Kanga Force

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kanga Force was a Australian Army unit, formed on 23 April 1942 during World War II.

A platoon of the 1st Independent Company was sent from Port Moresby to reinforce the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR), protecting the Wau–Bulolo area and was initially tasked with reconnaissance of the Imperial Japanese bases at Lae and Salamaua. Kanga Force was commanded by Major Norman Lawrence Fleay.

Supplies to Kanga Force were either flown in, depending on aircraft availability, or shipped to the mouth of the Lakekamu River in small craft, transported up the river to Bulldog in canoes and then carried over the Bulldog Track by native porters.

In May 1942, General MacArthur requested that ground raids be initiated against Lae and Salamaua to destroy enemy installations and, if possible, to occupy the airfields. The 2/5th Independent Company were flown in from Port Moresby by the U.S. 21st Troop Carrier Squadron into Wau Airfield on 22 May 1942.

On the 29 June 1942, two raids were undertaken at Heath's Plantation and Salamaua. The raid on Heath's Plantation at Lae, was carried out by 58 troops, but watchdogs warned the enemy of the raid. In the raid, the leader, Major T P Keen was killed and two men were wounded. The raid on Salamaua by 71 troops of the 2/5th and the NGVR killed at leat 100 Japanese troops and only suffered three men slightly wounded.

Reconnaissance reports indicated that the Japanese were starting to reinforce Lae and Salamaua. The allies were concerned about the defense of the important air installation at Wau and to secure the crest of the Owen Stanleys in that area.

The 2/7th Independent Company was flown into Wau in October 1942 to reinforce Wau. Anticipating an attack by the Japanese, General Thomas Blamey ordered the 17th Brigade from Milne Bay to reinforce Wau. On 16 January 1943 the Japanese launched an offensive against Wau, known as the Battle of Wau.

Kanga Force was disbanded and reformed as 3rd Division, which left Wau to begin the Salamaua-Lae campaign on 22 April 1943 and drove the Japanese from Salamaua.