Location
Lat 3° 17' 60N Long 117° 37' 60E  Tarakan Island is located off the north-east coast of Borneo.

History
Prior to the Second World War, the island of Tarakan had been an important oil producing centre in the Dutch East Indies. The Imperial Japanese Navy had been importing oil from Tarakan since 1915 when its fleet switched to coal.

Occupation
On January 11, 1942, the first Japanese attacks were launched at Tarakan. The island was overrun and remained occupied until the very end of the war.

American Missions Against Tarakan
January 7, 1942 - June 12, 1945

Liberation: Operation OBOE 1
Operation OBOE 1 was the first of three amphibious landings to retake Borneo from the Japanese. Two preliminary operations - consisting of the 2/4th Commando Squadron and one Battery of the 2/7th Field Regiment - took place on April 30, 1945. Both units would land on nearby Sadau Island at 08:00 and provide support for engineers attempting to breach eight gaps in the defences along the landing beaches.

A large amphibious force on the island during May 1945. The landing was made possible through the United States Navy's Amphibious Group Six, tasked with carrying the troops of the Australian Ninth Division ashore. The landing was covered by a "task group" commanded by Rear Admiral Russell S Berkley. Additional naval elements were provided by the US Seventh Fleet, including Australian ships. The Australian Army Force was based around the 9th Division's 26th Infantry Brigade [ complete list of units].

The main assault was to begin at 08:15 on the morning of May 1 with a two battalion front - the 2/23rd Battalion on Green Beach to the right; and the 2/48th Battalion on Red Beach to the left. The 2/24th Battalion in reserve would later land on Green Beach. Naval cover was to provide covering fire until landing craft were 400 yards off shore, and aircraft would attack the beachhead until fifteen minutes before the landing.

The landing was met with very little resistance, but began a bitter struggle against the Japanese defenders who had withdrawn inland. The fighting continued until the end of the war in August, by which time neither the airfield, nor the island's oil producing capablities had been made fully operational.

Tarakan Airfield
Used during the war by the Japanese, liberated by Australians, used by RAAF.

YMS-51 Motor Minesweeper
Sunk by mine April 29, 1945

YMS-329 Motor Minesweeper
Sunk by mine April 28, 1945

YMS-363 Motor Minesweeper
Sunk by mine May 1, 1945

YMS-364 Motor Minesweeper
Sunk by coastal defense gun May 1, 1945

YMS-481 Motor Minesweeper
Sunk by coastal gun on May 1, 1945

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009