Kokoda Track

The leaders of Australias political parties and military force had realised that Australia was under threat of invasion. But, the Japanese had decided to put aside plans of an invasion and instead they would capture Port Moresby and the Southern Solomons and then take control of Fiji, Samoa and New Caledonia which would consequently, isolate Australia. Therefore the security of Australia would depend on the battle for Port Moresby, because if it were captured by the Japanese then they could strike at the north coast of Queensland whenever they were ready. Also if they captured Fiji then they could extend their air and naval bases which would then allow them to disrupt the lines of communication between Australia and the United States, which would make it extremely difficult for Australia to host a return attack against Japan.

Though capturing Port Moresby was not not as easy for Japan as they first thought and they were slowed down by three main

On the night of the 21st of July, the Japanese landed in Buna, just as the 39th militia Battalion began to move there from Port Moresby. But General MacArthur did not take the Japanese threat seriously, as he believed that when the US Marines landed at Guadalcanal on the 7th August, the Japanese would withdraw from Buna. Though when the 39th was forced out of Kokoda on the 29th July by senior Japanese forces, they retreated to Isurava, and it became clear that reinforcements would need to be sent.

The Japanese broke through the Australian lines though on the 29th of August, forcing the Australian Battalions to withdraw towards Alola and ontoTempleton's Crossing, Myola, Efogi, Menari and Nauro until at Ioribaiwa Ridge they were supported by Australian Artillery who were brought up from Port Moresby. They then moved to Imita Ridge, where they stopped the Japanese advance.

So, it was agreed that the 7th AIF Division and the 21st brigade (2/14th and 2/16th) would go to Port Moresby. But these reinforcements would not arrive until mid-August. So the militia forces dug in using their steel helmets and waited for the Japanese to attack.

All these succeses on the Kokoda Track together ensured the security of Australia.

2. The Australians hard fighting delayed their advance, which then bought the Australians time to bring in reinforcements and cause the Japanese to deplete their supplies.

It’s believed that there are three main reasons why the Japanese failed on the Kododa Track:

Then the Japanese were weakening and they were withdraw and began to experiance what it was like for the Australians in the last two months. They constantly trudged up and down ridges, suffering starvation, dying soldiers, jungle sickness and being soaked by constant rain. All while attempting to defend themselves against an attacking force.

Some topics in this essay:
Port Moresby, August Japanese, Australians Tobruk, Research Task-, Stanley Ranges, Kododa Track, Gona Japanese, Lexington Yorktown, Mission Ridge, Kokoda Track, port moresby, japanese attacked, australian troops, kokoda track, japanese attack, lexington yorktown, 39th militia battalion, 39th militia, militia battalion, buna 39th, soldiers killed, battle coral sea,