Finisterre Range campaign
Encyclopedia
The Finisterre Range campaign, also known as the Ramu Valley–Finisterre Range campaign, was a series of actions in the New Guinea campaign
of World War II
. Several actions in the campaign are sometimes known collectively as the Battle of Shaggy Ridge.
The campaign began with an Allied
offensive in the Ramu Valley, from 19 September 1943, and concluded when Allied troops entered Madang
on 24 April 1944. During the campaign, Australian and U.S. forces assaulted Japanese
positions in the Finisterre Range
of New Guinea
.The central geographical and strategic feature of the campaign was the imposing Shaggy Ridge
, running north-south in the Finisterres.
-sized formation detached from the Japanese 20th Division
under Major General Masutaro Nakai
. It faced the Australian 7th Division, consisting of approximately 17,000 men under Major General George Vasey, and made up of the 18th
, 21st
and 25th Brigades
, along with the 2/6th Commando Squadron
.
, as part of the wider New Guinea campaign
, which saw the 9th Division carrying out operations along the Huon Peninsula
on the coast to the east, while the 7th moved towards the west. Carrying out a number of smaller-scale operations, the units of the 21st and 25th Brigades advanced up the Markham and Ramu Valleys. Apart from a significant engagement around Kaiapit
, where the 2/6th Commando Squadron captured the village and killed over 200 Japanese, the Australians were barely resisted as they advanced and they arrived in Dumpu
in early October.
Following this, the 7th Division provided security for a number of airfields that were constructed in the territory they had captured in the valleys, however, the Japanese remained in strong possession of the Finisterre Range
, and their positions at Kankiryo Saddle north of the Ramu river and the 1500 m (4,921.3 ft) high razorback ridge named Shaggy Ridge, continued to threaten the airfields. This threat manifested itself in the road that the Japanese were attempting to build from Madang
on the coast inland to Nadzab
, via Bogadjim along which they were hoping to advance through to Dumpu.
Thus, the Kankiryo Saddle and Shaggy Ridge were of vital strategic importance for both the Japanese and the Australians. For the Japanese, it provided a strong obstacle to the Australian advance north towards the coast, while also offering them the ground along which they could launch their own offensive in order to recapture the territory they had lost earlier in the campaign. For the Australians, the Japanese positions on the high ground signalled threat and their commander, Vasey, came to the decision that he would have to launch an offensive in order to capture this ground.
This led to a number of battles in the steep mountains of the Finnisterres. In October, battles took place at Palliser's Hill and then later at Johns' Knoll where the Australians first managed to capture the knoll and then held it against a determined Japanese counterattack. In November, the 25th Brigade relieved the 21st as the offensive was maintained, and later in December and into January heavy fighting took place around Shaggy Ridge and the Kankiryo Saddle. Shortly after Shaggy Ridge was captured, the 18th Brigade was replaced by the 15th Brigade
, a Militia formation, and the 7th Division advanced towards Bogadjim, linking up with the American forces there on the coast, before finally securing the Huon Peninsula on 24 April 1944 when they took Madang.
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Several actions in the campaign are sometimes known collectively as the Battle of Shaggy Ridge.
The campaign began with an Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
offensive in the Ramu Valley, from 19 September 1943, and concluded when Allied troops entered Madang
Madang
Madang is the capital of Madang Province and is a town with a population of 27,420 on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. It was first settled by the Germans in the 19th century....
on 24 April 1944. During the campaign, Australian and U.S. forces assaulted Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
positions in the Finisterre Range
Finisterre Range
Finisterre Range is a mountain range in north-eastern Papua New Guinea, at . The unnamed highest point of the range , which is ranked 45th in the world by prominence, is usually quoted at 4,175 m, but SRTM data suggests that it is nearer to 4,120 m...
of New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
.The central geographical and strategic feature of the campaign was the imposing Shaggy Ridge
Shaggy Ridge
Shaggy Ridge is a 6.5 kilometre -long, razorback ridge in the Finisterre Range, in north eastern Papua New Guinea. Its highest point is 1,494 metres above sea level...
, running north-south in the Finisterres.
Forces
The Japanese formation in the campaign was the Nakai Detachment, a brigadeBrigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
-sized formation detached from the Japanese 20th Division
20th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the .-History:The 20th Division and the 19th Division were raised on 24 December 1915 as a garrison force for Korea. After Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War, and subsequent occupation, and then annexation of Korea,...
under Major General Masutaro Nakai
Masutaro Nakai
Lieutenant General Masutaro Nakai was a senior officer of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. He led a brigade-sized formation, known as the Nakai Detachment, which had been detached from the 20th Division during the Finisterre Range campaign. He was later placed in command on the 20th...
. It faced the Australian 7th Division, consisting of approximately 17,000 men under Major General George Vasey, and made up of the 18th
18th Brigade (Australia)
The 18th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army, which served during the Second World War. The brigade was raised on 13 October 1939 and was one of the first three infantry brigades of the Second Australian Imperial Force to be formed. Initially commanded by Brigadier Leslie...
, 21st
21st Brigade (Australia)
The 21st Brigade was a brigade-sized infantry unit of the Australian Army. Formed in April 1940 as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force, the unit was raised for service during World War II...
and 25th Brigades
25th Brigade (Australia)
The 25th Brigade was a brigade-sized infantry unit of the Australian Army that served during the Second World War. Raised in July 1940 and consisting of three infantry battalions, the 25th Brigade served in the United Kingdom, the Middle East, New Guinea and Borneo before being disbanded in...
, along with the 2/6th Commando Squadron
2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia)
The 2/6th Commando Squadron was one of 12 independent companies or commando squadrons raised by the Australian Army during the Second World War. Raised in May 1942 as the 2/6th Independent Company, the 2/6th's main role was to conduct irregular type warfare including small scale raiding, sabotage,...
.
Outline of the campaign
The campaign began in September 1943 following the 7th Division's drive on LaeLae
Lae, the capital of Morobe Province, is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is located at the start of the Highlands Highway which is the main land transport corridor from the Highlands region to the coast...
, as part of the wider New Guinea campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
, which saw the 9th Division carrying out operations along the Huon Peninsula
Huon Peninsula
Huon Peninsula is a large rugged peninsula on the island of New Guinea in Morobe Province, eastern Papua New Guinea. It is named after French explorer Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec who discovered it along with his personal assistant and porter, Henry Ole. The peninsula is dominated by the steep...
on the coast to the east, while the 7th moved towards the west. Carrying out a number of smaller-scale operations, the units of the 21st and 25th Brigades advanced up the Markham and Ramu Valleys. Apart from a significant engagement around Kaiapit
Battle of Kaiapit
The Battle of Kaiapit was an action fought in 1943 between Australian and Japanese forces in New Guinea during the Finisterre Range campaign of World War II. Following the landing at Nadzab and landing at Lae, the Allies attempted to exploit their success with an advance into the upper Markham...
, where the 2/6th Commando Squadron captured the village and killed over 200 Japanese, the Australians were barely resisted as they advanced and they arrived in Dumpu
Dumpu, Papua New Guinea
Dumpu is a village in the upper Ramu Valley in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. The village is serviced by Dumpu Airport. During World War II the village became the divisional headquarters of the Australian 11th Division....
in early October.
Following this, the 7th Division provided security for a number of airfields that were constructed in the territory they had captured in the valleys, however, the Japanese remained in strong possession of the Finisterre Range
Finisterre Range
Finisterre Range is a mountain range in north-eastern Papua New Guinea, at . The unnamed highest point of the range , which is ranked 45th in the world by prominence, is usually quoted at 4,175 m, but SRTM data suggests that it is nearer to 4,120 m...
, and their positions at Kankiryo Saddle north of the Ramu river and the 1500 m (4,921.3 ft) high razorback ridge named Shaggy Ridge, continued to threaten the airfields. This threat manifested itself in the road that the Japanese were attempting to build from Madang
Madang
Madang is the capital of Madang Province and is a town with a population of 27,420 on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. It was first settled by the Germans in the 19th century....
on the coast inland to Nadzab
Nadzab
-History:A Lutheran mission station was established at Nadzab around 1910. Nadzab was the site of the only Allied paratrooper assault in New Guinea on 5 September 1943.The Lae Nadzab Airport is a regional airport served by regional aircraft with domestic flights....
, via Bogadjim along which they were hoping to advance through to Dumpu.
Thus, the Kankiryo Saddle and Shaggy Ridge were of vital strategic importance for both the Japanese and the Australians. For the Japanese, it provided a strong obstacle to the Australian advance north towards the coast, while also offering them the ground along which they could launch their own offensive in order to recapture the territory they had lost earlier in the campaign. For the Australians, the Japanese positions on the high ground signalled threat and their commander, Vasey, came to the decision that he would have to launch an offensive in order to capture this ground.
This led to a number of battles in the steep mountains of the Finnisterres. In October, battles took place at Palliser's Hill and then later at Johns' Knoll where the Australians first managed to capture the knoll and then held it against a determined Japanese counterattack. In November, the 25th Brigade relieved the 21st as the offensive was maintained, and later in December and into January heavy fighting took place around Shaggy Ridge and the Kankiryo Saddle. Shortly after Shaggy Ridge was captured, the 18th Brigade was replaced by the 15th Brigade
15th Brigade (Australia)
The 15th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. Originally raised in 1916 for service during World War I, the brigade took part in the fighting on the Western Front in France and Belgium before being disbanded in 1919. After this it was re-raised as a part-time unit of the Citizens...
, a Militia formation, and the 7th Division advanced towards Bogadjim, linking up with the American forces there on the coast, before finally securing the Huon Peninsula on 24 April 1944 when they took Madang.
Operation Cutthroat
The major Australian offensives on Shaggy Ridge—codenamed Operation Cutthroat—were launched by the 18th Brigade on 19 January. The plan called for the brigade's three battalions to converge on Kankiryo Saddle from three different directions:- the 2/12th Battalion was to advance from Canning's Saddle, east of Shaggy Ridge, and attack two well-defended knolls on the northern end of Shaggy Ridge, known as Prothero I and II
- the 2/9th Battalion2/9th Battalion (Australia)The 2/9th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army during World War II. Raised in Queensland as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force shortly after the outbreak of the war, it served as part of the 18th Brigade and over the course of the war it was attached to the 6th, 9th...
would attack northwards along Shaggy Ridge itself, to take McCaughey's Knoll (by way of Green Sniper's Pimple) - the 2/10th Battalion would advance along Faria Ridge, which lay to the east of Shaggy Ridge and joined it at Kankiryo Saddle.