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BATTLE // January 1, 1942

Battle of Tarakan

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Overview

The Battle of Tarakan took place on 11–12 January 1942, a day after the Empire of Japan declared war on the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although Tarakan was only a small marshy island off northeastern Borneo in the Netherlands East Indies, its 700 oil wells, refineries, and airfield made it a crucial objective for Japan in the Pacific War.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Forces & casualties

Troop strength

  • Netherlands1,365
    medium
  • Japan6,600
    medium

Japan fielded a 4.8 : 1 numerical advantage

Casualties

  • Pays-Bas219–871
    medium
  • Japon255
    medium
Order of battle →Casualties in detail →

Commanders (1)

Japan

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Related

6 sibling battles · 6 factions

Last verified June 2026
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