Operation Cherry Blossom

On this date the US 3rd Marine Division landed at Cape Torokina. Naval forces assisting the Marines included 4 cruisers and 8 destroyers. Empress Augusta Bay had been chosen because it was within range of allied land—based fighter bases and …

1943-11-01

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On this date the US 3rd Marine Division landed at Cape Torokina. Naval forces assisting the Marines included 4 cruisers and 8 destroyers. Empress Augusta Bay had been chosen because it was within range of allied land—based fighter bases and because the Japanese 17th Army was concentrated at other sites around the island. The stretch of beach near Cape Torokina was only ”lightly” defended by little more than a company of well camouflaged Japanese infantry, including a 75mm gun dug, in on the cape that wreaked havoc amongst the landing craft on their long approach to the beach in heavy seas.

Empress August Bay, Bougainville

The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, on 1–2 November 1943 – also known as the Battle of Gazelle Bay, Operation Cherry Blossom, and in Japanese sources as the Sea Battle off Bougainville Island (ブーゲンビル島沖海戦) – was a naval battle fought near the island of Bougainville in Empress Augusta Bay. The naval battle was a result of Allied landings on nearby Bougainville in the first action in the Bougainville campaign of World War II and may also be considered as part of the Solomons and New Guinea campaigns. The battle was significant as part of a broader Allied strategy—known as Operation Cartwheel—aimed at isolating and surrounding the major Japanese base at Rabaul. The intention was to establish a beachhead on Bougainville, within which an airfield would be built.

Wikipedia: Battle of Empress Augusta Bay

Japanese

U.S.