Japanese Landing at Rabaul

Japanese forces begin the capture of Rabaul on New Britain.

Rabaul's port was well placed to control sea and air communications in the south-west Pacific. It was defended by an Australian garrison.

Japan's superiority in numbers and air support allowed its forces to overcome organised defence quickly. Some defenders were killed or captured, while others tried to retreat into the island's interior.

Rabaul later became one of Japan's principal bases in the region and an important target of the Allied strategy of isolating enemy strongholds.

Source: View historical source ↗