ipl-logo

Background Events That Led To The Kokoda Campaign

547 Words3 Pages

There were many background events which led to the Kokoda Campaign. The Japanese attempted to capture Port Moresby for two reasons, first, fighter aircrafts. These were needed to fly air protection over the invading fleet before, during and after landing and because the planes had a short range an airfield was required close to the target. Secondly, transport ships were needed to send supplies, equipment and reinforcements after every attack. Therefore if they base is too far then they are short of supplies. (The War in Papua: The Strategic Context, 2014). However the main objective of the Japanese had been to capture Port Moresby as it would not only enable them to isolate Australia from the US (Source 2). Japan had originally attempted to capture Port Moresby via the sea but after defeat at two naval battles the Coral Sea …show more content…

The Kokoda Trail was a critical supply line which ran over the Owen Stanley Range and straight to the capital city of Port Moresby. Control of this on Japan’s behalf gave them a huge advantage in obtaining supplies (Alex. D, 2014). On July 21st-22nd 1942 Japan had arranged to land their troops on the northern coast of New Guinea so they could advance to Port Moresby along the Kokoda Trail (source 2). On September 24th 1924 the Japanese began a slow withdrawal and headed back down the trail towards the northern beaches. Their withdrawal was followed by an Australian advancement (Kokoda Campaign Key Dates, 2014).
Two major events events occurred as the Australian’s and Japanese fought along the Kokoda Trail. On the 6th July, 1942, approximately 300 men from the Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB) and young Australian men form the 39th Militia Battalion, known

Show More
Related

  • The Second And Third Battle Of The Matanikau

    410 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Actions along the Matanikau—sometimes referred to as the Second and Third Battles of the Matanikau—were two separate but related engagements, which took place in the months of September and October 1942, among a series of engagements between the United States and Imperial Japanese naval and ground forces around the Matanikau River on Guadalcanal (island in the south-western Pacific, northeast of Australia) during the Guadalcanal Campaign. These particular engagements—the first taking place between 23 and 27 September, and the second between 6 and 9 October—were two of the largest and most significant of the Matanikau actions. The Matanikau River area on Guadalcanal included a peninsula called Point Cruz, the village of Kokumbona, and a series of ridges and ravines stretching inland from the coast. Japanese forces used the area to regroup from attacks against U.S. forces on the island, to launch further attacks on the U.S. defenses that guarded the Allied airfield (called Henderson Field) located at Lunga Point on Guadalcanal, as a base to defend against Allied attacks directed at Japanese troop and supply encampments between Point Cruz and Cape

    Read More

  • Research Paper On The Kokoda Track

    1060 Words  | 5 Pages

    One month later, another Japanese force arrived at Milne Bay. The mission of the Japanese was to obtain Port Moresby. During the arrival of the Japanese, they managed to push back the Australian and Papuan forces back over the mountains. If the Japanese were to have taken over Port Moresby, they would have planned to bomb North Queensland. Fortunately, the Japanese

    Read More

  • Kokoda Film Analysis

    1448 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Kokoda campaign is considered to be one of the most significant battles Australia fought in World War Two. The conflict between Australia and Japan occurred when Japan attempted to occupy Port Moresby to use as a base. The film Kokoda attempted to represent multiple aspects of the Kokoda campaign, but only managed to do so moderately. An aspect the film aimed to represent was terrain, which didn 't succeed as the film mostly used eye-level angles and mid-shots in the majority of the scenes. The first two sources clearly showed the different slopes and heights that were present in Papua New Guinea, but unfortunately the film did not represent this often and accurately enough.

    Read More

  • How Did Kokoda Invade Australia

    1166 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Battle of Kokoda was a Japanese attempt to isolate Australia from their allies of the US so that they could not use their resources and weaponry. Kokoda was a direct result of other failed attempts by the Japanese for example, the Battle of Coral Sea. Kokoda gave the Australian military the opportunity to fight a forward defensive battle on foreign soil rather than an attempt to repel an enemy from its sovereign soil, within its victory it assisted in improving the moral of both the soldiers and its citizenry by providing a much needed victory that showed the Japanese could be defeated. Additionally, it was the first occasion where the new alliance between the Australian and American forces was tested and with this the alliance was cemented not only for world war to but continuing to present

    Read More

  • Kokoda Trail Essay

    1039 Words  | 5 Pages

    This was so important for the Pacific war as it marked the first time that the Japanese had been stopped in their advance across the pacific and stopped the Japanese from capturing Port Moresby. If the Japanese were able to successfully capture Port Moresby, then it would have put Australia at risk as the Japanese could have then invaded or attacked Australia. The Kokoda campaign is also significant for its use of military tactics that As significant as the Kokoda campaign was for the Pacific War, there was also many other campaigns and battles that were also extremely significant such as the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Siege of Tobruk, the Battle of Milne Bay, the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, and the Battle of Guadalcanal all of which were only a few of the many important battles that helped the success and safety of Australia and were vital to the allies attempt to overtake the axis powers. While, these battles the Australians were involved with were extremely helpful and vital to the Australians success in the war but the Kokoda campaign was significant in its own way for its use of military tactics such as jungle warfare and fire and movement where one of the group makes their way toward the enemy while another fires, to keep the enemy distracted and it saved Australia from being

    Read More

  • Battle Of Henderson Field Essay

    935 Words  | 4 Pages

    Events Leading up to the Battle of Henderson Field In the beginning, it is important to note that the Battle of Guadalcanal as well as the Battle of Henderson Field is predicated by the Japanese infamous attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941. The Japanese orchestrated a surprise attack on the United States Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor on that day. This attack destroyed most of the US battleship fleet in an attempt to cripple the United States Navy. The Japanese saw this course of action as a way to extend their defensive perimeter in the Pacific.

    Read More

  • Essay About Kokoda

    291 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are two sides to every story to many Australians Kokoda was recognized as the efforts of the Australian soldiers being critical to the defense of Australia against the threat of the Imprial Japanese Army. Such famous historic figures such as paul Keating and John Howard retelling the Kokoda story with the exaggeration of the Anzac’s defending Asutralia. But to some Australian’s such as the former senior historian at the Australia war memorial, DR Peter Stanley, has stated that the Japanese were not planning to make themselves masters of Australia in 1942 and that any Japanese threat to Australia in 1942 was greatly exaggerated by wartime prime minister John Curtin for his own political ends. I t is also known that Hideki Tojo the prime minster of Japan in 1942 stated, as being unfeasible to invade given Australia 's geography and the strength of the Allied defenses. Invading Australia was never an option for the Japanese Imperial Army.

    Read More

  • Second World War's Effects On Australian People Essay

    788 Words  | 4 Pages

    During World War 2 (1939 – 1945), Australia had a variety of impacts on both its government and its people. The war had a great effect on the place of indigenous people in Australia as indigenous men and women joined services throughout the country. The Aboriginal Australians, both the men and the women had contributed in the second Great War. Meanwhile, when the Aboriginals of Australia had jobs during World War 2, Australia’s economy boomed with the help of the war as many Australian troops had gone out to fight for the British. The economy had boomed during the period of the Second World War as Australian products could be produced as well.

    Read More

  • Iwo Jima Research Papers

    1437 Words  | 6 Pages

    Off of an island of Japan, many landing crafts wash ashore dropping the doors as seventy thousand United States Marines storm the beaches while being shot at by eighteen thousand Japanese soldiers. This is the battle of Iwo Jima which occurred on Feb 19, 1945 and ended on Mar 26, 1945. The island of Iwo Jima is like a paradise island with clear water and golden-white beaches, pretty trees of different kinds and of course a tall mountain called Mount Suribachi. Back in 1945, the trees were blown to ashes and the beaches were red along with the water as the soldiers tried to take cover.

    Read More

  • Coral Sea War

    1419 Words  | 6 Pages

    Imperial Japanese forces were intent on landing a large force in Port Moresby, New Guinea and seize control of air fields on the island. The secondary plan was to also isolate Australia from allied support. “Early in 1942, Japan decided to block the Allies from setting up bases in Australia. Operation MO would send a large invasion force to Port Moresby, the capital of New Guinea. From Port Moresby, the Japanese would be able to project air power beyond the northern tip of Australia and establish bases even further south” (Hearn, Chester G., Carriers in Combat:

    Read More

  • Dbq Pearl Harbor Essay

    203 Words  | 1 Pages

    How did the attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941 turn the tide against the Japanese during World War 2? Japan began their deadly attack on the U.S pacific fleet moored at pearl harbour on the pacific island of Oahu, at 07:55, December 7 1941. This attack turned the tide on Japan because war had not yet been declared between the two countries and up until that point, America enters the war after years of neutrality. “Although quick in execution, the attacks years. ’’[Source B] Japan relied on America to supply many of the natural and industrial resources, but taken aback and alarmed by Japan’s aggression towards them, America allowed the commercial treaty they had with japan dating back thirty one years, to expire in 1940.[source B] Japan was looking

    Read More

  • Why Is The Kokoda Battle Such An Important Part Of History

    562 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Kokoda campaign consisted of multiple battles fought between Japanese and Allied forces between July and November in 1942. Various leaders of Australia’s political parties were aware of the risk of invasion, however the Japanese had plans which involved not directly targeting Australia,

    Read More

  • Essay On Australia's Response To Ww2

    834 Words  | 4 Pages

    Australia’s experiences of World War II were significant for Australia and impacted on the shaping of our national identity. Australia 's response to entry into World War II in 1939 differed from Australia 's entry into World War I in 1914. Reasons for this includes attitudes towards war changing after gaining the knowledge and experiencing consequences of World War I, the conditions and lead up to World War II as well as Australia’s strong support for Britain. Firstly, the attitude of Australians changed due to World War 3I proving that war was not glamourous or exciting like it was assumed. During the lead up to World War II Australians had already struggled to survive through the depression and were now required to survive at war.

    Read More

  • Why Did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor Essay

    1018 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Philippines were in-between Japan and their potential oil supply,(DOC B). A possible and smart tactic for Japan would to attack Pearl Harbor and while the fleet is weak, take over the Philippines. Once Japan had acquired the Philippines they would have a base to take over many nations that have large oil amounts. A major factor as to why Pearl Harbor was attacked was that the Americans were cutting Japan off from their oil supply. Japan, as an island nation, had very few natural resources and were very dependant on the American oil.

    Read More

  • Letters From Iwo Jima Analysis

    823 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Letters from Iwo Jima” is considered a historically accurate representation of the conflict in Iwo Jima. However, it misrepresents some facts that could affect our understanding on The Battle of Iwo Jima. Firstly, one aspect of The Battle of Iwo Jima that the film accurately depicted was Kuribayashi’s strategy. The Japanese defence of Jima would have been defence-in-depth, a military tactic that included

    Read More

More about Background Events That Led To The Kokoda Campaign

Open Document