Japanese Armoured Units on Timor Island, 1942


Timor Island Campaign, March 1942

On March 20th, the Japanese forces launched to invade the Timor Island. The Itoh Detachment, the main force of the Timor expedition forces landed on the south end of the Timor on the mid-night of 20th. The Itoh Detachment was separeted to three groups, Right Attack Group, Center Attack Group and Left Attack Group. The Right Attack Group consisted of one infantry company, one MG platoon and one infantry gun platoon. The Right Group landed on the east of the Mali Cape, advanced north-east and aimed to occupy Usua. The Center Attack Group consisted of one infantry battalion, one AT company and one mountain gun company. They landed on the east of the Mali Cape as well as the Right Group and advaced toward north aiming at Koepang. They also planned to despatch a part of the group to reinforce the SNLF paratroops at the Penfui Airfield. SNLF paratroopers planned to drop near Babau and occupy the air field. The Left Attack Group is a main body of the Itoh Detachment. They landed on the west of the Mali Cape and advance for the Koepang.

The Left Attack Group broke thought a little resistance of the enemy and rushed into Koepang at 19:00 of D-Day. The Center Atack Group arrived at Koepang on the morning of the next day, and the HQ of the Itoh Detachment was stationed on the evening of 21th. The occupation of the Penfui Airfield was delayed due to the resistance of the Allied forces. It has been occupied on the morning of 22th.

Meanwhile, the Right Attack Group advanced via Baun and Ukabiti and reached at Usua on the evening of 21th. Enemy's resistance during thier advance was a little. They made a position at Usua. Around 7:00 of 22th, the Right Attack Group at Usua was attacked by the Allied troops of approx. one thousand men. They were Australians and had defended the north of the Koepang erea. They laid siege to the Right Attack Group and intended to break through the Japanese position. The Japanese repulsed the Allied attack, but the casualities were increased and thier ammo run short.

tankette Type 94

Japanese tankette Type 94

The information about this crash was brought to the HQ of the Itoh Detachment at 10:30. Commander Itoh immediately ordered Murase troops, which was stationed in the 22 km west of Usua, to join to the Right Attack Group. He requested the air-support to IJN and sent a reinforcement to the Right Attack Group from his group. The reinforcement consisted of one infantry battalion, 2 artillery companies and 11 Type 94 Tankettes. It was commanded by Major Hayakawa, commander of 1st Infantry Battalion of 228th Infantry Regiment. The tankettes were of the 38th Division Tankette Company. The commander of the tankette company was 1st Lieutenant Jyuro Atami.


   The Japanese map of Timor Island, 1942
The map is the courtesy of Akira Takizawa


The Australian troops had broken through the Japanese position at Usua in the evening. The Right Attack Group was suffered a heavy damage and out of ammo, so they could it check the Australians. After breaking through the Japanese position, Australians advanced to east. They intended to go to the east Timor, which was the Portuguese territory and thought as a neutral zone.

On the morning of 23th, they took a rest at the 36 km east of Usau and had a breakfast. At that time, five Japanese tankettes were coming up to them. At first, Australians thought these tankettes were flying a white flag. However, it was not a white flag but a rising-sun flag. These tankettes were the van of the Hayakawa unit.

Australians prepared for AT-guns in haste, but the Japanese tankettes rushed into the column of the Australian HQ unit and stopped among them. Australians could not open fire against these tankettes. If they had fired, they would have hit friend soldiers. While they were embarrassed with the situation, a Japanese commander of the head tankette raised a hatch and shouted, "Surrender !". Australians unwillingly held up thier hands. A Japanese officer required an Australian commander to surrender the entire Australian force. Threatened by the Japanese, an Australian commander accepted it and orderd his troops to surrender. Before long, the main body of the Hayakawa unit followed to the tankettes and received the Australian POWs. They were about one thousand men.

During the operation of the west Timor, Itoh Detachment took over the following equipments from the Allied forces:

- 7 Carden Lloyd Armored Carriers
- 5 Krupp Armored Cars
- 2 15cm Howitzers
- 8 Mortars
- 2 AT Guns
- 6 37mm AA Guns
- 18 12.7mm AA Guns
- 45 HMGs
- 756 Rifles

The POWs of the Allied were 1,136 men. As for the casualities of the Itoh Detachment, 67 men were killed and 56 men were wounded.

The East Timor Island was occupied by the 2nd Battalion of 228th Infantry Regiment. The Timor Island was entirely conquered by the Japanese in the middle of April.




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