 After a final action was fought at Nambariwa, the 2/17th finally reached Sio on 15 January.The operations undertaken by the 9th Division during the Huon Peninsula campaign were the largest by the Australian Army to that point of the war.Backed up by significant industrial resources which provided them with a significant technological edge over the Japanese, the Australian campaign destroyed what offensive capabilities the Japanese had in the region, and enabled them to gain control of vital sea lanes of communication and airfields that furthered their ability to conduct offensive operations in north-western New Guinea and New Britain.