SIXTY YEARS AGO: Dateline: Pacific Theater: Balikpapan, Island of Borneo

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Sixty Years Ago ...
Dateline: Late January 1942
Pacific Theater: Balikpapan, Island of Borneo
by Jennifer King and Timothy Rollins

February 1, 2002

Reflections on World War II

A Special Note to Our Readers: With the Japanese having moved through the Pacific so quickly and decisively in the early months of 1942, the Allies - particularly the United States - were caught at total disadvantage. As such, they were literally "flying by the seat of their pants" and planning their strategy as they went along. Having absolutely no idea that the Japanese were going to initiate such an attack, there was no contingency plan to deal with such an event.

Also during this timeline of the war in this area of the Pacific Theater are the following: Jan - Mar 1942 involved Japan occupying the Dutch East Indies. January 15th through May 15th of 1942 involved Japan occupying Burma. January of 1942 through June of 1944, Australians and Americans were battling the Japanese in Papua-New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Each of these will be covered in more detail as we draw closer to the dates in question and look back in history and draw from the lessons learned.

Although this victory was a small one, it was a needed shot in the arm for the Allied cause, for at this point in the war, every victory - however small, was indeed a welcome one. As the year progresses, we will see how these small victories laid the foundation for larger victories that laid the foundation for winning the war. - Tim and Jennifer

The Japanese moved quickly through the Pacific (illustrated, right - please note areas 1-5) in the first months of 1942. The Japanese had three specific objectives in their military thrust - the rich oil fields of the Dutch East Indies, particularly Borneo; the Philippines and the associated mainland areas of Southeast Asia. Japan was determined to control the natural resources of these areas, including the world’s largest supply of tin and rubber. As she advanced through the Pacific in a series of well-planned and well-executed attacks, she was careful to coordinate any action with air support.

The hastily assembled ABDACOM forces had some differing objectives. The British were mainly concerned with the protection of Singapore and the eastern entrances to the Indian Ocean. The United States and Australia wanted to make sure that the enemy’s penetration of the Southeast Pacific was stopped, so that they would have access to bases while reconquering the region. The Dutch considered Java and Sumatra as a second homeland. There were over a half million Dutch living in these islands - they had been living and trading there for over three centuries. The Dutch East Indies were a vital concern of the government of the Netherlands.

ABDACOM, under the Supreme Command of British Field Marshal Sir Archibald Wavell (right), not surprisingly decided that the protection of Singapore should be foremost. Admiral Hart (covered in last week's installment) had been appointed commander of ABDACOM’s naval flotilla. ABDAFLOAT, which included the U.S. Asiatic Fleet and the Dutch Naval Forces. Hart had divided his fleet into four task forces, Rear Admiral W.A. Glassford’s Striking Force, based at Surabaya; patrol aircraft; submarines and the Service Force based at Darwin, Australia. Hart took responsibility for the flank east of Bali, the British took the western flank and the Dutch took the center.

Captain John Wilkes, who had taken command of the sub force on 10 December 1941, was newly based at Surabaya, Java. On 19 January 1942, six of the subs were sent out to patrol the Makasser Strait between Borneo and Celebes. Japanese Admiral Takahashi, who was pleased with the quick fall of northern Borneo, sent Admiral Nishimura out in order to expedite the next operation, the capture of Balikpapan, an important oil center. The subs spotted the Japanese task force on the night of 22-23 January, and proved otherwise valuable by sinking a couple of Japanese ships. The Japanese invasion force anchored offshore on 23 January, at approximately 2000 hours.

In the meantime, Rear Admiral William A. Glassford Jr.’s (shown, left) Striking Force had mobilized his four destroyers John D. Ford, John D. Edwards, Parrott and Paul Jones. These destroyers were “four stackers”, relics of the First World War. Nevertheless, the “cans” made haste for Balikpapan. The retreating Dutch had fired their oil facilities, and the destroyers who had steamed into Balikpapan Bay used this to great advantage, silhouetting the transport ships against the background of the bright flames.

The old American destroyers succeeded in sinking four transports and a patrol ship. After-action reports were mixed, for there were 12 transports available to sink, and 3 available patrol craft. The Americans were hampered by - at the time - a little known fact. The torpedo firing heads were badly manufactured, and did not explode upon contact. This failure would be discovered, and fixed, in 1942.

However, the Battle of Balikpapan was the first surface action seen by the U.S. Navy in the Pacific War, and the first undertaken by the USN since 1898. ***

Photos of Jennifer King and Timothy Rollins courtesy of staff files
Maps and War Timeline furnished by Pennsylvania State University Pattee Library
Photo of British Field Marshal Sir Archibald Wavell courtesy of an Unofficial Biography
Photo of Rear Admiral William A. Glassford Jr. courtesy of an Unofficial Biography