Australia's Defining Moments / Battles
The Kokoda Track Campaign
The Kokoda Track Campaign was perchance the most significant battle fought by the Australians in World War II. The Kokoda Track Campaign was a series of battles fought between the Allies (predominantly Australian) and the Japanese between July and November 1942. The Japanese landed on the Northern coast of Papua and their objective was to make their way overland and capture Port Moresby. This would give them control over Papua and a base from which to attack the Australian mainland. The Kokoda track spread through 96 kilometers of jungle and over mountains. Most of this could only have been travelled by foot which meant they had to carry all supplies.
Initially the Japanese attacks were successful and Australian troops were forced to retreat often even though they were able to emerge victorious on numerous occasions. To rub salt on the wound, supplies were running short and tropical diseases were hampering the progress of the troops.
By early September 1942, the Japanese were within 48 kilometers of Port Moresby, and could see the streetlights of the town from a distance ; but they were now far from their own supply base on the northern coast. They know had the challenge of moving supplies and weapons along the narrow, mountainous track. The Japanese men who now put in the Australian troops' shoes and were running short of supplies and being hampered by tropical diseases.
Concurrently, the American forces which were one of the Australians' allies occupied the island of Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, which was east of Papua. They plot to use the island as a base to attack Japanese shipping. In response, the Japanese decided to focus on Guadalcanal and withdrew their forces from Papua, even though they were close proximity of Port Moresby. The Japanese were now loosing momentum while the Australians were now starting to get backup.
Australian and American troops followed the retreating Japanese along the track, and battled them when they reached their coastal base at Buna-Gona, Papua. After lots of bloodshed and tears they defeated the Japanese with an ailing force. Allied casualties were extremely high. More than 600 Australian troops died in fighting throughout the Kokoda operation, and more than 1600 were wounded. Over 4,000 soldiers suffered from tropical diseases. Japanese fatalities are uncertain, but are considered to be probably even higher than the Allied casualties, because of the Japanese military tradition of committing suicide rather than surrendering.
The Kokoda Track is remembered as one of the most difficult operations by Australian troops in World War II. It was the first time in Australia's history in which they were directly threatened. Many consider this battle as "The Battle which saved Australia" as it was deemed a possibility at that time of a Japanese invasion. This battle was used a learning lesson to the American and Australian forces as it highlighted the many flaws of their attacking system. The two nations would use their new - found knowledge to improve training regimes.
Initially the Japanese attacks were successful and Australian troops were forced to retreat often even though they were able to emerge victorious on numerous occasions. To rub salt on the wound, supplies were running short and tropical diseases were hampering the progress of the troops.
By early September 1942, the Japanese were within 48 kilometers of Port Moresby, and could see the streetlights of the town from a distance ; but they were now far from their own supply base on the northern coast. They know had the challenge of moving supplies and weapons along the narrow, mountainous track. The Japanese men who now put in the Australian troops' shoes and were running short of supplies and being hampered by tropical diseases.
Concurrently, the American forces which were one of the Australians' allies occupied the island of Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, which was east of Papua. They plot to use the island as a base to attack Japanese shipping. In response, the Japanese decided to focus on Guadalcanal and withdrew their forces from Papua, even though they were close proximity of Port Moresby. The Japanese were now loosing momentum while the Australians were now starting to get backup.
Australian and American troops followed the retreating Japanese along the track, and battled them when they reached their coastal base at Buna-Gona, Papua. After lots of bloodshed and tears they defeated the Japanese with an ailing force. Allied casualties were extremely high. More than 600 Australian troops died in fighting throughout the Kokoda operation, and more than 1600 were wounded. Over 4,000 soldiers suffered from tropical diseases. Japanese fatalities are uncertain, but are considered to be probably even higher than the Allied casualties, because of the Japanese military tradition of committing suicide rather than surrendering.
The Kokoda Track is remembered as one of the most difficult operations by Australian troops in World War II. It was the first time in Australia's history in which they were directly threatened. Many consider this battle as "The Battle which saved Australia" as it was deemed a possibility at that time of a Japanese invasion. This battle was used a learning lesson to the American and Australian forces as it highlighted the many flaws of their attacking system. The two nations would use their new - found knowledge to improve training regimes.
* If you would like to watch a documentary on The Kokoda Track Campaign, watch the video below. *