Following the decision to reinforce the New Guinea area, in November and December 1942, the brigade was dispersed, with one regiment (the 141st) along with the brigade headquarters and half its supporting elements moving to Rabaul to become part of the 18th Army; meanwhile other elements of the brigade were sent to other locations. Its first commander was Major General Naka Akira. Under Major General Iwao Matsuda, the brigade's main element—the 141st Infantry Regiment—later took part in the Battle of Cape Gloucester, during the New Britain campaign, in late 1943 before withdrawing towards Rabaul. According to Gordon Rottman, around this time the brigade was "dissolved" and its units re-assigned.