Major combat operations concluded around 21 July, but were followed by mopping-up operations, which lasted until the end of the war in mid-August. The 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion was formed in June 1940 as part of the 7th Division and served in Egypt, Syria, the Netherlands East Indies and New Guinea during World War II. Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, American-British-Dutch-Australian Command, A.W.L. It occurred on the island of Java from 28 February – 12 March 1942. Consisting of three infantry brigades, the intention had been to deploy the division to the Middle East to join the other Australian divisions, but as war with Japan loomed in 1941, the division was divided into four separate forces, which were deployed in different parts of the Asia-Pacific region. Harterink's 12th KNIL Infantry Battalion, machine-gunned the landing Japanese but was quickly defeated. Wulfhorst with approximately 20 tanks, and supported by the 250 men of Major C.G.J. By 7 March, defeat was inevitable, with Tjilatjap already in Japanese hands.

They were well equipped in terms of Bren guns, light armoured cars, and trucks, but they had few rifles, sub-machine guns, anti-tank rifles, mortars, grenades, radio equipment or Bren gun carriers. This page was last edited on 11 October 2020, at 17:50. The following evening Dutch troops in Batavia surrendered to the Sato Detachment. On the evening of 9 March, Major-General Ilgen, commander of the KNIL in East Java, signed the instrument of surrender. The action was one of the last of a series of engagements between U.S. and Japanese forces near the Matanikau River during the campaign. On 3 March, the U.S. Navy gunboat USS Asheville was sunk south of Java by a Japanese naval squadron consisting of the destroyers Arashi and Nowaki, and the heavy cruiser Maya. The Battle of Manado took place as part of the Japanese offensive to captured the Dutch East Indies. The 3rd (Motorised) Cavalry Squadron of the 1st Dutch KNIL Cavalry Regiment, under the command of Ritmeester C.W. After some more fighting in the surrounding paddy fields and an artillery barrage from Japanese guns, Japanese units managed to outflank the Australians and by 4 p.m. Blackburn ordered the C company to withdraw. In response, the Japanese sent in their reserves and deployed two additional companies in the fighting, but could not initially break through or flank the Australian lines. The Australian formation—named "Blackforce" after its commander, Brigadier Arthur Blackburn V.C. Despite inflicting heavy Japanese casualties and delaying the Japanese advance for three days, Australian forces were eventually forced to withdraw towards Buitenzorg, and later further abandoned the city before capitulating after a general surrender of the Dutch forces on 8 March. [19] In an unfortunate turn of events for the Australians, the company commander and two of its four platoon commanders disappeared after leaving on an armored car patrol. [11][12][13] The Pioneer Battalion, the best unit in the Blackforce, was placed in the front line of Leuwiliang's defenses (east bank of the Tjianten River) with two companies defending the road and two in reserves, while the Machine Gun Battalion was stationed in the flanks and in supporting positions. By 02:00 on 1 March, all ships had reached their designated positions. [25], During the battle, the Blackforce had sustained under 100 casualties, but reported that they had killed 500 Japanese soldiers—300 by the Pioneer Battalion and 200 by the Machine Gun Battalion. The British, Australian and United States units were commanded by British Major General H. D. W. The whole unit planned a two-pronged attack on Surabaya from the west through Lamongan and from south through Djombang and Modjokerto. [30][29], 本站的所有资料包括但不限于文字、图片等全部转载于维基百科(wikipedia.org)，遵循 维基百科:CC BY-SA 3.0协议, 万维百科为维基百科爱好者建立的公益网站，旨在为中国大陆网民提供优质内容，因此对部分内容进行改编以符合中国大陆政策，如果您不接受，可以直接访问维基百科官方网站。, Battle of the Dutch East Indies campaign of the Pacific War, 2nd Battalion/131st Field Artillery Regiment, Battles of World War II involving Australia, Battles of World War II involving the United States, Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, Land battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom, South West Pacific theatre of World War II. On 25 February, the convoy left Balikpapan and sailed southward to Java. It was the fourth, and last, such unit raised within the 2nd AIF. In response, the Japanese sent in their reserves and deployed two additional companies in the fighting, but could not initially break through or flank the Australian lines. Despite inflicting heavy Japanese casualties and delaying the Japanese advance for three days, Australian forces were eventually forced to withdraw towards Buitenzorg, and later further abandoned the city before capitulating after a general surrender of the Dutch forces on 8 March. It involved forces from the Empire of Japan, which invaded on 28 February 1942, and Allied personnel. In June/July 1941 it saw action against Vichy French forces during the Syria–Lebanon campaign, during which time the battalion was heavily involved in supporting various elements of the 7th Division. [8]—included the Australian 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, the Australian 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion, a company from the Royal Australian Engineers, a platoon from the 2/1st Headquarters Guard Battalion,[9] about 100 reinforcements diverted en route to Singapore, a handful of soldiers who had escaped from Singapore following its fall to the Japanese, two transport companies, a casualty clearing station, and a company headquarters unit.