Rebuked at Rabi

The Japanese attempt to seize the allied airfields in the vicinity of Rabi (Operation Re) encountered unexpected stiff Resistance from the defending Australians of Milne Force. After initial gains the 5th Kure Special Naval Landing Force was driven back towards …

1942-09-03

M3

The Japanese attempt to seize the allied airfields in the vicinity of Rabi (Operation Re) encountered unexpected stiff Resistance from the defending Australians of Milne Force. After initial gains the 5th Kure Special Naval Landing Force was driven back towards its initial landing areas. The 5th Kure SNLF was not going easily as it conducted numerous delaying actions on the retreat. One such encounter occurred at Elevala Creek just east of the K. B. Mission where elements of the Australian 2/9th Bn. under Lts. Fogg and Heron ran headlong into Japanese units defending the creek. After fierce fighting the delaying force was flanked and the advance resumed. In the coming weeks the Australians succeeded in driving the 5th Kure SNLF back into the sea, dealing the Japanese their first outright land defeat of the Pacific war.

Milne Bay, New Guinea

The Battle of Milne Bay, also known as Operation RE or the Battle of Rabi by the Japanese, was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Japanese naval infantry troops, known as Kaigun Tokubetsu Rikusentai, with two small tanks attacked the Allied airfields at Milne Bay that had been established on the eastern tip of New Guinea. Due to poor intelligence work, the Japanese miscalculated the size of the predominantly Australian garrison and, believing that the airfields were defended by only two or three companies, initially landed a force roughly equivalent in size to one battalion on 25 August 1942. The Allies, forewarned by intelligence from Ultra, had heavily reinforced the garrison.

Wikipedia: Battle of Milne Bay

Japanese

Australia