Wau: the 102nd Regiment's ordeal

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Peter H
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Wau: the 102nd Regiment's ordeal

#1

Post by Peter H » 13 Sep 2009, 04:31

http://wpedia.goo.ne.jp/enwiki/Battle_of_Wau
The Japanese attempt to capture Wau would be the final attempt by Imperial Japan to add new territory to Emperor Hirohito's empire in the Pacific. After Wau, the Japanese military in the Pacific went on the strategic defensive and no longer attempted to acquire more territory in that region.
Seeking details on Colonel Maruoka Kohei who commanded the 102nd Regiment in the attack on Wau.It was part of the Okabe Detachment?

The 3,000 man regiment had moved from China in November 1942,to Rabaul,part of the 51st Division.With Plan 18 it moved to Lae in January 1943,then advanced on Wau.

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Peter H
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Re: Wau: the 102nd Regiment's ordeal

#2

Post by Peter H » 13 Sep 2009, 04:41

From Campaign in the Balance,article Walter Kudrycz,Wartime Magazine issue 40.

The 102nd Regiment's advance on Wau Airfield--"the Japanese surprised the Australians by advancing down a disused German survey track that lay between the other two approaches".This route was called 'Jap Track' by the Australians.
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Re: Wau: the 102nd Regiment's ordeal

#3

Post by Peter H » 13 Sep 2009, 04:45

Captain W.H.Sherlock's company at Wandumi took on the advancing 102nd until overwhelmed.Sherlock died in the action.

http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160275b.htm
At Wandumi, on the morning of 28 January, Sherlock's under-strength company, bolstered by twenty men of the 2nd/5th Independent Company, was attacked by the main body of a Japanese force which was approaching Wau from the east along a disused track not known to the Australian defenders.

Despite being reinforced during the afternoon, Sherlock's party remained heavily outnumbered, but held its ground until early next morning. When one of his platoons had been overrun at 3 p.m., he had led a counter-attack with fixed bayonets. Forced to withdraw shortly after 3 a.m. on 29 January, he took his troops across a single-log bridge over the swollen Bulolo River. Pursuing Japanese machine-gunners fired on them. Sherlock turned to face the enemy and was heard shouting defiantly above bursts of gunfire until he was killed.

The grim determination, resolution and courage of Sherlock and his men enabled the Australian command to build up sufficient forces at Wau to defeat the Japanese assault over the next two days. Sherlock's leadership accounted in large part for this achievement. Survived by his wife, he was buried in Lae war cemetery. He was posthumously mentioned in dispatches.
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Re: Wau: the 102nd Regiment's ordeal

#4

Post by Peter H » 13 Sep 2009, 04:59

The battle for Wau airfield then became a slugfest as flown in Australian artillery and RAAF Beaufighters decimated the attacking 102nd Regiment which then retreated.

Article by Norrie Jones 1st Battery,2/1st Field Regiment at Wau,30 January 1943,same issue of Wartime Magazine.
..the gutters on the sides of the road were filled with dead Japanese...a farmhouse blew up.It was 550 metres away from us and the blast knocked us off our feet.A mushroom cloud formed over it...the farmhouse had been filled with explosives and one of our shells had set it off.

In the fire area,gutters and on the road the bodies of 430 Japanese were found after the battle.Many had been close to the huge blast and had been atomised.The surviving Japanese had also collected a lot of their dead and packed them into two pyramids ready for cremation.The base of the pyramids was 7 metres square and it was 3 metres high.But the survivors had been driven off,leaving the masses of decomposing bodies.No one counted those bodies but we estimate that there was 200 in each pyramid..
From the AWM,Ivor Hele's "Dead Japanese,Old Vickers Position"
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Re: Wau: the 102nd Regiment's ordeal

#5

Post by Akira Takizawa » 13 Sep 2009, 06:11

Peter H wrote:Seeking details on Colonel Maruoka Kohei who commanded the 102nd Regiment in the attack on Wau.It was part of the Okabe Detachment?
Yes, it was a core of Okabe Detachment.

Taki

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Re: Wau: the 102nd Regiment's ordeal

#6

Post by Peter H » 13 Sep 2009, 06:22

Thanks Taki.

From the AWM--one of the Plan 18 transports Myoko Maru,run aground 8th January 1943.Photo taken near Lae September 1943.
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Re: Wau: the 102nd Regiment's ordeal

#7

Post by Peter H » 13 Sep 2009, 06:35

A recent reference on the battle.

http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Wau-Frontl ... 0521896819

The Battle for Wau: New Guinea's Frontline 1942-1943,Phillip Bradley
The book climaxes with the fortitude of Captain Sherlock's outnumbered company. Desperately fighting an enemy regiment debouching from the rugged unguarded ranges to the east, Sherlock's men fought to hold Wau airfield open for the arrival of vital reinforcements.
Sherlock's force of 100 men blocked the advancing 1600 Japanese for 36 hours or so:
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/425822/1725685


I think the battle also reflects the dilemma facing Japan in 1943.A veteran regiment,the 102nd from China,was ill prepared for the Allied artillery and airpower it encountered in the battle.Australian accounts mention "groups of Japanese,about 30 or 40 per group and 50 metres between groups " advancing towards the airfield positions.Superb light infantry tactics but the resulting Australian shelling of their straight advance up the road made it " a slaughter ground".

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wau
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hisashi
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Re: Wau: the 102nd Regiment's ordeal

#8

Post by hisashi » 13 Sep 2009, 11:09

The entries about Wau is included in the Japanese Wikipedia of 'Salamaua-Lae campaign'

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%A9% ... 6%E3%81%84

The 51st division was one of divisions created from rusu shidan (home division) and reserves & novices in 1940. They were intended for home defense but IJA moved them to te fromt one by one. At the beginning of the WWII it was in Guangdong area and part of them participated in the occupation of Hongkong.

In Nov 1942 the division moved to Rabaul as a reinforcement to Guadalcanal but just after their arrival it became clear that IJA could no more fight there. IJA sent a part of this division, mainly 102nd infantry regiment and led by major General Okabe Toru (岡部通), the leader of 51st infantry group as Okabe Detachment.

I cannot find the original English version of this article;
http://ajrp.awm.gov.au/ajrp/remember.ns ... enDocument

This article assumes the attack to Wau was achieving new lands, but according to Japanese wikipedia, IJA expected the next target of the Allies as Salamaua-Lae, and they attacked Wau as the most likely jumping-off point of the Allies.

Later the rest of division tried to land to Salamaua-Lae, and in the end of March 1943 6,000 men from 51st division was in Salamaua-Lae among 8,000 men in total including IJN.

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Re: Wau: the 102nd Regiment's ordeal

#9

Post by Peter H » 14 Sep 2009, 05:36

Thanks hisashi.

Here's the AJRP article in English:
http://ajrp.awm.gov.au/AJRP/AJRP2.nsf/3 ... enDocument


I think this information also comes from the AJRP
http://www.australian-pow-ww2.com/papua ... ea_15.html
THE JAPANESE UNITS WHO FOUGHT THE AUSTRALIANS AT WAU and SALAMAUA.

Commanding Officer - Major General OKABE, Toru (Jan - Mar 1943) and Lt Gen NAKANO, Hidemitsu (from Mar 1943)

UNIT -
51st DIVISION:- OKABE Detachment: landed LAE 7 Jan 1943. Moved to SALAMAUA 11-17 Jan 1943.
HQ 51st Infantry Group - Commanded by Maj Gen OKABE, Toru. (Evacuated May 1943) New Commander - MUROYA or MUROTANI ?, Tadaichi or Chiichi. (Commander - SALAMAUA Defences; Evacuated - Sep 1943)
HQ 102nd Infantry Regiment - Commanded by Colonel MARUOKA, Yasuhei of Kahei. (In command forward operations WAU - Jan 1943) Relieved by Colonel HORI, Keijiro - Jun 1943. Colonel MARUOKA returned to Japan.
1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment - Commanded by Maj SHIMOMURA, Kikutaro. (Relieved by - Maj NUMANA or IRIMANO, Kiyoski - May 1943)
2nd Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment - Commanded by Lt Col SEKI, Seisaku or Shosaki?? (Killed in Action - Jan 1943) Succeeded by Major SERIKAWA, Hanzo.
3rd Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment - Commanded by Major RAKAMURA, Tsunehito; Relieved by Major OBA, Itsusaburo or Itsuro - Jun 1943.
2nd Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment - Commanded by Major MORIKAMI of MORIUYE, Taichi or Denichi; Relieved by Capt TSUKAHARA, Koicha - Jun 1943.
3rd Company, 51st Engineer Regiment - Commanded by 1Lt KITAMURA, Heihachiro. (Killed in Action - Mar 1943)
3rd Company, 51st Transport Regiment - Commanded by Capt OTSUKA, Toshikazu.
Detachment 51st Division Signals; Platoon Signal Regiment.
2nd Field Hospital (51st Division) and Casualty Collecting Unit - Commanded by Major HOMMA, Hirose.
29th Field Pom-Pom Company - Commanded by 1Lt YOKOYAMA, Yasutami or Yasume or Yasushi??
2nd Company, 50th Field Anti-Aircraft Battalion and Aerodrome Battalion.
Detachment of Mortars
144th Infantry Regiment Reinforcements.


SECOND ECHELON - 1-3 Mar Convoy.
HQ 51st Division - Commanded by Lt Gen NAKANO, Hidemitsu. (Evacuated from LAE Jan 1944).
115th Infantry Regiment - Commanded by Colonel MATSUI, Takayoski.
14th Field Artillery Regiment (HQ and 3rd Bn) Commanded by LtCol WATANABE, Sukenobu or Isamu of Sayuki or Sukeyuki ??
51st Engineer Regiment (Main Strength) - Commanded by LtCol YANAGIDA, Teizo Sadazo.
51st Signal Regiment (Main Strength) - Commanded by Capt KOIKUMI, Shigeru.
3rd Field Hospital, 51st Division - Commanded by Major SAHEKI, Masanoshin.
21st IMB Artillery Unit - Commanded by LtCol TAKAHASKI, Rokuro. (Killed in Action, Battle of Bismarck Sea) Succeeded by - Lt Col TONEGAWA, Isamu?
50th Field Anti-Aircraft Battalion (less 2nd Battery) - Commanded by Lt Col OHARA, Jiro.
3rd Company, 5th Shipping Engineer Regiment and 8th Shipping Engineer Regiment - Commanded by Colonel KOIKA, Yoshio.
3rd Debarkation Unit - Commanded by Lt Col ASAO, Tokimasa.
22nd Aerodrome Battalion - Commanded by AMAGUCHI.
HQ 18th Army (Portion only)
15th Independent Engineer Regiment. (Elements)


3rd ECHELON - 66th Infantry Regiment - Commanded by Colonel ARAKI, Katsutoshi plus remainder of Divsion Troops.

MISCELLANEOUS UNITS -
HQ 7 Base - Commanded by Rear Admiral FUJITA, Ruitaro, Tametaro or Risaburi??.
81st Guard Unit - Commanded by MIZUSAKI, Shojiro.
82nd Guard Unit - Commanded by Lt Comdr MIYAYA, Yoshinobu (also Commander of MAIZARU 2 SNLP) Relieved by Capt UGAI, Ken - Dec 1942.
MAIZURA 2 SNLP - Commanded by Lt Comdr MIYATA, Yoshinobu (also Commander of 82nd Guard Unit) Relieved by Capt UGAI, Ken - Dec 1942.
SASEBO 5 SNLP - Commanded by Commander TSUKIOKA, Toroshige - Killed in Action SALAMAUA about 30 Jun 1943. Replaced by TAKEUCHI, Shizuka, Commander at FINSCHHAFEN - Sep 1943.
YOKOSUKA 5 SNLP (IKEDA BUTAI) - Commanded by Lt IKEDA, KATSUAKI or KATSURYO.
1st Battalion, 80th Infantry Regiment (July 1943) - Commanded by Capt KANNO, Otoichi. (Wounded) Promoted Major. Relieved by Major SHINTANI, Shigetoshi - Aug 1943.
3rd Battalion, 238th Infantry Regiment (Aug 1943) - Commanded by LtCol SAGATA, Toshio. Relieved by KAMISAKA - Dec 1943.
5th Company (Part); 6th Company; and 2nd Machine Gun Company of 2nd Battalion, 238th Infantry Regiment - Commanded by Major TASHIRO, Shigeru.
3rd Battalion, 21 Infantry Regiment - Commanded by Major TAKAHASHI, Sadao.
2nd Battery, 5th Medium Artillery Battalion.
Elememts of 3rd Company, 51st Reconnaissance Regiment.
30th Independent Engineer Regiment - Commanded by Lt Col MURAI, Shijiro.
6th and 7th Independent Engineer Company.
3rd Telecommunication Regiment (part 85th Communication Unit) - Commanded by Sub Lt TAJIMA, Kazuo.
15th Field Machine Cannon Company - Commanded by 1Lt URIU, Seiichi.
20th Field Machine Cannon Company (part) - Commanded by 1Lt UMEYAMA, Eitaro.
25th Field Macine Cannon Company - Commanded by Capt TACHIBANA, Hideichi or Bujiro.
29th Field Machine Cannon Company - Commanded by 1Lt YOKOYAMA, Yasutami, Yasume or Yasushi.
23rd Anti-Aircraft Unit (Elements)
24th Water Purifying Unit (Part).
1st Platoon, 40th Sea Duty Company - Commanded by Lt SUZUKI, Kiyoski.
Remnants of 21st IMB, 41st and 144th Infantry Regiments plus other elements of NANKAI SHITAI.

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Peter H
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Re: Wau: the 102nd Regiment's ordeal

#10

Post by Peter H » 25 Nov 2009, 05:56

Map from Bradley of the Operation 18 convoy to Lae.

Three army transports--Nichiryu Maru,Clyde Maru,Chifuku Maru
Two naval transports--Brazil Maru,Myoko Maru
Five destroyers to escort the transports
Another four destroyers for general convoy duties

Air protection provided by 6th Air Division,plus 5 IJNAF bombers on anti-submarine duties
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