Clearing Hill 700 PTO (id:#65550)

(Dispatches from the Bunker #52 ID: DB166)   [next]   [previous]

The Bougainville Perimeter 1944-03-12 (0 others)

Overview:

Generals Imamura and Hyakutake had gambled and lost in a full bore attack on the U.S. perimeter on Bougainville. One of the first objectives, which dominated the center of the American perimeter, was Hill 700. The Japanese attack on Hill 700 by the Iwasa Unit started in the pre-dawn hours of the 9th and had a partial success, taking several pillboxes along the hill and then digging into the former American positions. The GIs tried to take back these positions on the 11th but it was obvious the new owners would not give up those positions easily. Thus the 12th started with an artillery barrage announcing a new American attack. They would start the grind soon after. The troops of the 145th Infantry had been reinforced with GIs from the 148th and both units were determined to end the battle for Hill 700 that day. The fighting saw a bloody melee for the pillboxes and nearby trench network.

Defender: Japanese (Iwasa Unit, 6th Division)  

Errata (source)