MacArthur’s forces, their progress hindered by New…

MacArthur’s forces, their progress hindered by New Guinea’s coastal swamps and mountainous terrain, capture strategic points on New Guinea’s Papuan penisula in Jauary 1943.

With the closing of the Burma Road, the only way for the Allies to send supplies to Jiang Jeishei is a five-hour airlift over the formidable Himalayas, the “Hump”.

By February 1943, 3,200 is still the maximun tonnage per month that can be delivered by this route.

In 1943, Stilwell, supported by British guerilla Orde Wingate’s Chindits, or Wingate Raiders, and American guerilla Frank D. Merrill’s Merrill Marauders, resumes combat operations in Burma to protect the Ledo Road and keep the Japanese from entering India.

The Japanese continue to send reinforcements and supplies to New Britain, New Guinea and the Solomons from their key naval base of Truk in the Caroline Islands.

In late February 1943, American assault troops capture the Russell Islands 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Guadalcanal on February 21.

The Japanese couterstrike, launched from bases in the northern Solomons to thwart the invasion of New Georgia Island, suffers heavy losses of both planes and ships.

MacArthur’s Allied forces threaten the Japanese positiosn at Lae and Salamaua, on Papua close to New Britain’s western tip.

The Japanese command sends reinforcements to strengthen Lae and Salamaua’s defenses, but US B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses destroy most of the troop transports and their naval escorts on March 3—4, 1943, killing more than 3,500 Japanese soldiers and sailors in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea.

The Allies lose five aircraft in the battle.

On June 30, a US amphibious force lands at Nassau Bay oin Eastern new Guinea and advances on Lae and Salamaua.

MacArthur, commander in the Southwest Pacific, pushes for an approach to Japan along the New Guinea-Philippines axis, while Central Pacific Commander Chester A. Nimitz favors the capture of key Central Pacific Islands to win strategic naval and air bases.

In the summer of 1943, Nimitz’s plan receives priority from the Combined Chiefs of Staff, bu elements of MacArthur’s plan are also incorporated.

Nimitz is to island -hop through the Gilberts, Marshalls, Carolines, and Marianas, while MacArthur’s forces are to take northern New Guinea and islands lying in between New Guinea and Mindanao, the Philippines’ southernmost island.

In August 1943, British admiral Lord Mountbatten, newly created head of the Sooutheast Asia command, begins planning the recapture of Burma.

The Americans take Rendova Island, Munda (on New Georgia Island), and the island of Vella Lavella by mid-August 1943.

The Americans capture Lae, Salamaua and Finschhafen by early October 1943.

The American force advancing up the Solomons reaches Bougainville in November 1943, allowing Allied planes to reach Rabaul.

Ther British begin their push from india into Burma in November 1943, meeting with initial success.

In December, the US amphibious force in eastern New Guinea crosses to the southwestern tip of New britain Island.

By the end of 1943, Allied bombers have eliminated Rabaul as an offensive threat, stranding more than 100,000 veteran Japanese troops ar Rabaul and the surrounding area.