Invasion of Buka and Bougainville
Encyclopedia
The Invasion of Buka and Bougainville occurred between March and April 1942 during World War II
. Buka Island
and Bougainville Island
in the South Pacific
, were occupied by the forces of the Empire of Japan
. At that time Buka and Bougainville were part of the Australian territory
of New Guinea
. A small Australia
n infantry platoon of commandos, the 1st Independent Company
were located at Buka Airfield as the Japanese landed but did not largely contest the invasion.
, New Britain
and to support strategic operations in the Solomon Islands
.
. These bases allowed the Japanese to conduct operations in the southern Solomon islands and to attack the Allied lines of communication between the US and the Southwest Pacific Area.
In November 1943, allied forces landed on the west coast of Bougainville as part of the latter stages of Operation Cartwheel
, and began building air bases to assist in the isolation and neutralization of Rabaul. U.S. Marine
s landed at Cape Torokina
and established a beachhead
within which the Allies eventually constructed three airfields. The invasion force was later replaced by U.S. Army
soldiers in January 1944, and these were replaced by Australian Militia
troops in October 1944. The campaign ended with the surrender of Japanese forces in August 1945.
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...
. Buka Island
Buka Island
Buka Island is the second largest island in the Papua New Guinean province of Bougainville.- History :Buka was first occupied by humans in paleolithic times, some 30,000 years ago...
and Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
in the South Pacific
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
, were occupied by the forces of the Empire of Japan
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...
. At that time Buka and Bougainville were part of the Australian territory
Territory of New Guinea
The Territory of New Guinea was the Australia-controlled, League of Nations-mandated territory in the north eastern part of the island of New Guinea, and surrounding islands, between 1920 and 1949...
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...
. A small Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n infantry platoon of commandos, the 1st Independent Company
1st Independent Company (Australia)
The 1st Independent Company was one of twelve independent or commando companies raised by the Australian Army for service in World War II. Raised in 1941, the 1st Independent Company served in New Ireland, New Britain and New Guinea in the early stages of the war in the Pacific, taking part in a...
were located at Buka Airfield as the Japanese landed but did not largely contest the invasion.
Background
The Japanese invaded and occupied Buka and Bougainville in order to construct naval and air bases to provide security for their major base at RabaulRabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
, New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
and to support strategic operations in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
.
Battle
In March and April 1942, the Japanese landed on Buka, Sohano and Bougainville.Aftermath
After the occupation of Buka and Bougainville, the Japanese began constructing a number of airfields across the island. The main airfields were on Buka Island, on the nearby Bonis Peninsula and at Kahili and Kieta, while naval bases were also constructed at Buin in the south and on the nearby Shortland IslandsShortland Islands
The Shortland Islands are group of islands belonging to the Western Province of the Solomon Islands, at . Named by John Shortland, they lie in the extreme northwest of the country's territory, close to the island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. The largest island is Shortland Island...
. These bases allowed the Japanese to conduct operations in the southern Solomon islands and to attack the Allied lines of communication between the US and the Southwest Pacific Area.
In November 1943, allied forces landed on the west coast of Bougainville as part of the latter stages of Operation Cartwheel
Operation Cartwheel
Operation Cartwheel was a major military strategy for the Allies in the Pacific theater of World War II. Cartwheel was a twin-axis of advance operation, aimed at militarily neutralizing the major Japanese base at Rabaul...
, and began building air bases to assist in the isolation and neutralization of Rabaul. U.S. Marine
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
s landed at Cape Torokina
Landings at Cape Torokina
The Landings at Cape Torokina were the beginning of the Bougainville campaign in World War II, between the military forces of the Empire of Japan and the Allied powers...
and established a beachhead
Beachhead
Beachhead is a military term used to describe the line created when a unit reaches a beach, and begins to defend that area of beach, while other reinforcements help out, until a unit large enough to begin advancing has arrived. It is sometimes used interchangeably with Bridgehead and Lodgement...
within which the Allies eventually constructed three airfields. The invasion force was later replaced by U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
soldiers in January 1944, and these were replaced by Australian Militia
Australian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
troops in October 1944. The campaign ended with the surrender of Japanese forces in August 1945.