Australia–Japan Research Project at the Australian War Memorial
Army operations in the South Pacific area: Papua campaigns, 1942–1943
Chapter 4: Commencement of the overland-route offensive on Port Moresby
(A translation of Bôeichô Bôei Kenshûjo Senshishitsu (ed), Senshi sôsho: Minami Taiheiyô Rikugun sakusen <1> Pôto Moresubi–Gashima shoko sakusen (War history series: South Pacific area army operations (1), Port Moresby–Guadalcanal first campaigns) (Tokyo: Asagumo Shinbunsha, 1968): 167–230.)
Translated by Dr Steven Bullard
Chapter 4: Commencement of the overland-route offensive on Port Moresby
Unit | Location |
35th Infantry Brigade (less two battalions seconded) | Parao |
South Seas Force | Rabaul |
Aoba Detachment | Davao |
Higashi Detachment (two battalions of 41st Infantry Regiment returned) | Davao |
Army units | Davao |
Formation | Command | Strength | Responsibility |
Main force | 18th Squadron commander (Rear Admiral Matsuyama Kôji) | 18th Squadron (Tenryû, Tatsuta)Maintain supply line for entire operation | |
1st Security Detachment | Tsugaru commander | Tsugaru, No. 32 Submarine ChaserEscort and protect transport convoy | |
2nd Security Detachment | Asanagi commander | Asanagi, Yûzuki, UzukiSea-route guidance | |
Sea Mobilisation Unit | Air unit commander | Three observation planes from Kiyokawa MaruAnti-submarine, sea-route guidance, cooperation with landing operation | |
Landing Unit | Sasebo Special Naval Landing Party commander | One company Sasebo SNLP (rapid-fire and anti-artillery guns), 15th Establishment Unit Signals Base UnitEstablishment of airfields in area of occupation, secure landing points, repair of roads and bridges | |
Transport Unit | Kinryû Maru, Hakozaki Maru, Kôtoku MaruTransport |
Formation | Vessels and units | Specially installed units | |
Combined Fleet | |||
4th Fleet | 4th Base Force | (Truk and Parao areas) | |
5th Special Base Force | (Saipan and Guam areas) | ||
6th Base Force | (Marshall Islands and Wake Islands areas) | ||
2nd Surface Escort Fleet | Yûbari 29th Destroyer Squadron 30th Destroyer Squadron | Noshiro Maru Chôun Maru | |
Attached units | 4th Harbour Duty Unit 4th Survey Unit Kunikawa Maru | ||
8th Fleet | 18th Squadron | Natori, Tenryû, Tatsuta | |
7th Submarine Squadron | Jingei 21st Submarine Group 22nd Submarine Group 23rd Submarine Group | ||
7th Special Base Force | (New Caledonia, Fiji, and Samoa areas) | ||
8th Base Force | (New Guinea and Solomon Islands areas) | ||
Attached units | 10th Establishment Unit 11th Establishment Unit 14th Establishment Unit Kiyokawa Maru | ||
11th Air Fleet | 22nd Air Flotilla | ||
24th Air Flotilla | |||
25th Air Flotilla | |||
26th Air Flotilla | |||
2nd Special Base Force | (Midway area) | ||
Attached units | 34th Destroyer Squadron | Lyon Maru Keiyô Maru Nagoya Maru 11th Establishment Unit 12th Establishment Unit |
Formation and command | Units | Special fleet units | Base for special fleet units |
Combined Fleet 8th Fleet | |||
Chôkai | |||
18th Squadron | Tenryû Atsuta | ||
7th Submarine Squadron | Jingei 13th Submarine Group 21st Submarine Group | ||
7th Base Force | 23rd Submarine Chaser Squadron 32nd Submarine Chaser Squadron | 85th Signals Unit 85th Submarine Base Force | |
8th Base Force | No. 20 Minesweeper No. 21 Minesweeper 21st Submarine Chaser Squadron 31st Submarine Chaser Squadron | 5th Gunboat Squadron 56th Submarine Chaser Squadron 81st Garrison 82nd Garrison 84th Garrison 8th Submarine Base Force 8th Signals Unit | |
Attached units | Tsugaru 30th Destroyer Squadron (Muzuki, Yayoi, Mochizuki, Uzuki) | Kure 3rd Special Naval Landing Party 12th Establishment Unit | Kure |
Kiyokawa Maru 2nd Air Corps 10th Establishment Unit 11th Establishment Unit 15th Establishment Unit | Yokosuka | ||
13th Establishment Unit 14th Establishment Unit Sasebo 5th Special Naval Landing Party | Sasebo |
Formation | Command | Strength | Duties |
Main Force | 8th Fleet commander Vice Admiral Mikawa Gun’ichi | Chôkai | Support for the entire operation |
Support Group | 6th Squadron commander Rear Admiral Gotô Sonchi | 6th Squadron (Aoba, Kinugasa, Furutaka, Kako) | Support for other units |
Escort Fleet | 18th Squadron commander Rear Admiral Matsuyama Kôji | 18th Squadron (Tenryû, Tatsuta) Tsugaru, Yûbari 29th Destroyer Squadron (Yûzuki, Yûnagi, Oite, Uzuki) 23rd Submarine Chaser Squadron (No. 22, No. 23, No. 24 Submarine Chasers) 22nd Submarine Chaser Squadron (No. 28, No. 29 Submarine Chasers) No. 20 Minesweeper Sasebo Special Naval Landing Party Kiyokawa Maru observation planes (3) 10th Establishment Unit (part strength) 14th Establishment Unit (part strength) 15th Establishment Unit | 1. Escort of Port Moresby invasion units and patrols of anchorage 2. Speedy establishment of Buna area base 3. Occupation of Samarai and speedy establishment of base 4. Mopping up at Cape Ward Hunt 5. Transport of establishment units |
Strike Force | 7th Base Force commander Rear Admiral Fujita Ruitarô | 7th Base Force (missing 23rd, 32nd Submarine Chaser Squadrons) Seven patrol boats Kure 3rd Special Naval Landing Party | 1. Surface mobile operations 2. Preparations for offensive in eastern New Guinea |
Bismarck Area Defence Force | 8th Base Force commander Rear Admiral Kanazawa Masao | 8th Base Force (No. 20 Minesweeper missing) Kiyokawa Maru (three reconnaissance seaplanes missing) Shirataka, Hatsutaka, Wakataka Futabumi Maru, No. 3 Seki Maru 10th Establishment Unit (part strength) 11th Establishment Unit 12th Establishment Unit 13th Establishment Unit 14th Establishment Unit | 1. Landing operations in the Wau area 2. Guard waters near Rabaul 3. Defence of Bismarck area 4. Mopping up and occupation at Madang and Wewak |
Submarine Units | 7th Submarine Squadron commander Rear Admiral Yoshitomi Setsumi | 7th Submarine Squadron (Ro-33, Ro-34) | 1. Search and surveillance, attack of enemy fleet 2. Destroy enemy surface transport |
Attached | Kôan Maru plus eight others | Supply |
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