 The Battle of Sattelberg took place between 17 and 25 November 1943 , during the Huon Peninsula campaign of the Second World War . Involving forces from Australia , the United States and Japan , the fighting centred on the Sattelberg mission station which was situated atop a hill about 900 metres ( 3 @,@ 000 ft ) above sea level , approximately 8 kilometres ( 5 @.@ 0 mi ) inland from Finschhafen , New Guinea . Following the Australian landing at Scarlet Beach , a large force of Japanese had retreated inland towards Sattelberg . Holding the high ground , the Japanese subsequently threatened the Australian lines of communication as they proceeded to advance south towards Finschhafen , and in order to neutralise this threat , the Australian 26th Brigade was tasked with capturing the mission . Over the course of 10 days they advanced west from Jivevaneng up the southern approaches to the mission , reducing the Japanese position with armour , artillery and air support , before the Japanese finally abandoned Sattelberg and withdrew north to Wareo , having suffered heavy casualties and running low on supplies . 
