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    Morobe (Morobe Town) Morobe Province Papua New Guinea (PNG)
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USN 1943

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Don Fetterly 1997
Location
Lat 7° 45' 0S Long 147° 37' 0E  Morobe is located on the north coast of New Guinea. Also known as "Morobe Town". Borders Morobe Harbor and the mouth of the Morobe River is navigable for nearly 1.75 nautical miles inland. Between 1884 until January 11, 1915 part of Deutsch Neu Guinea (German New Guinea). Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the Territory of New Guinea. Today located Morobe Rural LLG of Huon District in Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Prewar
During August 1888, Morobe was established by Germany as a trading post for the Neu Guinea Kompagnie (NGK). On January 11, 1915 Morobe was the last German station in Deutsch Neu Guinea (German New Guinea) to be occupied by the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF).

Wartime History
By March 1943, the Japanese had withdrawn from the Morobe area. On April 3, 1943 elements of the U.S. Army 41st Division "MacKechnie Force" land at Morobe Harbor and secured the area. On April 8, 1943 Morobe was scouted by PT-114 as a location for a U.S. Navy (USN) PT Boat superior to the PT Boat base at Douglas Harbor on Cape Ward Hunt. On April 14, 1943 PT-128 lands more 41st Division soldiers to guard the area. By late April 1943, PT Boats began arriving and established Morobe River PT Boat Base at the mouth of the Morobe River. During late June 1943 the 3rd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment (162nd IR) relieved MacKechnie Force and took over the mission to defend the Morobe area.

Morobe River PT Boat Base (Morobe PT Boat Base)
Established as PT Advanced Base April 20, 1943

Morobe Airport
Built postwar.

References
Army Air Forces in World War II Vol. IV The Pacific: Guadalcanal to Saipan August 1942 to July 1944 Chapter V Battle of the Bismarck Sea pages 158-159
(Page 159) "on 3 April other elements [MacKechnie Force] splashed ashore in Morobe Harbor."
Pub. 164 Sailing Direction (Enroute) New Guinea (2020) page 211

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Last Updated
January 10, 2023

 

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