Admiralty Islands campaign order of battle facts for kids

The Admiralty Islands campaign was a series of battles in 1944 during World War II. This page explains which military units from the Allied and Japanese sides fought there. An "order of battle" is like a list of all the different groups of soldiers, ships, and planes that took part in a battle. It helps us understand how big each army was and what kinds of forces they had.

Allied Forces: Team BREWER

The Allied forces, known as Task Force BREWER, were mostly from the United States and Australia. They were sent to take control of the Admiralty Islands.

Ground Forces: Soldiers on the Islands

Most of the soldiers were from the United States Army. Their main fighting force was the 1st Cavalry Division. This division is famous for its history, even though they fought on foot in this campaign, not on horses!

The 1st Cavalry Division included:

• The 1st Cavalry Brigade with the 5th and 12th Cavalry Regiments.
• The 2nd Cavalry Brigade with the 7th and 8th Cavalry Regiments.
• Artillery units, like the 61st, 82nd, and 99th Field Artillery Battalions, which provided powerful cannon support.
• Support groups such as engineers (8th Engineer Squadron) who built things, and medical teams (1st Medical Squadron) who helped injured soldiers.

Other important US Army units included:

• Alamo Scouts: Special small teams that went behind enemy lines to gather information.
• Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalions (like the 168th and 211th) to protect against enemy planes.
• Engineer Boat and Shore Regiments (592nd) for landing troops and supplies.
• Many different supply and support companies, like Quartermaster units for food and equipment, and Ordnance companies for weapons repair.
• Medical units, including portable surgical hospitals and malaria control units, to keep soldiers healthy.
• Signal units (like the 1st Signal Troop) for communications.

There was also an ANGAU Detachment, which was an Australian unit that helped with local administration and relations with the islanders.

Naval Forces: Ships and Sailors

The United States Navy (USN) provided important support from the sea.

• The Naval Shore Detachment from the 7th Fleet helped manage naval operations on land.
• The 17th Naval Construction Regiment, also known as the "Seabees," were skilled builders. They constructed airfields, docks, and other important facilities very quickly.
• Other naval units included communications teams and hydrographic survey units, which mapped the waters.

Air Forces: Planes in the Sky

The air support for the Allies mainly came from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

• No. 73 Wing was the main RAAF flying unit.
• It included No. 76 Squadron and No. 77 Squadron, both flying P-40 Kittyhawk fighter planes.
• No. 79 Squadron flew Supermarine Spitfire fighter planes, which were very famous.
• Radar Stations (like No. 152, 340, 345, 346, and 347) helped detect enemy aircraft.
• Other RAAF units provided support for aircraft maintenance, medical care, and supplies.
• A small 12th Air Liaison Party from the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) also helped coordinate air support.

Japanese Forces: Defending the Islands

The Japanese military had increased their forces on the Admiralty Islands before the Allies arrived. By early February 1944, their main units included:

• The 1st Battalion of the 229th Infantry Regiment, which was a key ground fighting unit.
• The 2nd Battalion of the 1st Independent Mixed Regiment, another infantry unit.
• The 51st Transport Regiment, which was responsible for moving supplies and troops.
• Elements of the 14th Naval Base Force, which were naval ground troops defending the base.

These Japanese units were ready to defend the islands against the Allied attack.