Battle of Tarakan 1-25 May 1945

Borneo Campaign

11 Apr 1945 - 15 Aug 1945

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

Battle of Tarakan
1-25 May 1945

"Tarakan was a small island located in the northeastern corner of Borneo. The town and its oil fields were primary objectives when the Japanese invaded in 1942, and again was deemed important when it came for the Allies to invade Borneo. Although its 350,000 barrels per month production could no longer reach Japan due to the Allied occupation of the Philippines (oil so pure that the Japanese could pump them directly into warships without refining, some claimed), Operation Oboe One still provided key airfields that the Allies could use to aid the upcoming campaign against Borneo. The Allies, of course, could use the additional oil production capability that the oil fields could provide."