| “Japanese sailors view burning oil tanks at Palembang during landing operations, probably from the stern of Kenzui Maru. Early in January 1942, the Japanese War Ministry planned to attack Palembang to seize the oil fields and aviation gasoline processing plant. The Imperial Japanese Army 38th Division (March 7, 1889 – July 3, 1945) was assigned the operation and moved from Hong Kong to Cam Ranh Bay, Occupied French Indochina, on January 20, 1942. On February 9, 1942, a convoy consisting of transports Argun Maru, Buyo Maru, Ginyo Maru, Hirokawa Maru, Inabasan Maru, Kenzui Maru, Lima Maru, Macassar Maru, Meigen Maru, supply ship Nojima Maru, Rakuyo Maru, Shinsei Maru, Shonan Maru, and Tsushima Maru; escorted by light cruisers Kashii, Asagiri, and Yugiri; kaibōkan (“sea defence ship”) Shimushu; minelayer Hatsutaka; minesweeper W-6; and subchaser Ch-9; stood out of Cam Ranh Bay for Palembang. 460 paratroopers dropped on Palembang on February 14, 1942. Their rifles were broken down in canisters; the parcels mostly landed away from the commandos, who fought with grenades and pistols on their person. Taking heavy casualties, they secured their objectives. 6 Royal Air Force (RAF) Bristol Blenheim bombers of Number 211 Squadron attacked the convoy and sank the transport Inabasan Maru and damaged several others on February 15, 1942. While the convoy is at sea, Singapore surrenders. On February 16, the invasion transports land elements of the Imperial Japanese 16th Army’s 229th Infantry Regiment and a battalion of the 230th Infantry Regiment, 5 batteries of the 38th Mountain Artillery Battalion, and 1 company each of the 38th Transport and 38th Engineer Regiments. The transports departed on February 27. Palembang remained a Japanese bastion until their surrender in September 1945. Kenzui Maru was sunk by USS Blenny off San Fernando, Luzon, Philippines, on December 23, 1944. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1504.jpg |
| Image Size | 523.86 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2051 x 1534 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | February 16, 1942 |
| Location | |
| City | Palembang |
| State or Province | South Sumatra |
| Country | Netherlands East Indies |
| Archive | |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
Author of the World War II Multimedia Database