Battle of Baucau
| Battle of Baucau | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Indonesian invasion of East Timor | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Indonesia |
.svg.png){kind=small} East Timor | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Lt.col Suakadirul |
Antonio Reis da Silva | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
Paratroopers strength: 493 paratroops Aerial strength: 6 C-130 Hercules 1 B-26 Invader Naval strength: 1,500 marine troops 4 war ships 2 frigate | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown (more heavy) | ||||||||
The Battle of Baucau was the Airborne assault conducted by Indonesian National Armed Forces with objective to capture Baucau in East Timor by targeting the Baucau Airbase and Fretilin barrack due to the strategic position. The battle ended by Indonesian victories with the retreated actions by Fretilin.[1]
Background
In 7 December 1975 The Indonesian military launched an full scale invasion of East Timor codenamed Operation Seroja, the first action during the operation was Invasion of Dili. At 03.00 Indonesian navy vessels shelled Dili and landed many forces with the amphibious tank through the sea on 04:30.[2]
The first sortie was carrying estimated 550 soldiers and dropped the troops at 05:30,during the dropping of forces one loadmaster killed by the Fretilin fire and 72 soldiers was aborted from group. Second sortie was dropped after the plane back from Penfui Airport and came to the same places, the second sortie was not engaged many Fretilin resistance after the Fretilin retreated from their zone the Indonesian forces managed to captured Dili from Fretilin.[3][4]
Although the Indonesian forces managed to expelled Fretilin from Dili this action starting the occupation of Dili at the end invasion, during the invasions Indonesian suffered lack of communication and poor quality intelligence provided causing the friendly fire around the forces. [5]
Battle
The Airborne assault occured on 07.20 am with 493 paratroops attacked Barracks shocked Antonio Reis da Silva as the leader of Barrack. Antonio and his forces decided to retreated because the pressure by Indonesian forces, the first sorties of Indonesian forces had not fought the resistance by Fretilin forces because Fretilin had fled southward. The Indonesian combined paratroops chased the Fretilin around the airfield and Manatuto. The second sorties deployed troops again with combined military troops[1][6][7][8][9]
On 10:30 pm five Lockheed C-130 aircraft flown from Penfui air base. The third sortie targeting to form the Tactical Command Post (POSKOTIS) airfield Baucau.[1]
In 10 December 4 Indonesian warships carrying 1,500 marine troops supported with 2 frigates leaving Dili sea to Baucau on 6 am the forces landed on Baucau sea guided by Manuel Carrascalo under the leadership of Colonel Dading Kalbuadi. The forces easily entered Baucau due to the Fretilin retreat action thus action making the Indonesian forces quickly occupied Baucau.[10]
Finally, the Indonesian forces defeated and occupied the air base on Baucau ,then the air forces quickly restored the air base. Meanwhile othe battalions moved through Manatuto with objective to occupy Manatuto and cleared them from Fretilin resistance. On 31 December 1975 the Indonesian forces occupied Manatuto.[1][6]
Aftermath
After Indonesian forces defeated Dili and Baucau they planned to launched offensive attack on Lospalos and Viqueque. The invasion of Los Palos conducted at February 1976, the paratroops are deployed and in the same time amphibious landing by Battalion-2/Landing Marine at Lautem Beach. The invasions resulted Indonesian occupation of Lospalos.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e Akhmad, Fakhurroji (2017). "The Role of Indonesian National Air Force (TNI-AU) in Seroja Operation in East Timor (1975-1979)" (PDF). International Journal of Culture and History: 1–8.
- ^ "Provokasi Di Lepas Pantai Dili". Indomiliter.com (in Indonesian). 2013-05-18. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
- ^ "Pertempuran sengit & berdarah di Dili, Kopassus Vs Tropaz". merdeka.com (in Indonesian). 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
- ^ Awet, Tewelde (2013). Third World Colonialism and Strategies of Liberation. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107031234.
- ^ Husein, Abdulsalam (2017-12-06). "Upaya Indonesia Mencaplok Timor Lorosae lewat Operasi Seroja". Tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-08-15.
- ^ a b Ratnasari, Etri (2015-05-11). "Operasi Seroja 1975-1978 Di Timor Timur: Kajian Tentang ABRI-AD". Yogyakarta State University (in Indonesian) (3): 69–70.
- ^ Tjokong Taringan, Sibero (2011). Setengah abad kiprah Hercules di Indonesia (in Indonesian). Dinas Penerangan Angkatan Udara. p. 84.
- ^ Nugroho, Hariadi (2011). Paratroops: Pasukan Penyergap dari Udara (in Indonesian). Pressindo. p. 117.
- ^ Baret Jingga : pasukan payung pertama di Indonesia (in Indonesian). Dinas Penerangan Angkatan Udara. 1999. p. 314.
- ^ Antonio (2006). "Sejarah konflik Timor Timor" (PDF). Etan.org (in Indonesian). 5: 66.