A
Matilda tank
, named "Clincher", moves towards Japanese strong points near Finschhafen, on 9 November 1943.
The
Huon Peninsula campaign
was a series of battles fought in north-eastern
Papua New Guinea
in 1943?1944 during the
Second World War
. The campaign formed the initial part of an offensive that the
Allies
launched in the Pacific in late 1943 and resulted in the Japanese being pushed north from
Lae
to
Sio
on the northern coast of New Guinea over the course of a four-month period. For the Australians, a significant advantage was gained through the technological edge that Allied industry had achieved over the Japanese by this phase of the war, while the Japanese were hampered by a lack of supplies and reinforcements due to Allied interdiction efforts at sea and in the air.
The campaign was preceded by an amphibious landing by troops from the Australian
9th Division
east of Lae on 4 September 1943. This was followed by an advance west along the coast towards the town where they were to link up with
7th Division
advancing from
Nadzab
. Meanwhile, Australian and US forces mounted diversionary attacks around
Salamaua
. Heavy rain and flooding slowed the 9th Division's advance, which had to cross several rivers along the way. The Japanese rear guard also put up a stiff defence and, as a result, Lae did not fall until 16 September, when troops from the 7th Division entered it ahead of the 9th, and the main body of the Japanese force escaped north. Less than a week later, the Huon Peninsula campaign was opened as the Australians undertook another amphibious landing further east, aimed at capturing Finschhafen.
Following the
landing at Scarlet Beach
, the Allies set about moving south to secure
Finschhafen
, which saw fighting around
Jivevaneng
also. In mid-October, the Japanese launched a counterattack against the Australian beachhead around Scarlet Beach, which lasted for about a week and resulted in a small contraction of the Australian lines and a splitting of their force before it was defeated. After this, the Australians regained the initiative and began to pursue the Japanese who withdrew inland towards the high ground around
Sattelberg
. Amidst heavy fighting and a second failed Japanese counterattack, Sattelberg was secured in late November and the Australians began an area advance to the north to secure a line between
Wareo and Gusika
. This was completed by early December, and was followed by an advance by Australian forces along the coast through Lakona to
Fortification Point
, overcoming strong Japanese forces fighting delaying actions. (
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