45:
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151:
140:
129:
98:
110:
505:
573:
528:, advancing from southern Bougainville, was tasked with dislodging the US troops holding the Piva Trail. The Japanese intent had been to coordinate actions on both sides of the US perimeter, but ultimately the landing around Koromokina Lagoon was defeated before the 23rd Infantry Regiment could mount a full-scale attack against the Marine defenses along the Piva Trail.
461:, but ultimately this did not occur as the main assault was delayed until after the counter landing was defeated. The fighting for the Piva Trail resulted in heavy casualties for the Japanese and was followed by a series of actions throughout November and December 1943 as US forces sought to expand their perimeter around Cape Torokina.
549:, commander of the Japanese 6th Division's infantry group (the Iwasa Detachment), renewed the attack with two full battalions. The Americans brought up men of the 3rd Raider Battalion to protect the flanks of the Marines already engaged, as well as some light tanks. Frontal attacks by the Japanese were repulsed.
560:, determined that the Japanese lodged on the trail represented a threat to the airstrips and had to be removed, with the assault beginning on the morning of 9 November. The Japanese had several well-placed machine guns and were attempting an attack of their own; a bloody stalemate developed. Private First Class
597:
Casualties during the fighting for Piva Trail were heavy. It is estimated that the
Japanese may have lost up to 550 killed, with 125 being killed on the first day and over 140 killed on the second day. The Marines lost 20 killed and 57 wounded over the course of both days. In the aftermath, US forces
568:
of the
Bougainville campaign during this fight by throwing himself on a grenade and saving his foxhole-mate. Marine firepower eventually proved too much for the Japanese, who retreated to and through Piva Village in the early and mid-afternoon. The Marines took possession of the vital intersection of
630:. In late December, these features became the scene of further fighting as the 21st Marine Regiment was ordered to capture the Japanese positions. After this, there was a lull in the fighting on Bougainville as the Japanese decided to delay plans to launch a concerted counterattack, postponing the
613:
Meanwhile, further reinforcements and supplies were landed at Cape
Torokina, and US Army forces began arriving to reinforce the Marines. In late December work on the airfields was complete and aerial bombing raids began against the Japanese base around Rabaul, while minelaying aircraft interdicted
584:
attacked
Japanese positions in front of the Marines along the Numa-Numa Trail. Around 10:00, the Marines began to advance towards the village, supported by artillery. The movement was unopposed, and large amounts of equipment and dead bodies were found around the abandoned Japanese positions. Two
544:
to which 2nd Raider
Battalion was attached, surmised that this was just a preparatory action and brought up more Raiders to reinforce the roadblock. When the Japanese attacked the following afternoon (7 November), the Marines were ready and drove the Japanese back to Piva village. Early on the
598:
began expanding the perimeter around the beachhead, systematically advancing to several inland defense lines. A reconnaissance patrol subsequently advanced up the Numa–Numa Trail and identified several sites for airfields beyond the beachhead. The
44:
618:. Having initially held back forces to reinforce northern Bougainville, as the Japanese high command realized that the Cape Torokina lodgment was not a ruse, and would not be followed by a further assault on
585:
battalions of the 9th Marine
Regiment subsequently followed them up and occupied Piva village just after 13:00. As the beachhead around Cape Torokina was expanded, the 9th Marines managed to link up with the
1073:
953:
457:
to protect one of the key avenues of approach towards Cape
Torokina. It had been intended that the 23rd Infantry Regiment would coordinate their assault with a counter landing at
1078:
1063:
269:
1068:
525:
450:
221:
626:
throughout late
December. Meanwhile, several air attacks were launched on the US perimeter, while artillery was moved up and began shelling the perimeter from
627:
347:
602:
were dispatched to advance up the Numa–Numa Trail to clear the area for construction to begin. They were subsequently ambushed, resulting in the
262:
893:
494:
599:
453:
north from southern
Bougainville. These troops subsequently clashed with a blocking force of US Marines that had been positioned along the
541:
524:, one of the key avenues of approach towards Cape Torokina. In an effort to reinforce the troops landing around Koromokina Lagoon, the
1058:
961:
928:. United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific. Office of the Chief of Military History, U.S. Department of the Army.
912:
293:
255:
536:
On the night of 5–6 November, the
Marines drove off two preliminary attacks from the Japanese 23rd Infantry Regiment. Colonel
997:
1083:
312:
586:
390:
603:
508:
Map of Japanese troop movements on Bougainville during the fighting on the island between November 1943 and March 1944
498:
458:
395:
327:
317:
207:
197:
385:
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631:
419:
361:
470:
439:
337:
307:
482:
215:
619:
423:
380:
589:
on their left. Meanwhile, the 2nd Raider Battalion was relieved and moved back into a reserve position.
473:
and established a beachhead, as part of Allied efforts to advance towards the main Japanese base around
431:
366:
279:
27:
941:
607:
332:
1027:
Operations of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces in the Papua New Guinea Theater During World War II
623:
581:
557:
486:
478:
427:
191:
167:
70:
1005:
864:
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622:, they slowly began moving troops from southern Bougainville, landing in small numbers around
553:
512:
To protect the narrow beachhead while further reinforcements and supplies arrived, the U.S.
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144:
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150:
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128:
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97:
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35:
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31:
977:. USMC Historical Monograph. Historical Branch, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
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517:
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178:
133:
933:
446:
1034:
247:
886:
The Six Marine Divisions in the Pacific: Every Campaign of World War II
474:
481:. Facing the American beachhead at Cape Torokina were troops of the
503:
501:
and began moving reinforcements north from southern Bougainville.
489:, the main elements of which were drawn from Lieutenant General
251:
477:, the isolation and reduction of which was a key objective of
848:
Top of the Ladder: Marine Operations in the Northern Solomons
497:. In response, the Japanese attempted a counter landing at
907:. Lexington, Kentucky, USA: University Press of Kentucky.
564:
of the 3rd Marine Raider Battalion was awarded the second
954:
History of United States Naval Operations in World War II
804:
Rentz 1946, pp. 39–40; Shaw & Kane 1963, pp. 247–267
430:. The battle took place on 8–9 November 1943 during the
1074:
Battles of World War II involving the United States
711:
Shaw & Kane 1963, p. 236; Morison 1958, p. 347.
1029:. Tokyo: Japan Papua New Guinea Goodwill Society.
945:
732:Rentz 1946, p. 48; Shaw & Kane 1963, p. 236.
614:Japanese sea lanes of communication through the
905:Bougainville, 1943–1945: The Forgotten Campaign
580:On 10 November, an air strike consisting of 12
449:, as the Japanese began moving troops from the
20:
516:advanced inland and set up a roadblock on the
606:on 13–14 November. A further action would be
263:
8:
851:. Marine Corps History and Museums Division
653:
651:
649:
647:
445:The fighting took place inland from the US
1079:South West Pacific theatre of World War II
1064:United States Marine Corps in World War II
786:Chapin 1997, pp. 14–17; Clark 2006, p. 108
270:
256:
248:
17:
990:Shaw, Henry I.; Kane, Douglas T. (1963).
741:Tanaka 1980, p. 255; Miller 1959, p. 259.
702:Miller 1959, p. 260; Morison 1958, p. 347
888:. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland.
571:
1069:Battles of World War II involving Japan
643:
1013:
1003:
1000:from the original on 20 November 2006.
974:Bougainville and the Northern Solomons
872:
862:
469:In early November 1943, US forces had
545:morning of 8 November, Major General
7:
719:
717:
822:Morison 1958, pp. 348–349, 362–363.
925:Cartwheel: The Reduction of Rabaul
348:Hellzapoppin Ridge & Hill 600A
14:
831:Tanaka 1980, pp. 73 & 255–275
750:Shaw & Kane 1963, pp. 237–240
49:US Marine Raiders on Bougainville
628:Hellzapoppin Ridge and Hill 600A
172:
161:
149:
138:
127:
108:
96:
43:
569:the Piva and Numa Numa Trails.
526:Japanese 23rd Infantry Regiment
520:, around the junction with the
993:Volume II: Isolation of Rabaul
948:Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier
1:
956:. Vol. 6. Castle Books.
777:Shaw & Kane 1963, p. 240.
693:Shaw & Kane 1963, p. 236.
438:in the days following the US
237:9 Nov: 12 killed, 30 wounded
604:Battle of the Coconut Grove
514:2nd Marine Raider Battalion
471:landed around Cape Torokina
235:8 Nov: 8 killed, 27 wounded
208:3rd Marine Raider Battalion
198:2nd Marine Raider Battalion
1100:
813:Morison 1958, pp. 348–349.
576:A map depicting the battle
420:United States Marine Corps
922:Miller, John Jr. (1959).
903:Gailey, Harry A. (1991).
884:Clark, George B. (2006).
795:Morison 1958, pp. 347–348
666:Miller 1959, pp. 222–225.
440:landings at Cape Torokina
289:
229:
184:
120:
89:
53:
42:
25:
1059:1943 in Papua New Guinea
1025:Tanaka, Kengoro (1980).
845:Chapin, John C. (1997).
608:fought around Piva Forks
971:Rentz, John M. (1946).
768:Gailey 1991, pp. 99–101
582:Avenger torpedo bombers
485:, commanded by General
577:
509:
451:23rd Infantry Regiment
442:earlier in the month.
424:Imperial Japanese Army
222:23rd Infantry Regiment
121:Commanders and leaders
942:Morison, Samuel Eliot
684:Morison 1958, p. 341.
575:
507:
432:Bougainville campaign
418:was a battle between
416:Battle for Piva Trail
281:Bougainville campaign
230:Casualties and losses
28:Bougainville campaign
21:Battle for Piva Trail
1084:November 1943 events
723:Morison 1958, p. 347
675:Miller 1958, p. 238.
556:, in command of the
657:Gailey 1991, p. 101
632:assault on Torokina
624:Empress Augusta Bay
558:3rd Marine Division
540:, commander of the
487:Harukichi Hyakutake
479:Operation Cartwheel
428:Bougainville Island
313:Empress Augusta Bay
192:3rd Marine Division
168:Harukichi Hyakutake
71:Bougainville Island
759:Chapin 1997, p. 16
634:until March 1944.
610:in late November.
578:
510:
483:Japanese 17th Army
242:9 Nov: 140+ killed
1054:Conflicts in 1943
895:978-0-78642-769-7
499:Koromokina Lagoon
459:Koromokina Lagoon
409:
408:
396:Porton Plantation
362:2nd Cape Torokina
318:Koromokina Lagoon
308:1st Cape Torokina
294:Japanese Invasion
246:
245:
240:8 Nov: 125 killed
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84:
61:8–9 November 1943
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32:Pacific Theater
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552:Major General
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491:Masatane Kanda
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328:Coconut Grove
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979:. Retrieved
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853:. Retrieved
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616:Buka Passage
612:
600:21st Marines
596:
579:
551:
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495:6th Division
468:
444:
415:
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381:Tsimba Ridge
322:
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90:Belligerents
36:World War II
26:Part of the
1014:|work=
873:|work=
587:3rd Marines
562:Henry Gurke
542:9th Marines
436:Pacific War
367:Pearl Ridge
343:Koiari Raid
1048:Categories
981:18 October
839:References
547:Shun Iwasa
518:Piva Trail
465:Background
455:Piva Trail
426:forces on
333:Piva Forks
323:Piva Trail
179:Shun Iwasa
1016:ignored (
1006:cite book
875:ignored (
865:cite book
855:30 August
593:Aftermath
447:beachhead
216:17th Army
998:Archived
944:(1958).
934:63151382
66:Location
1035:9206229
434:of the
30:of the
1033:
960:
932:
911:
892:
532:Battle
475:Rabaul
401:Ratsua
78:Result
638:Notes
115:Japan
1031:OCLC
1018:help
983:2006
958:ISBN
930:OCLC
909:ISBN
890:ISBN
877:help
857:2006
620:Buka
422:and
414:The
373:1945
354:1944
300:1943
58:Date
493:'s
1050::
1010::
1008:}}
1004:{{
996:.
952:.
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863:{{
716:^
646:^
1037:.
1020:)
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898:.
879:)
859:.
271:e
264:t
257:v
38:)
34:(
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