Battle of the Bismarck Sea

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The Battle of the Bismarck Sea was a pivotal World War II air-sea engagement in March 1943 in which Allied aircraft destroyed a Japanese convoy attempting to reinforce Lae, significantly weakening Japan’s position in New Guinea.

All labels observed (2)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf World War II battle
battle
aircraftUsedAllied B-17 Flying Fortress bombers
B-25 Mitchell bombers
Beaufighter aircraft
alsoKnownAs Battle of the Bismarck Sea (1943)
belligerent Allied forces
Australia
Empire of Japan
linked to: Japan

United States
campaignEffect helped secure Allied control of approaches to New Guinea
casualtiesJapanese over 3000 killed
combatType air‑sea battle
commanderAllied Ennis C. Whitehead NERFINISHED
George Kenney
linked to: George C. Kenney
commanderJapanese Masatomi Kimura NERFINISHED
conflict World War II
convoyDestination Lae
convoyOrigin Rabaul
countryAlliedAirForces Royal Australian Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
date March 1943
endDate 1943-03-04
followedBy Allied advance toward Lae and Salamaua
forceTypeAllied air forces
forceTypeJapanese naval convoy
historicalPeriod 20th century
location Bismarck Sea
off the north coast of New Guinea
objective to destroy Japanese convoy reinforcing Lae
objectiveOfJapanese to transport troops and supplies to Lae, New Guinea
opponent Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Navy
partOf New Guinea campaign
Pacific War
precededBy Battle of Wau
region Territory of New Guinea
result Allied victory
shipsSunkJapanese 4 destroyers
8 transport ships
significance crippled Japanese ability to reinforce Lae
demonstrated effectiveness of Allied air power against shipping
weakened Japanese position in New Guinea
startDate 1943-03-02
strategicOutcome forced Japan to rely more on submarines and barges for resupply
tactic mast‑height attacks
skip bombing
theater South West Pacific Area

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (9)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

New Guinea campaign hasPart Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Solomon Sea wasSiteOf Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Bismarck Sea knownFor Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Bismarck Sea historicalEventLocation Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Thomas C. Kinkaid participantIn Battle of the Bismarck Sea
subject linked to: Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid
Mitsubishi G4M notableEngagement Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Japanese 8th Fleet notableBattle Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Battle of the Bismarck Sea alsoKnownAs Battle of the Bismarck Sea (1943)
linked to: Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Japanese destroyer Yukikaze participatedIn Battle of the Bismarck Sea