 The Australians surrounded the position and over the course of a week reduced the position with patrolling and air attacks, forcing the Japanese defenders to abandon the position on 31 January 1944, and fall back to Paipa.Casualties during the fighting to secure Shaggy Ridge amounted to up to 500 Japanese killed, and 46 killed and 147 wounded for the Australians.Shortly after Shaggy Ridge was captured, the 18th Brigade was replaced by the 15th Brigade, a Militia formation.