 The Southwest Pacific Force was renamed the Seventh Fleet on 15 March 1943 , and its task forces were renumbered to match , so Task Force 44 became Task Force 74 . Another important component was Task Force 76 , the Amphibious Force , Southwest Pacific , which had been formed under Rear Admiral Daniel Barbey on 8 January 1943 . It became the VII Amphibious Force later in the year . A training centre , HMAS Assault was established at Port Stephens , New South Wales , and another at Toorbul Point , Queensland . The VII Amphibious Forces initially consisted of the Australian Landing Ships , Infantry HMAS Manoora , Westralia and Kanimbla and the American attack transport USS Henry T. Allen , but gradually grew in size as more landing craft and landing ships arrived . 
