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Operation Meridian
Operation Meridian
Operation Meridian
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Black and white aerial photograph showing an industrial facility on fire
An oil refinery at Palembang on fire after being attacked by the Royal Navy in January 1945

Operation Meridian, also known as the "Palembang Raids" was part of a series of British air attacks directed at Japanese-held oil refineries near Palembang on Sumatra during the Second World War, Meridian had two phases: Meridian I on 24 January 1945 and Meridian II on 29 January. As a result, the critical aviation fuel output of the plants at Palembang was reduced by seventy-five percent.

Background

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In August 1944, Operation Boomerang the USAF had used Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers against the refineries to cut the supply of fuel to the Japanese. The attack had been largely unsuccessful but had shown B-29s could lay naval mines.

At the end of 1944, Rear Admiral Sir Philip Vian had deployed the aircraft carriers Indomitable, Indefatigable and Victorious for an air attack (operation Robson) against a refinery at Belawan Deli, in North Sumatra[1][2] The carrier squadrons had exchanged their Fairey Barracuda aircraft for US-supplied Grumman Avengers which, due to their radial engines, had better performance in the hot climate.

The two refineries at Palembang were the largest in South East Asia and could supply Japan with three-quarters of its aviation fuel needs.

The attacks would be made by aircraft from the British Task Force 63 of the British Pacific Fleet, en route to Sydney, Australia, where it would then be deployed in the Pacific [a] . Refuelling at sea was needed and this was supplied by Task Force 69 of the British Eastern Fleet - three tankers and their escort.

Task Force 63 left Trincomalee in Ceylon on 13 January 1945, for Sumatra. On 20 January, Task Force 63 rendezvoused with Task Force 69 and refuelled with great difficulty because of gusting winds and a troublesome swell. The oilers complained of much pumping gear being damaged.[citation needed]

Meridian I

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The first attack - against the oil refinery at Pladjoe, north of Palembang, Sumatra - was delayed by poor weather from 21 January and the fleet waited off Enggano Island. The attack was finally launched at 6 am on 24 January with a lack of wind making take-off more risky.[3]

Forty-three Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers, twelve Fairey Firefly fighter-bombers with rockets and fifty Grumman Hellcat, Vought Corsair and Supermarine Seafire fighters were launched. Japanese aircraft intercepted the force but the bombers approached with the sun behind them and dived from 9,000 feet to 3,000 feet to release their bombs.[3] Despite the presence of barrage balloons the refinery was successfully attacked.[3] Losses were heavier than on previous raids; 7 aircraft were lost due to enemy action and 25 to crash landings.[1] The Avenger squadrons that participated included 820, 849, 854 and 857 Naval Air Squadrons.[4]

Meridian II

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The fleet refuelled and replenished on 26–27 January. In practice, this was unsatisfactory as, with a mixture of poor weather and inexperience, the tankers suffered damage as ships failed to keep station and hoses parted.[citation needed]

On 29 January, the second raid, this time against the oil refinery at Soengei Gerong, Sumatra, was undertaken. Despite poor visibility, the flying-off was delayed by less than half an hour and the air strike was made against the oil refinery. Forty-six Avengers bombed the refinery.[5] At least 11 Japanese planes shot down in dogfights and another 30 destroyed on the ground at nearby airfields,[5] for the loss of 16 British aircraft to the enemy and 25 to "other causes".[5] A small Japanese counterattack was attempted, but was defeated by the fighter cover and anti-aircraft fire. Refinery output was stopped for two months and by the end of March the total output from the attacked refineries was only one third of capacity.[5]

Task Force 63 refuelled from Task Force 69 for the final time on 30 January and sailed for Fremantle, Western Australia arriving on 4 February, while Task Force 69 returned to Trincomalee.

Allied order of battle

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The ships involved in Operation Meridian were:

Force 63: (Rear Admiral Philip Vian):

Force 69

See also

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Notes

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Operation Meridian

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from Grokipedia
Operation Meridian was a major aerial offensive launched by the in during , targeting Japanese-controlled oil refineries near in southern to disrupt the enemy's production. Consisting of two primary strikes—Meridian I on 24 January against the Pladjoe refinery and Meridian II on 29 January against the Soengi Gerong facility—the operation involved over 240 aircraft launched from four aircraft carriers and aimed to cripple a key industrial complex that supplied up to 75% of Japan's aviation spirit. The strikes were executed by Task Force 63 of the under Vice-Admiral , featuring carriers HMS Indomitable, Illustrious, , and Indefatigable, supported by battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and oilers. Aircraft included torpedo bombers like the and Grumman Avenger for strikes, along with fighters such as the Vought Corsair, Hellcat, and for escort and duties. Japanese defenses comprised the 9th Air Division with around 90 fighters, including Nakajima Ki-43 Oscars and Ki-44 Tojos, bolstered by heavy anti-aircraft guns and barrage balloons, with additional reinforcements from and . Meridian I inflicted approximately 30% damage on the Pladjoe refinery, while Meridian II caused extensive destruction at Soengi Gerong, halting production until late March and destroying or damaging over 30 Japanese aircraft in the air and on the ground. Allied losses totaled 41 and 30 aircrew, including incidents of , such as a hit on HMS Illustrious by HMS Euryalus. Vice-Admiral Vian described the efforts as achieving "so great a measure of success against a not easily accessible and heavily defended target," highlighting the operation's strategic impact on Japanese logistics in the Pacific theater.

Background

Strategic Context

By late 1944, Japan's oil production had been severely curtailed due to Allied advances and air campaigns that damaged or destroyed refineries in and other Southeast Asian fields, forcing a greater dependence on the remaining facilities in . The Pladju and Sungai Gerong refineries near emerged as critical assets, providing a significant portion of Japan's oil supply, including approximately 75% of its aviation gasoline, essential for sustaining air and naval operations in the Pacific. Allied assessments highlighted their strategic value, estimating Pladju's pre-war capacity at approximately 11 million barrels per year and Sungai Gerong's at 7.3 million barrels per year, though actual outputs under Japanese control were lower due to partial during the 1942 occupation that had not been fully restored. In response, the Allies intensified their strategy to target Japan's petroleum infrastructure as a means to paralyze its , recognizing oil shortages as a that could limit mobility and logistics across the theater. Beginning in mid-1944, U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and (RAF) conducted preliminary raids on Sumatran targets, including strikes on Pangkalan Brandan in July 1944 and in August 1944, which demonstrated the feasibility of long-range attacks but also revealed the challenges of defending against Japanese fighters and anti-aircraft . These operations were part of a broader campaign to reduce Japan's fuel reserves, which had already dropped to critical levels, compelling and hindering preparations for homeland defense. To bolster this effort, the (BPF) was formally established in November 1944 under Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, transforming the smaller Eastern Fleet into a major Allied component capable of sustained carrier-based strikes. Integrated into U.S. operations as Task Force 57, the BPF enabled coordinated Anglo-American assaults on Japanese-held territories, with planned as a key escalation against the Palembang refineries to exploit intelligence on their output and vulnerability. This integration marked a shift toward multinational pressure on Japan's remaining oil lifelines, aligning with the overall push toward the Japanese home islands.

Planning and Preparation

In December 1944, Admiral Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia, authorized the to conduct carrier-based air strikes on Japanese oil refineries in during its transit from Ceylon to join Allied forces in the Pacific. This decision followed a request from Admiral Chester Nimitz to Admiral Bruce Fraser, emphasizing the strategic value of disrupting Japanese fuel production en route to . Target selection relied on photographic reconnaissance, identifying the Pladju (also spelled Pladjoe) refinery north of for Meridian I and the Sungai Gerong (Soengei Gerong) refinery for Meridian II; these facilities supplied approximately 75% of Japan's and were critical to its war effort. Engineers from Royal Dutch Shell and contributed to planning by constructing detailed scale models of the refineries to enable precise bombing tactics. Training and rehearsals commenced in Ceylon in December 1944, including carrier deck trials and anti-submarine screening drills, ensuring aircrew and escort proficiency for the long-range operation, with a full-scale conducted in January 1945. These preparations addressed the complexities of coordinating multi-carrier strikes over 1,500 miles from base. Logistical hurdles were pronounced for the , which suffered from chronic fuel shortages and limited replenishment capabilities, prompting dependence on U.S. Navy support at Atoll for oilers and stores. Task Force 63 was formed under Vice-Admiral , centered on four armored fleet carriers—HMS Illustrious, , Indomitable, and Indefatigable—escorted by battleships, cruisers, and destroyers to provide air cover and defense. The task force departed Trincomalee, Ceylon, on 16 January 1945, steaming eastward while conducting final rehearsals and maintaining radio silence to avoid detection, reaching a launch position off Sumatra by 20 January.

Execution

Meridian I

Operation Meridian I began on 24 January 1945 when aircraft from the British Pacific Fleet's Task Force 63 launched at 0600 hours from a position approximately 70 miles east of Enggano Island. The strike force comprised around 125 aircraft, including 45 Grumman Avengers for bombing, 12 Fairey Fireflies for rocket and cannon attacks, 28 Vought Corsairs and 16 Grumman Hellcats for escort, with additional fighters assigned to separate airfield attacks. The formation flew a 180-mile route northward over southern Sumatra, crossing the Barisan Mountains to evade Japanese radar stations. Despite the operation having been delayed two days earlier due to poor weather, the attacking aircraft encountered thinning cloud cover at altitude during the approach, with visibility extending to about 50 miles. Strikes on the Pladju north of commenced around 0730 hours local time, with Avengers releasing 500-pound bombs in dives from 3,000 feet while Fireflies targeted defenses with rockets and 20 mm cannon fire. During the attack, the force encountered approximately 20 Japanese fighters, including Ki-43 Oscars and Ki-44 Tojos, which engaged the Allied aircraft in dogfights; several enemy planes were claimed shot down by the escort fighters. The raiders withdrew from the target area by 0900 hours, having observed initial fires and explosions at the refinery installations. 63 then repositioned southwest at 22 knots to minimize exposure to potential Japanese submarine threats in the vicinity.

Meridian II

The second phase of Operation Meridian, known as Meridian II, commenced on January 29, 1945, with aircraft launching at 0630 hours from the British Pacific Fleet's carriers positioned approximately 70 miles east of Enggano Island. Due to losses sustained during the initial raid and necessary maintenance, the strike force consisted of around 90 aircraft, including 48 Avengers for bombing runs, supported by , Corsairs, and Fireflies for escort and reconnaissance duties. The attacking force reached the Sungai Gerong near at approximately 0800 hours, despite challenging weather including heavy rain and low cloud, which had delayed the launch slightly; the Avengers conducted bombing runs from approximately 7,500 feet targeting the units and power house, resulting in direct hits that ignited massive fires across the facility. played a dual role in escorting the bombers while engaging in strikes against ground targets, enhancing the operation's effectiveness despite the brief tactical adjustments made from in Meridian I, such as refined coordination for fighter cover. Intense aerial combat erupted over the target area, with British pilots engaging Japanese fighters, including Ki-43 Oscars and Ki-44 Tojos, in dogfights that escalated the defenses beyond those encountered in the prior raid. Ground-based anti-aircraft fire was particularly heavy, downing several Allied aircraft, including Avengers caught in barrage balloon cables, while the escorts claimed numerous enemy fighters destroyed in the fierce exchanges. By , the raiders had withdrawn from the area and begun recovering on the carriers, with returning pilots reporting thick black smoke and raging oil fires at Sungai Gerong that continued to burn for several days, obscuring much of the refinery and signaling substantial disruption to Japanese fuel production.

Forces Involved

Allied Order of Battle

The Allied order of battle for Operation Meridian was centered on Task Force 63 of the , commanded by from the HMS Indomitable. Rear Admiral Bernard Rawlings, as Second-in-Command of the , flew his flag aboard the HMS King George V, though operational control during the raids was exercised by Vian due to Rawlings' illness. The comprised the 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron, consisting of four armoured fleet carriers—HMS Indomitable, HMS Illustrious, HMS Victorious, and HMS Indefatigable—embarking Air Groups 1 through 4 with a total of approximately 240 aircraft. The aircraft composition included fighter and strike types suited for long-range raids, with 66 II fighters for escort and sweep duties, 31 fighters for and strikes, 40 FIII/LIII fighters primarily for defense, 84 torpedo-bombers as the main strike aircraft, 12 I fighter-bombers for reconnaissance and attacks, and 2 amphibians for search and rescue. Across both Meridian I and II raids, these aircraft flew a total of 215 sorties dedicated to the attacks on the targets. Key squadrons included No. 1830 Naval Air Squadron ( IIs on HMS Illustrious) for fighter escort and No. 854 Naval Air Squadron ( on HMS Illustrious) for bombing operations. Aircrew from the manned these aircraft, providing the personnel for piloting, navigation, and gunnery roles during the carrier-based strikes. Support elements included the 4th Cruiser Squadron for anti-aircraft defense and escort, featuring light cruisers such as HMS Ceylon, HMS Argonaut, HMS Black Prince, and HMS Euryalus, along with screening destroyers from the 25th and 27th Flotillas, including HMS Grenville, HMS Undine, HMS Ursa, HMS Kempenfelt, HMS Wakeful, and HMS Whirlwind. Replenishment was provided by Force 69, comprising tankers like Echodale, Wave King, Empire Salvage, and Arndale, escorted by additional destroyers. The operation involved no land-based units, relying entirely on the carrier air wings of the .

Japanese Defenses

The Japanese air defenses around in were primarily provided by the 9th Air Division of the Imperial Japanese Army's 7th Area Army, which operated approximately 50 Ki-44 Tojo fighters and 30 Ki-43 Oscar fighters from airfields in the vicinity of the oil refineries. These units included several such as the 87th (equipped with Tojos) and the 33rd and 26th (with Oscars), many of which doubled as training formations with a mix of experienced instructors and less seasoned pilots. In addition, four Ki-46 Dinah reconnaissance aircraft were based nearby to provide early detection of incoming raids. Ground defenses consisted of extensive anti-aircraft batteries positioned around the Pladjoe and Sungai Gerong refineries, including roughly 270 heavy guns and mortars such as 75 mm Type 88 pieces and lighter 25 mm Type 96 automatic cannons. These were supported by 40 to 60 barrage balloons designed to deter low-level attacks, along with units under the 25th tasked with securing the facilities and manning the defenses. Intelligence and response capabilities were hampered by limited radar coverage, though a network centered on offered early warning extending hundreds of miles across . Prior alerts from earlier Allied raids, such as the 1944 B-29 strikes under Operation Boomerang, had heightened readiness, enabling standing patrols during subsequent attacks. Overall command fell to the 25th Army for ground forces, with fragmented air control under the 9th Air Division, reflecting broader coordination challenges in the Southern Expeditionary Fleet's theater. Key weaknesses included chronic fuel shortages that restricted routine patrols and sustained operations, as the refineries themselves produced 75% of Japan's aviation fuel. By 1945, pilot experience was generally low, with many squadrons relying on inexperienced trainees amid high attrition rates from ongoing Allied campaigns.

Results and Impact

Damage to Targets

During Operation Meridian I on 24 January 1945, the Pladju refinery north of sustained significant damage from concentrated strikes by British , with probable direct hits on one powerhouse, three crude distilleries, two other units, one cracking plant, and one reforming unit, alongside scattered impacts across its extensive layout. Storage tanks and run-down facilities were also targeted, leading to fires and thick smoke that obscured further assessment, halving long-term production capacity at the site. In Meridian II on 29 January 1945, the smaller Sungai Gerong refinery south of was assessed as completely out of action following accurate bombing that collapsed towers, ruptured pipelines, and ignited storage tanks, with fires continuing for several weeks and halting all output until at least late March. Pumping houses and cracking plants were among the primary units destroyed, rendering the facility inoperable. Secondary targets included airfields at Prabo (Prabumulih) and Talang Betutu, where runways were cratered by and bombing to disrupt Japanese air operations, contributing to the overall degradation of defenses around . Approximately 38 Japanese were destroyed on the ground across these and nearby fields like Lembak and Talang Betutu during the strikes. Post-raid by Allied photographic units, including USAAF assets, confirmed extensive destruction through imagery analysis, estimating an overall 75% loss in refining capacity at the Palembang sites combined, with thick smoke and ongoing fires validating the raids' effectiveness despite some obscured details. Japanese repair efforts relied heavily on forced labor, including slave workers under harsh conditions, but achieved only minimal recovery by the war's end in due to material shortages and repeated disruptions.

Casualties and Losses

The lost a total of 41 aircraft across both strikes of Operation Meridian (16 to enemy action, 11 ditched, and 14 in deck crashes), including 16 Avengers, 15 Corsairs, 5 Seafires, 4 , and 1 Firefly. These losses resulted in 34 killed or missing, with the majority from Avenger and Corsair squadrons. Nine who bailed out over Japanese-held territory were captured and transported to in , where they became known as the "Palembang Nine." Following Japan's surrender in August 1945, these prisoners—comprising Britons and —were executed by their captors in a documented , with their bodies placed in a small and sunk off the coast; a memorial now honors them at the Church in Yeovilton. Several other survived ditching or crashes, with at least 10 crews rescued by accompanying destroyers and additional individuals recovered via search efforts. A notable incident occurred during Meridian II when HMS Illustrious was struck by from HMS Euryalus, killing 12 personnel and wounding 21 aboard the carrier. No capital ships were lost, though Illustrious required repairs. Japanese losses included approximately 37 aircraft shot down in air-to-air combat (30 confirmed and 7 probable) and 38 destroyed on the ground at airfields near , based on British claims corroborated by surviving records. These aerial engagements confirmed the deaths of at least 11 Japanese pilots from units such as the 87th and 33rd .

Strategic Consequences

Operation Meridian's raids on the Palembang oil refineries severely curtailed Japanese aviation fuel production, reducing output from Sumatra's facilities to 35% of normal levels and limiting the fuel available for operations in the Pacific's final months. These refineries had previously supplied up to 75% of Japan's aviation spirit needs, making the disruption a pivotal blow to air operations reliant on high-octane . The resulting shortages compounded the broader oil crisis, with Japanese imports falling to zero by April 1945 and forcing reliance on inefficient substitutes like pine root oil, which further hampered military effectiveness. The later noted that operations like Meridian contributed to reducing Japanese output to just 6% of normal levels by mid-1945, exacerbating fuel shortages. The operation prompted Japanese efforts to disperse and relocate smaller refining operations across occupied territories, though these measures proved inadequate against the Allied and subsequent strikes, accelerating the shortages that contributed to operational paralysis by March 1945. Post-war assessments, including the , highlighted Meridian as a of the Allied oil campaign, which disrupted Japanese logistics and arguably shortened the by denying essential resources to their and . For the (BPF), Meridian validated advanced carrier strike tactics over long distances, boosting confidence in British and solidifying the Royal Navy's expanded role alongside American forces in the theater. This success directly facilitated the BPF's integration into U.S. Navy operations, including support for Operation Iceberg at Okinawa, where Task Force 57 conducted strikes against Japanese airfields. Diplomatically, the operation underscored Anglo-American cooperation, as the BPF's alignment with U.S. logistics and command structures exemplified unified Allied strategy in the final push against .

References

  1. https://www.armouredcarriers.com/operation-meridian-the-palembang-strike
  2. https://navyhistory.au/operation-meridian-palembang-oil-refineries-1945/
  3. http://www.combinedfleet.com/SumatraOil.htm
  4. http://www.combinedfleet.com/Japan_Oil.htm
  5. https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1946/december/we-had-british-where-we-needed-them
  6. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7340&context=doctoral
  7. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205159416
  8. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205159413
  9. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205159414
  10. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205395268
  11. https://www.naval-history.net/xDKWD-EF1945.htm
  12. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205160923
  13. https://fleetairarmoa.com/on-this-day-24-january-1945/
  14. https://codenames.info/operation/meridian-ii/
  15. https://www.armouredcarriers.com/operation-meridian-palembang-viceadmiral-vians-report
  16. https://www.keymilitary.com/article/forgottenforgotten-fleet
  17. https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/Oil%26War_Web_1.pdf
  18. https://aircrewremembered.com/haberfield-john-kerle-tipaho.html
  19. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2025/july/02/20250702-aval-aviators-remember-ww2-forebears-murdered-in-singapore
  20. https://navyhistory.au/operation-meridian-palembang-oil-refineries-1945/5/
  21. https://fleetairarmoa.com/on-this-day-29-january-1945/
  22. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA425684.pdf
  23. https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/USSBS/Japan-Econ/index.html
  24. https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2013/january/royal-navys-pacific-strike-force
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