Battle of Milne Bay order of battle
# Battle of Milne Bay order of battle

This is an order of battle listing the Japanese and Allied forces involved in the Battle of Milne Bay from 25 August – 7 September 1942.

## Japanese forces

### Assault Force

**Rear Admiral Mitsaharu Matsuyama**

* 18th Cruiser Division Rear Admiral Mitsaharu Matsuyama
   * Japanese cruiser Tenryū
   * Japanese cruiser Tatsuta
* 29th Destroyer Division
   * Japanese destroyer Urakaze
   * Japanese destroyer Tanikaze
   * Japanese destroyer Hamakaze
* 23rd Submarine Chaser Division
   * CH-22
   * CH-24
* Transport Group
   * Nankai Maru
   * Kinai Maru
* Landing Force
   * 5th Kure Special Naval Landing Force
   * 5th Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force (part)
   * 19th Establishment Unit (part)
   * 8th Signals Unit (part)

Source: Bullard, Steven (2007). Japanese Army Operations in the South Pacific Area New Britain and Papua Campaigns, 1942–43. Senshi Sōshō (translated excerpts). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. p. 169. ISBN 978-0-9751904-8-7.

## Allied forces

### Milne Force

    Major General Cyril Clowes

**Headquarters**

* Headquarters, Milne Bay Force
* Headquarters, Royal Australian Engineers, Milne Bay Force
* Headquarters, Signals, Milne Bay Force
* Headquarters, Australian Army Service Corps, Milne Bay Force

**Artillery**

* 9th Battery, 2/5th Field Regiment
* 4th Battery, 101st Anti-Tank Regiment
* 2/6th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery
* Section, 23rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery
* Headquarters, 33rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery
* 440th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Station
* 441st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Station
* 2/9th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery (less E Troop), an Independent Battery of the 2/3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
* Detachment, Signals, 2/3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
* Detachment, 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Workshop Section, 2/3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment

**Engineers**

* 24th Field Company
* 2/4th Field Company
* Detachment, No. 2 Dock Operating Company
* No. 5 Section, 1st Bomb Disposal Company

**Signals**

* Headquarters Company, Milne Force Signals
* No. 1 Company, Milne Force Signals
* Headquarters No. 2 Company, Milne Force Signals
* Headquarters No. 3 Company, Milne Force Signals
* Detachment, New Guinea Force Signals

**Infantry**

* 7th Infantry Brigade Defence Platoon

**Supply and Transport**

* 25th Company, Australian Army Service Corps
* 2/6th Company, Australian Army Service Corps

**Ordnance**

* 101st Independent Brigade Group Ordnance Workshop
* 101st Independent Brigade Group Ordnance Field Park
* 18th Brigade Section, 7th Division Ordnance Workshop
* 18th Brigade Section, 7th Division Ordnance Field Park
* 123rd Forward Ordnance Depot
* 23rd Forward Ammunition Depot

**Medical**

* 11th Field Ambulance
* 2/5th Field Ambulance
* 101st Casualty Clearing Station
* 308th Dental Unit
* 368th Dental Unit

**Miscellaneous**

* Detachment, Australian Defence Canteens Service
* Detachment, Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit

**7th Infantry Brigade**

* Headquarters, 7th Infantry Brigade
* J Section, Signals
* 241st Light Aid Detachment
* 9th Infantry Battalion
* 25th Infantry Battalion
* 61st Infantry Battalion
* 7th Brigade Provost Section
* 68th Field Post Office

**18th Infantry Brigade**

* Headquarters, 18th Infantry Brigade
* 11 Platoon, Headquarters Guard Battalion
* J Section, Signals, 7th Division
* 2/47th Light Aid Detachment
* 2/9th Infantry Battalion
* 2/10th Infantry Battalion
* 2/12th Infantry Battalion
* 5th Section, 7th Division Provost Company
* Detachment, 7th Division Postal Unit
* Detachment, 7th Division Field Cash Office

**United States Army Units**

* Platoon, 101st Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft) Battalion
* C Battery, 104th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft) Battalion
* 709th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery
* Company E, 46th Engineers
* 43rd Engineers (less Headquarters and E Company)
* Port Detachment
* Company A, 394th Quartermaster Battalion
* Station Hospital

### Allied Air Forces

**RAAF**

* No. 75 Squadron RAAF
* No. 76 Squadron RAAF
* RAAF Operating Base
* RAAF Signals
* No. 37 Radio Station

**US Army Air Corps**

* 8th Fighter Control Squadron
* 694th Signal Plotting Platoon

Source:"War Diary, 11th Division General Staff Branch, August 1942, Appendix A, AWM52, 1/5/25-001" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 December 2011.

