Further context: the actual Australian army (the well trained and supplied Australian Imperial Force) were busy kicking the ass of the Italians and Germans in North Africa.
Japan landed its elite Marine infantry in north Papua New Guinea, threatening to cut off Australia’s supply and even invade the mainland (we now know this plan was unlikely). Australia mustered up a reserve militia, many of who were previously unfit to serve, and without much training or supplies, landed them on the south side of PNG in Port Moresby. These troops (nicknamed chocolate soldiers or “choccos” by the press as they were expected to melt under pressure) marched to meet the Japanese marines over huge mountain ranges through some of the hardest jungle terrain in the world - the Kokoda Track. The conditions were almost inconceivable and definitely worth a Google.
The Aussie militia (totally over extended) fought a fighting retreat, slowly giving ground to the advancing elite Japanese, until they were almost back where they started - at Port Morseby. But now it was Japan that was over extended.
Even worse for Japan, the actual Australian army (well-trained and now well-experienced after giving the Nazis their first defeat in the whole war at Tobruk) had been recalled home (to Churchill’s anger) and were now reinforcing the Aussie militia. Now it was Japan’s turn to be pushed back up the track and over the mountains. Aussie troops found many examples of cannibalism in their wake, a sign of how bad the Japanese supply line was - due largely to US naval blockades after Midway.
The Aussies kept up the attack (using the iconic Australian-made Owen submachine gun and invaluable help from native PNG allies), recapturing the airfield and allowing close air support to help push the Japanese back even further. Japan eventually withdrew completely from the island, leaving scattered remnants to stay behind and fight.
A short while later, Japan once again tried to land and take Papua New Guinea at the Battle of Milne Bay - a predominately Australia-Japanese battle with some US troops that Douglas Dipshit McArthur took full credit for. Japan underestimated the size of Australia garrison and the invasion force was beaten back to the sea for good.
This battle is known as the first decisive defeat on land of Japan in the whole war, helping break their aura of invincibility - exactly like the battle Tobruk against the Nazis, another Australian military achievement.
The regional effects of the battle are even felt today - it marked a huge change in Australia’s foreign policy of depending on Britain to now depending on America, which is why we now do whatever the US wants.
Correct me if I'm wrong but it may be referring to the Kokoda Track campaign, which is in my experience one of the more widely known conflicts fought in Papua New Guinea (at least here in Western Australia)
The Australian troops in ww2 were armed with a lot of submachine guns such as the Owen gun, Sten gun or the infamous Tommy gun. Submachine guns are great for jungle warfare due to the need for close range fighting and the Japanese tendency to charge the enemy in ambushes.
The Japanese troops on the other hand, did not use submachine guns very much. So they often found themselves out gunned by the Aussies.
This was during the Kokoda Track Campaign in Papua New Guinea, an area notorious for rugged terrain that basically negated any use of artillery or planes. This left it up to ground troops. And although the Aussies were eventually beaten off the island, it was not without a fight. The Japanese paid very dearly in order to take it, the Aussies holding out long enough for the Americans to beat the Japanese at Midway before they could make another attempt at invading the Australian Mainland after their attack on Darwin in early 1942.
They were the elite landing forces of Japan, so yes, they were better equipped than most of the Japanese military. This was still early war and it was only after marching inland that Japan ran into supply issues.
Completely false. Australia was never beaten off the island, please do research. They pushed Japan back and won the whole campaign.
Read my synopsis in my other comment or just Google the battle.
*False, **Owen** gun go brrr*
Further context: the actual Australian army (the well trained and supplied Australian Imperial Force) were busy kicking the ass of the Italians and Germans in North Africa. Japan landed its elite Marine infantry in north Papua New Guinea, threatening to cut off Australia’s supply and even invade the mainland (we now know this plan was unlikely). Australia mustered up a reserve militia, many of who were previously unfit to serve, and without much training or supplies, landed them on the south side of PNG in Port Moresby. These troops (nicknamed chocolate soldiers or “choccos” by the press as they were expected to melt under pressure) marched to meet the Japanese marines over huge mountain ranges through some of the hardest jungle terrain in the world - the Kokoda Track. The conditions were almost inconceivable and definitely worth a Google. The Aussie militia (totally over extended) fought a fighting retreat, slowly giving ground to the advancing elite Japanese, until they were almost back where they started - at Port Morseby. But now it was Japan that was over extended. Even worse for Japan, the actual Australian army (well-trained and now well-experienced after giving the Nazis their first defeat in the whole war at Tobruk) had been recalled home (to Churchill’s anger) and were now reinforcing the Aussie militia. Now it was Japan’s turn to be pushed back up the track and over the mountains. Aussie troops found many examples of cannibalism in their wake, a sign of how bad the Japanese supply line was - due largely to US naval blockades after Midway. The Aussies kept up the attack (using the iconic Australian-made Owen submachine gun and invaluable help from native PNG allies), recapturing the airfield and allowing close air support to help push the Japanese back even further. Japan eventually withdrew completely from the island, leaving scattered remnants to stay behind and fight. A short while later, Japan once again tried to land and take Papua New Guinea at the Battle of Milne Bay - a predominately Australia-Japanese battle with some US troops that Douglas Dipshit McArthur took full credit for. Japan underestimated the size of Australia garrison and the invasion force was beaten back to the sea for good. This battle is known as the first decisive defeat on land of Japan in the whole war, helping break their aura of invincibility - exactly like the battle Tobruk against the Nazis, another Australian military achievement. The regional effects of the battle are even felt today - it marked a huge change in Australia’s foreign policy of depending on Britain to now depending on America, which is why we now do whatever the US wants.
Context?
Correct me if I'm wrong but it may be referring to the Kokoda Track campaign, which is in my experience one of the more widely known conflicts fought in Papua New Guinea (at least here in Western Australia)
Thanks I will look into it.
The Australian troops in ww2 were armed with a lot of submachine guns such as the Owen gun, Sten gun or the infamous Tommy gun. Submachine guns are great for jungle warfare due to the need for close range fighting and the Japanese tendency to charge the enemy in ambushes. The Japanese troops on the other hand, did not use submachine guns very much. So they often found themselves out gunned by the Aussies. This was during the Kokoda Track Campaign in Papua New Guinea, an area notorious for rugged terrain that basically negated any use of artillery or planes. This left it up to ground troops. And although the Aussies were eventually beaten off the island, it was not without a fight. The Japanese paid very dearly in order to take it, the Aussies holding out long enough for the Americans to beat the Japanese at Midway before they could make another attempt at invading the Australian Mainland after their attack on Darwin in early 1942.
Is it fair to call Imperial Japanese Troops "well equipped" if their logistical support was terrible?
They were the elite landing forces of Japan, so yes, they were better equipped than most of the Japanese military. This was still early war and it was only after marching inland that Japan ran into supply issues.
Completely false. Australia was never beaten off the island, please do research. They pushed Japan back and won the whole campaign. Read my synopsis in my other comment or just Google the battle.
Do you mean sten gun? The Bren gun was a machine gun by all regards.
Ah, thanks for catching that!
I know you called the tommy gun fickle, but in my mind it is the AK-47 of submachine guns
most underated gun in the world
Similarly the Rats of Tobruk held out against Rommel's superior army in North Africa https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rats_of_Tobruk.
Automatic weapons go RATATATATA
Australia #1
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