Invasion of Dili

DATE: 04/09/2025

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: Cold War

MAP(S): Tanoa

TYPE: COOP

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Sclembi

SLOTS: 51 / 64

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RATING: (6)

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The Indonesian invasion of East Timor, known in Indonesia as Operation Lotus (Indonesian: Operasi Seroja), began on 7 December 1975 when the Indonesian military (ABRI/TNI) invaded East Timor under the pretext of anti-colonialism and anti-communism to overthrow the Fretilin government that had emerged in 1974. Indonesian nationalist and military hardliners, particularly leaders of the intelligence agency Kopkamtib and special operations unit, Opsus, saw the Portuguese coup as an opportunity for East Timor's annexation by Indonesia. The head of Opsus and close adviser to Indonesian President Suharto, Major General Ali Murtopo, and his protege Brigadier General Benny Murdani headed military intelligence operations and spearheaded the Indonesia pro-annexation push. In early September, as many as two hundred special forces troops launched incursions, which were noted by US intelligence, and in October, conventional military assaults followed. Five journalists, known as the Balibo Five, working for Australian news networks were executed by Indonesian troops in the border town of Balibo on 16 October. John Taylor writes that Indonesia invaded for three main reasons: (1) to avoid the “negative example” of an independent province, (2) to have access to the high initial estimates of oil and natural gas under the Timor Sea (initial estimates which turned out to be largely mistaken), and (3) following the fall of South Vietnam, to become Southeast Asia's major military partner of the United States.

Indonesian navy vessels consisting of frigate KRI Ratulangi, corvette KRI Barakuda, destroyer escort KRI Martadinata and repair ship KRI Jaya Wijaya arrived off the coast of Dili around 02:00. Around 04:30, 400 Indonesian marines landed in amphibious tanks and personnel carriers in Kampung Alor beach. The paratroopers consisted of 550 soldiers in ten Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft which took off from Iswahyudi Air Force Base in Madiun. They originated from Kopassus' (then Kopasandha) paratrooper command and Kostrad's 501st infantry battalion.

The planes approached Dili from the east and began dropping soldiers on 05:45. One loadmaster was killed by FRETILIN fire, and 72 soldiers aborted the drop. The paratroopers were shot at before they reached ground and throughout the operation were exposed to friendly fire from marines. After the first sortie was dropped, the planes returned to Penfui airfield in Kupang, and a second sortie comprising five planes was launched. The second wave of paratroopers, however, proceeded to fire at Indonesian soldiers moving towards Dili airfield while the marines began also fired upon them. According to official reports, the friendly fire incident resulted in no fatalities. Following the battle, the Indonesian casualty count was 35 killed from the first sortie, and another 22 from the second sortie. On the FRETILIN side, Indonesian forces reported 122 killed and 365 captured. Three days after the battle, the city of Baucau was similarly attacked and captured.

Many Indonesian commanders complained about the inaccurate and poor-quality intelligence provided. The commander of the airborne task force remarked that he was informed of the enemy being 'the equivalent of hansip'.

Following the plan as drawn on the map, assault Dili through the sectors marked in alphabetical order. Do not cross the borders between sectors unauthorised. Progress of the mission will be reflected with the map state updating and passable borders will become semi-transparent.