Invasion of Lae-Salamaua
Encyclopedia
The Invasion of Lae-Salamaua, called Operation SR by the Japanese, was an operation by Imperial Japanese
forces to occupy the Salamaua
-Lae
area in the Territory of New Guinea
8–13 March 1942 during the Pacific campaign
of World War II
. The Japanese invaded and occupied the location in order to construct an airfield and establish a base to cover and support the advance of Japanese forces into the eastern New Guinea and Coral Sea
areas. The small Australian garrison in the area withdrew as the Japanese landed and did not contest the invasion.
In response to the Japanese landings, a United States Navy
aircraft carrier
task force including the carriers Yorktown
and Lexington
struck the invading Japanese naval forces with carrier aircraft on 10 March. Supporting the carrier aircraft were eight B-17 bombers of the 435th Bombardment Squadron
of the 19th Bombardment Group from Garbutt Field, Townsville, Australia
and eight Royal Australian Air Force
Hudson
bombers of No. 32 Squadron
from Port Moresby
, New Guinea. The raid sank three transports and damaged several other ships.
In spite of the damage sustained by the air raid, Japanese forces successfully occupied Lae and Salamaua and began the construction of a base and airfield. Air units based at the airfield later supported an air superiority campaign against Allied forces at Port Moresby. In July 1942 after the Japanese abandoned plans
to invade Port Moresby from the sea, the base at Lae-Salamaua supported the ultimately unsuccessful Japanese land offensive towards Port Moresby along the Kokoda Track
.
, Kinugasa
, Furutaka
and Kako
of Rear Admiral Goto's Cruiser Division 6, the light cruisers Tenryu
and Tatsuta of Rear Admiral Marumo Kuninori's Cruiser Division 18, the destroyers Mutsuki
, Mochizuki
and Yoyoi
of Destroyer Division 30, and Asanagi
, Oite
, Yūnagi
of Destroyer Division 29, along with the light cruiser of Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi's Destroyer Squadron 6, fueled by the fleet oiler Tōhō Maru
.
The invasion fleet left Rabaul on 5 March 1942, escorted by the four heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, eight destroyers and assorted auxillary vessels. The troop transports Yokohama Maru
and China Maru
sailed for Salamaua, while the transports Kongō Maru
and Kokai Maru
, along with the auxiliary minelayer were destined for Lae. The Japanese landed on 8 March 1942 at Lae and Salamaua. At Lae, the Japanese landed without opposition. A small detachment of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles
and the staff of the R.A.A.F. radio station at Salamaua set about the demolition of key infrastructure elements and then withdrew into the hills towards Mubo. Initial air interdiction by Hudsons
from No. 32 Squadron and four B-17's from Garbutt were ineffectual.
and Yorktown
launched their aircraft from the Gulf of Papua
off the southern shore of New Guinea. The Task Force had avoided detection by the Japanese, and the approach of their aircraft from over the Owen Stanley Range
enabled the attackers to appear seemingly out of nowhere. The 201 km (124.9 mi) distance from which the planes were launched provided security for the task force and helped ensure surprise against the Japanese.
Approaching the northern landing areas, the attack commenced with the SBD Dauntless
dive bomber
s of Lexington's Scouting Squadron 2 (VS-2), which struck the Japanese shipping at Lae at 0922. They were soon followed by Dauntless dive bombers of Bombing Squadron 2 (VB-2) and the Douglas TBD Devastators of Lexington's Torpedo Squadron 2 (VT-2), which attacked shipping at Salamaua at 0938 while the Wildcats of Fighter Squadron 2 (VF-2)
strafed Lae and Salamaua. Salamaua was struck again some 30 minutes later by Yorktown's Bombing Squadron 5 (VB-5), Torpedo Squadron 5 (VT-5) and Fighter Squadron 42 (VF-42), while the Dauntless dive bombers of VS-5 attacked the auxiliary ships along the shore at Lae.
Following the carrier aircraft strike, eight B-17 bombers of the 435th Bombardment Squadron flying from Garbutt Field at Townsville arrived and bombed the target area as well, causing further damage.
Three transports (Kongō Maru, Tenyō Maru, and Yokohama Maru) were sunk. In addition, the light cruiser Yubari, two destroyers (Asanagi and Yūnagi), the transport Kokai Maru, the minelayer Tsugaru, the seaplane tender Kiyokawa Maru, and the auxillery minesweeper Tama Maru No.2
were damaged. Tama Maru No.2 ended up sinking three days later due to damage inflicted by the raid. Two of the transport losses were awarded to the carrier aircraft, while the cargo ship was awarded jointly to the carrier planes and the B-17's.
The raiders lost one SB3-2 Dauntless dive bomber of VS-2, shot down from Japanese anti-aircraft fire. Two more SBDs were damaged and landed at Port Moresby
on their way back. The remaining 101 of the 104 aircraft launched returned safely to their carriers.
The raid sunk or damaged two thirds of the invasion transports employed. Higher casualities among the Japanese Army personnel were only prevented by the fact that most of the transports had been close to shore and could beach themselves. The psychologic impact was greater, putting the Japanese on notice that the Americans were willing to place their carriers at risk to oppose their moves in the region.
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...
forces to occupy the Salamaua
Salamaua
Salamaua was a small town situated on the north-eastern coastline of Papua New Guinea part of Morobe province. The settlement was built on a minor isthmus between the coast with mountains on the inland side and a headland...
-Lae
Lae
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...
area in the Territory of New Guinea
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...
8–13 March 1942 during the Pacific campaign
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
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...
. The Japanese invaded and occupied the location in order to construct an airfield and establish a base to cover and support the advance of Japanese forces into the eastern New Guinea and Coral Sea
Coral Sea
The Coral Sea is a marginal sea off the northeast coast of Australia. It is bounded in the west by the east coast of Queensland, thereby including the Great Barrier Reef, in the east by Vanuatu and by New Caledonia, and in the north approximately by the southern extremity of the Solomon Islands...
areas. The small Australian garrison in the area withdrew as the Japanese landed and did not contest the invasion.
In response to the Japanese landings, a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
task force including the carriers Yorktown
USS Yorktown (CV-5)
was an aircraft carrier commissioned in the United States Navy from 1937 until she was sunk at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. She was named after the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 and the lead ship of the Yorktown class which was designed after lessons learned from operations with the large...
and Lexington
USS Lexington (CV-2)
USS Lexington , nicknamed the "Gray Lady" or "Lady Lex," was an early aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. She was the lead ship of the , though her sister ship was commissioned a month earlier...
struck the invading Japanese naval forces with carrier aircraft on 10 March. Supporting the carrier aircraft were eight B-17 bombers of the 435th Bombardment Squadron
435th Bombardment Squadron
The 435th Bombardment Squadron, also known as the "Kangaroo" Squadron, is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Eighth Air Force 333d Bombardment Group, based at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa...
of the 19th Bombardment Group from Garbutt Field, Townsville, 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...
and eight Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
Hudson
Lockheed Hudson
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
bombers of No. 32 Squadron
No. 32 Squadron RAAF
No. 32 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force unit based at RAAF East Sale in Victoria. It currently flies training and transport operations.- World War II :...
from Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, New Guinea. The raid sank three transports and damaged several other ships.
In spite of the damage sustained by the air raid, Japanese forces successfully occupied Lae and Salamaua and began the construction of a base and airfield. Air units based at the airfield later supported an air superiority campaign against Allied forces at Port Moresby. In July 1942 after the Japanese abandoned plans
Operation Mo
Operation Mo or the Port Moresby Operation was the name of the Japanese plan to take control of the Australian Territory of New Guinea during World War II as well as other locations in the South Pacific with the goal of isolating Australia and New Zealand from their ally the United States...
to invade Port Moresby from the sea, the base at Lae-Salamaua supported the ultimately unsuccessful Japanese land offensive towards Port Moresby along the Kokoda Track
Kokoda Track campaign
The Kokoda Track campaign or Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought between July and November 1942 between Japanese and Allied—primarily Australian—forces in what was then the Australian territory of Papua...
.
Invasion
To support the operation, the Imperial Japanese Navy assigned the heavy cruisers AobaJapanese cruiser Aoba
was the lead ship in the two-vessel Aoba-class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It is named after Mount Aoba, a volcano located behind Maizuru, Kyoto.-Background:...
, Kinugasa
Japanese cruiser Kinugasa
was the second vessel in the two-vessel Aoba-class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was named after Mount Kinugasa, located in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan.- Background :...
, Furutaka
Japanese cruiser Furutaka
was the lead ship in the two-vessel Furutaka-class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was named after Mount Furutaka, located on Etajima, Hiroshima immediately behind the Imperial Japanese Navy Academy.-Design:...
and Kako
Japanese cruiser Kako
was the second vessel in the two-vessel Furutaka-class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was named after the Kakogawa River in Hyogo prefecture, Japan.-Background:...
of Rear Admiral Goto's Cruiser Division 6, the light cruisers Tenryu
Japanese cruiser Tenryu
was the lead ship in the two-ship of light cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Tenryū was named after the Tenryū River in Nagano and Shizuoka prefectures.-Background:...
and Tatsuta of Rear Admiral Marumo Kuninori's Cruiser Division 18, the destroyers Mutsuki
Japanese destroyer Mutsuki
was the lead ship of twelve destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:...
, Mochizuki
Japanese destroyer Mochizuki
was one of twelve destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War...
and Yoyoi
Japanese destroyer Yayoi (1925)
was one of twelve destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War...
of Destroyer Division 30, and Asanagi
Japanese destroyer Asanagi
was the eighth vessel of the Kamikaze-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:Construction of the...
, Oite
Japanese destroyer Oite (1924)
was the sixth vessel of the Kamikaze-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:Construction of the...
, Yūnagi
Japanese destroyer Yunagi (1924)
was the ninth and final vessel of the Kamikaze-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:Construction...
of Destroyer Division 29, along with the light cruiser of Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi's Destroyer Squadron 6, fueled by the fleet oiler Tōhō Maru
Japanese oiler Tōhō Maru (1936)
Tōhō Maru was an oiler of the Imperial Japanese Navy . The ship was launched as a civilian oil tanker for Iino Kaiun Kaisha on May 1, 1936. On August 20, 1941 the ship was requisitioned by the IJN and converted into a fleet replenishment oiler. The ship subsequently served Japan during the...
.
The invasion fleet left Rabaul on 5 March 1942, escorted by the four heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, eight destroyers and assorted auxillary vessels. The troop transports Yokohama Maru
Yokohama Maru (1912)
The Yokohama Maru was a 6143 gross ton passenger and cargo vessel built by Mitsubishi Dockyard & Engine Works, Nagaski for Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha and launched in 1912. The ship was used on the Guam to Japan route...
and China Maru
SS China Maru (1920)
The China Maru was a 5,870 gross ton cargo ship built by Kawasaki Dockyard Company, Kobe for Kawasaki Kisen Kabushiki Kaisha in 1920. She was requisitioned in 1941 by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II...
sailed for Salamaua, while the transports Kongō Maru
Kongō Maru (1935)
The was a 8,624 gross ton passenger cargo ship built by Harima Shibuilding and Company, Arima Aioi for Kokusai Kisen Kabushiki Kaisha in 1935, she was requistioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy, during the Second World War and converted to an armed merchant cruiser.-Kokusai Kisen Kabushiki...
and Kokai Maru
SS Kokai Maru (1939)
The Kokai Maru was a 3,871 gross ton passenger cargo ship built by Hakodate Dock Company, Hakodate, Hokkaidō for Simatani Kisen Kabushiki Kaisha in 1939. She was requisitioned in 1941 by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II...
, along with the auxiliary minelayer were destined for Lae. The Japanese landed on 8 March 1942 at Lae and Salamaua. At Lae, the Japanese landed without opposition. A small detachment of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles
New Guinea Volunteer Rifles
The New Guinea Volunteer Rifles was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was initially raised as unit of the Militia in New Guinea upon the outbreak of World War II in 1939 and saw active service against the Japanese during the conflict before being disbanded in 1943...
and the staff of the R.A.A.F. radio station at Salamaua set about the demolition of key infrastructure elements and then withdrew into the hills towards Mubo. Initial air interdiction by Hudsons
Lockheed Hudson
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
from No. 32 Squadron and four B-17's from Garbutt were ineffectual.
Salamaua-Lae Raid
In the early morning of 10 March 1942, Task Force 17 aircraft carriers LexingtonUSS Lexington (CV-2)
USS Lexington , nicknamed the "Gray Lady" or "Lady Lex," was an early aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. She was the lead ship of the , though her sister ship was commissioned a month earlier...
and Yorktown
USS Yorktown (CV-5)
was an aircraft carrier commissioned in the United States Navy from 1937 until she was sunk at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. She was named after the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 and the lead ship of the Yorktown class which was designed after lessons learned from operations with the large...
launched their aircraft from the Gulf of Papua
Gulf of Papua
The Gulf of Papua is a 400 kilometer wide region on the south shore of New Guinea. Some of New Guinea's largest rivers, such as the Fly River, Turama River, Kikori River and Purari River, flow into the gulf, making it a large delta. While the western coast is characterized by swampy tidal...
off the southern shore of New Guinea. The Task Force had avoided detection by the Japanese, and the approach of their aircraft from over the Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range is the south-eastern part of the central mountain-chain in Papua New Guinea. It was seen in 1849 by Captain Owen Stanley while surveying the south coast of Papua and named after him. Strictly, the eastern extremity of the range is Mount Victoria , which was climbed by Sir William...
enabled the attackers to appear seemingly out of nowhere. The 201 km (124.9 mi) distance from which the planes were launched provided security for the task force and helped ensure surprise against the Japanese.
Approaching the northern landing areas, the attack commenced with the SBD Dauntless
SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was a naval dive bomber made by Douglas during World War II. The SBD was the United States Navy's main dive bomber from mid-1940 until late 1943, when it was largely replaced by the SB2C Helldiver...
dive bomber
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
s of Lexington's Scouting Squadron 2 (VS-2), which struck the Japanese shipping at Lae at 0922. They were soon followed by Dauntless dive bombers of Bombing Squadron 2 (VB-2) and the Douglas TBD Devastators of Lexington's Torpedo Squadron 2 (VT-2), which attacked shipping at Salamaua at 0938 while the Wildcats of Fighter Squadron 2 (VF-2)
VFA-2
Strike Fighter Squadron 2 also known as the "Bounty Hunters" is a United States Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. Their tail code is NE and their callsign is "Bullet"...
strafed Lae and Salamaua. Salamaua was struck again some 30 minutes later by Yorktown's Bombing Squadron 5 (VB-5), Torpedo Squadron 5 (VT-5) and Fighter Squadron 42 (VF-42), while the Dauntless dive bombers of VS-5 attacked the auxiliary ships along the shore at Lae.
Following the carrier aircraft strike, eight B-17 bombers of the 435th Bombardment Squadron flying from Garbutt Field at Townsville arrived and bombed the target area as well, causing further damage.
Three transports (Kongō Maru, Tenyō Maru, and Yokohama Maru) were sunk. In addition, the light cruiser Yubari, two destroyers (Asanagi and Yūnagi), the transport Kokai Maru, the minelayer Tsugaru, the seaplane tender Kiyokawa Maru, and the auxillery minesweeper Tama Maru No.2
Japanese minesweeper Tama Maru No. 2
The Tama Maru No. 2 was a 264 gross ton whaler built by Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kobe for Taiyo Hogei Kabushiki Kaisha in 1936. She was requisitioned in 1941 by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II and converted into a minesweeper. On 10 March 1942, during the invasion of...
were damaged. Tama Maru No.2 ended up sinking three days later due to damage inflicted by the raid. Two of the transport losses were awarded to the carrier aircraft, while the cargo ship was awarded jointly to the carrier planes and the B-17's.
The raiders lost one SB3-2 Dauntless dive bomber of VS-2, shot down from Japanese anti-aircraft fire. Two more SBDs were damaged and landed at Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
on their way back. The remaining 101 of the 104 aircraft launched returned safely to their carriers.
The raid sunk or damaged two thirds of the invasion transports employed. Higher casualities among the Japanese Army personnel were only prevented by the fact that most of the transports had been close to shore and could beach themselves. The psychologic impact was greater, putting the Japanese on notice that the Americans were willing to place their carriers at risk to oppose their moves in the region.