DK - World War II Map by Map

OPERATION CARTWHEEL 207

support Allied logistics. Nevertheless, fighting throughout the

campaign was intense, with the Japanese resisting all naval

landings and fighting rearguard actions on many of the islands.

The Allies disrupted Japanese troop movements during the

Battle of the Bismarck Sea in March 1943, and the shooting down

of Admiral Yamamoto (see p.124), commander-in-chief of the

Japanese Combined Fleet, severely dented Japanese morale.

On reaching Rabaul, the Allies—much to General MacArthur’s

disapproval—opted not to attack in order to avoid unnecessary

casualties, and instead surrounded and isolated the base, which

remained in Japanese hands until the end of the war.

Cartwheel took more than a year to achieve, but its eventual

success removed the Japanese from the south-west Pacific and

allowed the Allies to start new campaigns against them in the

Pacific islands to the north (see pp.210–211).

Battle

THE BATTLE OF EMPRESS AUGUSTA BAY

NOVEMBER 1–2, 1943

Japanese Cruiser Division 5, which had been sent

from Rabaul to stop the US landing at Empress

Augusta Bay, was intercepted by American Task

Force 39 sailing north from Vella Lavella. Two

Japanese ships were sunk and four damaged in

the ensuing naval battle; the US Navy had two

destroyers and a cruiser damaged.

6

Allied advances

ENCIRCLING RABAUL

DECEMBER 15, 1943–MARCH 31, 1944

With the Solomons mostly cleared of Japanese

forces, US troops landed on the west of New

Britain on December 15, and took the Admiralty

Islands and St. Matthias Group by the end of

March. The Japanese were now isolated in

their bases at Rabaul and at Kavieng on New

Ireland as the war moved on around them.

7

Japanese retreat

Aug 2, 1943 A torpedo boat

commanded by Lieutenant

John F. Kennedy, future US

president, collides with the

Japanese destroyer Amagiri.

Apr 18, 1943 Admiral

Yamamoto is shot down

and killed in a dogfight

over south Bougainville.

Feb 21, 1943 Operation

Cleanslate begins against

the Russell Islands.

Nov 1–2, 1943 The Battle of

Empress Augusta Bay sees US

ships defeating Japan’s Cruiser

Division 5 in the last major sea

battle of the Solomons campaign.

Jun 30, 1943 Operation

Toenails begins against the

New Georgia Islands.

Oct 27, 1943 New Zealanders

take the Treasury Islands in

Operation Goodtime.

Mar 1944 The base

at Rabaul is isolated

and remains so for

the rest of the war.

Sep 23–Oct 4, 1943 The

Japanese evacuate their

base at Kolombangara.

Oct 28, 1943 The Americans

launch Operation Blissful, a

feint attack against Choiseul.

▷ Attack on Bougainville

US troops on Bougainville on the

perimeter of the 129th Infantry,

37th Division, advance in the

cover of a tank in March 1944.

LOCKHEED P-38 LIGHTNING

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning—

the aircraft that shot down Japan’s

Admiral Yamamoto—was a key

American fighter aircraft produced

in large numbers throughout the

war. Used for bombing raids, night

fighting, interception, escort, and

reconnaissance work, it shot down

more Japanese planes than any other

aircraft during World War II. Its twin

engines mounted on pods allowed

it to carry heavier armaments than

its competitors.

PRESSURIZING JAPAN

In a series of operations in the

south-west Pacific that lasted for

two years, US, Australian, and New

Zealand forces slowly pushed the

Japanese out of the Solomon Islands

and New Guinea.

KEY

Japanese bases Japanese-held territory,

Feb 20, 1943

Allied territory,

Feb 20, 1943

1943

2 3 4 5 6 7

1

TIMELINE

1944 1945 1946

Manus Island

Rambutyo

Island

Emirau Island

New

Hanover

Green Island

N e w

B r i t a i n

S o l o m o n

(^) S
e a
Adm
iralty Island
s
D'Entrecasteaux
Islands
Woodlark
Island
San Cristobal
Russell
Islands
Rendova
Vangunu
Treasury
Islands
Rooke
Island
Long Island
Shortland
Island
Malaita
Guadalcanal
Santa Isabel
Bougainville
Island
Buka
Island
Choiseul
Vella
Lavella
Ghizo
New Georgia
Kolombangara
Bisma
rck Archipel
ago
Bi sm
ar c
k
Se
a
N
e
w
Ir
e
l
a
n
d
Sol
omo
n (^) I
sla
nd
s
Sohano
O
w
en
(^) S
ta
nl
ey
(^) R
an
ge
Cen
tra
l (^) R
an
ge
P
A
C
I
F
I C
O
C
E
A
N
Empress
Augusta
Bay
Huon Gulf
PAPUA
Na
ss
au
(^) B
a
y
St.
(^) Ma
tthias Group
Ki
ko
ri
Sepik
Lorengau
Kavieng
Rabaul
Gasmata
Talasea
Sag Sag
Finschhafen
Nukuhu
Wau
Salamua
Morobe
Lae
Gona
Kokoda
Wanigela
Tufi
Buna
Abau
Port Moresby
Tulagi
Tenekau
Kieta
Voza
Vila Munda
Point
Kara Buin
Madang
Saidor
Sio
Alexishafen
Annanberg
Bogia
Sarmi
Hollandia
Aitape
Wewak
Kokoda
Trail
NORTH-EAST (^) NEW
(^) GU
INE
A
Seeadler
Harbor
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