Japanese Repulse at Milne Bay

So much historical focus has been placed upon the first United States offensive by the Marines in the Pacific at Guadalcanal that many people are unaware of the fierce defensive struggle that took place on the huge island of New Guinea. There Australian, American and troops from other nations, would soon be facing a most determined enemy. The possible advance of Japanese forces along the trail crossing the Owen Stanley Mountains leading to Port Moresby on the southern shore had allied leaders very concerned. If New Guinea fell, Australia and New Zealand could find themselves open to direct attack and possible isolation. 

The American capture of the airfield on Guadalcanal had been a serious loss of face for the Japanese high command. It had to be dealt with. From the home islands orders were sent down to General Hyakutake, in charge of the 17th Army, to assign part of his force occupied in taking Port Moresby, New Guinea, to squash the impertinent American intruders. At that time Hyakutake was very near to crossing the Owen Stanley Mountains and taking the port. Irritated at this interruption to his supposed coming success, he nevertheless dispatched Ichiki’s crack infantry to deal with the ugly situation on Guadalcanal. At that time he had no idea of what was ahead for Japan on Guadalcanal.

With this situation resolved, or so he thought, Hyakutake could now focus on the second phase of the Japanese capture of all of New Guinea. After landing troops on the northeastern shores for a drive over the mountains to Port Moresby, a second amphibious landing was underway at the southeastern tip of New Guinea, at Milne Bay. The troops would be landed on August 25th, 1942.

MacArthur became extremely alarmed at this news, since there were three key airfields there which were constantly sending aircraft to pound the Japanese stronghold at Rabaul and harassing the Japanese advance along the Kokoda Trail. He immediately rushed in by air the Australian 18th Brigade and 1,300 American troops to fortify the defenses. As the naval battle of the Eastern Solomons raged between carriers of the opposing forces, two cruisers and five destroyers escorted eight transports to Milne Bay under a rain squall.

As the clouds parted, they were discovered and the RAAF quickly pounced upon them. They succeeded, however, in only sinking one minesweeper and damaging a transport. In spite or the aerial assault, the Japanese landings were made successfully. 1,200 SNLF troops of the Aoba Detachment, 5th Kure, were quickly off the boats and in action. On the next day, another 1,200 made it ashore. Accompanying them was a number of light and medium tanks.