Battle of Cape Gloucester
Part of World War II, Pacific War
U.S. Marines hit three feet of rough water as they leave their LST to take the beach at Cape Gloucester, New Britain. December 26, 1943. (Source: U.S. National Archives.)
Date: December 26, 1943 – April 22, 1944 Location: Cape Gloucester, New Britain, Territory of New Guinea Result: Allied victory
Combatants
United States; Australia	Japan
Commanders
William H. Rupertus	Iwao Matsuda
Casualties
310 soldiers killed in action; 1,083 wounded	more than 1,000 soldiers killed in action

The Battle of Cape Gloucester was a battle in the Pacific theater of World War II, which took place between late December 1943 and April 22, 1944, on the island of New Britain, part of the the Territory of New Guinea. The battle was a major part of Operation Cartwheel, the main Allied strategy in the South West Pacific Area and Pacific Ocean Areas duing 1943-44. The Allies' main objective was the capture and expansion of the Japanese airfield at Cape Gloucester; this was to contribute to the isolation and harrassment of the major Japanese base at Rabaul. Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... US landings in the Pacific, 1942–1945 The Pacific War occurred in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in Asia. ... United States Marine Corps seal The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. ... The tank landing ship (LST, for Landing Ship, Tank) was created during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying significant quantities of vehicles, cargo, and troops directly onto an unimproved shore. ... December 26 is the 360th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, 361st in leap years. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... December 26 is the 360th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, 361st in leap years. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... The name Cape Gloucester may refer to two different places in the South Pacific: A geographical feature near the westernmost extremity of the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea, the site of the Battle of Cape Gloucester, part of Operation Cartwheel, in 1943. ... (This article is about the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea. ... In general, allies are people or groups that have joined an alliance and are working together to achieve some common purpose. ... The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II. Fighting in the Australian mandated Territory of New Guinea (the north-eastern part of the island of New Guinea and surrounding islands) and Dutch New Guinea, between Allied and Japanese forces, commenced with the Japanese... The Battle of Rabaul, around the main town of Rabaul on the island of New Britain, in early February 1942, represented a strategically-significant defeat of Allied forces by Japan, in the Pacific campaign of World War II. Following the capture of Rabaul, Japanese forces turned it into a major... Combatants United States, Australia Japan Commanders Chester Nimitz Frank Jack Fletcher Shigeyoshi Inoue Takeo Takagi Aritomo Goto Strength 2 large carriers, 3 cruisers 2 large carriers, 1 small carrier, 4 cruisers Casualties 1 large carrier, 1 destroyer, 1 oil tanker, 543 personnel 1 small carrier, 1 destroyer, 1,074 personnel... This article concerns the World War II military campaign. ... Battle of Milne Bay Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date August 25, 1942 – September 5, 1942 Place Milne Bay, New Guinea Result Allied victory The Battle of Milne Bay was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Japanese marines attacked the Australian base at Milne Bay... The Battle of Buna-Gona was a battle in the Pacific campaign of World War II. On November 16, 1942, Australian and United States forces began to attack the main Japanese beachheads in New Guinea, at Buna, Sanananda and Gona. ... Combatants United States; Australia Japan Commanders George C. Kenney Kimura Masatomi Strength 39 heavy bombers; 41 medium bombers; 34 light bombers; 54 fighters 8 destroyers, 8 troop transports, about 100 land-based fighter planes Casualties 2 bombers, 3 fighters shot down 8 troop transports sunk; 4 destroyers sunk; 20 fighters... The eastern part of the Territory of New Guinea, and the northern Solomon Islands; the area in which Operation Cartwheel took place, from June 1943. ... Combatants United States; Australia; New Zealand Japan Commanders George Kenney (air force) Frederick Sherman (navy) Mineichi Koga Strength 2 carriers, 97 carrier planes, 100+ land-based planes 10 cruisers, 11 destroyers, 100+ planes Casualties 10 carrier planes destroyed, 50+ land based planes destroyed 8 cruisers damaged, 3 destroyers damaged, 100... The name Cape Gloucester may refer to two different places in the South Pacific: A geographical feature near the westernmost extremity of the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea, the site of the Battle of Cape Gloucester, part of Operation Cartwheel, in 1943. ... US landings in the Pacific, 1942–1945 The Pacific War occurred in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in Asia. ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... (This article is about the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea. ... The eastern part of the Territory of New Guinea, and the northern Solomon Islands; the area in which Operation Cartwheel took place, from June 1943. ... The group of countries known as the Allies of World War II, was those nations opposed to the Axis Powers during the Second World War. ... South West Pacific Area (SWPA) was the name given to one of the four major Allied commands in the Pacific theatre of World War II, during 1942-45. ... Pacific Ocean Areas was a major Allied military command during World War II. It was one of four major commands during the Pacific War, and one of two United States commands in the Pacific theatre of operations. ... Space Radar Image of Rabaul Volcano Rabaul was the capital of East New Britain province, on New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea until 1994. ...

Supporting operations began on December 15, when the U.S. Army's 112th Cavalry Regiment was landed at Arawe (Cape Merkus) to block the route of Japanese reinforcements and supplies. December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ...

The main operation began on 26 December with an artillery barrage of Japanese positions at Cape Gloucester by U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy vessels, followed by ground attacks by planes from the U.S. Army Air Forces and Royal Australian Air Force. These were followed by the landing of the U.S. 1st Marine Division, under Major General William H. Rupertus. December 26 is the 360th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, 361st in leap years. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations around the globe. ... The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... Close air support (often abbreviated CAS) is the use of military aircraft in a ground attack role against targets in close proximity to friendly troops, in support of ground combat operations. ... The United States Army Air Forces, or USAAF, was a part of the U.S. military during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... The 1st Marine Division is the oldest, largest (active duty), and most decorated division-sized unit in the United States Marine Corps representing a combat-ready force of more than 19,000 men and women. ...

The Marines were opposed by the Japanese 17th Division, commanded by Major General Iwao Matsuda, which was augmented by "Matsuda Force" — the 65th Infantry Brigade and elements of the 51st Division, the main body of which continued to resist Allied offensives in mainland New Guinea. Matsuda's headquarters was at Kalingi, along the coastal trail northwest of Mount Talawe, within five miles (eight kilometres) of the Cape Gloucester airfield.

References/external links

Bernard C. Nalty, "Cape Gloucester: The Green Inferno",