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 USMC Nov 29, 1943 |
Location Lat 6° 18' 6S Long 155° 12' 10E Koiari is a located at an elevation of 45' / 13m above sea level on the western coast of Bougainville Island bordering Empress Augusta Bay. Also spelled Koiare, Koari or Koiaris. Allied wartime spelling was Koiari. To the northwest is Cape Torokina. 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 the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB). Wartime History On November 29, 1943 at 3:00am, two LCM and two LCVP landing craft at Cape Torokina embarked a force U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) 1st Marine Parachute Battalion under the command of Major Richard Fagan. Attached was Company M, 3d Raider Battalion, a communication detachment from I Marine Amphibious Corps (IMAC) Signal Battalion, two forward observer parties of the Artillery Group, and native guides. This force was to establish a temporary base and conduct raids along the coast and inland to the East-West Trail and planned to stay in the area at least four days. The Marines were to disrupt communications, destroy any enemy installations and supplies and gathering intelligence. The force was to avoid engaging a superior force and to withdraw if threatened. At 4:00am the force landed on the narrow beach northwest of Koiari but from the moment they hit the beach, things did not go according to plan. In the vicinity of their beachhead was a Japanese force and supply dump. By dawn, when the Japanese realized Americans had landed, they opened fire with machine guns and 90mm mortars and launched a counter attack that was repulsed. By 8:00am, the Marines realized they were unable to hold the position and Major Fagen requested his unit be evacuated. To make matters worse, their radio was only able to transmit but not receive messages causing confusion and they were unaware a rescue mission was authorized. Meanwhile, during the initial landing, a portion of the force accidentally landing roughly 1,000 yards further east including Company M, 3d Raider Battalion and a large portion of the Parachute Battalion Headquarters Company. They engaged the enemy and suffered 13 casualties before joining with the main body at 9:30am. During the day, Japanese attacks intensified but their perimeter line held, despite Marine casualties and multiple assaults. As the day progressed, ammunition ran low and the force never panicked but realized any night attack might overwhelm them. With the radio unable to receive messages, they were unaware rescuers were inbound to withdraw them. Two rescue attempts were made but were repulsed by heavy fire on the beach area. To support the Marines, 155mm artillery fire from Torokina was directed at enemy positions. During the day, Allied planes provided close air support including F4U Corsairs. At 6:00pm destroyers USS Fullam (DD-474), USS Lansdowne (DD-486), USS Lardner (DD-487) and an LCI-gunboat arrived to provide naval gunfire support at the flanks of the Marine beachhead then began an orderly evacuation that was completed by 8:40pm and returned to Cape Torokina without incident. The effort was deemed a failure. The Marines were unable to perform any reconnaissance or destroy supplies. Although the Marines withdraw, some equipment and a few damaged weapons were abandoned and likely fell into enemy hands. In total, the Marines suffered 15 killed and 95 wounded, with two who later died of wounds. Japanese casualties were estimated to be at least 145 killed with other casualties likely inflicted by supporting gunfire and airstrikes. References History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations In World War II Bougainville and the Northern Solomons Chapter 2 Establishing Bougainville Beachhead pages 71-76, 76 (photo), 77 Contribute
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