Battle of Borneo (1941–1942)

Battle of Borneo
Part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II

Japanese paratroopers of the 2nd Yokosuka Naval Landing Force under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Genzo Watanabe (standing on top in the left) inside a transport ship heading to Borneo prior to their invasion in December 1941.
Date16 December 1941 – March 1942
Location
Result Japanese victory
Territorial
changes
Japanese occupation of British Borneo and Dutch Borneo
Belligerents
Japan

 United Kingdom

 Netherlands

Commanders and leaders
Kiyotake Kawaguchi Robert Brooke-Popham
C.M. Lane
Dominicus Mars
Strength
4,500 infantry
2 heavy cruisers
1 light cruiser
6 destroyers
1 submarine chaser
1 seaplane tender
1 minesweeper
1 submarine
1 collier
10 transports
1,000 Sarawak Force
1,000 British Punjab Regiment
1,000 KNIL
650 police
5 fighters
Unknown bomber strength
3 flying boats
2 submarines
Casualties and losses
567+ casualties
2 destroyers sunk
1 minesweeper sunk
1 collier sunk
2 transports sunk
1 transport beached
1 transport damaged
2,300 casualties
1 flying boat destroyed
1 submarine sunk

The Battle of Borneo was the successful campaign by the Empire of Japan for control of British Borneo and Dutch Borneo.