On 1 November 1943, the 3rd Marine Division, under Major General Allen H. Turnage, landed at Cape Torokina near Empress Augusta Bay on the western coast of Bougainville. The landings were undertaken as part of Allied efforts to isolate and reduce the main Japanese base around Rabaul under Operation Cartwheel. On Bougainville, the US troops were opposed by Lieutenant General Harukichi Hyakutake's Japanese 17th Army, which formed part of General Hitoshi Imamura's 8th Area Army, based at Rabaul. The main infantry forces opposing the Marines were the 6th Division, under Lieutenant General Masatane Kanda.