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 RAAF 1943 |
Location Lat 7° 1' 60S Long 147° 4' 0E Bobdubi is located on the Francisco River near the north coast of New Guinea, inland from Logui and Salamaua to the northeast. To the east is the Scout Ridge. Connected by a track southward to Komiatum and Mubo. Also known as Bobdubi Ridge for the highest elevation feature. Possibly, also known as "Orodubi". The Orodubi-Komiatum Track spans from Bobdubi to Komiatum. Prewar located in the Morobe District in Territory of New Guinea. Today located in Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Wartime History Bobdubi was occupied by a Japanese Army and was used in conjunction with their advance to Mubo and Wau. After their failure to capture Wau, Bobdubi was defended to protect the approach to Salamaua. The ground actions at Bobdubi took place in two phases that the Australian Army dubbed "Bobdubi I" the initial phase between April 22, 1943 until May 29, 1943 followed by "Bobdubi II" for the second phase between June 30, 1943 until August 19, 1943. Bobdubi I: April 22, 1943–May 29, 1943 During April 22 to May 29, 1943 "Bobdubi I" began when the Australian Army 2/3rd Independent Company advanced in an arc towards Bobdubi and probed the area during May 3-4, 1943. This diversionary attack supported the Australian Army 2/7th Infantry Battalion attack on Mubo. On May 5, 1943 the Japanese Army began attempting to reoccupy the position but were subjected to Australian raids and ambushes. On May 11, 1943 2/3rd Independent Company commandos found Bobdubi Ridge unoccupied and captured the ridgeline. Once detected, Japanese at Komiatum opened fire on them. On May 14, 1943 the Japanese counterattacked with supporting fire from artillery and mortars that forced the commandos to withdraw. On May 15, 1943 the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) flew their first close air support mission in New Guinea, flying three sorties with over 100 aircraft including Ki-51 Sonias, Ki-48 Lilys escorted by Ki-43 Oscars but failed to inflict any damage on the Australians and accidentally bombed their own forces. During late May 1943, the Australian Army 2/7th Infantry Battalion reached Bobdubi and repelled another Japanese counterattack. Japanese and Allied missions against Bobdubi May 15, 1945–July 11, 1943 Bobdubi II: June 30, 1943–August 19, 1943 By late June 1943, the Japanese had a defensive position at Bobdubi under the command of Japanese Army 51st Division commander Lt. Gen. Hidemitsu Nakano. At the time, the Japanese force was roughly a company from the 115th Infantry Regiment. On June 30, 1943 the Australian Army 3rd Divisoin, 15th Brigade, 58th Battalion and 59th Battalion attacked Bobdubi to cut off the Komiatum Track to Mubo, in conjunction with the U.S. Army landing at Nassau Bay and the 17th Brigade offensive around Mubo. During the initial attack, the two forces engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Immediately, the Japanese reinforced Bobdubi with roughly 200 Japanese from the 66th Infantry Regiment, and next a battalion from the the 80th Infantry Regiment from Lae. During early July 1943 commandos from the 2/3rd Independent Company attcked and occupied "Ambush Knoll" overlooking Bobdubi Ridge. The Japanese launched a series of counter attacks to retake the feature to maintain their supply line to Mubo. A platoon the 2/3rd Independent Company managed to hold Ambush Knoll then in late July 1943 attacked Timbered Knoll and repelled the Japanese from that feature. The combat was documented by Australian war correspondent Damien Parer. At the end of July, the 2/6th Infantry Battalion put in a company-level attack on the Japanese flank and managed to secure one of the feature's in front of Ambush Knoll. Meanwhile, the 58th/59th attacked around a position dubbed "Old Vickers". Heavily supported with indirect fire and machine-guns, the attack was successful and Japanese withdrew from Bobdubi Ridge. The fighting over the six weeks to that point had been heavy, with Japanese losses at the hands of the 15th Brigade being estimated at around 400 killed, against 46 killed and 152 wounded for the Australians. In the middle of August 1943 the Australians continued the attack. On August 14, 1943, heavy aerial bombing reduced Japanese positions around "Coconut Ridge" which consisting of three positions dubbed "North Coconut", "Central Coconut" and "South Coconut" followed by an attack by the 2/7th Infantry Battalion that advanced up a steep slope, they nevertheless managed to gain a foothold around the northern end of the ridge and that night, the Japanese withdrew from the southern end. Two days later, with heavy artillery preparation the 2/6th Infantry attacked and capturing Komiatum Ridge with two companies and encircled the Japanese on Mount Tambu, as their supply routes between Komiatum and Davidson Ridge were cut. In an effort to prevent a break out between Komiatum and Bobdubi, the Australian Army divisional commander Savige, ordered a follow up attack by the 15th Brigade towards the Salamaua Track. On August 17, 1943, the 2/3rd Independent Company secured the junction of the Bobdubi–Salamaua Track, and then held it against heavy Japanese counterattacks, which were defeated by August 19, 1943 ending the battle. Afterwards, Australian forces advanced towards Logui and Salamaua. The fighting around Bobdubi took place in two phases that the Australian Army dubbed "Bobdubi I" the initial phase between April 22, 1943 until May 29, 1943 followed by "Bobdubi II" for the second phase between June 30, 1943 until August 19, 1943. References Contribute
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