Battle of Balikpapan Memorial

Balikpapan was one of the most fought-over pieces of real estate in the Pacific War, changing hands twice — captured by Japan in January 1942 and retaken by Australian forces in July 1945 in one of the last major amphibious operations of the war. The city has several monuments and memorials commemorating both the Allied and civilian losses, as well as remnants of Japanese defensive positions.

The main memorial at Kampung Baru commemorates the Allied forces who fought to retake the city. The Dutch colonial oil infrastructure, which brought the Japanese to Balikpapan in the first place, is referenced throughout the city's history. The current oil industry, which still dominates the economy, is a direct descendant.

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In January 1942, a small US Navy destroyer flotilla intercepted a Japanese invasion convoy in Balikpapan Bay at night, sinking four troop transports and a patrol boat in one of the first surface actions the US Navy fought in the Pacific War. It was a rare success in the early weeks of the war. The Dutch had blown the oil installations before surrendering, denying the Japanese the fuel they had come for, though the Japanese rebuilt and operated the refineries for the rest of the war.

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