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    Cape Moltke (Cape Moitke) Autonomous Region of Bougainville Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Location
Lat 6° 2' 59" S Long 154° 52' 0" E  Cape Moltke is located on the western coast of Bougainville Island. Also spelled Cape Moitke. During the Pacific War, part of 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 the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB). Today located in the Kunua Rural LLG, North Bougainville District.

Wartime History
On November 2, 1943 between 1:08pm to 1:33pm U.S. Navy (USN) Task Unit 31.8.1 USS Renshaw (DD-499) escorted light minelayers USS Breese (DM-18), USS Sicard (DM-21) and USS Gamble (DM-15) that laid a three row minefield off Cape Moltke to defend the northern approach to Empress Augusta Bay.

References
NARA USS Renshaw DD-499 War Diary November 1943 pages 1-2
(Page 1) "20-24... 2256 Breese, Sicard and Gamble fell in astern... enroute to Cape Moltke to lay minefield."
(Page 2) "00-04... Task Unit 31.8.1 (Renshaw, Breese, Gamble and Sicard, OTC in Renshaw) to lay minefield... 0054 Enemy twin float seaplane commenced dropping flares. 0108 Minelayers commenced laying standard 3-row minefield. 0133 Laying of minefield completed."

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Last Updated
March 20, 2022

 

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