Battle of Palembang

Palembang location. The map shows the current border, where Indonesia area was then Dutch East Indies.

Date	13–15 February 1942
Location	Palembang, southern part of Sumatra island
Result	Japanese victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

Netherlands

Australia

New Zealand

Empire of Japan

Commanders and leaders

Air Cmdr. H. J. F. Hunter (bombers)
Air Cmdr. S. F. Vincent (fighters)
Lt. Col. L. N. W. Vogelesang (ground forces)

V. Adm. Jisaburo Ozawa (amphibious forces)
Col. Yoshisaburô Tanaka
Col. Seiichi Kume (paratroopers)

Strength

2,000 infantry
50 aircraft

3,000 amphibious force
350 paratroopers
3 squadrons transports
1 grup bombers
2 grups fighters

Casualties and losses

Allies: ?

Japan: ?

The Battle of Palembang was a battle of the Pacific theatre of World War II. It occurred near Palembang, on Sumatra, on 13–15 February 1942. The Royal Dutch Shell oil refineries at nearby Pladju (or Pladjoe) were the major objectives for the Empire of Japan in the Pacific War, because of an oil embargo imposed on Japan by the United States, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. With the area's abundant fuel supply and airfield, Palembang offered significant potential as a military base to both the Allies and the Japanese.

In January, the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command (ABDACOM) decided to concentrate Allied air forces in Sumatra at two airfields near Palembang: Pangkalan Benteng, also known as "P1" and a secret air base at Prabumulih (Praboemoelih), or "P2".

The British Royal Air Force created No. 225 (Bomber) Group at Palembang. It included two Royal Australian Air Force squadrons and a large number of Australians serving with British squadrons. The group could only muster 40 Bristol Blenheim bombers and 35 Lockheed Hudson light bombers. The Blenheims had flown from the Middle East and Egypt, where they were considered too old to cope with newer German and Italian fighters. (A handful of United States Far East Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers also operated out of Palembang briefly in January, but these were withdrawn to Java and Australia before the battle commenced.)

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