Operation Lentil (Sumatra)

Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers from HMS Indefatigable forming up for a raid on a Japanese oil refinery at Pangkalan Brandan during Lentil.

Operation Lentil was an air raid by British carrier based aircraft on oil installations at Pangkalan Brandan on Sumatra on 4 January 1945. It was part of the larger Operation Outflank. Two aircraft carriers, HMS Indomitable and Indefatigable were escorted by four cruisers (HMS Suffolk), Ceylon, Argonaut and Black Prince and six destroyers, which included the 25th Flotilla's Grenville (leader), Undaunted, Ursa, Undine, and the 27th Flotilla's Kempenfelt (leader), Whelp, and Wager.

Pangkalan Brandan was an important centre for Indonesian oil production.

A high proportion of the pilots were New Zealanders.

A detailed account of the operations of the Royal Navy in the Pacific in 1944-1945 was published in 1969 as "Task Force 57" by Peter C Smith. Republished by Crecy Publishing Manchester third edition 2001. ISBN 0 947554 85 8


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