On this day in 1945, thousands of Australian troops landed on the beaches around the town of Balikpapan in south-east Borneo. Known as Oboe 2, this was the last and largest of the 3 operations that sought to liberate Japanese-held Borneo. Balikpapan’s oil refineries and airfields were seen as important for future campaigns. The landing and battle at Balikpapan, along with those at Tarakan and Brunei Bay, proved successful, though strategically questionable.
Balikpapan was the largest amphibious operation Australians undertook during the Second World War, and it was the last major battle they fought. Six weeks after it began, while troops were carrying out mopping-up operations around Balikpapan and elsewhere in Borneo, the Pacific War ended.
Designated collectively as Operation Oboe, the 3 amphibious assaults took place between 1 May and 21 July. It was conducted against Imperial Japanese forces who had been occupying Borneo since early 1942. The Australian ground troops were supported by Australian, US and other Allied air and naval forces, with the Americans providing the bulk of the shipping and logistical support. The initial plan was to secure vital airfields and port facilities to support future operations. However, the preparatory bombardments resulted in heavy damage to Borneo’s infrastructure, including its oil production facilities. As a result, the strategic benefits that the Allies gained from the campaign were negligible.
This was certainly true of Balikpapan, which had been one of the world’s richest oil centres and a major supplier of oil to the Japanese war machine. However, because of Japanese sabotage and Allied shelling, its facilities were rendered unusable until well after the war was over.
Most of the troops deployed to Balikpapan were from the 7th Australian Division – veterans of the Middle East and New Guinea. They had been resting and training in Australia since late 1944, absorbing many reinforcements.
Australian and other Allied ships and aircraft subjected the landing area to a heavy and sustained bombardment, but the Australians did not land unopposed. Japanese forces had fortified the town and beaches and defended them stubbornly. And as the Australians pushed up the coast and further inland they encountered increasingly stiff resistance. Commanders called in aerial and naval support to minimise casualties. Tanks and artillery were landed early and brought forward to support the infantry against strongpoints. If supporting fire could not be brought to bear, sappers sealed the bunker entrances. They braved enemy fire, rushing forward and hurling explosives inside, while other bunkers were cleared with flame-throwers.
Russell Fuller was a 20-year-old soldier when he landed at Balikpapan.
‘It didn’t play on your mind, but you never knew what it was going to be like,’ he told the Australian War Memorial in 2023. ‘You expected anything to happen at any time ... and you were always very wary. If you saw any bushes move, you stopped and went to ground, because somebody might be there looking at you, getting ready to fire... You were on the alert all the time and your eyes were never off the bushes.’
It took 3 weeks to win the Battle of Balikpapan, after which the Japanese withdrew to the rugged hills of the island. Skirmishes continued for three more weeks until the war ended.
Sadly, more than 250 Australians were killed in this battle. Japanese casualties were significantly higher.
Lest we forget.
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'It was pretty tough, believe me' | Australian War Memorial
Image
Troops of the 7th Australian Division landing at Balikpapan. Smoke from the ruins of enemy positions and burning oil wells is visible in the background. Shore installations were subjected to an intensive naval bombardment before the landing operation. Courtesy AWM 128283
Russell Fuller