| Conflict: | Battle of Manado |
| Partof: | World War II, Pacific War, Dutch East Indies Campaign |
| Date: | 11–12 January 1942 (Last guerrilla pocket captured 9 August 1942) |
| Place: | Manado, Celebes Island |
| Result: | Japanese victory |
| Commander1: | B.F.A. Schilmöller (surrendered 23 March) |
| Commander2: | Raizō Tanaka Kunizō Mori Toyoaki Horiuchi |
| Strength1: | 1,500 infantry |
| Strength2: | 3,200 naval infantry[1] 507 paratroopers[2] |
| Casualties1: | 140 killed 48 captured |
| Casualties2: | 44 killed[3] 244 wounded[4] |
The Battle of Manado took place as part of the Japanese offensive to capture the Dutch East Indies. It occurred at Manado (also spelled Menado) on the Minahasa Peninsula on the northern part of Celebes Island (modern day Sulawesi in Indonesia), from 11–12 January 1942. The battle was noted as the first time in Japanese history that the country had deployed paratroopers in a military operation.
Even though the Minahasa Peninsula does not contain any raw materials or strategic technical installations, its military value remained essential. The sheltered bays of Manado and Lake Tondano provide good bases for seaplanes, as Dutch forces established a Naval Base on the southeast side of Tondano Lake, near Tasoeka (Tasuka). A seaplane base was also established on the southern part of the Lake, near Kakas.[5]
Aside from that, Dutch forces also constructed two airfields nearby. At the Kalawiran village near Langoan, the Menado II/Langoan Airfield was established. When the war broke out, Manado I Airfield, located just east of Manado City at Mapanget, was still under construction.[5]
As part of Japan's plan to conquer the Netherlands East Indies, particularly the island of Java, air support from southern Sumatra, Kuching, Banjarmasin (south-eastern part of Dutch Borneo), Makassar and Kendari (both on southern Celebes) was required.[6] Beforehand, however, in order to set up the aforementioned aerial support, specifically in southern Celebes and Banjarmasin, relay fields in Manado, Tarakan and Balikpapan had to be conquered as well.[6]
The seizure of Manado was outlined as part of Japan's Eastern Offensive prong to capture the Dutch East Indies. Responsibility for conducting attacks on this prong falls to the Imperial Japanese Navy.[7]