submarine on 22 October 1943, and 1,087 men of the 17th Division died when auxiliary cruiser Awata Maru was sunk. The remains of convoy arrived in Rabaul on 12 November 1943. Approximately one-third of the 17th Division's forces (the HQ staff and IJA 81st Infantry Regiment) were stationed on neighboring Bougainville Island, where they were transformed into the 38th Independent Mixed Brigade in July 1944. The remainder of the division, under the command of Lieutenant General Iwao Matsuda, fought at the Battle of Cape Gloucester and the Battle of New Britain, incorporating the 51st Reconnaissance Regiment in the process. At the end of battle the division was reduced to the couple of the independent mixed regiments guarding hospital areas. The 17th Division survivors surrendered on New Britain to Allied forces with the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945. See also List of Japanese Infantry Divisions Notes References * Madej, W. Victor. Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937–1945 [2 vols] Allentown, PA: 1981 This article incorporates material from the Japanese Wikipedia page 第17師団 (日本軍), accessed 3 March 2016 Japanese World War II divisions Infantry divisions of Japan Military units and formations established in 1907 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 1907 establishments in Japan 1945 disestablishments in Japan Military units and formations disestablished in 1925 Military units and formations established in 1938