The defence of the Momote airstrip and Hyane harbour was the responsibility of Baba Force, built around Captain Baba's 1st Battalion, 229th Infantry Regiment.
Forsvaret af Momote flyvepladsen og Hyane harbour var blevet overdraget til Baba-styrken, som var etableret på basis af kaptajn Babas 1. bataljon af 229. infanteriregiment.