Battle for Piva Trail

Battle for Piva Trail
Part of the Bougainville campaign of the Pacific Theater (World War II)
US Marine Raiders on Bougainville
Date 8–9 November 1943 Location Bougainville Island Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United States	Japan
Commanders and leaders
Roy S. Geiger Allen H. Turnage Edward A. Craig	Harukichi Hyakutake Shun Iwasa
Units involved
3rd Marine Division 2nd Marine Raider Battalion 3rd Marine Raider Battalion	17th Army 23rd Infantry Regiment
Casualties and losses
8 Nov: 8 killed, 27 wounded 9 Nov: 12 killed, 30 wounded[1]	8 Nov: 125 killed 9 Nov: 140+ killed[1]

The Battle for Piva Trail was a battle between United States Marine Corps and Imperial Japanese Army forces on Bougainville Island. The battle took place on 8–9 November 1943 during the Bougainville campaign of the Pacific War in the days following the US landings at Cape Torokina earlier in the month.

The fighting took place inland from the US beachhead, as the Japanese began moving troops from the 23rd Infantry Regiment north from southern Bougainville. These troops subsequently clashed with a blocking force of US Marines that had been positioned along the Piva Trail to protect one of the key avenues of approach towards Cape Torokina. It had been intended that the 23rd Infantry Regiment would coordinate their assault with a counter landing at Koromokina Lagoon, but ultimately this did not occur as the main assault was delayed until after the counter landing was defeated. The fighting for the Piva Trail resulted in heavy casualties for the Japanese and was followed by a series of actions throughout November and December 1943 as US forces sought to expand their perimeter around Cape Torokina.