Battle of Madang
Battle of Madang | |||||||
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Part of World War II, Pacific War | |||||||
Japanese prisoners of war at Madang, May 1944 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Australia United States | Japan | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
George Vasey Allan Boase | Hatazō Adachi | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
5th Division 7th Division 11th Division 32nd Infantry Division | 18th Army |
The Battle of Madang, fought between early February and late April 1944, was the
Background
Geography
Situated on the north-eastern coast of Papua New Guinea on the Schering Peninsula, which juts out into the northern part of Astrolabe Bay, Madang offers a protected deep-water port open to communication through the Vitiaz Strait and the Bismarck Sea. Established as the capital of German New Guinea prior to World War I, during the German administration of the area, the town of Madang had been known as Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen. Following the war, the area had been placed under Australian administration in 1920 and had subsequently been renamed.[1] The pre-war population of the area was estimated at around 25,000 to 30,000 indigenous inhabitants within the greater Madang area, with under 100 Asians and around 200 Europeans. The European population was largely evacuated from the town in late 1941 and early 1942.[2]
The harbour is landlocked and set in a lagoon that runs between Cape Barschtsch and the Schering Peninsula. Seawards, it is protected by Kranket Island. Bounded by the Adelbert Range to the east and Cape Barschtsch to the north, the town sits on a flat coastal strip that consists of some swampy areas, plantations and grassed areas. Further inland, the vegetation grows more dense, although at the time of the battle it was passable, particularly on foot. The terrain is less rugged than the Finisterre Range to the south and there are no especially high features, although it is more difficult north of the Gogol River, which flows into Astrolabe Bay about halfway along the coast between Bogadjim and Madang. This river, along with several others including the Gori and Palpa, form significant obstacles along the southern approaches to the town.[3]
Strategic situation
Madang was captured by the Japanese in early March 1942, along with Lae and Salamaua as part of operations to establish a key base at Rabaul.
After the defeat of the
The withdrawal of Japanese troops towards Madang enabled the Australian Army forces to break through the Japanese positions in the Finisterre Mountains, which had been holding up their drive north. After a brief pause to bring up supplies, and to rotate troops as the Australian 11th Division under Major General Allan Boase replaced George Vasey's 7th Division, the Australians slowly advanced down the rugged, densely forested slopes of the Finisterres, pursuing the withdrawing Japanese towards Bogadjim on the northern coast, about 20 miles (32 km) away.[10][11][8]
For the advance, two infantry battalions from the Australian 15th Infantry Brigade – the 57th/60th and 58th/59th – were given the task of pushing forward from Kankiryo towards Madang via the Mindjim River, Astrolabe Bay and Bogadjim. The brigade's third infantry battalion, the 24th, was held back in reserve maintaining a defensive posture around Shaggy Ridge, while also pushing forward on the Australians' western flank along the Ramu River towards Kesawai and Koropa.[12] At the same time, US troops would advance east from their base around Saidor about 40 miles (64 km).[13][14] In the final stages of the battle, Australian troops from the 8th Infantry Brigade would be moved up the coast by sea from Saidor.[8]
Battle
In the early stages of the pursuit, the Australians sent long-range patrols forward from the Finisterres, while two battalions from the US 32nd Infantry Division landed around the Yalau Plantation as US forces advanced east from Saidor. They began patrolling operations around the coast to the east and west, fighting minor skirmishes, and pushed towards Bau Plantation and Yangalum, on the eastern side of the Australian advance with the intention of linking up.[13] Throughout February and March, the Japanese 20th Division withdrew towards Madang, fighting a series of rearguard actions against the Australians that were advancing from Kankiryo.[9] The going was tough for the troops of the Australian 15th Infantry Brigade who advanced slowly towards Bogadjim, using aggressive patrols to advance their position forwards. The Japanese began strengthening their defences around Bogadjim at this time, constructing a series of outposts in a 5-mile (8.0 km) radius to the south of the town; nevertheless, Australian patrols were able to bypass these and penetrate towards Erima Plantation where intelligence received from locals indicated large concentrations of Japanese forces.[15]
After taking over the western drive up the Ramu River from the 24th Infantry Battalion, the
The 57th/60th and 58th/59th Infantry Battalions continued to patrol heavily across a wide area around the Bogadjim Road, and they subsequently joined up with US troops around Sungum. The Japanese had re-orientated themselves into positions at various locations including Alibu, Rereo, Wenga, Redu and Kaliko. During this time, a number of small unit actions were undertaken as the Japanese attempted to ambush the Australians while the Australians in turn sought to infiltrate the Japanese positions. On 22 April, large amounts of Japanese supplies were found abandoned by a patrol from the 57th/60th as it became clear that the Japanese were withdrawing from the area in a hasty fashion.[15]
At this point, the Australian command determined the need for a rotation of forces. When the commander of the 15th Infantry Brigade, Brigadier Heathcote Hammer learnt that his brigade was to be relieved by Brigadier Claude Cameron's 8th Infantry Brigade, he endeavoured to push towards Madang with all haste, in an effort to secure it before the prize went to Major General Alan Ramsay's 5th Division. On 24 April, the 57th/60th Infantry Battalion was ordered to cross the treacherous Gogol River, a fast-flowing torrent of water teeming with crocodiles.[18] The 57th/60th attempted to outflank the Gogol River, sending a patrol to link up with two US Navy patrol boats. However, they were thwarted in their attempt to reach Madang first when troops from the 8th Infantry Brigade, operating from US landing craft,[19] came ashore around Ort, about 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) south of Madang,[18] effecting a link up between the 11th and 5th Divisions.[15] With the help of the 532nd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment, the 5th Division had earlier cleared the Rai Coast from Sio to Saidor,[20] which had been secured in January – February 1944 by US forces, who were attempting to cut off the Japanese forces withdrawing from the Huon Peninsula.[21]
Madang was subsequently taken on 24–25 April by troops from the 8th and 15th Infantry Brigades, with the 30th Infantry Battalion leading the way towards the airfield, advancing along the northern part of Astrolabe Bay to secure Madang,[22] which offered the Allies the use of a deep-water harbour,[23] while a platoon from the 57th/60th entered the town. Resistance in the town was almost non existent. Several artillery rounds were fired by the Japanese defenders at the advancing Australians, but the rounds landed well awry of their intended target. They were followed by a short burst of inaccurate machine-gun fire. A small group of Japanese stragglers scattered on sighting the Australian platoon. Shortly afterwards, the 8th Infantry Brigade's headquarters entered Madang Harbour aboard several landing craft, escorted by the destroyer Vendetta and the corvette Bundaberg.[24]
The following day was Anzac Day, which saw the Australians consolidate their position around Madang. A follow-up landing was made by the 37th/52nd Infantry Battalion on Karkar Island. Meanwhile, the 35th Infantry Battalion secured a large quantity of abandoned Japanese stores at Hansa Bay, and pushed patrols towards the Sepik River.[15] The Bundaberg also landed a party of sailors on Sek Island, firing a heavy bombardment which wiped out the small group of defending Japanese.[24] The 30th pushed on to the deep-water port of Alexishafen the following day,[17][23] suffering several casualties from improvised explosive devices that were planted along the road by the withdrawing Japanese. In addition, large quantities of Japanese supplies were also discovered.[15]
Aftermath
With the capture of Madang, the Allies finally effectively secured the Huon Peninsula,
In the aftermath of the campaign the Australian 5th Division was tasked with providing a garrison force for the north-east coast of New Guinea, patrolling the area around Madang, which would be built up as a base with the intention of being able to supply 35,000 troops for subsequent operations. Meanwhile, the bulk of the Australian first line combat troops were withdrawn to Australia for rest and re-organisation. The commitment of US troops from the 32nd Division to the fighting around Saidor – coupled with the dispatch of the US 41st Division to the Salamaua campaign earlier in 1943 – represented a shift in the Allied strategy of giving the Australians autonomy of operations in New Guinea and from early 1944 until the end of the war, the US Army would assume primary responsibility for offensive operations in the Pacific.[29]
The Japanese 18th Army was subsequently ordered to withdraw to Wewak in late March; as the 51st Division withdrew to the Wewak area, the 20th Division held Hansa Bay, and the 41st Division carried out rearguard operations around Madang throughout April.[30] Severely depleted, in all, the three divisions only fielded about 20,000 troops.[9] In late 1944, US troops carried out a landing at Aitape and began operations to isolate the Japanese garrison there as part of the Western New Guinea campaign, later clashing around the Driniumor River.[7] They were subsequently relieved in late 1944 by Australian troops from the 6th Division, which launched the Aitape–Wewak campaign, fighting to secure the airfield and then clear the Japanese from the inland areas, patrolling through the Torricelli and Prince Alexander mountain ranges until the end of the war in August 1945.[31][32] Meanwhile, troops from the 8th Infantry Brigade remained in the Madang area until the end of the war.[33]
After the war, the Australian Army issued a battle honour for "Madang" to the 30th Infantry Battalion for its advance along the northern part of Astrolabe Bay and its subsequent capture of Madang. It was the only unit to receive that honour.[22]
References
- Citations
- ^ Allied Geographical Section, South West Pacific Area 1943, p. 1.
- ^ Allied Geographical Section, South West Pacific Area 1943, p. 62.
- ^ Allied Geographical Section, South West Pacific Area 1943, pp. 11–16.
- ^ James 2016, p. 49.
- ^ Allied Geographical Section, South West Pacific Area 1943, pp. 1–5.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 346.
- ^ a b Bradley 2004, p. 241.
- ^ a b c Dexter 1961, p. 771.
- ^ a b c Keogh 1965, p. 370.
- ^ Keogh 1965, pp. 346, 359–360.
- ^ Coulthard-Clark 1998, pp. 241–245.
- ^ Christensen 1982, pp. 151–155.
- ^ a b Dexter 1961, p. 772.
- ^ "Madang Battle Nearing Climax". Spokane Daily Chronicle. 2 February 1944. p. 24.
- ^ a b c d e f "New Guinea" (PDF). Campaign Publications. Veterans Review Board. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ Christensen 1982, p. 155.
- ^ a b c d Keogh 1965, p. 360.
- ^ a b Dean 2014, p. 285.
- ^ Dexter 1961, pp. 771 & 787.
- ^ Dexter 1961, pp. 765–766.
- ^ Pratten 2014, p. 280.
- ^ a b "Madang". Battle Honours. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ a b c Grant 2014, p. 251.
- ^ a b Dean 2014, p. 287.
- ^ Johnston 2007, p. 29.
- ^ Dexter 1961, p. 787.
- ^ a b Keogh 1965, p. 359.
- ^ Grant 2014, pp. 251–252.
- ^ Dean 2014, pp. 287–288.
- ^ Dexter 1961, p. 789.
- ^ Long 1963, pp. 271–281.
- ^ Keogh 1965, pp. 370–374, 400–408.
- ^ "30th Australian Infantry Battalion". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- Bibliography
- Allied Geographical Section, South West Pacific Area (1943). Terrain Study No. 69: Locality Study of Madang. Brisbane, Queensland: Allied Geographical Section. Archived from the original on 23 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ISBN 0-19-555100-1.
- Christensen, George (1982). That's the Way it Was: The History of the 24th Australian Infantry Battalion (A.I.F) 1939–1945. Melbourne, Victoria: 24th Battalion (A.I.F.) Association. ISBN 978-0-9593369-0-0.
- Coulthard-Clark, Chris (1998). The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles. Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-611-2.
- Dean, Peter (2014). "Conclusion: 1943 and Beyond". In Dean, Peter (ed.). Australia 1943: The Liberation of New Guinea. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press. pp. 285–290. ISBN 978-1-107-03799-1.
- OCLC 2028994.
- Grant, Lachlan (2014). "Operations in the Markham and Ramu Valleys". In Dean, Peter (ed.). Australia 1943: The Liberation of New Guinea. London: Cambridge University Press. pp. 233–254. ISBN 978-1-10747-088-0.
- James, Karl (2016). Double Diamonds: Australian Commandos in the Pacific War, 1941–45. Sydney, New South Wales: NewSouth. ISBN 978-1-74224-782-3.
- ISBN 978-1-84603-123-6.
- Keogh, Eustace (1965). South West Pacific 1941–45. Melbourne, Victoria: Grayflower. OCLC 7185705.
- OCLC 1297619.
- ISBN 978-1-107-03799-1.