Key Facts
- Duration
- 28 March – 6 April 1945 (10 days)
- Japanese killed
- 620
- Japanese wounded (est.)
- ~1,000
- Australian casualties
- 189
- Japanese attacking force
- ~3,300 from the 6th Division
- Final assault repulsed by
- 129 men of 'B' Coy, 25th Infantry Battalion
Strategic Narrative Overview
Beginning in late March 1945, Japanese forces conducted probing raids before escalating to heavy assaults against Australian positions at Slater's Knoll. The defending 7th Brigade, primarily the 25th Infantry Battalion supported by the 9th and 61st Infantry Battalions, employed armour and artillery to blunt each attack. The climactic assault came on the night of 4–5 April, when approximately 1,100 Japanese attacked the knoll and were repulsed by just 129 Australians, with 292 Japanese killed in that single engagement.
01 / The Origins
In 1945, Allied forces were pushing south along Bougainville Island toward Buin as part of the broader Bougainville campaign. The Japanese 6th Division, determined to halt the Australian advance, assembled a force of approximately 3,300 troops including artillery and supporting elements. Wet weather had temporarily stalled the Australian offensive, providing the Japanese an opportunity to mount a concentrated counterattack focused on Slater's Knoll near the Puriata River.
03 / The Outcome
The battle ended in a decisive Australian defensive victory. Japanese forces suffered 620 killed and an estimated 1,000 wounded, while Australian casualties totalled 189. The 7th Brigade's success at Slater's Knoll proved to be its final significant action in the campaign; it was shortly afterwards relieved by the 15th Brigade. The failed Japanese counterattack effectively exhausted their offensive capacity in this sector of Bougainville.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.