Battle of Leuwiliang

Battle of Leuwiliang
Part of Battle of Java in the Dutch East Indies campaign
Bridging work across the Tjianten during the battle
Date 3–5 March 1942 Location Leuwiliang, West Java Result Japanese victory
Belligerents
Australia  United Kingdom  United States	Japan
Commanders and leaders
Arthur Blackburn Blucher S. Tharp	Yumio Nasu Jurō Hiroyasu
Units involved
Blackforce 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion 3rd Hussars 2/131st Field Artillery	2nd Division 16th Infantry Regiment 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment
Strength
: c. 1,500 : 15 tanks : c. 300	c. 3,000
Casualties and losses
100	500 dead (Allied claim)

The Battle of Leuwiliang was a battle during the Dutch East Indies campaign of the Pacific War that took place between 3 and 5 March 1942. Australian forces, supported by American artillery batteries and British tanks, launched a holding action starting at Leuwiliang, West Java, to cover the retreat of allied Dutch forces in the face of the Japanese invasion of Java.

Following a Japanese landing and a general collapse of Dutch KNIL resistance, Australian forces in Java led by Brigadier Arthur Blackburn prepared a defensive line ahead of a destroyed bridge in the village of Leuwiliang. Despite inflicting heavy Japanese casualties and delaying the Japanese advance for three days, Australian forces were eventually forced to withdraw towards Buitenzorg, and later further abandoned the city before capitulating after a general surrender of the Dutch forces on 8 March.