NEW-GUINEA

At the end of 1942 MacArthur has safeguarded Port Moresby and so he decides to reconquer the North coast of the New-Guinea. He takes two groups of the defense of Port Moresby and send them through the Owen Stanley Mounts toward Buna. When the two groups are near their target an amphibic operation comes along with an airdropping to reenforce the groups and take Buna which falls December 14^th. January 2^nd of 1943 the last resistance falls.

First MacArthur will guard is back by making three landing from February 29^th to March 16^th 1944: the 1^st Marine division and the 1^st Cavalry division take over the Los Negros island and Emirau island to isolate the 8^th (defending Rabaul) and 17^th (defending Bougainville) japanese armies. After these defeats the japanese commanders who sees a threat to Rabaul (a key base) in these moves, send reenforcements to the 18^th army under the orders of general Horii who is defending New-Guinea. February 28^th the first group of the 51^st division leaves Rabaul aboard 8 cargos escorted by 8 destroyers. On their way the convoy is intercepted by the 5^th Air Force of major-general Kenney: the american bombers attack low… after 3 days of fighting (March 3^rd) the Bismark Sea Battle is over and the 8 cargos are sunk with their 3600 men and 5 of the 8 destroyers that were escorting.

Before the major attack MacArthur makes a landing at Hollandia and around with the 6^th american army, the 7^th US fleet under the orders of Kinkaid composed of 4 cruisers (2 of which are Australian) and 8 escort carriers and the 5^th Air Force. 84 000 men land at Hollandia: MacArthur tricks the 18^th japanese army by faking a landing at Wewak (New-Guinea) and April 22^nd the 24^th division lands at Tanahmerah Bay without opposition while the 41^st lands at Hollandia and at Aitape to take over an airport. The 18^th japanese army turns back and rush back through the jungle. In the night of July 11^th they strike back at Aitape but the Americans, warned, have reenforced the position with the 11^th CA and the 32^nd division and so the Japaneses fail.

After Hollandia MacArthur jump from island to island along the North coast of New-Guinea. May 17^th the 41^st division lands at Wakde at 240km West of Hollandia. May 27^th a Hop of 280km send the american troops at Biak. July 2^nd the Americans land at Noemfoor island and then at Sansapor (30^th) where they are at 1100km of Hollandia: by that tactic they isolate 120 000 soldiers. For all these conquests only 1300 Americans die while 11 600 Japaneses are. When the troops landed at Biak the 1^st japanese mobile fleet (with the big battleships Musashi and Yamato) under the orders of counter-admiral Ozawa is sent to meet the american ships but even before being ready to go Ozawa receive another order canceling the attack because the Mariannas are under air attack.

After that MacArthur plans the attack on Lae. To trick the enemy again he makes a fake attack with the 3^rd australian division on the target Salamaoua and the 18^th japanese army once again is led out. September 4^th the 9^th australian division transported by the 7^th amphibic force lands on the North bank of the Huon Gulfe (at 50km of Salamaoua) and forwards toward Lae. General Horii reacts and send all is troops defending Salamaoua to attack the 9^th division. September 5^th the 503^rd american Paratrooper regiment lands at 20km West of Lae and with only 11 death takes Nazdab and with the help of australian sappers that came through the jungle with a 6 days walk they make a runway. With this runway the next morning the 7^th australian division is able to come in reenforcement from Port Moresby. The 18^th japanese army is surrounded by the 9^th and 7^th australian divisions and so it retreats in the Markham Valley while losing 2200 men and the city of Lae which will be taken September 16^th. To eliminate any risk of resistance major-general Vasey send some Douglas C-47 Dakota over the valley while a group of the 9^th australian division lands at Finschafen (140km North-West of Lae) to drive back in the forest the Japaneses where without ammunitions and food they will die of famine or sickness.

With the victory at Bougainville by Halsey the Americans are all around Rabaul by December and the harbor is under constant bombing by the Airsol and the 5^th Air Force. The 90 000 soldiers stationed at Rabaul are isolated.

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