Kokoda Track

What was the strategic importance of

Kokoda?

� Port Moresby was vital to the defence of Australia.

� Any Allied attack to the north through New Guinea required Port Moresby as a base. Similarly for any attack south towards Australia, the Japanese required Port Moresby.

• If the Japanese took control of Port Moresby, they could begin a series of bombing attacks against north Queensland. If Japan decided to invade Australia they would have launched the attack from Port Moresby.

What was the strategic importance of

Kokoda?

� The Allied strategy in the same

• The military strategy of Japan from December 1941 to mid-1942 was an aggressive one: to advance to occupy locations of strategic importance, either resource rich areas, or places that would allow them to better defend their gains.

� The Allied strategy in the same period was defensive, simply to prevent the Japanese achieving their strategic goals.

� The fighting there was perhaps the most significant battle fought by Australians

What was the strategic importance of

Kokoda?

� The Japanese approached to within 40kms of their objective

� In September the Australians, in a series of costly engagements, pushed the Japanese back the way they had come.

� By mid-November the Japanese were forced to abandon their plan � By mid-November the Japanese were forced to abandon their plan to take Port Moresby.

Questions1. Why was Port Moresby important in the context of the

Japanese advance towards Australia?

2. What was the military strategy of the Japanese?

3. What was the military strategy of the Australians?

Kokoda Warfare� In the Second World War in Europe and Africa vast arrays of

tanks, aircraft and artillery supported the infantryman. � Little of this was available in Papua which is best understood

as a foot soldier's war. � The tactics of infantry fighting are built upon fire and

movement. movement. � When attacking, one group moves towards the enemy while

the other fires to keep enemy heads down. � Communication was difficult due to steep slopes, few tracks,

thick jungle and deep treacherous streams

“The fighting on the Kokoda track was an infantryman's war in close jungle where the enemy was often not seen until he was a few metres away...”

The Track� The 96-kilometre Kokoda track takes about 50 hours walking time.

That is about two kilometres per hour...

“The rain will find you at any height and cloud will sometimes descend to 1000 metres, giving the feeling of walking through

thick mist.”

“Sometimes the ascent so closely approaches the

perpendicular that hands must assist feet.”

“Carefully negotiating your way down a narrow track, crossing a slippery log bridge over a fast flowing stream at the

bottom, then climbing steeply and slowly.”

Mapping Activity� Using the map provided for you and the worksheet, complete

the mapping activities

Timeline� Use page 147 of the reading ‘EON Kokoda and POWs’ on

Moodle to create a timeline of the main events of the KokodaTrack.

� Do not copy the information. You will need to summarise it and use the most important parts.and use the most important parts.

� A worksheet will be provided for you.

Military Terms

Organisation Strength Made up of Commanded by

Army Two or more corps General

Corps 30,000 or more Two or more divisions Lieutenant General

Division 10,000 – 20,000 3 brigades Major General Brigadier (General)

Australian Army Military Organisations

Brigadier (General)

FORMATIONS Brigade 2,500 – 5,000 3 battalions

Battalion 550 – 1000 4 companies Lieutenant Colonel

Company 100 – 225 3 platoons Captain or Major

Platoon 30-60 3 sections Lieutenant

(SUB) UNITS Section 9-16 Corporal / Sergeant

Source: www.awm.gov.au/atwar/structure/army_structure.asp

39th Battalion� The first Militia battalion ordered up the Track was the 39th

Battalion which was mainly volunteers

� They volunteered in October or November of 1941 and by Christmas they were steaming for Port Moresby

• They completed their basic • They completed their basic training in Victoria using wooden replica weapons and the first time they handled Bren machine guns was when they unpacked them and cleaned the grease off them on the ship.

The 39th Battalion cont.� The 39th Battalion were put to work at labourers when they

arrived instead of learning the techniques of jungle fighting.

� They were ordered up the Track in the face of the Japanese landings at Buna

� The young Diggers of the 39th were burdened with packs � The young Diggers of the 39th were burdened with packs weighing almost 30 kilograms and wore desert khaki uniforms instead of jungle camouflage kit.

� Many were already malarial because their anti-malaria medicine had been administered too late.

The Fuzzy Wuzzies� The Papuan carriers were critical to the Australians' success

in the Kokoda campaign.

� Their practical experience on the Track, combined with their invaluable bush skills, physical strength and dedication, enabled the Diggers to create and maintain a human supply enabled the Diggers to create and maintain a human supply line between the frontline deep in the jungle and the base at Port Moresby.

Disease on the Track

Walking the Track� In pairs, make a list of 20 items you would need, and how

many of each, for a ten day walk along the KokodaTrack.� Remember that you have to carry everything yourself so keep

it down to bare minimum. Th eonly things you don’t have to take with you are water and food. Water can be obtained from the mountain streams, and three basic meals will be from the mountain streams, and three basic meals will be provided by the tour company who will guide you along the track.

� HINT: you will need clothing, footwear, toiletries and camping equipment. There are no shops, hospitals or hotels along the track.

List of items for walking the Kokoda Track� 1 hat with a wide brim

� 1 long sleeve shirt (for evening wear at campsite and to sleep in)

� 1 top to wear while walking (wash and dry each night)

� 1 spare top – a T shirt

1 pair of shorts to walk in

� 1 small towel

� 1 back pack

� 1 light sleeping bag

� 1 tent

� 1 camel pack or water bottles

� 4 pairs of thick socks (it is essential to keep feet dry)

� 2 toilet paper and/or wet wipes

� 1 soap

� 1 hand sanitiser (optional)

� Anti-malarial medication

� 1 garbage bag (to keep your clothes dry)

� 1 pair of shorts to walk in (wash and dry each night)

� 1 pair of long trousers (it gets cool at night on the mountain tops)

� 1 pair of water-proof good quality trekking boots (broken in)

� 1 pair of thongs (use for crossing creeks to keep your walking boots dry)

essential to keep feet dry)

� 2 pairs of underwear

� 1 poncho style rain jacket

� 1 sleeping mat

� 1 insect repellent

� 1 sunscreen

� 1 sunglasses

� 1 head torch & spare batteries

� 1 spoon/cup/bowl/fork

� 1 tooth brush and tooth paste

� water purification tablets

� 1 camera

� Favourite sweets, one or two each day, for an energy boost

� 1 hiking pole

� 1 inflatable camping pillow

� 1 first aid kit

Australian Veterans of Kokoda

Japanese Veterans of Kokoda