Battle of The Pimple

Part of World War II, Pacific War

Location	The Pimple, Finisterre range, Territory of New Guinea
Result	Allied victory

Belligerents

Australia

Empire of Japan

Casualties and losses

Ramu Valley–Finisterre Range campaign

Kaiapit Dumpu Johns' Knoll & Trevor's Ridge The Pimple Cam's Saddle Faria Ridge Prothero I & II McCaughey's Knoll Kankiryo Crater Hill

New Guinea campaign

Rabaul (land battle) Salamaua–Lae Invasion Coral Sea Buna–Gona Invasion Kokoda Track Milne Bay Goodenough Island Buna–Gona Wau Bismarck Sea I-Go Salamaua–Lae campaign Cartwheel Finisterres Huon Peninsula Bougainville New Britain Admiralties Emirau Take Ichi Western New Guinea Aitape–Wewak

The Battle of the Pimple was part of the Shaggy Ridge Campaign, a number of battles fought by Australian and Japanese troops in Papua New Guinea in World War II.

By 1943, Australian and US forces had stopped holding on grimly, were regaining momentum, and going on the offensive.^[1]

After the 9th Division had secured Finschaffen, the next objective was Shaggy Ridge, a series of high positions held by Japanese infantry, supported with some artillery. The Pimple was one of three rocky outcrops, held by the Japanese on the ridge line. The 2/16th Battalion of the Australian 21st Brigade had been reinforced with hundreds of new troops, after earlier losses. It proceeded up the southern slopes towards The Pimple, with air support. The area was bombarded with a preparatory artillery barrage.

The attack was successful, driving the Japanese off the position on 27 December 1943. Australian troops held it against further counter-attacks, and further attacks were followed up against the other positions.^[2]

References

↑ Thompson, Peter "Pacific Fury" Random House, Sydney 2009. p 365
↑ Thompson, Peter "Pacific Fury" Random House, Sydney 2009. p 381