Kokoda Track WWII
The Kokoda track or otherwise known as the Kokoda trail is commonly known for the battle taken place between Japanese and Australian/American/Papua New Guinean forces. This battle went on for a treacherous four months and both sides had to withstand Papa New Guinea’s climate, tropical terrain, lack of food and lack personal hygiene. The Australian side contained over 56,000 troops, which were always contributing by either being on the ground or taking part in air and sea operations. Papua New Guinea, known back then as the Australian Territories of Papua and New Guinea, had 18,00 troops that fought, scouted, carried supplies and brought injured men back to Australian camps. The Americans were also allied with Australia and …show more content…
This battle began with the Japanese landing in Papua New Guinea in July 1942 having the goal to capture Port Moresby via a track over the Owen Stanley Range. Along this track were numerous engagements between the Japanese and the Australians at Kokoda, Deniki, Isurava, Eora, Efogi, Templeton’s Crossing, Ioribaiwa and Oivi-Gorari. By landing at Gona Buna, the Japanese would then venture through the Kokoda track and capture Port Moresby. From Port Moresby the Japanese could, if they needed, launch an invasion on the east coast of Australia. But within days, the 21st Brigade, commandeered by Brigadier Potts DSO MC containing 1500 men closed into the Owen Stanley Ranges and tactically positioned themselves to stop the advance of the Japanese forces. The Australian forces then attempted to recapture Kokoda on 8 August without success, which resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, and subsequently the 39th Battalion was forced to retreat back to Deniki. On 26 August the Japanese advancement resumed, forcing troops to create a series of delaying actions as the 21st Brigade successfully fell back to safer areas. The 21st Brigade ventured to Eora Creek during the retreat on 30 August, then Templeton's Crossing on 2 September, and finally Efogi three days later on 5 September. However, the Japanese were now vulnerable because of supply problems and exhaustion from operating in the harsh terrain of …show more content…
The only way Australian’s received supplies was by ships that would arrive at Port Moresby or by an airdrop restricted to a runway or open area. The supplies unpacked from the ships would have to be transported to the end of the Kokoda track by thousands of Papuan carriers travelling back and forth as shown in the picture below.
Australians saw this as an unsuitable supply system for operations deep in the Stanley Owen range. This is why Myola open plain was utilised by Australian’s to receive supplies without travelling to Port Moresby. Transport aircrafts would swoop low and slow across Myola while packages of food and ammunition were pushed out the door to start descending towards awaiting troops. The Australian forces settled on 12 tones of food per thousand men a day, which would keep everyone at full capability. A single aircraft could air drop almost two tons of supplies, this meant 6 aircrafts per day as well as what was being transported up the track would keep troops supplied
The Kokoda track or otherwise known as the Kokoda trail is commonly known for the battle taken place between Japanese and Australian/American/Papua New Guinean forces. This battle went on for a treacherous four months and both sides had to withstand Papa New Guinea’s climate, tropical terrain, lack of food and lack personal hygiene. The Australian side contained over 56,000 troops, which were always contributing by either being on the ground or taking part in air and sea operations. Papua New Guinea, known back then as the Australian Territories of Papua and New Guinea, had 18,00 troops that fought, scouted, carried supplies and brought injured men back to Australian camps. The Americans were also allied with Australia and …show more content…
This battle began with the Japanese landing in Papua New Guinea in July 1942 having the goal to capture Port Moresby via a track over the Owen Stanley Range. Along this track were numerous engagements between the Japanese and the Australians at Kokoda, Deniki, Isurava, Eora, Efogi, Templeton’s Crossing, Ioribaiwa and Oivi-Gorari. By landing at Gona Buna, the Japanese would then venture through the Kokoda track and capture Port Moresby. From Port Moresby the Japanese could, if they needed, launch an invasion on the east coast of Australia. But within days, the 21st Brigade, commandeered by Brigadier Potts DSO MC containing 1500 men closed into the Owen Stanley Ranges and tactically positioned themselves to stop the advance of the Japanese forces. The Australian forces then attempted to recapture Kokoda on 8 August without success, which resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, and subsequently the 39th Battalion was forced to retreat back to Deniki. On 26 August the Japanese advancement resumed, forcing troops to create a series of delaying actions as the 21st Brigade successfully fell back to safer areas. The 21st Brigade ventured to Eora Creek during the retreat on 30 August, then Templeton's Crossing on 2 September, and finally Efogi three days later on 5 September. However, the Japanese were now vulnerable because of supply problems and exhaustion from operating in the harsh terrain of …show more content…
The only way Australian’s received supplies was by ships that would arrive at Port Moresby or by an airdrop restricted to a runway or open area. The supplies unpacked from the ships would have to be transported to the end of the Kokoda track by thousands of Papuan carriers travelling back and forth as shown in the picture below.
Australians saw this as an unsuitable supply system for operations deep in the Stanley Owen range. This is why Myola open plain was utilised by Australian’s to receive supplies without travelling to Port Moresby. Transport aircrafts would swoop low and slow across Myola while packages of food and ammunition were pushed out the door to start descending towards awaiting troops. The Australian forces settled on 12 tones of food per thousand men a day, which would keep everyone at full capability. A single aircraft could air drop almost two tons of supplies, this meant 6 aircrafts per day as well as what was being transported up the track would keep troops supplied