NEW BRITAIN, LAE, BOUGAINVILLE OPERATIONS

The occupation of Rabaul, in New Britain, was initially planned to provide forward protection for the main Japanese naval base at Truk, in the Caroline Islands. It developed, however, into a major regional base of operations for Papua, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. The army’s South Seas Force occupied Rabaul, then, with assistance from naval landing troops, established bases and airfields on neighbouring islands.

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