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    Bauroko (Bairoko) Western Province Solomon Islands
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6th Kure SNLF 1943

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Justin Taylan 2003
Location
Bauroko village is located on the northern coast of New Georgia Island. Borders Bauroko Harbor (Bairoko Harbor) to the west, Leland Lagoon to the east and beyond Kula Gulf to the north. To the east is Dragons Peninsula (Dragon Point). Allied spelling Bairoko. The Enogai-Bairoko Trail from Bauroko eastward along the southern edge of Leland Lagoon to Enogai. Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP). Today located in Western Province in the Solomon Islands.

Wartime History
On May 9, 1943 occupied by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Kure 6th Special Naval Landing Force (Kure 6th SNLF) and developed into a staging base area adjacent to Bauroko Harbor. During the middle of 1943, the Japanese built defenses in this area anticipating a landing in the area or attack by American forces. Attacked by American aircraft in an attempt to suppress and neutralize the area.

On July 9, 1943 during the night, a force of 1,300 soldiers from the Japanese Army, 13th Infantry Regiment moved by small boat from Kolombangara to Bairoko then advanced overland to Munda with the 4th Company eastward to Enogai. On July 10, 1943 during the night another 1,200 soldiers arrived with one battalion from 13th Infantry Regiment remaining at Bauroko as reinforcements for the Kure 6th SNLF.

American missions against Bauroko
July 2, 1943–August 7, 1943

In July 1943, Bairoko was the objective of the American Northern Landing Force (NLG) after landing at Rice Anchorage, capturing Enogai then advancing towards Bairoko. The advancing U.S. Marines were stopped to the east on the Dragons Peninsula by strong Japanese defenses including heavy mortars that stopped their advance.

On August 5, 1943 Japanese Army General Sasaki decided that he could no longer defend New Georgia and ordered the surviving Japanese personnel at Bairoko including the 13th Infantry and Kure 6th Special Naval Landing Force (Kure 6th SNLF) to withdraw to Kolombangara using barges and small boats over the next weeks.

On August 25, 1943 U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division, 161st Infantry advancing from the south occupied Bairoko without opposition.

References
Marines in the Central Solomons Chapter 3 Marine Support in the Munda Drive page 81-82 (July 9-10, 1943 reinforcements)
Marines in the Central Solomons - Chapter 4: From Rice to Bairoko pages 96-99, 101-104, 107-121
U.S. Army in World War II Cartwheel: The Reduction of Rabaul Chapter X After Munda pages 166 (map), 169-170, 171

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Last Updated
August 28, 2022

 

Map
Map
July 2-15, 1943

Map
Map
July 20, 1943

Map
Map
Aug 19-25, 1943
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