Battle of Talasea

Battle of Talasea
Part of World War II, Pacific War
Black and white map depicting a military operation with symbols depicting units and their movements
Map depicting the US Marine operation, March 1944
Date6–9 March 1944
Location5°17′S 150°01′E / 5.283°S 150.017°E / -5.283; 150.017
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
 United States
 Australia
 Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders
United States William H. Rupertus
United States Oliver P. Smith
Empire of Japan Yasushi Sakai
Empire of Japan Kiyamatsu Terunuma
Units involved

Combat Team A

17th Division

Strength
~3,000 596
Casualties and losses
17 killed and 114 wounded 150 killed

The Battle of Talasea (6–9 March 1944) was fought in the Pacific theater of World War II between Japanese and Allied forces. Dubbed "Operation Appease" by the Allies, the battle was part of the wider Operations Dexterity and Cartwheel, and took place on the island of New Britain, Territory of New Guinea, in March 1944 as primarily US forces, with limited Australian support, carried out an amphibious landing to capture the Talasea area of the Willaumez Peninsula, as part of follow-up operations as the Japanese began withdrawing east towards Rabaul following heavy fighting around Cape Gloucester earlier in the year. The assault force consisted of a regimental combat team formed around the 5th Marines, which landed on the western coast of the Willaumez Peninsula, on the western side of a narrow isthmus near the Volupai Plantation. Following the initial landing, the Marines advanced east towards the emergency landing strip at Talasea on the opposite coast. Their advance south was stymied by a small group of Japanese defenders who prevented the US troops from advancing quickly enough to cut off the withdrawal of the Japanese force falling back from Cape Gloucester.