Operation Meridian
Encyclopedia
During World War II
, Operation Meridian was a series of British air attacks conducted on 24 January (Meridian One) and 29 January (Meridian Two) 1945 on Japanese-held oil refineries at Palembang
, on Sumatra
. The critical aviation fuel output of these plants was reduced by seventy-five percent.
The attacks were made by aircraft from the British Task Force 63, end route to Sydney
, Australia, where it translated into the British Pacific Fleet
and subsequently participated in the support of the Allied invasion of Okinawa
(Operation Iceberg
). Refuelling at sea was needed and this was supplied by Force 69 of the British Eastern Fleet
- three escorted tankers.
TF63 left Trincomalee
on 13 January 1945, for Sumatra
. On 20 January, they rendezvoused with TF69 and refuelled with great difficulty because of gusting winds and a troublesome swell. The oilers complained of much gear being damaged.
The first attack Operation Meridian One, an air strike on 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 6am on 24 January with a lack of wind making take-off more risky.
Forty-three Avenger
bombers, 12 Firefly
fighter-bombers with rockets and fifty Hellcat
, Corsair
and Seafire
fighters were launched, approaching with the sun behind them and diving from 9000 feet to 3000 feet to release their bombs. Despite the presence of barrage balloons the refinery was successfully attacked. There were more losses than on previous raids and 32 aircraft were lost due to enemy action and crash landings.
The fleet refuelled again on 26-27 January. In practice, this was unsatisfactory as, with a mixture of poor weather and inexperience, damage was done to the tankers as ships failed to keep station and hoses parted.
On 29 January, the second raid, Operation Meridian Two, an air strike against the oil refinery at Soengei Gerong, Sumatra
, took place. Despite poor visibility, the flying-off was delayed by less than half an hour and the air strike was made against the oil refinery. Allied aviators claimed 30 Japanese planes shot down in dog-fights and another 38 destroyed on the ground, for the loss of 16 British aircraft. A small Japanese counterattack was attempted, but was defeated by fighter cover and anti-aircraft fire.
TF 63 refueled from TF 69 for the final time on 30 January and sailed for Fremantle, Western Australia
. TF 69 returned to Trincomalee.
Force 63: (Rear Admiral Philip Vian
):
Force 69
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Operation Meridian was a series of British air attacks conducted on 24 January (Meridian One) and 29 January (Meridian Two) 1945 on Japanese-held oil refineries at Palembang
Palembang
Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
, on Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
. The critical aviation fuel output of these plants was reduced by seventy-five percent.
The attacks were made by aircraft from the British Task Force 63, end route to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia, where it translated into the British Pacific Fleet
British Pacific Fleet
The British Pacific Fleet was a British Commonwealth naval force which saw action against Japan during World War II. The fleet was composed of British Commonwealth naval vessels. The BPF formally came into being on 22 November 1944...
and subsequently participated in the support of the Allied invasion of Okinawa
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
(Operation Iceberg
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
). Refuelling at sea was needed and this was supplied by Force 69 of the British Eastern Fleet
British Eastern Fleet
The British Eastern Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy which existed from 1941 to 1971...
- three escorted tankers.
TF63 left Trincomalee
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
on 13 January 1945, for Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
. On 20 January, they rendezvoused with TF69 and refuelled with great difficulty because of gusting winds and a troublesome swell. The oilers complained of much gear being damaged.
The first attack Operation Meridian One, an air strike on the oil refinery at Pladjoe, north of Palembang
Palembang
Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
, Sumatra was delayed by poor weather from 21 January and the fleet waited off Enggano Island
Enggano Island
Enggano Island is about 100 km south west of Sumatra, Indonesia. It is about 35 km long from east to west and about 16 km wide from north to south. Its area is 402.6 km², the average elevation is about 100 m and the highest point is 281 m. Politically it is a...
.
The attack was finally launched at 6am on 24 January with a lack of wind making take-off more risky.
Forty-three Avenger
TBF Avenger
The Grumman TBF Avenger was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world....
bombers, 12 Firefly
Fairey Firefly
The Fairey Firefly was a British Second World War-era carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm ....
fighter-bombers with rockets and fifty Hellcat
F6F Hellcat
The Grumman F6F Hellcat was a carrier-based fighter aircraft developed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat in United States Navy service. Although the F6F resembled the Wildcat, it was a completely new design powered by a 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800. Some tagged it as the "Wildcat's big...
, Corsair
F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and...
and Seafire
Supermarine Seafire
The Supermarine Seafire was a naval version of the Supermarine Spitfire specially adapted for operation from aircraft carriers. The name Seafire was arrived at by collapsing the longer name Sea Spitfire.-Origins of the Seafire:...
fighters were launched, approaching with the sun behind them and diving from 9000 feet to 3000 feet to release their bombs. Despite the presence of barrage balloons the refinery was successfully attacked. There were more losses than on previous raids and 32 aircraft were lost due to enemy action and crash landings.
The fleet refuelled again on 26-27 January. In practice, this was unsatisfactory as, with a mixture of poor weather and inexperience, damage was done to the tankers as ships failed to keep station and hoses parted.
On 29 January, the second raid, Operation Meridian Two, an air strike against the oil refinery at Soengei Gerong, Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, took place. Despite poor visibility, the flying-off was delayed by less than half an hour and the air strike was made against the oil refinery. Allied aviators claimed 30 Japanese planes shot down in dog-fights and another 38 destroyed on the ground, for the loss of 16 British aircraft. A small Japanese counterattack was attempted, but was defeated by fighter cover and anti-aircraft fire.
TF 63 refueled from TF 69 for the final time on 30 January and sailed for Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
. TF 69 returned to Trincomalee.
Allied order of battle
The ships involved in Operation Meridian were:Force 63: (Rear Admiral Philip Vian
Philip Vian
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Philip Louis Vian, GCB, KBE, DSO & Two Bars was a British naval officer who served in both World Wars....
):
- aircraft carriers
- HMS IndomitableHMS Indomitable (R92)HMS Indomitable was a modified Illustrious class aircraft carrier of the British Royal Navy. The Illustrious class came about due to the 1937 Naval Programme...
, IllustriousHMS Illustrious (R87)HMS Illustrious , the fourth Illustrious of the British Royal Navy, was an aircraft carrier which saw service in World War II, the lead ship of the Illustrious-class of carriers which also included Victorious, Formidable, and Indomitable.-Construction:Illustrious was built by Vickers-Armstrongs at...
, IndefatigableHMS Indefatigable (R10)HMS Indefatigable was an Implacable-class aircraft carrier of the British Royal Navy. Indefatigable was present at the formal surrender of the Japanese on 2 September in Tokyo Bay. She later helped to repatriate Allied POWs held in Japan and was used as a spotting ship for later US nuclear tests in...
and VictoriousHMS Victorious (R38)HMS Victorious was the second Illustrious-class aircraft carrier ordered under the 1936 Naval Programme. She was laid down at the Vickers-Armstrong shipyard at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1937 and launched two years later in 1939...
- HMS Indomitable
- battleship
- HMS King George VHMS King George V (41)HMS King George V was the lead ship of the five British King George V-class battleships of the Royal Navy. Laid down in 1937 and commissioned in 1940, King George V operated during the Second World War as part of the British Home and Pacific Fleets...
- HMS King George V
- anti-aircraft cruisers:
- HMS ArgonautHMS Argonaut (61)HMS Argonaut was a Dido class cruiser-References:***...
, Black PrinceHMS Black Prince (81)HMS Black Prince was a Dido-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, of the Bellona subgroup. The cruiser was commissioned in 1943, and served during World War II on the Arctic convoys, during the Normandy landings, and as part of the British Pacific Fleet. In 1946, the cruiser was loaned to the...
and EuryalusHMS Euryalus (42)HMS Euryalus was a Dido-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built at Chatham Dockyard UK), with the keel being laid down on 21 October 1937. She was launched on 6 June 1939, and commissioned 30 June 1941. Euryalus was the last cruiser that Chatham Dockyard built.-Mediterranean Service:-Second...
,
- HMS Argonaut
- Destroyer Flotilla 25
- HMS GrenvilleHMS Grenville (R97)HMS Grenville, pennant number R97, was the second ship of this name to serve with the Royal Navy in World War II. HMS Grenville and seven other U class destroyers were ordered as part of the Emergency Programme...
, UndineHMS Undine (R42)HMS Undine was a U-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II. She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F141....
, UrsaHMS Ursa (R22)HMS Ursa was a U-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II. She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F200.In September 1955 at Chatham dockyard...
and UndauntedHMS Undaunted (R53)HMS Undaunted was an U-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II. She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F53.-Operations against the Tirpitz:...
- HMS Grenville
- Destroyer Flotilla 27
- HMS KempenfeltHMS Kempenfelt (R03)HMS Kempenfelt was a W-class destroyer flotilla leader of the Royal Navy that served in the Second World War. She was the second destroyer of her name to have served in the war; the first Kempenfelt was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in October 1939 and renamed HMCS...
, Wakeful, WhirlwindHMS Whirlwind (R87)The second HMS Whirlwind was an W-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II and the Cold War.Whirlwind was built by Hawthorn Leslie and was launched on 30 August 1943...
, Wager, WhelpHMS Whelp (R37)HMS Whelp was a W-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that was ordered and launched during the Second World War. After completing trials in home waters, she joined the 27th Destroyer Flotilla, which was sent to the Far East via the Mediterranean...
and WessexHMS Wessex (R78)HMS Wessex was a W-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was to have been named HMS Zenith but was renamed in January 1943 before launching...
(from 19 January 1945)
- HMS Kempenfelt
Force 69
- light cruiser
- HMS CeylonHMS Ceylon (C30)HMS Ceylon was a Ceylon class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy, named for the island of Ceylon — now Sri Lanka — which was a British possession when she was built.-Wartime career:...
- HMS Ceylon
- destroyer
- HMS UrchinHMS Urchin (R99)HMS Urchin was a U-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II. She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F196. She served off Iceland during the 'Cod wars' in 1959....
- HMS Urchin
- oilers
- Wave KingRFA Wave King (A264)RFA Wave King was a Wave-class fleet support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary built at Govan by Harland & Wolff Ltd. In 1945, she served in the Far East with the Eastern Fleet....
, EchodaleRFA Echodale (A170)RFA Echodale was a Dale-class fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.She was decommissioned on 12 April 1959 and was laid up at Devonport Dockyard....
, Empire Salvage
- Wave King