2600:6C50:667F:15D0:598A:3054:8C3C:195C: /* References */Added battle to WWII U.S. battles category.

2025-03-09T21:05:05Z

References: Added battle to WWII U.S. battles category.

New page

{{short description|Allied landings in Woodlark and Kiriwina during World War II}}
{{distinguish|Operation Chronicle (The Americans)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Operation Chronicle
|partof=World War II, [[Pacific War]]
|image=Troops LCI Kiriwina Island.jpg
|caption=American troops disembarking from an [[Landing Craft Infantry|LCI]]
|date=23–30 June 1943
|place=[[Woodlark Island]] and [[Kiriwina]], [[Territory of Papua]]
|result=[[Allies of World War II|Allied]] occupation
|combatant1={{flag|United States|1912}}<br>{{flag|Australia}}
|combatant2={{flagcountry|Empire of Japan}}
|commander1=[[Walter Krueger]]
|commander2=[[Hatazō Adachi]]
|strength1=~16,800
|strength2=0
|casualties1=0
|casualties2=
}}
{{Campaignbox New Guinea}}

'''Operation Chronicle''' was the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] invasion of [[Woodlark Island|Woodlark]] and [[Kiriwina|Kiriwina Islands]], in the South West Pacific, during World War II. The operation was a subordinate action that formed part of the wider [[Operation Cartwheel]], the advance towards [[Rabaul]]. An early planning name for this operation was Operation Coronet. Preliminary actions commenced on 23–24 June 1943 when small reconnaissance parties were landed on both islands. The main operation was executed without opposition on 30 June 1943. Around 16,800 personnel took part, divided into two forces. The [[United States Army]] provided the majority of ground troops, which were supported by a [[United States Marine Corps]] [[Marine defense battalion|defense battalion]] as well as U.S. and Australian aircraft and naval vessels.

The two islands were subsequently developed by U.S. naval construction battalions and engineers who constructed airfields and [[PT boat]] bases. [[United States Army Air Force]] aircraft arrived on Woodlark in mid-July, while [[Royal Australian Air Force]] aircraft began operations from Kiriwina in August. Ultimately, though, the islands played only a limited role in the Allied offensive against Rabaul as the Allied advance pushed further west.

==Background==
===Planning and readiness===

By mid-1943, the fighting in New Guinea was turning in favor of the Allies after a period of hard fighting. The Japanese drive on [[Port Moresby]] during mid-1942 and early 1943 had been defeated during the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]] and the [[Kokoda Track campaign]],<ref>James (2013), p. 202</ref> while the Japanese beachhead at [[Battle of Buna–Gona|Buna–Gona]] had also been destroyed, albeit with heavy casualties on both sides.<ref>Keogh (1965), pp. 271–277</ref> Subsequently, the Japanese had been forced to abandon their efforts on [[Guadalcanal Campaign|Guadalcanal]] and the Allies had secured the [[Salamaua–Lae campaign|Salamaua]] region,<ref>Miller (1959), p. 6</ref><ref>James (2014), pp. 186–209</ref> and began planning their advance towards the main Japanese base around [[Rabaul]].<ref>Keogh (1965), p. 290</ref>

[[Kiriwina]] and [[Woodlark Island]]s are situated in the [[Solomon Sea]], in a group of islands that lie northeast of the [[Territory of Papua|Papuan]] coast. Kiriwina lies about {{convert|125|mi}} from [[New Britain]] while Woodlark is {{convert|200|mi}} from [[Bougainville Island|Bouganville]]. The location of these islands drew the attention of Allied planners who sought bases closer to Japanese targets in the [[Solomon Islands]] and around Rabaul, in order to increase the payloads Allied bombers could carry and to provide these aircraft with fighter escorts.<ref name=Morison132>Morison (1950), p. 132</ref>

During the planning stage, the operation was initially designated as "Coronet", but eventually the codename "Chronicle" was adopted.<ref name=chant1>{{cite web |url=https://codenames.info/operation/coronet-i/|author=Chant, Christopher |title=Operation Coronet |work=Operations of World War 2 |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref> Initial planning for the seizure of Woodlark and Kiriwina was undertaken in May 1943 at General [[Walter Krueger]]'s [[Sixth United States Army|Sixth Army]] headquarters in [[Brisbane]], Australia. General [[Douglas MacArthur]] gave command of the landings to Krueger as well as responsibility for the co-ordination of ground, air, and naval planning. Woodlark and Kiriwina were required as future airfield sites to support operations in both [[New Guinea]], New Britain and the Solomon Islands as part of the wider [[Operation Cartwheel]], during which the Allies planned to advance towards the main Japanese base around Rabaul. The invasion was the first amphibious movement undertaken by the Allies in the [[South West Pacific Area]] with thorough and comprehensive planning, which became standing operating procedure for future invasions.<ref>Miller (1959), pp. 49–50</ref>

[[File:New guinea.png|thumb|350px|left|The New Guinea and New Britain area, including Woodlark and Kiriwina.|alt=Colour map of New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville]]

===Assigned forces===
Japanese forces in the New Guinea area were drawn from the [[18th Army (Japan)|18th Army]]. This formation was commanded by General [[Hatazō Adachi]], and was headquarters at [[Madang]]. This force was focused upon the mainland where it was attempting to defend a broad area between [[Wewak]], Madang, [[Finschhafen]], [[Salamaua]] and [[Lae]], while also preparing to carry out offensive operations around [[Battle of Wau|Wau]], its surrounds and in the [[Markham Valley|Markham]] and [[Sepik|Sepik Valley]]s. There were no Japanese troops on either Woodlark or Kiriwina at the time of the operation.<ref>Miller (1959), pp. 55 & 63</ref>

In total 16,800 Allied personnel were assigned to the operation, with the majority of ground troops coming from Krueger's Sixth Army, which had been designated as Alamo Force. Naval support was provided by Rear Admiral [[Victor Crutchley]]'s [[Task Force 44|Task Force 74]], which served as the covering force, while Rear Admiral [[Daniel E. Barbey]]'s [[Task Force 76]] served as the amphibious landing force. While the majority of the ships assigned were supplied by the [[United States Navy]], Crutchley was a [[Royal Navy]] officer and his force included four [[Royal Australian Navy]] vessels.<ref name=chant1/><ref name=Miller51>Miller (1959), p. 51</ref> Air support for the operation was split between the [[United States Army Air Forces]] [[V Bomber Command]] and the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) [[1st Tactical Air Force RAAF|1st Tactical Air Force]] and [[No. 9 Operational Group RAAF|No. 9 Operational Group]]. The V Bomber Command was to bomb the Japanese airfields at Rabaul, each night from 25 through 30 June and be called upon to support the invasion fleet and provide close infantry support as required. The RAAF was to provide fighter cover as requested.<ref name=Miller53>Miller (1959), p. 53</ref>

==Prelude==

Reconnaissance parties landed on Woodlark and Kiriwina in May and reported that there were no Japanese troops occupying the islands. Due to a delay in gathering the units assigned to the operation together, as they were spread across the north of Australia and New Guinea, D-Day was set for 30 June 1943.<ref>Miller (1959), p. 54</ref> In the interim, an RAAF radar unit was established on Kiriwina in May,<ref name=":0">Rottman (2002a), p. 171</ref> while the landings were timed to take place in conjunction with similar operations at [[landing at Nassau Bay|Nassau Bay]], in New Guinea, and on [[Landings on Rendova|Rendova]], in [[New Georgia]].<ref>Morison (1950), pp. 132 & 134</ref>

While the Sixth Army did not expect any Japanese troops to contest the landings, they were conducted as combat operations. Krueger and Barbey chose this approach to test their amphibious tactics and as a precaution in case the landings were opposed. The Allied soldiers assigned to the attack were encouraged to believe that Japanese troops would be encountered.<ref>Powell (2006), pp. 52–55</ref> It was expected that the Japanese would conduct air attacks on the invasion forces and logistical bases in New Guinea, and [[No. 73 Wing RAAF]] with three fighter squadrons was transferred to [[Goodenough Island]] to provide air defence for the region. RAAF aircraft were also assigned to conduct anti-submarine patrols.<ref>Odgers (1968), p. 33</ref>

An advance party of [[112th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|112th Cavalry Regiment]] under the command of Major D. M. McMains, left [[Milne Bay]] at 16:00 on 22 June 1943 aboard the [[High speed transport|destroyer transports]] ''[[USS Brooks (DD-232)|Brooks]]'' and ''[[USS Humphreys (DD-236)|Humphreys]]'' bound for Woodlark. Arriving at [[Guasopa]] at 00:32 on 23 June, the U.S. troops landed in six [[Landing Craft, Personnel (Ramped)]] (LCP(R)). The destroyer transports left at 04:00 for Milne Bay. An Australian [[coastwatcher]], not having been informed of the landing, almost attacked the landing force with his locally recruited guerrilla force until overhearing the troops' broad accents.<ref name="p.55">Miller (1959), p. 55</ref> The advance party undertook reconnaissance, established defenses and facilities for the invasion force, marked the landing beaches, and cleared obstructions in preparation for the main landing.<ref name="p.56"/><ref name=Morison134/>

The [[158th Infantry Regiment (United States)|158th Infantry Regiment]]'s advance party, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Floyd G. Powell, departed Milne Bay at 18:10 on 23 June aboard the returned ''Brooks'' and ''Humphreys''. They were accompanied by a detachment of the 59th Combat Engineer Company and the 158th Infantry Regiment's communication platoon.<ref name="p.55" /> Arriving at Kiriwina at midnight on 24 June, they landed in several LCP(R)s via a channel that passed through the reef to the beach at [[Losuia]], on Kiriwina. The unloading proved slow, due to inexperience, and the ships had not been emptied before daylight came. This brought the threat of air attack and meant that the ships were forced to depart partially loaded. Nevertheless, they returned three nights later to unload the heavy communication and engineer equipment left in their holds. The advance party built a coral causeway across the reef to allow landing.<ref name="p.56">Miller (1959), p. 56</ref>

==Landings==
[[File:USA-P-Rabaul-5.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Operation Chronicle, 30 June 1943]]

===Woodlark===
On 25 June 2,600 troops of '''Woodlark Force''', led by Colonel Julian W. Cunningham, consisting of units of the 112th Cavalry Regiment, the 134th Field Artillery Battalion, the Marine [[12th Defense Battalion]] (Lieutenant Colonel [[William H. Harrison (USMC)|William H. Harrison]]) and quartermaster, port, ordnance, medical, and engineer units, a naval base unit and a construction battalion departed [[Townsville]], Australia, aboard six [[Landing Ship Tank|LST]]s, with one subchaser ''[[USS SC-749|SC-749]]'' and two destroyers, ''[[USS Bagley (DD-386)|Bagley]]'' and ''[[USS Henley (DD-391)|Henley]]'', as escort.<ref name="p.56" />

After arriving at Woodlark, the landing began at 21:00 on 30 June. The operation was unopposed and unloading was completed quickly. Prior to embarkation, all equipment had been loaded aboard trucks, which meant that they could be driven straight off the LSTs. This allowed the quick turn around of the transport force, which was able to depart Woodlark before sunrise, thereby avoiding possible air attack.<ref name="p.56" />

Meanwhile, ''Brooks'' and ''Humphreys'' carrying other troops from Milne Bay arrived at 01:00 on 1 July. The process of embarking troops aboard the [[Landing Craft Infantry]] (LCI) amphibious assault ships was delayed over an hour, while the run ashore was slowed as the coxswains on the LCIs became disoriented and had trouble locating the correct landing beach. As a result, the two transports remained off shore until 06:00. Further supply echelons subsequently arrived in LCIs and LSTs throughout 1 July.<ref name="p.56" />

===Kiriwina===
On 30 June, 2,250 troops of '''Kiriwina Force''', led by Colonel J. Prugh Herndon, consisting of the 158th Infantry Regiment (less the 2d Battalion) the 148th Field Artillery Battalion with other artillery, engineer, ordnance, medical, antiaircraft, and quartermaster troops departed Milne Bay aboard twelve LCIs. They were escorted by two destroyers and two small coastal transports. Arriving at Red Beach near Losuia, Kiriwina, the landing commenced around dawn. Although the landing was unopposed, as it was on Woodlark, the unloading process proved slow. The LCIs coming ashore became grounded several hundred yards short of the beach, and only one of the LCTs was able to pass over the sandbar that lay offshore. Heavy rain and a low tide also hampered the movement of vehicles, stores and equipment ashore. Subsequent waves were diverted to the northern shore, where a coral causeway had been constructed by the advance party to aid the unloading of vehicles. A supply echelon arrived on 30 June consisting of twelve LCTs and seven LCMs, having laid up overnight at Goodenough Island, and having been screened by other four destroyers and the Australian survey ship ''[[HMAS Benalla (J323)|Benalla]]''.<ref>Miller (1959), p. 57</ref><ref name=Morison134/>

==Aftermath==

===Japanese reaction===
Except for reconnaissance flights and two small bombing attacks against Woodlark, the Japanese took no further action in relation to the occupation of the islands.<ref name="p.59">Miller (1959), p. 59</ref> According to historian [[Samuel Eliot Morison]], this was due to the operation being timed to coincide with other operations in New Guinea and New Georgia.<ref name=Morison134>Morison (1950), p. 134</ref> An air raid conducted by two Japanese aircraft on 2 August resulted in four members of the 112th Cavalry Regiment being wounded; these were the regiment's first combat casualties.<ref>Powell (2006), pp. 61–62</ref> Due to the modest scale of the Japanese air attacks, the three Australian fighter squadrons at Goodenough Island were not required, much to the surprise of their pilots.<ref>Odgers (1968), p. 34</ref>

===Base development===
On Woodlark, the construction of [[Guasopa Airport|Woodlark Airfield]] was begun by 20th and 60th U.S. Naval Construction Battalions on 2 July and by 14 July the airfield consisted of single {{convert|3000|by|150|feet|-1|adj=on}} runway which could accommodate [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]]s. By 21 July the runway was expanded to {{convert|5200|ft|-1}} of runway and a coral surface with the [[67th Fighter Squadron]] arriving on 23 July. The airfield was ultimately extended to {{convert|6500|by|225|ft|-1}} with a parallel runway of {{convert|6000|by|60|ft|-1}} with 110 hardstands. The airfield was used as a stopover point and refueling point.<ref>Miller (1959), p. 58</ref> Defensive positions were set up around Woodlark with antiaircraft and coastal artillery pieces of the 12th Defense Battalion being installed, and machine gun and 37 mm beach positions established. A [[PT boat]] and landing craft repair base was also constructed at Guasopa Bay and the island was also used as a supply base.<ref>Rottman (2002a), p. 172.</ref> The 112th Cavalry Regiment remained at Woodlark until late November 1943; during this time it received additional amphibious training.<ref>Rottman (2009), p. 22</ref> Little other training was conducted, however, and most of the regiment's troopers did not fire their rifles while they were on the island.<ref>Powell (2006), p. 62</ref>

[[File:KiriwinaAirfieldClearing.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Clearing on Kiriwina for an airfield]]
On Kiriwina, due to the difficulty of landing heavy engineering equipment the construction of [[Losuia Airport|Kiriwina airfield]] was delayed. With heavy rains hindering construction, Krueger became unhappy with the progress of the works and replaced Herndon in command of Kiriwina Force with Colonel John T. Murray. By 20 July a single {{convert|1500|by|150|ft|adj=on|-1}} runway was cleared and roughly graded. By the end of July the runway was {{convert|5000|ft}} long and ready to be surfaced with coral. [[No. 79 Squadron RAAF|No. 79 Squadron]] of the RAAF began operations on 18 August.<ref name="p.59"/> A seaplane base was also constructed at Losuia, consisting of an anchorage and jetty. A PT boat base was also constructed at Louisa in October 1943, but was closed in February 1944. The island was also used as a supply base.<ref name=":0"/>

Ultimately, the progress of the Allied advance in the Pacific, with the fighting moving further west, meant that none of these bases played a significant role in the Allied war effort. Nevertheless, Morison argues that the landings were successfully undertaken and served the purpose of providing the Allied amphibious forces with the opportunity to test theories and gain experience that would prove vital later in the war.<ref name=Morison134/> Australian official historian [[G. Hermon Gill]] reached a similar conclusion.<ref>Gill (1968), p. 285</ref> In contrast, American historian James Scott Powell has noted that Operation Chronicle had mixed effects on the 112th Cavalry Regiment: while the operation improved its ability to conduct amphibious landings and operate in jungle terrain, the demands of landing on and garrisoning Woodlark limited the opportunities its men had to conduct other forms of training before entering combat.<ref>Powell (2006), pp. 63–64</ref>

==Order of battle==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
; Ground forces
; Woodlark
*[[112th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|112th Cavalry Regiment]]
*134th Field Artillery Battalion
*12th Marine Defense Battalion
*Quartermaster unit
*port unit
*ordnance unit
*medical unit
*engineer units
**404th Engineer Combat Company
*naval base unit
*20th Naval Construction Battalion
*60th Naval Construction Battalion
*Argus Unit 1, ([[United States Navy Argus Units]])
Sources:<ref name=Miller53/><ref>Bureau of Yards and Docks (1947), p. 291</ref><ref>Rottman (2002b), p. 290</ref>

;Kiriwina
*[[158th Infantry Regiment (United States)|158th Infantry Regiment]]
*148th Field Artillery Battalion
*artillery units
*engineer units
**46th Engineer Combat Company
*ordnance units
*medical units
*antiaircraft units
*quartermaster units
Sources:<ref>Miller (1959), pp. 53–54</ref><ref>Shaw & Kane (1963), p. 62</ref>
{{Col-break}}

; Naval forces
*[[Task Force 44|Task Force 74]] (covering force)
**Rear Admiral [[Victor Crutchley]]
**Cruisers
***{{HMAS|Australia|D84|6}} (flagship)
***{{HMAS|Hobart|1934|6}}
**Destroyers
***{{HMAS|Arunta|I30|6}}
***{{HMAS|Warramunga|I44|6}}
*[[Task Force 76]] (Amphibious Force)
**Rear Admiral [[Daniel E. Barbey]]
**Destroyers
***{{USS|Mugford|DD-389|6}} (flagship)
***{{USS|Bagley|DD-386|6}}
***{{USS|Henley|DD-391|6}}
***{{USS|Helm|DD-388|6}}
***{{USS|Conyngham|DD-371|6}}
**Transport group
***Eight [[High-speed transport|APDs]] (including {{USS|Humphreys|DD-236|6}} and {{USS|Brooks|DD-232|6}})
***Six LSTs (including {{USS|LST-447||6}} and {{USS|LST-454||6}})
***12 LCTs
***18 LCIs
***Seven LCMs
***One subchaser

Sources:<ref>Miller (1959), pp. 51 & 54</ref><ref name=Morison133-134>Morison (1950), pp. 133–134</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://codenames.info/operation/chronicle/ |author=Chant, Christopher |title=Operation Chronicle |work=Operations of World War 2 |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
{{col-end}}

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book |author=Bureau of Yards and Docks |title=Building the Navy's Bases in World War II |series=History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps, 1940–1964 |volume=II |url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Building_Bases/index.html#contents2 |publisher=Department of the Navy |year=1947 |location=Washington DC| oclc= 921920587|ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last=Gill |first=G Herman |author-link=G. Hermon Gill |title=Royal Australian Navy, 1942–1945 |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070198/ |series=[[Australia in the War of 1939–1945]]|volume=Series 2 – Navy. Volume II|year=1968 |publisher=Australian War Memorial |location=Canberra|oclc=65475}}
* {{cite book |last=James |first=Karl |chapter=On Australia's Doorstep: Kokoda and Milne Bay |editor-last=Dean |editor-first=Peter |title=Australia 1942: In the Shadow of War |year=2013 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Port Melbourne, Victoria |isbn=978-1-10703-227-9 |pages=199–215 |ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last=James |first=Karl |chapter=The 'Salamaua Magnet' |editor-last=Dean |editor-first=Peter |title=Australia 1943: The Liberation of New Guinea |year=2014 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Port Melbourne, Victoria |pages=186–209 |isbn=978-1-107-03799-1 |ref=none}}
*{{cite web| last = Miller| first = John Jr.| year = 1959| url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Rabaul/index.html| title = Cartwheel: The Reduction of Rabaul| work = United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific| publisher = [[Office of the Chief of Military History]], U.S. Department of the Army |oclc=494892065 | access-date =5 December 2009|ref=none}}
*{{cite book | last = Morison | first = Samuel Eliot | author-link = Samuel Eliot Morison | year = 1958 | title = Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier'', vol. 6 of ''[[History of United States Naval Operations in World War II]] | publisher = Castle Books | isbn = 0-7858-1307-1 |ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last=Odgers |first=George |author-link=George Odgers|title=Air War Against Japan, 1943–1945 |orig-year=1957 |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070210/|series=Australia in the War of 1939–1945|volume=Series 3 – Air. Volume II|year=1968 |publisher=Australian War Memorial |location=Canberra|oclc=1990609}}
*{{cite thesis |title=Learning Under Fire: A Combat Unit in the Southwest Pacific|last=Powell|first=James Scott|year=2006|type=PhD dissertation|publisher=Texas A&M University|location=College Station|url=https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/handle/1969.1/4237|hdl=1969.1/4237|oclc=86115462|ref=none}}
*{{cite book|last=Rottman |first=Gordon L. |year=2002a |title=World War II Pacific Island Guide: A Geo-military Study |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=Westport |isbn=0-313-31395-4|ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last=Rottman |first=Gordon L. |title=U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939–1945 |year=2002b |publisher=Greenwood |isbn=978-0-31331-906-8|ref=none}}
*{{cite book|last=Rottman|first=Gordon L.|title=World War II US Cavalry Units: Pacific Theater| publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=Oxford|year=2009|isbn=978-1-84603-451-0}}
*{{cite web | last = Shaw | first = Henry I. |author2=Douglas T. Kane | year = 1963 | url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/II/index.html | title = Volume II: Isolation of Rabaul | work = History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II |oclc=80151865 | access-date = 27 June 2020|ref=none}}

{{coord missing|Papua New Guinea}}

[[Category:Operation Cartwheel]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1943]]
[[Category:Territory of Papua]]
[[Category:Woodlark Islands]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinea in World War II]]
[[Category:1943 in Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:South West Pacific theatre of World War II]]
[[Category:June 1943 in Oceania]]
[[Category:Battles of World War II involving the United States]]

Operation Chronicle - Revision history

2600:6C50:667F:15D0:598A:3054:8C3C:195C: /* References */Added battle to WWII U.S. battles category.