There were a vast array of people from different regions that were involved in the Kokoda campaign. The two that had the biggest impact on Kokoda were the Japanese and Australians. The Japanese had a plan to capture Port Moresby to protect their base at Rabaul and this is what caused Australians to fight back, as Port Moresby was Australia’s territory. Papuan’s and American’s were also involved in the campaign, fighting against the Japanese and with the Australian’s. 18,000 Papuan’s, also known as The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels were involved in the Kokoda campaign. Majority of the 18,000 were carries of supplies for the troops and they played a vital role in this battle. As the number of sick and/or wounded troops increased, Papuan men also carried
Introduction Operation Anaconda was the first major joint combat operation against the war on terror that the US was committed to winning. This operation would test our military’s readiness for joint operations against a hardened and willing adversary. The primary mission was to kill/capture Taliban/Al Qaeda forces occupying towns and villages in the vicinity of Shahi Khot in order to gain control of the valley.1 The US needed the towns, villages, mountains, and more importantly, the intricate and hard to access caves cleared of enemy fighters. Units participating in the operation included elements of the 101st Airborne Division, 10th Mountain Division, Special Operations Forces (SOF), and Coalition forces from seven nations including Afghanistan.2 With so many different nations fighting along with our own branches of military, it would test our ability to conduct joint operations on multiple levels. History On September 11, 2001, Osama Bin Laden decided to “wake the sleeping giant.”
At the onset of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln met with his generals to devise a strategy by which the rebellious states of the Confederacy could be brought back into the Union. General Winfield Scott, commanding general of the Union army, proposed a plan of battle that became known as the Anaconda Plan.
To outline the main features of the Kokoda campaign, it was an unexpected victory from the Australians side to which had little expertise and knowledge
The Battle of Guadalcanal was the first major offensive victory of the Allied Powers in the Pacific Theater yet the Japanese gained just as much glory. The American forces were finally able to fully test their strength on land yet still the Japanese were fully capable of reciprocating the same energy and strength. A massive amount of American reinforcements came ready to attack the Japanese as 19,000 soldiers were set on foot and backed up by three fleet carriers (Dear 512). The victory for the Americans eventually came down to numbers. The Japanese simply lost
Eventually Australian reinforcements and heavier artillery came and intimidated the weakened Japanese militia- of whom were now far from their own supplies and suffered like the Australians had in the beginning, from their dugouts on Ioribaiwa ridge where they had planned to stay for defences and caused them to retreat6. In short term, the success of the Australians in recapturing Kokoda and defending Port Moresby allowed the allied forces to intercept Japanese shipping and supply runs easier due to the strategic setting of Moresby and the Islands near that the American had taken to intercept shipping. Casualties were extremely high and could have been much easier to avoid if ample training and time had taken place, even for just the supply boys – the Chockos, of whom were the bravest of the lot and the only men to receive medals for gallantry within the Kokoda campaign for their efforts and bravery. Long term, the Kokoda campaign was practically the beginning of guerrilla warfare as the Australians go. The way the defence force adapted to the campaign through bettering their training and supply hauls certainly helped the Australian military for the
Grierson’s portrayal of the terrain and conditions of Kokoda is a great depiction of what it was like for soldiers fighting in 1942 as evidenced by a firsthand account and a diary of a soldier walking the trail. The environment of the Kokoda trail is described as having “heavy rain and cold [weather]” by Private John Stewart Clarke. In his diary, he mentions particularly the “muddy track” and the fact that with “no dry clothes”, he was “wet . . . all night”. Similar conditions are shown in the film as the men face spontaneous bursts of heavy rainfall. The Australians do not change clothes throughout the film suggesting that they too, had no spare clothes. The mud on the Kokoda trail, is clearly highlighted in the film when one particular soldier is lying face down in a large pool of mud. When
The battle of Kokoda is recognized as being one of the most celebrated and significant battle fought by the ANZAC'S because of the fear of the looming invasion by the Japanese at the time of Kokoda. Australian's were threatened by the Japanese after hearing about monstrosities such as Nanjing Massacre. 20sec (5)
In the first place, It’s true that it’s ‘experience-based film’ on the Australian front and because of this, has a restraint on its comprehensive accuracy of the war. It’s wise to remember though that this is simply a true account regarding a young group of ‘chocos’, initially, sent to Papua New Guinea as maintenance personnel and was intentionally not a full account of the overall war. Also, this film was made on a low budget, which made even higher physical demand of the cast and smaller depth of the conflict. As a result, the film is seen as a fine example of a successful history piece, of which low budget filmmaking is at its best, being represented in the film industry. In addition to this, some may say that the level of destruction and subsequent casualties on both fronts experienced in the film didn’t seem realistic enough. Whilst the casualties didn’t seem to be that awfully on both sides of the war, the intensity of it and brutally honest impact was implied and was clearly exceptional in its depiction. It was quite genuine its portrayal of the frightening yet very crucial war for Australia, shown through the impossible task that the young men were faced with. According to the journalist, Sandy George, ‘Kokoda is a testament to the absolute madness and absurdity of the concept of war, and to the horror and nightmarish
Australia is at war with Japan and Port Moresby is under threat of invasion from Japanese forces. The film tells the story of a small group of Australian soldiers who are sent out as forward patrol, past the defensive perimeters already in place, and ordered to contain the incoming Japanese attacks. The Australian soldiers were quickly dominated by Japanese forces and the group quickly found themselves trapped behind enemy lines. Isolated, the group begin to conquer the unforgiving and harsh landscape separating them from the rest of their mates in Isurava. It is during this part of the film where the theme of Mateship takes centre stage at the forefront of the film. After three days with no food or sleep, and the soldiers now feeling the effects of malaria and dysentery, alliances are formed, strengths and weaknesses appear, and leadership struggles threaten to destroy the
“Without the Afghans much of the development of the outback would have been very difficult if not impossible” (Flinders Ranges Research, n.d.). The cameleers were responsible for transporting supplies to the key construction of the Overland Telegraph Line and Trans-Australian railway. Not only did they help with major construction but also with the gold mines delivering essential supplies. When the industry rapidly grew, some cameleers that had accumulated enough wealth to create their own business. There was not much competition for with the Europeans who tried to create transport businesses with horses as the Afghan cameleers were able to effectively provide the service in the least amount of time. The cameleers possessed ancient knowledge of camel transportation and were able to move throughout the day, even during the middle of the
The Australians were significantly challenged by conditions at Kokoda. The Kokoda Trail was a path that linked Ower’s Corner, approximately 40km north-east of Port Moresby. Jungle warfare seemed to be one of the highest reasons as to why this is true.
The last line of defence, that’s what we were. Untrained, unknown and unrecognised until this time. The battle on the Kokoda trail was the worst experience of my life. Day by day there was nothing left in my body; the only thing that kept me going was the urge to make it back successfully. We didn’t know much about the Japenese, just that they were highly trained and outnumbered us severely...that’s all that really mattered anyway.
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6. Dower, John. War without Mercy: PACIFIC WAR. (Google eBook). Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Mar 28, 2012. ??/??/2015. Pages…..
Operation Rolling Thunder was an aerial bombing campaign, during the Vietnam War, conducted by the United States Air Force, United States Navy, and the Republic of Vietnam Air Force, from March 2, 1965 to November 2, 1968.