In early 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 landing took place as part of Allied efforts to advance towards the main Japanese base around Rabaul, the isolation and reduction of which was a key objective of Operation Cartwheel. Opposing the US troops at Cape Torokina were troops of Lieutenant General Harukichi Hyakutake's Japanese 17th Army, part of General Hitoshi Imamura's 8th Area Army, based at Rabaul.The bulk of the infantry forces were drawn from the 6th Division, under Lieutenant General Masatane Kanda.