30,000 9,000 | Dates 2 Jul 1943 – 17 Jul 1943 | |
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Result Limited tactical gains by Allied forces Location New Georgia, Solomon Islands Combatants United States of America, Empire of Japan Similar New Georgia counterattack, World War II, Battle of Wickham Anchorage, Battle of Munda Point, Landings on Rendova | ||
The Drive on Munda Point was an offensive by mainly United States Army forces against Imperial Japanese forces on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands from 2–17 July 1943. The Japanese forces, mainly from the Imperial Japanese Army, were guarding an airfield at Munda Point on New Georgia that the U.S. wished to capture.
The U.S. offensive made small gains because of limited combat experience by its soldiers, poor leadership by inexperienced US Army officers, harsh terrain and conditions on New Georgia, and effective defensive measures by the Japanese. The U.S. soldiers experienced an unusually high number of severe cases of combat stress reaction. The drive on Munda was halted on 17 July when the Japanese launched a large, ultimately unsuccessful, counterattack on the American forces. The Americans eventually secured the airfield in the Battle of Munda Point.