<P> Initial fighting on New Britain took place around the western end of the island in December 1943 and January 1944 , with US forces landing and securing bases around Arawe and Cape Gloucester . This was followed by a further landing in March 1944 around Talasea , after which little fighting took place between the ground forces on the island . In October 1944 , Australian forces took over from the US troops and undertook a Landing at Jacquinot Bay the following month , before beginning a limited offensive to secure a defensive line across the island between Wide Bay and Open Bay behind which they contained the numerically greatly superior Japanese forces for the remainder of the war . The Japanese regarded the New Britain Campaign as a delaying action , and kept their forces concentrated around Rabaul in expectation of a ground assault which never came . </P>
<P> Initial fighting on New Britain took place around the western end of the island in December 1943 and January 1944 , with US forces landing and securing bases around Arawe and Cape Gloucester . This was followed by a further landing in March 1944 around Talasea , after which little fighting took place between the ground forces on the island . In October 1944 , Australian forces took over from the US troops and undertook a Landing at Jacquinot Bay the following month , before beginning a limited offensive to secure a defensive line across the island between Wide Bay and Open Bay behind which they contained the numerically greatly superior Japanese forces for the remainder of the war . The Japanese regarded the New Britain Campaign as a delaying action , and kept their forces concentrated around Rabaul in expectation of a ground assault which never came . </P>
when did australian troops fight in new britain
when did australian troops fight in new britain
October 1944
October 1944