Battle of Milne Bay

August 25 – September 7, 1942 · Milne Bay

Result Allied victory

Japanese naval infantry landed at Milne Bay in eastern New Guinea to take Allied airfields but met a reinforced, mostly Australian garrison. The Japanese were forced to withdraw, the first major land defeat of Japan in the Pacific war.

On the map Contemporaries

Australia

Empire of Japan

Australia

United States

Japan

Strength and losses

Strength: 8,824

Australia Wounded 206

United States Killed 14

Units

Georgia Army National Guard 14th Brigade (Australia) 55th Battalion (Australia) 18th Brigade (Australia) 2/10th Battalion (Australia) 2/12th Battalion (Australia) 2/9th Battalion (Australia) 7th Brigade (Australia) 9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment 25th Battalion (Australia) 61st Battalion (Australia) 108th Cavalry Regiment 2/5th Field Regiment 46th Engineer Battalion (United States) Royal Australian Air Force No. 75 Squadron RAAF No. 76 Squadron RAAF

Special Naval Landing Forces 18th Cruiser Division 8th Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)