New Guinea and the Solomons Pacific War

japanese land forces continued advance in solomon islands , new guinea. july 1942, few australian reserve battalions, many of them young , untrained, fought stubborn rearguard action in new guinea, against japanese advance along kokoda track, towards port moresby, on rugged owen stanley ranges. militia, worn out , severely depleted casualties, relieved in late august regular troops second australian imperial force, returning action in mediterranean theater. in september 1942 japanese marines attacked strategic royal australian air force base @ milne bay, near eastern tip of new guinea. beaten allied (primarily australian army) forces.

guadalcanal


us marines rest in field during guadalcanal campaign in november 1942

at same time major battles raged in new guinea, allied forces identified japanese airfield under construction @ guadalcanal. sixteen thousand allied infantry, marines, made amphibious landing capture airfield in august.

with japanese , allied forces occupying various parts of island, on following 6 months both sides poured resources escalating battle of attrition on land, @ sea, , in sky. of japanese aircraft based in south pacific redeployed defense of guadalcanal. many lost in numerous engagements allied air forces based @ henderson field carrier based aircraft. meanwhile, japanese ground forces launched repeated attacks on heavily defended positions around henderson field, in suffered appalling casualties. sustain these offensives, resupply carried out japanese convoys, termed tokyo express allies. convoys faced night battles enemy naval forces in expended destroyers ijn ill-afford lose. later fleet battles involving heavier ships , daytime carrier battles resulted in stretch of water near guadalcanal becoming known ironbottom sound multitude of ships sunk on both sides. however, allies better able replace these losses. recognizing campaign recapture henderson field , secure guadalcanal had become costly continue, japanese evacuated island , withdrew in february 1943. in sixth month war of attrition, japanese had lost result of failing commit enough forces in sufficient time.