Battle of Mount Tambu

Battle of Mount Tambu
Part of World War II, Pacific War
2/5th Infantry Battalion soldiers around Mount Tambu, July 1943
Date 16 July 1943  – 18 August 1943 Location Territory of New Guinea 07°09′00″S 147°02′00″E / 7.15000°S 147.03333°E / -7.15000; 147.03333 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Australia  United States	Japan
Commanders and leaders
Murray Moten	Fukuzo Kimura Sakai Sugiyama
Units involved
17th Brigade 42nd Infantry Battalion 1/162nd Infantry Regiment	II/66th Infantry Regiment III/66th Infantry Regiment
Strength
One brigade +	Two understrength battalions

The Battle of Mount Tambu was a series of actions fought in the Salamaua area of the Territory of New Guinea between Allied and Japanese forces, which took place between 16 July and 18 August 1943, during World War II. The battle formed part of the wider Salamaua–Lae campaign and was fought in the final stages of the campaign, which had seen a combined Australian and US force advance from Wau towards Salamaua following the repulse of the Japanese attack on Wau in late January and early February 1943. After several frontal assaults on the position by Australian and US infantrymen were rebuffed by determined Japanese defenders, an indirect approach was sought and flanking moves were undertaken to cut off the Japanese supply route along the Komiatum Track. This succeeded in eventually forcing the Japanese off the position as they withdrew to avoid encirclement.