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EspañolBOUGAINVILLE CAMPAIGN (1943–45)
(Redirected from Bougainville campaign)
The 'Bougainville campaign', was a campaign of World War II that occurred from November 1, 1943 to August 21, 1945, on and around Bougainville Island in the South Pacific between the Empire of Japan and Allied forces. Bougainville, at that time, was part of the Australian territory of New Guinea, although geographically part of the Solomon Islands chain. The Bougainville campaign was, therefore, part of both the Allied New Guinea and Solomon Islands campaigns. Bougainville was occupied by Japanese forces in 1942, who constructed naval air bases at Buka in the north and Buin in the south, as well as a naval ship base in the nearby Shortland Islands. The Japanese bases provided security for their major base at Rabaul, New Britain and supported their forces operating at other locations in the Solomon Islands.
As part of the latter stages of Operation Cartwheel, Allied forces intended to establish air bases on Bougainville to assist in the isolation and neutralization of Rabaul. Thus, in November 1943 United States Marine forces landed at Cape Torokina on Bougainville and established a beachhead within which the Allies constructed three airfields. The Marines were later replaced by U.S. Army soldiers in January, 1944. The U.S. Army was replaced by Australian Militia troops in October 1944. The campaign ended with the surrender of Japanese forces in August 1945.
Allied operations to retake Bougainville from the Japanese 17th Army began with Landings at Cape Torokina by the U.S. Marine 3rd Division on November 1, 1943. The Allies intended to establish a beachhead around Cape Torokina, within which an airfield would be built. Allied forces did not plan, at this time, to try to capture the entire island of Bougainville from Japanese forces. An attempt by the Japanese Navy to attack the U.S. landing forces was defeated in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, on November 1 and November 2. A subsequent attempt by Japanese land forces to attack the Allied beachhead was defeated in the Battle of Koromokina Lagoon.
Protracted and often bitter jungle warfare followed, with many casualties resulting from malaria and other tropical diseases. U.S. Marine operations to expand the Allied beachhead resulted in the battles of Piva Trail, Coconut Grove, Piva Forks, and Hellzapoppin Ridge and Hill 600A. The Marines were later replaced by the U.S. Army's Americal Division.
The U.S. Army defended the beachhead against a major Japanese counterattack from March 9 – March 17, 1944, at Hill 700, Cannon Hill and Hill 260. The counterattack was defeated with heavy losses for the Japanese, who then withdrew the majority of their forces into the deep interior and to the north and south ends of the island.
The Japanese, isolated and cut off from outside assistance, primarily concentrated on survival, including the development of farms throughout the island. The Americans were reinforced by the 93rd Infantry Division, the first African American infantry unit to see action in World War II. The Allies concentrated on constructing three airfields in the beachhead, from which they conducted fighter and bomber operations over Rabaul and other Japanese held islands in the South Pacific area. Air support over Bougainville was provided primarily by the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Between October and December 1944, the U.S. ground forces handed over operations on the island to the main body of the Australian II Corps, a Militia formation. The Australian 3rd Division and the 11th Brigade were on Bougainville, reinforced by the Fiji Infantry Regiment. The Australian 23rd Brigade garrisoned neighbouring islands.
The second phase of the Allied campaign developed into three separate drives: in the north, it was planned that Japanese forces would be forced into the narrow Bonis Peninsula and contained; in the centre the seizure of Pearl Ridge would give the Australians control of the east-west thoroughfares and protection against further counterattacks, while also opening the way for a drive to the east coast; and the main campaign in the south, where the bulk of the Japanese forces were concentrated.
Major battles for the Australians included the Battle of Genga River (in the north) and the Battles of Slater's Knoll and Hongorai River (in the south).
Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu of Fiji was posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross (VC) for his bravery at Mawaraka on June 23, 1944. During 1945, Corporal Reg Rattey (at Slater's Knoll) and Private Frank Partridge (at Ratsua) won Australia's last VCs of World War II and the only VCs awarded to militia soldiers.
Combat operations on Bougainville ended with the surrender of Japanese forces on August 21, 1945.
USS McKean (DD-90)
1. Shaw, ''Isolation of Rabaul'', p. 246, Lofgren, ''Northern Solomons'', p. 27, & Gailey, ''Bougainville'', p. 191. Number includes 96,000 U.S. and 30,000 Australian troops.
2. Rottman, ''Japanese Army'', pp. 70–72 (45,000) and AWM, ''Official Histories'' (42,000). Gailey, ''Bougainville'', p. 211 claims that there were 65,000 total Japanese personnel in and around Bougainville.
3. Shaw, ''Isolation of Rabaul'', p. 281, Lofgren, ''Northern Solomons'', p. 32, and Gailey, ''Bougainville'', p. 210. Breakdown of deaths by country: 727 U.S. and 516 Australia.
4. Rottman, ''Japanese Army'', pp. 70–72, AWM, ''Official Histories'', and Gailey, ''Bougainville'', p. 211. Figure includes deaths from all causes: combat, disease, starvation, and accident. The Australians counted 21,000 Japanese survivors on Bougainville upon the surrender of Japanese forces at the end of World War II. If Gailey's figure of 65,000 Japanese troops originally on Bougainville is accurate, then the Japanese casualty figures would be far higher.
★ Touched with Fire : The Land War in the South Pacific, , Eric M., Bergerud, Penguin, 1997, ISBN 0-14-024696-7
★ A Marine from Boston: A First Person Story of a US Marine in World War II — Boot Camp-Samoa-Guadalcanal-Bougainville, , John, Carey, Authorhouse, 2002, ISBN 1-4033-6720-5
★ Bougainville, 1943–1945: The Forgotten Campaign, , Harry A., Gailey, University Press of Kentucky, 1991, ISBN 0-8131-9047-9 - neutral review of this book here:[1]
★ The Solomons Campaigns, 1942–1943: From Guadalcanal to Bougainville—Pacific War Turning Point, Volume 2 (Amphibious Operations in the South Pacific in WWII), , William L., McGee, BMC Publications, 2002, ISBN 0-9701678-7-3
★ Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier'', vol. 6 of ''History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, , Samuel Eliot, Morison, Castle Books, 1958, ISBN 0-7858-1307-1
★ Japanese Army in World War II: The South Pacific and New Guinea, 1942–43, , Gordon L., Rottman, Osprey, 2005, ISBN 1-84176-870-7
★ In the Shadows: Bougainville
★ Vol. IV, The Pacific: Guadalcanal to Saipan, August 1942 to July 1944
★ TOP OF THE LADDER: Marine Operations in the Northern Solomons Also available at: [2]
★ Battle for Bougainville: Hell on Hill 700
★ Bougainville: The Amphibious Assault Enters Maturity
★ Bougainville
★ The Final Campaigns: Bougainville 1944–1945
★ Northern Solomons
★ Volume VII – The Final Campaigns
★ Time of the Aces: Marine Pilots in the Solomons, 1942–1944
★ CARTWHEEL: The Reduction of Rabaul
★ Volume II – Air War Against Japan, 1943–1945
★ Bougainville and the Northern Solomons
★ Volume II: Isolation of Rabaul
★ Japanese Operations in the Southwest Pacific Area, Volume II - Part I - Translation of the official record by the Japanese Demobilization Bureaux detailing the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy's participation in the Southwest Pacific area of the Pacific War.
★ Roy Uyehata's Personal History - Account of a Japanese-American interrogator on Bougainville.
The 'Bougainville campaign', was a campaign of World War II that occurred from November 1, 1943 to August 21, 1945, on and around Bougainville Island in the South Pacific between the Empire of Japan and Allied forces. Bougainville, at that time, was part of the Australian territory of New Guinea, although geographically part of the Solomon Islands chain. The Bougainville campaign was, therefore, part of both the Allied New Guinea and Solomon Islands campaigns. Bougainville was occupied by Japanese forces in 1942, who constructed naval air bases at Buka in the north and Buin in the south, as well as a naval ship base in the nearby Shortland Islands. The Japanese bases provided security for their major base at Rabaul, New Britain and supported their forces operating at other locations in the Solomon Islands.
As part of the latter stages of Operation Cartwheel, Allied forces intended to establish air bases on Bougainville to assist in the isolation and neutralization of Rabaul. Thus, in November 1943 United States Marine forces landed at Cape Torokina on Bougainville and established a beachhead within which the Allies constructed three airfields. The Marines were later replaced by U.S. Army soldiers in January, 1944. The U.S. Army was replaced by Australian Militia troops in October 1944. The campaign ended with the surrender of Japanese forces in August 1945.
| Contents |
| Campaign |
| November 1943 – March 1944 |
| November 1944 – August 1945 |
| See also |
| Notes |
| References |
| External links |
Campaign
November 1943 – March 1944
January 1944: U.S. Marine Raiders pose in front of a captured Japanese dugout at Cape Torokina on Bougainville.
Allied operations to retake Bougainville from the Japanese 17th Army began with Landings at Cape Torokina by the U.S. Marine 3rd Division on November 1, 1943. The Allies intended to establish a beachhead around Cape Torokina, within which an airfield would be built. Allied forces did not plan, at this time, to try to capture the entire island of Bougainville from Japanese forces. An attempt by the Japanese Navy to attack the U.S. landing forces was defeated in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, on November 1 and November 2. A subsequent attempt by Japanese land forces to attack the Allied beachhead was defeated in the Battle of Koromokina Lagoon.
Protracted and often bitter jungle warfare followed, with many casualties resulting from malaria and other tropical diseases. U.S. Marine operations to expand the Allied beachhead resulted in the battles of Piva Trail, Coconut Grove, Piva Forks, and Hellzapoppin Ridge and Hill 600A. The Marines were later replaced by the U.S. Army's Americal Division.
The U.S. Army defended the beachhead against a major Japanese counterattack from March 9 – March 17, 1944, at Hill 700, Cannon Hill and Hill 260. The counterattack was defeated with heavy losses for the Japanese, who then withdrew the majority of their forces into the deep interior and to the north and south ends of the island.
May 1, 1944. Members of the US 93rd Infantry Division on the Numa-Numa Trail, Bougainville.
November 1944 – August 1945
A Fijian medical orderly administers an emergency plasma transfusion during heavy fighting on Bougainville.
Between October and December 1944, the U.S. ground forces handed over operations on the island to the main body of the Australian II Corps, a Militia formation. The Australian 3rd Division and the 11th Brigade were on Bougainville, reinforced by the Fiji Infantry Regiment. The Australian 23rd Brigade garrisoned neighbouring islands.
The second phase of the Allied campaign developed into three separate drives: in the north, it was planned that Japanese forces would be forced into the narrow Bonis Peninsula and contained; in the centre the seizure of Pearl Ridge would give the Australians control of the east-west thoroughfares and protection against further counterattacks, while also opening the way for a drive to the east coast; and the main campaign in the south, where the bulk of the Japanese forces were concentrated.
April 5, 1945. The view forward of Australian 25th Battalion positions on Slater's Knoll, Bougainville.The soldier in the foreground is aiming an Owen submachinegun.
Major battles for the Australians included the Battle of Genga River (in the north) and the Battles of Slater's Knoll and Hongorai River (in the south).
Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu of Fiji was posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross (VC) for his bravery at Mawaraka on June 23, 1944. During 1945, Corporal Reg Rattey (at Slater's Knoll) and Private Frank Partridge (at Ratsua) won Australia's last VCs of World War II and the only VCs awarded to militia soldiers.
Combat operations on Bougainville ended with the surrender of Japanese forces on August 21, 1945.
See also
USS McKean (DD-90)
Notes
1. Shaw, ''Isolation of Rabaul'', p. 246, Lofgren, ''Northern Solomons'', p. 27, & Gailey, ''Bougainville'', p. 191. Number includes 96,000 U.S. and 30,000 Australian troops.
2. Rottman, ''Japanese Army'', pp. 70–72 (45,000) and AWM, ''Official Histories'' (42,000). Gailey, ''Bougainville'', p. 211 claims that there were 65,000 total Japanese personnel in and around Bougainville.
3. Shaw, ''Isolation of Rabaul'', p. 281, Lofgren, ''Northern Solomons'', p. 32, and Gailey, ''Bougainville'', p. 210. Breakdown of deaths by country: 727 U.S. and 516 Australia.
4. Rottman, ''Japanese Army'', pp. 70–72, AWM, ''Official Histories'', and Gailey, ''Bougainville'', p. 211. Figure includes deaths from all causes: combat, disease, starvation, and accident. The Australians counted 21,000 Japanese survivors on Bougainville upon the surrender of Japanese forces at the end of World War II. If Gailey's figure of 65,000 Japanese troops originally on Bougainville is accurate, then the Japanese casualty figures would be far higher.
References
★ Touched with Fire : The Land War in the South Pacific, , Eric M., Bergerud, Penguin, 1997, ISBN 0-14-024696-7
★ A Marine from Boston: A First Person Story of a US Marine in World War II — Boot Camp-Samoa-Guadalcanal-Bougainville, , John, Carey, Authorhouse, 2002, ISBN 1-4033-6720-5
★ Bougainville, 1943–1945: The Forgotten Campaign, , Harry A., Gailey, University Press of Kentucky, 1991, ISBN 0-8131-9047-9 - neutral review of this book here:[1]
★ The Solomons Campaigns, 1942–1943: From Guadalcanal to Bougainville—Pacific War Turning Point, Volume 2 (Amphibious Operations in the South Pacific in WWII), , William L., McGee, BMC Publications, 2002, ISBN 0-9701678-7-3
★ Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier'', vol. 6 of ''History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, , Samuel Eliot, Morison, Castle Books, 1958, ISBN 0-7858-1307-1
★ Japanese Army in World War II: The South Pacific and New Guinea, 1942–43, , Gordon L., Rottman, Osprey, 2005, ISBN 1-84176-870-7
External links
★ In the Shadows: Bougainville
★ Vol. IV, The Pacific: Guadalcanal to Saipan, August 1942 to July 1944
★ TOP OF THE LADDER: Marine Operations in the Northern Solomons Also available at: [2]
★ Battle for Bougainville: Hell on Hill 700
★ Bougainville: The Amphibious Assault Enters Maturity
★ Bougainville
★ The Final Campaigns: Bougainville 1944–1945
★ Northern Solomons
★ Volume VII – The Final Campaigns
★ Time of the Aces: Marine Pilots in the Solomons, 1942–1944
★ CARTWHEEL: The Reduction of Rabaul
★ Volume II – Air War Against Japan, 1943–1945
★ Bougainville and the Northern Solomons
★ Volume II: Isolation of Rabaul
★ Japanese Operations in the Southwest Pacific Area, Volume II - Part I - Translation of the official record by the Japanese Demobilization Bureaux detailing the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy's participation in the Southwest Pacific area of the Pacific War.
★ Roy Uyehata's Personal History - Account of a Japanese-American interrogator on Bougainville.
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