Battle of Sattelberg

Battle of Sattelberg
Part of the Pacific theatre of the Second World War
Sergeant Tom Derrick raising the Australian flag over Sattelberg mission
Date 17–25 November 1943[1] Location Huon Peninsula, New Guinea 06°29′11″S 147°46′00″E / 6.48639°S 147.76667°E / -6.48639; 147.76667 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Australia	Japan
Commanders and leaders
George Wootten David Whitehead	Shigeru Katagiri Sadahiko Miyake
Units involved
9th Division 26th Brigade 'C' Squadron, 1st Tank Battalion 2/12th Field Regiment 2nd Mountain Battery 2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion 2/13th Field Company	20th Division 80th Infantry Regiment 79th Infantry Regiment 26th Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Company, 20th Engineer Regiment 20th Divisional Signals
Strength
~3,500	~2,800
Casualties and losses
49 killed 118 wounded	Heavy

The Battle of Sattelberg took place between 17 and 25 November 1943, during the Huon Peninsula campaign of the Second World War. Involving forces from Australia, the United States and Japan, the fighting centred on the Sattelberg mission station which was situated atop a hill about 900 metres (3,000 ft) above sea level, approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) inland from Finschhafen, New Guinea. Following the Australian landing at Scarlet Beach a large force of Japanese had retreated inland towards Sattelberg. The Japanese, holding the high ground, subsequently threatened the Australian lines of communication as they advanced south towards Finschhafen. The Australian 26th Brigade was tasked with capturing the mission to neutralise this threat. Over the course of 10 days they advanced west from Jivevaneng up the southern approaches to the mission, reducing the Japanese position with armour, artillery, and air support. The Japanese finally abandoned Sattelberg and withdrew north to Wareo, having suffered heavy casualties and running low on supplies.