The Landings on Rendova were amphibious military assaults by United States Army, Marine Corps and Navy forces on Rendova Island in the Solomon Islands on 30 June 1943. The small Japanese garrison was quickly overwhelmed by US troops, but the island was subjected to heavy attack by Japanese aircraft over several days. The landings were some of the first Allied landings during the New Georgia campaign of the Pacific War and were successful in securing the island and providing a base from which the Allies could support the subsequent invasion of New Georgia island and the eventual capture of Munda airfield in early August 1943.
Background
Rendova Island forms part of the New Georgia group and is situated off the western coast of mainland New Georgia, separated from it by the Blanche Channel. It is roughly rectangular in shape, oriented northeast, with a southwestern tip that extends like the toe of shoe towards Tetepare Island. At the time of the battle, the island's significance lay in its proximity to Munda Point on the western coast of New Georgia, where the Japanese had established an airfield. In the wake of the Guadalcanal campaign, concluded in early 1943, the Allies formulated plans to advance through the Central Solomons towards Bougainville, in conjunction with further operations in New Guinea, as part of the effort to reduce the main Japanese base around Rabaul under the guise of Operation Cartwheel.
The campaign plan for securing New Georgia, designated Operation Toenails by US planners, involved initial landings to secure staging areas and an airfield in the southern part of New Georgia, to support the movement of troops and supplies from Guadalcanal to Rendova, which would be built up as a base for further operations in New Georgia focused on securing the airfield at Munda. Rendova's beaches were well suited to being used as assembly points for landing craft, and the high terrain in the center of the island offered good observation. The harbor would be used to support PT-boat operations against Japanese barges operating in the area and artillery emplaced on the island to support actions on the western coast of New Georgia.
The Japanese garrison on Rendova was small and consisted of between 120 and 290 troops from two companies of the Kure 6th Special Naval Landing Forces and the 229th Infantry Regiment. These two companies formed part of Major General Minoru Sasaki's Southeast Detachment, which was headquartered at Munda; Colonel Genjiro Hirata was in command of the 229th, based on New Georgia. These troops had arrived on New Georgia between February and May 1943 as part of Japanese efforts to reinforce the sector following the Guadalcanal campaign.
30 June landings
The landings were timed to take place in conjunction with similar operations at Nassau Bay, in New Guinea, and on Woodlark and Kiriwina. After sailing from Guadalcanal on 29 June, the Allied landing force was hampered by rain and fog. The main ground combat element assigned to this force was Major General John H. Hester's 43rd Infantry Division. The task force's approach was covered by Catalinas flying night patrols through the Blanche Channel. In the pre-dawn hours (approximately 02:25) the American destroyers USS Talbot and USS Zane detached from the main force to land New Zealand-trained and led Fijian and Tongan commandos and Companies A and B of the American 169th Infantry Regiment on Sasavele Island and Baraulu Island. The islands were quickly secured, although Zane, became grounded on a reef, remaining so until the afternoon. These islands were strategically important because they are located just off the coast of New Georgia and control the entrance to Roviana Lagoon from the Blanche Channel.
Admiral Richmond K. Turner commanded the invasion fleet—consisting of four transports and two supply ships, screened by eight destroyers—from his flagship, the attack transport McCawley. A small advanced party of two companies from the 172nd Infantry Regiment was sent ashore around Rendova Harbor guided by a British officer, Major Martin Clemens and Lieutenant Frederick Rhoades, a Royal Australian Navy officer. Along with a small group of local police constables, they intended on linking up with an Australian coastwatcher, Flight Lieutenant Dick Horton, who would assist them in establishing the beachhead prior to the main landing. Strong winds pushed the advanced party off course, and ultimately they did not make contact with Horton until the first wave was making its run to the shore. After arriving at the correct beach, Clemens and Rhoades led their men in a quick attack on a house in Rendova Plantation, killing two Japanese behind the beach.