Battle of Finschhafen

Battle of Finschhafen
Part of World War II, Pacific War
A view of Finschhafen, October 1943
Date 22 September – 24 October 1943 Location Finschhafen area, Morobe Province, Territory of New Guinea 6°36′S 147°51′E / 6.600°S 147.850°E / -6.600; 147.850 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Australia  United States	Japan
Commanders and leaders
George Wootten Victor Windeyer	Hatazo Adachi Eizo Yamada Shigeru Katagiri
Units involved
9th Division 20th Infantry Brigade 24th Infantry Brigade 22nd Infantry Battalion 532nd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment	20th Division 79th Infantry Regiment 80th Infantry Regiment 26th Field Artillery Regiment 7th Naval Base Force 41st Division 238th Infantry Regiment 51st Division 102nd Infantry Regiment 1st Shipping Group
Strength
~5,300 (first phase)	4,000 – 5,000 (first phase) ~ 12,000 (second phase)
Casualties and losses
73 killed, 285 wounded (first phase) 49 killed, 179 wounded (second phase)	679 killed, 821 wounded (second phase only)

The Battle of Finschhafen was part of the Huon Peninsula campaign in New Guinea during World War II and was fought between Australian and Japanese forces. The fighting took place between 22 September and 24 October 1943 following the landing at Scarlet Beach, which was followed by a two-pronged advance on Finschhafen as the Australian 20th Infantry Brigade advanced on the town from the north, while the 22nd Infantry Battalion drove from the south, having advanced from the landing beaches east of Lae. After the capture of Finschhafen, the Japanese forces in the area withdrew towards Sattelberg where they sought to hold the Australians before launching a counteroffensive, which subsequently threatened the landing beach. This attack was repelled by Australian and American forces, with heavy casualties being inflicted on the Japanese. In the aftermath, the Australians went on the offensive, capturing Sattelberg, and then advancing towards the Wareo plateau.