 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Pashure pokukundwa muPapua neGuadalcanal vaJapan vakadzokera kunzvimbo yokuzvidzivirira muNyika yeNew Guinea. Kuti vadzivirire nzvimbo dzavo dzinokosha paLae neSalamaua vakaedza kutora Waumuna January 1943. Zvokutsigirwa zvakabhururuka kupinda mutaundi ndokukurira simba reJapan mumasango aro pashure pokurwisana kwakasimba. Mauto eJapan akatanga kudzokera kumahombekombe musi wa4 February. Zvichitevera kukundwa kwavo paWau vaJapan vakaedza kusimbisa Lae vachigadzirira kurwisa kweAllied kunotarisirwa munzvimbo iyi. Izvi zvakaguma nenjodzi apo, panguva yeHondo yeGungwa reBismarck, boka revarwi rakaparadzwa neUSAAF uye RAAF ndege kubva kuUS Fifth Air Force uye No. 9 Operational Group RAAF nekurasikirwa kwevarwi vanenge 3,000. 