Battle of Milne Bay order of battle explained

This is an order of battle listing the Japanese and Allied forces involved in the Battle of Milne Bay from 25 August – 7 September 1942.

Japanese forces

8th Fleet

Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa

Assault Force

Rear Admiral Mitsaharu Matsuyama

• 18th Cruiser Division
  Rear Admiral Mitsaharu Matsuyama
  • • • • 29th Destroyer Division
          • • 23rd Submarine Chaser Division
  • CH-22
  • CH-24
• Transport Group
  • Nankai Maru
  • Kinai Maru
• Landing Force
  • 5th Kure Special Naval Landing Force
  • 5th Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force (part)
  • 19th Establishment Unit (part)
  • 8th Signals Unit (part)

Source: Book: Bullard, Steven. Japanese Army Operations in the South Pacific Area New Britain and Papua Campaigns, 1942–43. Senshi Sōshō (translated excerpts). Australian War Memorial. 2007 . 169. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. 978-0-9751904-8-7 .

Allied forces

Milne Force

Major General Cyril Clowes

Headquarters

• Headquarters, Milne Bay Force
• Headquarters, Royal Australian Engineers, Milne Bay Force
• Headquarters, Signals, Milne Bay Force
• Headquarters, Australian Army Service Corps, Milne Bay Force

Artillery

• 9th Battery, 2/5th Field Regiment
• 4th Battery, 101st Anti-Tank Regiment
• 2/6th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery
• Section, 23rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery
• Headquarters, 33rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery
• 440th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Station
• 441st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Station
• 2/9th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery (less E Troop), an Independent Battery of the 2/3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
• Detachment, Signals, 2/3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
• Detachment, 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Workshop Section, 2/3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment

Engineers

• 24th Field Company
• 2/4th Field Company
• Detachment, No. 2 Dock Operating Company
• No. 5 Section, 1st Bomb Disposal Company

Signals

• Headquarters Company, Milne Force Signals
• No. 1 Company, Milne Force Signals
• Headquarters No. 2 Company, Milne Force Signals
• Headquarters No. 3 Company, Milne Force Signals
• Detachment, New Guinea Force Signals

Infantry

• 7th Infantry Brigade Defence Platoon

Supply and Transport

• 25th Company, Australian Army Service Corps
• 2/6th Company, Australian Army Service Corps

Ordnance

• 101st Independent Brigade Group Ordnance Workshop
• 101st Independent Brigade Group Ordnance Field Park
• 18th Brigade Section, 7th Division Ordnance Workshop
• 18th Brigade Section, 7th Division Ordnance Field Park
• 123rd Forward Ordnance Depot
• 23rd Forward Ammunition Depot

Medical

• 11th Field Ambulance
• 2/5th Field Ambulance
• 101st Casualty Clearing Station
• 308th Dental Unit
• 368th Dental Unit

Miscellaneous

• Detachment, Australian Defence Canteens Service
• Detachment, Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit

7th Infantry Brigade

• Headquarters, 7th Infantry Brigade
• J Section, Signals
• 241st Light Aid Detachment
• 9th Infantry Battalion
• 25th Infantry Battalion
• 61st Infantry Battalion
• 7th Brigade Provost Section
• 68th Field Post Office

18th Infantry Brigade

• Headquarters, 18th Infantry Brigade
• 11 Platoon, Headquarters Guard Battalion
• J Section, Signals, 7th Division
• 2/47th Light Aid Detachment
• 2/9th Infantry Battalion
• 2/10th Infantry Battalion
• 2/12th Infantry Battalion
• 5th Section, 7th Division Provost Company
• Detachment, 7th Division Postal Unit
• Detachment, 7th Division Field Cash Office

United States Army Units

• Platoon, 101st Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft) Battalion
• C Battery, 104th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft) Battalion
• 709th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery
• Company E, 46th Engineers
• 43rd Engineers (less Headquarters and E Company)
• Port Detachment
• Company A, 394th Quartermaster Battalion
• Station Hospital

Allied Air Forces

RAAF

• No. 75 Squadron RAAF
• No. 76 Squadron RAAF
• RAAF Operating Base
• RAAF Signals
• No. 37 Radio Station

US Army Air Corps

• 8th Fighter Control Squadron
• 694th Signal Plotting Platoon

Source:Web site: War Diary, 11th Division General Staff Branch, August 1942, Appendix A, AWM52, 1/5/25-001 . . 8 December 2011.