNLP), secures the oilfields at Miri in British Borneo.
Frame 3	25 Dec 1941 – 11 Jan 1942 The Kawaguchi Detachment captures oilfields and airfields at Kuching, in the south, then at Brunei, Labuan and Jesselton, in the north of the island.
Frame 4	11 Jan 1942 The Sakaguchi Detachment lands on Tarakan, with support from the Kure 2nd SNLP. The island and oilfields are secure by 14 January.
Frame 5	19 Jan 1942 The Kawaguchi Detachment, 2nd Company, travelling on several fishing boats, advances to and occupies Sandakan.
Frame 6	24 Jan 1942 The Sakaguchi Detachment begins landing operations at Balikpapan, quickly securing the area and preparing for future operations.
Frame 7	29 Jan 1942 The Kawaguchi Detachment moves overland and by sea from Kuching to Pontianak to secure the airfield near the town.
Frame 8	10 Feb 1942 The Sakaguchi Detachment advances overland and by sea from Balikpapan, and occupies Bandjermasin.

Notes

Campaign strength

Western and British Borneo

Army

Kawaguchi Detachment
Maj Gen Kawaguchi Kiyotake

35th Infantry Brigade Headquarters

124th Infantry Regiment

16th Reconnaissance Regiment (one platoon)

21st Field Heavy Artillery Battalion (one company)

22nd Field Artillery Regiment (one company)

23rd Independent Engineer Regiment (one platoon)

26th Independent Engineer Regiment (one company)

44th Embarkation Headquarters (main strength)

Line of Communication Unit (part strength)

Navy

Escort Force

Yokosuka 2nd Special Naval Landing Party

Eastern Borneo

Army

Sakaguchi Detachment
Maj Gen Sakaguchi Shizuo

146th Infantry Regiment

1st Engineer Company

Medical Unit

Armoured Car Unit

56th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Battalion

44th Field Anti-aircraft Battalion

Supply and communications units

Navy

1st Escort Force
Rear Adm Nishimura

Nachi

10 destroyers

3 submarine chasers

3 patrol boats

Cooperating Force

San’yō Maru

(

special submarine tender)

Sanuki Maru

23rd Air Flotilla (part strength)

Kure 2nd Special Naval Landing Party

Campaign casualties

Sakaguchi Detachment: 250 killed and wounded

Printer version

Campaigns

Hong Kong, Pacific

Borneo

Celebes, Ambon, Timor

Sumatra, Java

Reference links


	Dispositions–Deaths
	Campaigns
	Sources

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