Battle of the Coconut Grove

Battle of the Coconut Grove
Part of the Bougainville campaign in the Pacific Theater (World War II)
Marines advance into the Coconut Grove with tank support
Date 13–14 November 1943 Location Bougainville in the South Pacific Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Japan
Commanders and leaders
Allen H. Turnage	Harukichi Hyakutake
Units involved
21st Marine Regiment	23rd Infantry Regiment
Casualties and losses
20 dead 39 wounded	U.S. estimate: 40 killed

The Battle of the Coconut Grove was a battle between United States Marine Corps and Imperial Japanese Army forces on Bougainville Island during the Pacific War. The battle took place on 13–14 November 1943 during the Bougainville campaign, coming in the wake of a successful landing around Cape Torokina at the start of November, as part of the advance towards Rabaul as part of Operation Cartwheel.

In the days following the landing, several actions were fought around the beachhead at Koromokina Lagoon and along the Piva Trail. As the beachhead was secured, a small reconnaissance party pushed forward and began identifying sites for airfield construction outside the perimeter. To allow construction to begin, elements of the 21st Marine Regiment were ordered to clear the Numa Numa Trail. They were subsequently ambushed by a Japanese force, and over the course two days a pitched battle was fought. As the Marines brought up reinforcements, the Japanese withdrew. By the end of the fighting, the Marines had gained control of a tactically important intersection of the Numa Numa and East–West Trails. A further action was fought around Piva Forks in the days following the ambush.