Feelin' Froggy PTO (id:#67215)

(Schwerpunkt #25 ID: SP300)   [next]   [previous]

Northwest of Balikpapan, Borneo 1945-07-10 (0 others)

Overview:

As part of Operation Oboe 2, Major General Edward J. Milford's 7th Australian Division landed on Borneo's southwest coast along the Macassar Straight with the objective of destroying Rear Admiral Michiaki Kamada's 22nd Naval Base Force (NBF) and securing the Balikpapan area. On the day of the landing, the Japanese II Battalion, 22nd NBF withdrew to fortified positions along the Milford Highway. At 1210 hours Lieutenant Colonel E. M. Robson ordered Major H. F. Hays to attack from the buildings around Objective Cello to eliminate the Japanese on Objective Coke which was a steep knoll to the northeast, surrounded by thick underbrush that lay just east of the highway. Supporting Major Hays' attack to clear an area of felled timber was a troop of Matilda tanks which also included a Matilda Frog flamethrower tank. At 1430 hours, after an intense artillery and mortar preparation, Hays launched his attack. The spearhead consisting of a rifle platoon, two Matilda tanks and the Frog soon knocked out two pillboxes. Accompanying a rifle section and despite being wounded, Warrant Officer R.W. Wilson continued to led his men who eliminated some enemy machine gun nests and enemy ordnance. On the approach to Objective Coke, Hays' company knocked out two anti-tank guns, one 75mm gun, numerous AA guns, and killed 25 Japanese in the process. Hays reported that his company had cleared the battalion's intermediate objective at the felled timber. Major C. W. Hynman's company now continued the attack, passing through using bayonets and grenades to move onto Objective Coke with the tanks in support. Japanese resistance on Coke was resolute. With casualties increasing, tank ammunition and fuel running low, the order to withdraw off of Objective Coke was given. Lieutenant Colonel Robson directed the battalion dig astride the highway. The Australians had sustained 18 dead and 23 wounded. Fighting in the area continued for over a week as the Japanese infiltrated northeast and the Australians advanced around the flanks of Coke to Pope's Track.

Defender: Japanese (II Battalion, 22nd Naval Base Force)  

Errata (source)