Battle of Mubo

Battle of Mubo
Part of World War II, Pacific War
An Australian patrol rests along the Mubo track, July 1943
Date 22 April 1943 – 14 July 1943 Location Territory of New Guinea 05°30′S 141°00′E / 5.500°S 141.000°E / -5.500; 141.000Coordinates: 05°30′S 141°00′E / 5.500°S 141.000°E / -5.500; 141.000 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Australia	Japan
Commanders and leaders
Murray Moten	Hidemitsu Nakano
Units involved
17th Brigade 2/5th Infantry Battalion 2/6th Infantry Battalion 2/7th Infantry Battalion	51st Division 66th Infantry Regiment 102nd Infantry Regiment 115th Infantry Regiment
Strength
Three battalions	500 – 600

17th Brigade

51st Division

The Battle of Mubo was a series of actions in the Mubo area of the Territory of New Guinea between Australian and Japanese forces which took place between 22 April and 14 July 1943, during World War II. The battle formed part of the wider Salamaua–Lae campaign, and was fought in the early stages of the campaign. The battle followed the successful defence of the airfield around Wau by the Australians in late January 1943, after the Japanese had attempted to infiltrate the Australian positions with two infantry battalions.

After the fighting around Wau, the Japanese withdrew to the high ground around Mubo, where they were followed up by elements of the Australian 17th Brigade. In late April and early May, the Australians made several attempts to take several Japanese positions around Mubo, but were subsequently turned back by the Japanese who fought stubbornly to hold their positions. In early May, the Japanese launched a heavy counter-attack which fell against an isolated Australian company, who fought off the attack and inflicted heavy losses. After flanking moves failed in early July, Australian efforts to secure Mubo were renewed and the Japanese were finally forced to withdraw from the area towards Mount Tambu in mid-July.

In March 1942, the Japanese landed troops around Lae and Salamaua in the Australian mandated territory of New Guinea. A seaborne assault on Port Moresby was turned back in May at the Battle of the Coral Sea, after which the Japanese established a beachhead at Buna–Gona in late July as plans were made to capture Port Moresby via an overland route from the northern Papuan coast. Subsequently heavy fighting took place during the Kokoda Track campaign and around Milne Bay. The Japanese advance ended just before their objective and subsequently the Australians went on the offensive, eventually pursuing the withdrawing Japanese back to their beachheads around Buna and Gona where the Australians linked up with US forces and heavy fighting followed against the Japanese between November 1942 and January 1943.

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