Battle of Palembang

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Battle of Palembang
Part of World War II, Pacific War
Japanese paratroopers landing at Palembang
Date 13–15 February 1942 Location Palembang, southern part of Sumatra Island, Dutch East Indies Result Japanese victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  Netherlands  Australia  New Zealand	Japan
Commanders and leaders
L.N.W. Vogelesang Karel Doorman Henry Hunter Stanley Vincent	Jisaburo Ozawa Yoshisaburô Tanaka Seiichi Kume
Units involved
ABDA Command NL East Indies Army ABDA naval force No. 225 Bomber Group No. 226 Fighter Group	Army Air Force 2nd Parachute Regiment 59th, 64th, 98th Sentai Imperial Navy 229th Infantry Regiment 230th Infantry Regiment
Strength
2,000 infantry 50 aircraft	3,000 amphibious force 350 paratroopers 3 squadrons transports 1 bomber group 2 fighter groups

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 Plaju (then 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 after the Japanese invaded China. With the area's abundant fuel supply and airfield, Palembang offered significant potential as a military base to both the Allies and the Japanese.