655:
forced to fall back and artillery was called in. This had only limited results because of tree bursts; nevertheless, half an hour later, a second platoon was thrown in, and this too was turned back by stiff resistance. Once again indirect fire support was called in, this time lasting only ten minutes but augmented by mortar fires, after which a flanking attack was attempted. This proved unsuccessful, and as night fell
Company K withdrew. On the morning of 24 December, however, Marine patrols found that the Japanese had abandoned the position during the night. Four Marines had been killed and eight wounded in taking the position; only one Japanese body was found when the position was searched later.
170:
159:
651:
frontally. With almost no appreciation of the situation or the terrain, the maneuvering elements turned-in to affect the envelopment too soon and consequently moved into the flanks of the platoon that was in contact, rather than the
Japanese emplacements. Consequently, they too began to take heavy fire, and as a result Company I commander gave the order to withdraw so that an artillery strike could be called down on the Japanese. This too proved to be unsuccessful in forcing the Japanese from the hill, and Company I returned to the main defensive position before sunset.
147:
136:
105:
575:
117:
635:
detailed with returning to the location and putting in an attack that afternoon. The attack went in at 15:45, and for the loss of one man killed and another wounded, they were successful in wresting control of the hill from
Japanese, who then retired from the position. As the detachment was too small to hold the position against a Japanese counterattack if one was launched, the Marines returned to their main defensive position before the light failed, and they reported the situation to the 3rd Division command post.
639:
48:
618:
1st
Battalion attacked the position from the northwest, while Companies L and K from the 3rd Battalion attacked from the south. This proved successful as the defenders had been forced from their dug-outs by the earlier artillery fire and air strikes, making them easier targets for the Marines. The previous strikes had also had the effect of clearing some of the vegetation, which made the going easier for the Marines during the attack.
621:
In capturing
Hellzapoppin Ridge, the Marines lost 12 men killed and 23 wounded. Japanese losses were at least 50 killed. The morning after the attack, the 1st Battalion, 21st Marines exploited the position as far east as Eagle Creek—which flowed into the Torokina—where they began work on constructing
697:
took over responsibility for the island in
November 1944, the Japanese forces—consisting of about 52,000 personnel—sought to avoid contact. American forces, while continuing to maintain a presence through fighting patrols and the establishment of outposts in the north and around Numa Numa, generally
646:
Upon receipt of the report, Turnage decided to establish a platoon-sized outpost on the hill, and on 22 December a force from the 3rd
Battalion, 21st Marines, which included heavy weapons support and an artillery forward observer, was sent out to occupy it. The Japanese, however, had returned during
561:
About 300 yards (270 m) long and consisting of sheer sides that rose to a sharp crest no more than 40 yards (37 m) wide, the spur was heavily vegetated and provided many advantages to defending force. Offering good concealment, this made accurate target identification difficult and reduced
617:
on the ground, dropped forty-eight 100-pound (45 kg) bombs about 75 yards (69 m) in front of the US positions. The aircraft also conducted strafing runs of the
Japanese positions. A two-pronged attack was then put in by the 1st and 3rd Battalions, 21st Marines. Companies A and C from the
515:
in late
November, plans were drawn up by US commanders to advance towards the Torokina River where a series of high features offered significant defensive advantages that could be exploited in the event of a Japanese counterattack, which US intelligence expected. The general outline of the US plan
654:
On 23 December
Company K renewed the attack with a heavy-weapons platoon attached to provide support by fire. Forming up for an attack further south from where Company I had attacked the day before, one platoon was sent on a reconnaissance along a steep, narrow ridge. Receiving heavy fire, it was
566:
and having established a series of mutually-supporting positions that were protected with overhead cover and were supported by snipers who were tied-in to the tree tops. Conversely, despite having captured a Japanese map which detailed their positions, lack of familiarity with the terrain and the
498:
Following the landing, a series of battles were fought around the beachhead, which was slowly expanded by the Marines out to about 8–10 kilometers (5.0–6.2 mi) by the end of the month. Throughout November, the Japanese had begun moving artillery pieces into position around the perimeter and
535:
was holding the position. The hill threatened the flank of the 3rd Parachute Battalion's position, and as a result the Marine commander was forced to readjust his dispositions to place the spur to his front. After consolidating their position and sending out patrols, minor skirmishes took place
634:
Contact between the two forces was reestablished on 21 December when a Marine patrol was engaged by a force of 14–18 Japanese around Hill 600A. Breaking contact, the patrol returned to US lines where the situation was reported. Subsequently a detachment from the 2nd Battalion, 21st Marines was
630:
Following the capture of Hellzapoppin Ridge, the Marines began sending patrols to the east over the Eagle River towards the Torokina. These lasted for three days and penetrated far behind the Japanese lines, but they did not prove fruitful for the Marines, resulting in no contact to offset the
650:
Company I was sent up, and its commander, misreading the situation and thinking that the Japanese held the crest of the ridge rather than the foot of its reverse slope, ordered a three-pronged "double envelopment" maneuver, utilizing two elements of his force to flank while the third attacked
631:
hardships faced in coming to grips with the terrain. Japanese activity during this time was limited to artillery barrages that were brought down largely on the US supply dumps that were located to the southwest around Evansville and which, as a consequence, resulted in only a few casualties.
692:
with 15,000 troops, consisting mainly of the 6th Division and two battalions from the 17th, from Buin and Numa Numa. Suffering considerable casualties—over 5,000 killed compared to American losses of 263—the Japanese withdrew back towards the south. From then until the Australian
440:
590:. Although the Japanese fields of fire were limited by the narrowness of the position, they were well concealed and as a result, at least initially, the first that the Marines knew of the location of the Japanese positions was when they were engaged by them at close range.
685:—adopted a mainly defensive posture around Torokina to protect the four airfields that had been constructed there. As a part of this strategy, outposts were established along the main tracks leading to the port, while Fijian troops patrolled the interior of the island.
601:
and bombing—and as a result it was not until 18 December that a large-scale attack could be launched by the Marines to take the hill. That morning three airstrikes were undertaken, along with an artillery barrage, in preparation for an attack at nightfall.
536:
before the Paramarines launched a company-level attack on the morning of 9 December. Although they managed to break-in to the Japanese position, the Marines were forced back by determined Japanese resistance, having sustained heavy casualties. A
1206:
667:
around Cape Torokina. The build-up of US forces continued, and by the end of 1943 although there were about 44,000 Americans on the island, a stalemate had developed. While the main Japanese force established itself around
647:
the night following the battle and had retaken the position and established themselves firmly. Heavy fire prevented the Marines from advancing and forced them to call back to regimental headquarters for reinforcements.
423:. It resulted in the capture of the two positions by the Marines with the support of artillery and aircraft, and the withdrawal of the Japanese forces as the American perimeter, which had been established around
672:
in the south of the island with the intention of securing food sources, shortly after the fighting around Hellzapoppin Ridge and Hill 600A the Marines on Bougainville were relieved by soldiers from the
562:
the effectiveness of the Marines' air support as well as the indirect fires offered by their artillery and naval gunfire support. The Japanese defenders were well dug-in on the position, occupying the
523:
met resistance along a spur to the west of Eagle Creek, at a position north of the junction of the East–West Trail near Hill 1000, which later became known to US troops as "Hellzapoppin Ridge" (from
1216:
1118:
597:, artillery and airstrikes were hampered by the dense jungle—the thick vegetation caused tree bursts, while reducing the observation of attacking pilots which resulted in inaccurate
516:
was to establish a defensive line parallel to the Torokina, along a ridge line that extended to the west from a position in the north known as Hill 1000 to Hill 600A in the south.
1231:
1226:
246:
567:
confined nature of the approaches to it adversely affected the tactical thinking of the US company commanders. The Marines were unable to concentrate their forces beyond
1211:
532:
527:) because of its difficult terrain, part of a feature the Japanese dubbed "Picha Mountain". Documents captured by the advancing Marines indicated that a reinforced
191:
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1201:
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239:
1038:
488:
541:
186:
519:
On 5 December the US advance began, and several minor clashes between patrol-sized elements took place. Two days later, Marines from the
463:
on the western coast of Bougainville. The landing took place as part of Allied efforts to advance towards the main Japanese base around
1196:
1126:
1093:. 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.
1057:
571:
strength in the thick jungle, which consequently took away the firepower capabilities, which had been one of their main advantages.
270:
232:
544:
was sent up to reinforce the Paramarines, and the following day the rest of the 21st Marine Regiment, under the command of Colonel
586:" tactic. The well-sited Japanese positions, however, turned any attempt to take the position by an indirect approach into a
1236:
289:
367:
605:
Prior to the attack, a thorough artillery preparation was followed by a fourth airstrike, which was undertaken by six
372:
304:
294:
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663:
The capture of Hellzapoppin Ridge allowed US troops to finally neutralize the Japanese artillery firing down on the
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Commencing on 12 December, a series of assaults were attempted by the 21st Marines, utilizing the "partial
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30:
47:
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309:
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Operations of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces in the Papua New Guinea Theater During World War II
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also failed to dislodge the defenders. Late in the day, a company from the 1st Battalion,
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548:, arrived to take over responsibility for capturing the spur line around Hill 1000.
38:
407:. Although minor in terms of casualties and in comparison to other battles in the
1142:. Washington, D.C.: Historical Branch, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps.
1111:
583:
520:
34:
1098:
664:
471:. Opposing the US troops at Cape Torokina were troops of Lieutenant General
1164:
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1079:
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Between 8 and 25 March 1944 the Japanese commander, Hyakutake, launched an
598:
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224:
610:
578:
Dispositions of US forces during the final attack on Hellzapoppin Ridge
568:
487:, based at Rabaul. The bulk of the infantry forces were drawn from the
77:
464:
395:
consisted of a series of engagements fought in mid-December 1943 on
499:
began shelling the beachhead from several hills to the east of the
637:
573:
438:
1207:
Battles and operations of World War II involving Papua New Guinea
411:, the battle was the last significant action undertaken by the
228:
467:, the isolation and reduction of which was a key objective of
593:
Attempts to reduce the Japanese positions through the use of
1159:. Tokyo, Japan: Japan Papua New Guinea Goodwill Society.
1119:
History of United States Naval Operations in World War II
698:
pursued a strategy of isolating the Japanese garrison.
1217:
Battles of World War II involving the United States
1110:
52:US Marines clear a Japanese position on Hill 600A
1074:. Melbourne, Victoria: Grayflower Productions.
622:defensive works to consolidate their position.
23:
677:, which—consisting of only two divisions, the
240:
8:
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982:
980:
978:
965:
963:
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642:The attack on Hill 600A 22–23 December 1943
415:on the island before they were replaced by
1232:United States Marine Corps in World War II
1227:South West Pacific theatre of World War II
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393:Battle of Hellzapoppin Ridge and Hill 600A
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24:Battle of Hellzapoppin Ridge and Hill 600A
20:
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1212:Battles of World War II involving Japan
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1139:Bougainville and the Northern Solomons
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427:in November, was expanded towards the
1222:Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II
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613:, that through close coordination by
7:
1050:World War II: A Visual Encyclopedia
690:offensive on the American perimeter
1090:Cartwheel: The Reduction of Rabaul
325:Hellzapoppin Ridge & Hill 600A
14:
1202:Autonomous Region of Bougainville
168:
157:
145:
134:
115:
103:
1031:The Pacific War 1941–1945
1113:Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier
1072:The South West Pacific 1941–45
1033:. New York: Harper Perennial.
1:
1121:. Vol. 6. Castle Books.
531:of 235 men from the Japanese
447:In early November 1943, the
491:, under Lieutenant General
1253:
1052:. London: PRC Publishing.
1048:Keegan, John, ed. (2001).
513:fighting around Piva Forks
443:Bougainville and surrounds
401:United States Marine Corps
1087:Miller, John Jr. (1959).
266:
210:
197:
180:
127:
96:
56:
45:
28:
1197:1943 in Papua New Guinea
1155:Tanaka, Kengoro (1980).
1029:Costello, John (2009) .
1136:Rentz, John M. (1946).
521:3rd Parachute Battalion
457:landed at Cape Torokina
643:
579:
533:23rd Infantry Regiment
451:, under Major General
444:
405:Imperial Japanese Army
399:between forces of the
192:23rd Infantry Regiment
128:Commanders and leaders
1107:Morison, Samuel Eliot
641:
577:
442:
409:Bougainville campaign
258:Bougainville campaign
216:17 killed, 32 wounded
211:Casualties and losses
31:Bougainville Campaign
1237:December 1943 events
607:Grumman TBF Avengers
187:21st Marine Regiment
776:, pp. 362–363.
728:, pp. 222–225.
473:Harukichi Hyakutake
469:Operation Cartwheel
461:Empress Augusta Bay
449:3rd Marine Division
413:3rd Marine Division
290:Empress Augusta Bay
164:Harukichi Hyakutake
64:12–24 December 1943
644:
580:
557:Hellzapoppin Ridge
479:, part of General
445:
417:United States Army
1187:Conflicts in 1943
1040:978-0-68-801620-3
926:, pp. 86–87.
897:, pp. 85–86.
845:, pp. 83–84.
788:, pp. 80–82.
615:forward observers
538:flanking maneuver
386:
385:
373:Porton Plantation
339:2nd Cape Torokina
295:Koromokina Lagoon
285:1st Cape Torokina
271:Japanese Invasion
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511:. Following the
505:East–West Trails
453:Allen H. Turnage
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588:frontal assault
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481:Hitoshi Imamura
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315:Cape St. George
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206:235 (initially)
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35:Pacific Theater
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991:, p. 415.
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833:, p. 256.
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740:, p. 328.
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509:Torokina River
493:Masatane Kanda
436:
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429:Torokina River
419:soldiers from
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368:Hongorai River
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363:Slater's Knoll
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175:Masatane Kanda
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88:Allied victory
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1192:1943 in Japan
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1128:0-7858-1307-1
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1059:1-85648-551-X
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1015:, p. 83.
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979:
975:
972:, p. 81.
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953:Costello 2009
949:
946:
943:, p. 87.
942:
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920:
917:
914:, p. 86.
913:
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884:
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866:, p. 84.
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824:
821:, p. 82.
820:
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800:, p. 81.
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752:, p. 73.
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716:, p. 72.
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564:reverse slope
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546:Evans O. Ames
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485:8th Area Army
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774:Morison 1958
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675:US XIV Corps
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542:21st Marines
518:
507:, along the
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489:6th Division
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397:Bougainville
392:
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358:Tsimba Ridge
324:
97:Belligerents
74:Bougainville
39:World War II
29:Part of the
1013:Tanaka 1980
1001:Tanaka 1980
970:Keegan 2001
831:Tanaka 1980
762:Miller 1959
750:Tanaka 1980
738:Miller 1959
726:Miller 1959
714:Tanaka 1980
584:envelopment
525:the musical
344:Pearl Ridge
320:Koiari Raid
219:~ 51 killed
16:1943 battle
1181:Categories
1022:References
989:Keogh 1965
941:Rentz 1946
924:Rentz 1946
912:Rentz 1946
895:Rentz 1946
883:Rentz 1946
864:Rentz 1946
843:Rentz 1946
819:Rentz 1946
798:Rentz 1946
786:Rentz 1946
435:Background
310:Piva Forks
300:Piva Trail
665:beachhead
659:Aftermath
626:Hill 600A
501:Numa–Numa
477:17th Army
421:XIV Corps
1109:(1958).
1099:63151382
1070:(1965).
683:Americal
611:VMTB-143
599:strafing
425:Torokina
403:and the
198:Strength
69:Location
1165:9206229
1148:1313812
1080:7185705
595:mortars
569:platoon
529:company
203:Unknown
76:in the
33:of the
1163:
1146:
1125:
1097:
1078:
1056:
1037:
552:Battle
465:Rabaul
378:Ratsua
85:Result
702:Notes
609:from
459:near
122:Japan
1161:OCLC
1144:OCLC
1123:ISBN
1095:OCLC
1076:OCLC
1054:ISBN
1035:ISBN
681:and
679:37th
670:Buin
503:and
391:The
350:1945
331:1944
277:1943
61:Date
483:'s
475:'s
1183::
1117:.
977:^
960:^
931:^
902:^
871:^
850:^
805:^
495:.
455:,
431:.
1167:.
1150:.
1131:.
1101:.
1082:.
1062:.
1043:.
248:e
241:t
234:v
41:)
37:(
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