Huon Peninsula campaign

Huon Peninsula campaign
Part of World War II, Pacific War
A Matilda tank, named "Clincher", from the Australian 4th Armoured Brigade, moves towards Japanese strong points near Finschhafen, on 9 November 1943.
Date 22 September 1943–1 March 1944 Location Huon Peninsula, Territory of New Guinea Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Australia United States	Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders
George Wootten	Shigeru Kitagiri
Strength
~10,000	~5,000
Casualties and losses
1,028	~3,000

The Huon Peninsula campaign was a series of battles in the New Guinea campaign of the Second World War. Australian forces assaulted Japanese bases on the Huon Peninsula.

The campaign began with an amphibious landing at Scarlet Beach, near Finschhafen on 22 September 1943. It included important battles at Finschhafen, Sattelberg, and Sio. It concluded on 1 March 1944, about three weeks after Australian forces linked up with American forces, near the village of Saidor.

The Japanese 20th Division faced the Australian 9th Division during the campaign. The Japanese lost almost ⅔ of their original 12,600 personnel (killed, wounded or ill), while the Australians lost 1,028 soldiers.