New Georgia campaign

New Georgia Campaign
Part of the Solomon Islands campaign of World War II
Men of the United States 25th Infantry Division push through the jungle along the Zieta Trail on 12 August 1943
Date 30 June – 7 October 1943 Location New Georgia Islands, Solomon Islands Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United States  New Zealand  Australia British Solomon Islands	Japan
Commanders and leaders
South West Pacific Area: Douglas MacArthur U.S. Navy: William F. Halsey Richmond K. Turner Theodore S. Wilkinson Frederick Moosbrugger Aaron S. Merrill Walden L. Ainsworth Thomas J. Ryan U.S. Marines: Harry B. Liversedge U.S. Army: Oscar W. Griswold Millard F. Harmon John H. Hester Robert B. McClure N.Z. Army: H. E. Barrowclough	I.J. Navy: Jinichi Kusaka Teruo Akiyama † Shunji Isaki † Kaju Sugiura Matsuji Ijuin I.J. Army: Hitoshi Imamura Minoru Sasaki
Strength
~ 43,000	10,500
Casualties and losses
1,195 killed, 93 aircraft destroyed	1,671 killed, 3,873 wounded, 358 aircraft destroyed

8°30′S 157°20′E / 8.500°S 157.333°E / -8.500; 157.333 The New Georgia campaign was a series of land and naval battles of the Pacific Theater of World War II between Allied forces and the Empire of Japan. It was part of Operation Cartwheel, the Allied strategy in the South Pacific to isolate the Japanese base around Rabaul. The campaign took place in the New Georgia Islands in the central Solomon Islands and followed the Allied capture of the Russell Islands. The main fighting took place on New Georgia itself, although significant actions also took place around the island chain throughout the campaign.

The campaign began on 30 June 1943, when US troops carried out landings in the Kula Gulf, in the north of New Georgia, and around the Munda area on the western coast. In addition, smaller landings were undertaken at Viru Harbor on the southern coast of the island, Wickham Anchorage on Vangunu, and on Rendova. In the north, several actions were fought around Enogai and Bairoko throughout July, while in the west, the main US objective was the Japanese airfield on Munda Point. Stubborn defense by the Japanese delayed the US advance on Munda and the Japanese mounted a strong counterattack before US force eventually captured Munda Point in early August.

Elsewhere, further actions took place on Arundel Island in August and September after Japanese forces withdrew there after the fighting around Munda Point. A large number of Japanese troops concentrated on Kolombangara late in the campaign but were bypassed by US troops who landed on Vella Lavella in mid-August and were later reinforced by New Zealand troops. The campaign ended on 7 October 1943 when the last Japanese troops were withdrawn from Vella Lavella, finalizing the Allied capture of the islands.

A series of naval actions also took place in conjunction with the fighting on land, including actions in the Kula Gulf, off Kolombangara, in the Vella Gulf, off Horaniu and off Vella Lavella.