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 USMC November 1, 1943  USN November 1943  David Paulley 1982 |
Location Empress Augusta Bay borders the western coast of Bougainville Island, spanning from Cape Torokina (Torokina Point) to Mutupina Point and Gazelle Harbor. Visible to the east is the cone of volcano Mount Bagana. Empress Augusta Bay includes Torokina Island and Puruata Island. The southern edge of Empress Augusta Bay is defined by Mutupina Point and includes Gazelle Harbor. At the northern edge is the Magine Islands. Prewar and during the Pacific War, part of Kieta District in the Territory of New Guinea and considered part of the North Solomons, Northern Solomons. During 1975 became Bougainville Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). On June 25, 2002 became part of Torokina Rural LLG, South Bougainville District, Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB). Wartime History During early 1942 occupied by the Japanese and used as an anchorage and barge staging area. Attacked by Allied aircraft during late 1943 until early 1944. American missions against Empress Augusta Bay November 1, 1943–April 4, 1944 On November 1, 1943 a U.S. Navy task force Task Force 39 (TF-39) commanded by Rear Admiral Merrill covered the Allied landing, including four light cruisers: USS Montpelier, USS Cleveland, USS Columbia (CL-56), and USS Denver (CL-58), plus eight destroyers USS Charles Ausburne, USS Dyson, USS Stanly, USS Claxton, USS Spence, USS Thatcher, USS Converse, and USS Foote. The landing force included USS Cresent City, USS American Legion, USS Alchiba, USS Hunder Liggett, USS Titania, USS Libra, USS President Hayes, USS President Jackson, USS George Olymer APA-27, USS Alkenaa and USS President Adams. LCVP and LCI landing craft landed the United States Marine Corps (USMC), 3rd Marine Division from Koromokina Lagoon to Cape Torokina. The pounding surf was very rough and 84 landing craft (62 LCVPs and 22 LCIs) broached during the landings. Four were sunk by a Japanese 75mm gun. Afterwards, the Japanese initially believed the U.S. landings was a decoy and believed the real American objective was a landing against northern Bougainville and Buka and delayed launching a strong counter attack and instead attempted to reinforce Buka. Battle of Empress Augusta Bay On November 2, 1943 in the early morning, U.S. Navy (USN) Task Force 39 (TF-39) commanded by Rear Admiral Merrill intercepted a Japanese Naval force bound for Empress Augusta Bay. The battle was an American victory with Japanese were forced to turn back with the loss of a crusier and destroyer. F4U-1A Corsair Bureau Number 17472 Pilot Hanson ditched November 1, 1943 roughly six miles southwest of Magine Islands rescued USS McKean (APD-5) Sunk by Japanese aircraft November 17, 1943 Contribute
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