Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm and World War II

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Satellite view of the farm of giant storage tanks lost in the jungles

The Oil Tank Farm of Trincomalee, constructed by the British, stands today as a largely forgotten engineering marvel—one that was never utilized to its full capacity after independence. Hidden from public view and gradually reclaimed by jungle, the site reveals a striking aerial pattern of 101 circular tanks spread across approximately 344 hectares (850 acres). From above, these formations resemble giant, scattered discs—evocative of a surreal, almost extraterrestrial landscape. Much of the surrounding land is now covered in dense scrub jungle, supporting wildlife such as elephants and leopards.

Development and Construction of the Tank Farm

The development of Trincomalee Harbor, being the second deepest natural harbor in the world, into a premier naval base was a calculated strategic initiative by the British Admiralty to secure dominance in the Indian Ocean.

In 1927, the British Admiralty awarded a contract to a company known as “Clayton” to construct a vast network of oil storage facilities. This ambitious undertaking led to the creation of 101 large steel tanks across the China Bay and Chinnavadi regions. The scale of the project was unprecedented, transforming forested hinterlands into a critical military-industrial asset.

Construction had commenced earlier, in 1924, and continued until the late 1930s. Each tank was built using steel plates approximately 2.54 centimeters (1 inch) thick, while those located closer to the harbour were reinforced with concrete retaining walls about 30.5 centimeters (1 foot) thick.

According to local tradition, laborers from British African colonies were brought in to carry out much of the construction. Although 102 tanks were originally planned, only 101 were completed; the site intended for the 100th tank was cleared but never developed, possibly due to superstition.

Each tank had a storage capacity of approximately 12,000 tonnes of fuel, giving the entire complex a total capacity exceeding 1.2 million tonnes. This far surpasses the capacity of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) storage facilities, as well as the more recent storage complex built by the Chinese at Muthurājawela, which holds around 200,000 tonnes.

World War II

By 1935, with global tensions escalating, Trincomalee was prepared to function as a secondary naval stronghold to Singapore. Following the fall of Singapore in 1942, it assumed even greater importance, becoming the primary headquarters for the Royal Navy in the East.

As Japanese forces advanced through Southeast Asia, British naval and military units were redeployed to Trincomalee. The harbor became an invaluable logistical hub, providing fleets with essential supplies such as timber, food, and, most critically, fuel. The Oil Tank Farm served as the operational backbone of this system. However, this strategic importance also made it a prime target for the Imperial Japanese Navy, which sought to disrupt Allied dominance in the Indian Ocean.

The Japanese Air Raid and the Kamikaze Attack

The most serious threat to Trincomalee came during the Japanese air raids of 1942. Historical accounts indicate that a major attack occurred on April 9, 1942.

During the assault, Japanese Zero fighters and bombers overwhelmed the harbor’s defenses. One pilot—identified as Shigenori Watanabe—found his aircraft critically damaged and unable to return to its carrier. In what is often described as a precursor to later kamikaze tactics, he deliberately directed his aircraft into one of the oil tanks at China Bay.

The resulting explosion was devastating. Tank No. 91 was ignited, sending a massive column of fire into the sky, visible across Koddiyār Bay. The inferno that followed raged for seven days, generating such intense heat that the steel structures warped and collapsed in on themselves.

Fragments of the aircraft engine were later recovered and are now displayed at the Air Force Museum in Colombo. From the remains of the crew, only a skull was recovered.

The tanks damaged during this raid were never fully restored during the war and remain today as silent, corroding relics of the conflict.

Post-Independence Status

In the post-independence period, the Oil Tank Farm has experienced a complex and often contentious history. Many of the 101 tanks have been left in a state of neglect, their utilization hindered by decades of civil conflict and shifting administrative priorities.

In the early 1960s, one tank was destroyed when a Royal Ceylon Air Force aircraft crashed into it. The steel components were later removed, leaving only the concrete foundation intact.

The government-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) utilized only 15 tanks located in the lower section of the farm near the coast. In 2004, this section was leased to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), which continued to use only these same tanks, while the remainder of the facility remained largely abandoned within the encroaching jungle.

Contemporary Controversy and Strategic Significance

In recent years, the Oil Tank Farm has become the focus of significant political and economic debate. The lower tank farm, consisting of 14 units, was leased to India’s IOC in 2004 for a period of 20 years. Subsequently, efforts were made by the Sri Lankan government to extend this lease by an additional 50 years.

Moreover, proposals have been introduced to lease the remaining approximately 324 hectares (800 acres) to India through a joint venture arrangement, with an annual payment of USD 100,000. These developments have generated considerable controversy, with conflicting statements from officials and a lack of transparency surrounding the agreements.

Visiting Tank No. 91

The most well-known of the tanks is the ruined Tank No. 91, located at the far edge of the forest. What remains today are its blackened, warped, and partially melted steel structures, standing as stark evidence of its destruction. A small notice nearby explains that the tank was destroyed during a kamikaze attack carried out in the Japanese air raid on Trincomalee at dawn on April 9, 1942.

As the oil tank farm is currently under the control of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), prior permission is required to visit Tank No. 91.

About the tank number 91 on the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm

Destroyed tank after the Japanese kamikaze attack at the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm

Inside a neglected oil tank at Trincomalee Tank Farm

References

Athauda, A. M. S. P. (2007). Discourses of living architectural space: Case study: Trincomalee [Master’s dissertation, University of Moratuwa]. University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
Nelson, W. A. (1984). The Dutch forts of Sri Lanka: The military monuments of Ceylon. Canongate Publishing Limited.

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