Battle of Finschhafen - 1943

Battle of Finschhafen

The Landing at Scarlet Beach on the 22nd of September 1943 marked the start of the Battle of Finschhafen, which saw Australian and American troops perform a pincer attack on the town of Finschhafen. This battle, and the subsequent counterattack was part of the Huon Peninsula Campaign that took place in New Guinea during WWII.

The Japanese had been expecting an Allied attack on Finschhafen since July 1943, and Japanese high command had deployed a mixed force from three divisions, totalling approximately 5,000 men in a series of defensive positions around the town. Allied intelligence underestimated this force, as being only between 300 – 2,100 strong.

On the 22nd of September, the Australians began establishing a beach head at Scarlet Beach and its surrounding coves, before commencing the advance on Finschhafen. Advancing through thick jungle with limited vehicular support, the soldiers were often forced to carry the stores themselves due to a shortage of transport or locals.

Nevertheless, the Australians of the 9th Division managed to advance and capture the Heldsbach plantation and airfield before facing strong resistance around the Bumi River. At the river, some 300 Japanese sailors and marines had established a strong defensive position and were able to stall the Australian advance until the 26th of September, when reinforcements from the 2/15th Infantry Battalion were finally able to break their position through a flanking attack.

The Australian advance continued through heavy rain to Kakakog, arriving towards the end of the month. Over the course of the advance, the Japanese sustained numerous casualties to Australian artillery fire and air attacks prior to the main attack. At the start of October, the Australians crossed the Mape River and stormed Kakakog, the final outpost before Finschhafen.

Following the defeat at Kakakog, the Japanese withdrew, and the Australians entered the town in the afternoon of the 2nd after facing minimal resistance. During this stage of the battle, the Australians lost 73 killed and 285 wounded. Japanese casualties were assessed as numbering in the hundreds, but an accurate assessment was impossible.

Although the Australians had taken Finschhafen, the Japanese were to launch a significant counterattack at Scarlet Beach. The Australians would repel over a dozen smaller counterattacks in a few days before a major Japanese assault that would see the Japanese suffer over 679 dead and 821 wounded. One American would also be posthumously awarded their highest honour for bravery, the Medal of Honor.

Check back here on the 16th of October for more information on the Japanese Counter Attack on Scarlet Beach.

Image: A Matilda tank of 4th Australian Armoured Brigade ploughing ahead towards the battle area in an effort to drive the Japanese out of strongposts held near the Finschhafen area. The tank, named Clincher, has a logo on the front of a crocodile under a palm tree over a boomerang. Other unit identification markings have been whited out by the censor.