Battle of Cape Gloucester

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Battle of Cape Gloucester
Part of World War II, Pacific War
U.S. Marines hit three feet of rough water as they leave their LST to take the beach at Cape Gloucester, New Britain. December 26, 1943. (Source: U.S. National Archives.)
Date December 26, 1943 – April 22, 1944 Location Cape Gloucester, New Britain, Territory of New Guinea Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United States  Australia	Empire of Japan
Commanders
William H. Rupertus	Iwao Matsuda
Casualties and losses
310 soldiers killed in action; 1,083 wounded	more than 1,000 soldiers killed in action

New Britain campaign Arawe – Cape Gloucester – Wide Bay – Open Bay

The Battle of Cape Gloucester was a battle in the Pacific theater of World War II, which took place between late December 1943 and April 22, 1944, on the island of New Britain, part of the Territory of New Guinea. The battle was a major part of Operation Cartwheel, the main Allied strategy in the South West Pacific Area and Pacific Ocean Areas during 1943-44. The Allies' main objective was the capture and expansion of the Japanese airfield at Cape Gloucester; this was to contribute to the isolation and harassment of the major Japanese base at Rabaul.

Supporting operations began on December 15, when the U.S. Army's 112th Cavalry Regiment was landed at Arawe to block the route of Japanese reinforcements and supplies.

The main operation began on 26 December with a barrage of Japanese positions at Cape Gloucester by U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy vessels, followed by ground attacks by planes from the U.S. Army Air Forces and Royal Australian Air Force. These were followed by the landing of the U.S. 1st Marine Division, under Major General William H. Rupertus.

The Marines were opposed by the Japanese 17th Division, commanded by Major General Iwao Matsuda, which was augmented by "Matsuda Force" — the 65th Infantry Brigade and elements of the 51st Division, the main body of which continued to resist Allied offensives in mainland New Guinea. Matsuda's headquarters was at Kalingi, along the coastal trail northwest of Mount Talawe, within five miles (eight kilometres) of the Cape Gloucester airfield.

[edit] References/external links

• Hough, Frank O., and John A. Crown (1952). The Campaign on New Britain. USMC Historical Monograph. Historical Division, Division of Public Information, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2006-12-04.
• Miller, John, Jr. (1959). CARTWHEEL: The Reduction of Rabaul (English). United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific 418. Office of the Chief of Military History, U.S. Department of the Army. Retrieved on Oct 20, 2006.
• Shaw, Henry I.; Douglas T. Kane (1963). Volume II: Isolation of Rabaul. History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II. Retrieved on 2006-10-18.
• Bernard C. Nalty, "Cape Gloucester: The Green Inferno",