PAPUAN CAMPAIGN
The Buna-Sanananda Operation
16 November 1942 - 23 January 1943
 
  Book Cover Photo: Papuan Campaign

CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY
UNITED STATES ARMY
WASHINGTON, D.C., 1990
 
  First printed by the Historical Division, War Department, for the American Forces in Action series, 1945

CMH Pub 100-1

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, US. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402


Foreword to CMH Edition

Papuan Campaign: The Buna-Sanananda Operation (16 November 1942-23 January 1943) is one of a series of fourteen studies of World War II operations originally published by the War Department's Historical Division and now returned to print as part of the Army's commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of that momentous clash of arms. These volumes, prepared by professional historians shortly after the events described, provide a concise summary of some of the major campaigns and battles fought by American soldiers. The skillful combination of combat interviews with primary sources, many of which are now lost, gives these unassuming narratives a special importance to military historians. The careful analysis of key operations provides numerous lessons for today's military students.

I am pleased that this entire group of studies will once again be available I urge all military students and teachers to use them to enhance our collective awareness of the skill, leadership, daring, and professionalism exhibited by our military forebears.

Washington, D.C.
15 September 1989

HAROLD W. NELSON
Colonel, FA
Chief of Military History


Foreword

In the thick of battle, the soldier is busy doing his lob. He has the knowledge and confidence that his job is part of a unified plan to defeat the enemy, but he does not have time to survey a campaign from a fox hole. If he should be wounded and removed behind the lines, he may have even less opportunity to learn what place he and his unit had in the larger fight.

American forces in action is a series prepared by the War Department especially for the information of wounded men. It will show these soldiers, who have served their country

so well, the part they and their comrades played in achievements which do honor to the record of the United States Army.

s/G. C. Marshall
G. C. MARSHALL,
Chief of Staff
v

WAR DEPARTMENT
HISTORICAL DIVISION
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

Papuan Campaign: the Buna-Sanananda Operation is the second of a series called AMERICAN FORCES IN ACTION. The series was prepared at the suggestion of General of the Army George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff. His foreword, as used in the original edition, appears on the previous page. The series was originally designed for military personnel only and primarily for wounded soldiers in hospitals to tell them the military story of the campaigns and battles in which they served. With the cessation of hostilities, Papuan Campaign is released as a public document.

This study was based on the best military records available. Although in its published form it contains no documentation, the original manuscript, fully documented, is on file in the War Department. Aerial photographs are by the Allied Air Forces, S. W. P. A.; all others are by the U. S. Army Signal Corps.

Readers are urged to send directly to the Historical Division, War Department, Washington 25, D. C., comments, criticisms, and additional information which may be of value in the preparation of a complete and definitive history of the Buna-Sanananda operation.

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Table of Contents

  Page
INTRODUCTION
THE JAPANESE THREAT TO AUSTRALIA
1
BEGINNING OF THE ALLIED COUNTEROFFENSIVE
2
PART I-BUNA
BACKGROUND OF THE BUNA OPERATION
9
Geography and Climate of the Buna Area
9
The Japanese Defensive Position
13
Air-Ground Cooperation
18
Transport, Supply, and Communication
19
BATTERING AT BUNA (19 NOVEMBER-14 DECEMBER)
26
First Contact
26
Feeling Out the Enemy Lines (20-25 November)
27
A Week of Attack (26 November-2 December)
29
Breakthrough to the Sea (3-5 December)
36
The Capture of Buna Village (6-14 December)
41
Situation on 14 December
42
WARREN FRONT: CAPTURE OF THE OLD STRIP (15 DECEMBER-3 JANUARY)
45
The Tanks Break Through to Cape Endaiadere (18 December)
45
Our Troops Cross the Bridge (19-23 December)
48
The Fight up the Old Strip (24-28 December)
50
The last Days on the Warren Front (29 December-3 January)
52
URBANA FRONT: CAPTURE OF BUNA MISSION (15 DECEMBER-2 JANUARY)
53
The Triangle and the Coconut Grove (15-20 December)
54
Another Corridor to the Sea (21-28 December)
55
The Mission Falls (28 December-2 January)
57

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Page
PART II-SANANANDA
BACKGROUND OF THE SANANANDA OPERATION
63
THE ROAD BLOCK (22 NOVEMBER-9 JANUARY)
65
THE CAPTURE OF SANANANDA (4-23 JANUARY)
67
Situation on the Soputa-Sanananda Road (4 January)
69
Opening Up the Cape Killerton Trail (4-15 January) 
70
The Envelopment (16 January)
74
The Mopping-Up (17-23 January)
77
CONCLUSION
81
ANNEX NO. 1: COMPARATIVE TABLE OF STRENGTH AND CASUALTIES
82
ANNEX NO. 2: DECORATIONS
83

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Maps

No.    
1 Relation of New Guinea to Neighboring Area
Inside back cover
2 South-East New Guinea (Papuan Peninsula)
Page 3
3 Buna-Sanananda Campaign, Situation 18 November 1942
Faces page 9
4 The Attack on Buna, 19 November-14 December 1942
Faces page 27
5 The Capture of Buna, 15 December 1942-3 January 1943
Faces page 45
6 Sanananda Front, 22 November 1942-9 January 1943
Page 66
7 Final Attack, Sanananda Front, 9 January-22 January 1943
Page 72

Sketches

No.  
Page
1 The Urbana Force Attacks the Triangle, 24 November 1942
30
2 Attack on Warren Front, 5 December 1942
37
3 Breakthrough at Buna Village, 5 December 1942
40
4 Road Block Positions, Sanananda, 1 January-22 January 1943
68
5 Japanese Perimeter "Q," Soputa-Sanananda Road
71

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Photographs

 
Page
On the Way to Buna: The Inland Route
8
Japanese Bunker in the Duropa Plantation
15
Interior of a Japanese Bunker in the Duropa Plantation
15
The Old Strip, Buna, Showing Japanese Fortifications
17
Firing Pits and Bunker Entrances, Buna Mission
17
Strip No. 4 at Dobodura
21
American Troops Embarking in a C-47
21
Native Stretcher Bearers with Wounded American
23
Supplies for Headquarters
23
Japanese Defenses in the Duropa Plantation
31
Terrain West of the New Strip
35
Disabled Bren-Gun Carriers
38
Lt. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger
41
American Light Tanks Manned by Australians
47
Bridge over Simemi Creek
49
Defenses in the Old Strip Area
52
Bridge over Entrance Creek to Musita Island
56
Buna Mission Area
58
Offensive Action in Buna Mission
61
Buna Mission after the Battle
62
Japanese Dead near Buna Mission, 3 January
62
Sanananda Point
75
A Fox Hole on Giruwa Beach
79

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page created 10 July 2001


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