THE ADMIRALTIESOperations of the 1st Cavalry Division  29 February - 18 May 1944

CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY  UNITED STATES ARMY  WASHINGTON, D.C., 1990

First printed by the Historical Division, War Department, for   the American Forces in Action series, 1946

CMH Pub 100-3

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government   Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402

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Foreword to CMH Edition 

	*The Admiralties: Operations of the 1st Cavalry Division (29 February   -18 May 1944)* is one of a series of fourteen studies of World War II operations   originally published by the War Department's Historical Division and now returned   to print as part of the Army's commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of   that momentous clash of arms. These volumes, prepared by professional historians   shortly after the events described, provide a concise summary of some of the   major campaigns and battles fought by American soldiers. The skillful combination   of combat interviews with primary sources, many of which are now lost, gives   these unassuming narratives a special importance to military historians. The   careful analysis of key operations provides numerous lessons for today's military   students.

	I am pleased that this entire group of studies will once again be available.   I urge all military students and teachers to use them to enhance our collective   awareness of the skill, leadership, daring, and professionalism exhibited by   our military forebears.

Washington, D.C.  15 September 1989 

HAROLD W NELSON  Colonel, FA  Chief of Military History 

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Foreword 

In a nation at war, teamwork by the whole people is necessary for victory.   But the issue is decided on the battlefield, toward which all national effort   leads. The country's fate lies in the hands of its soldier citizens; In the   clash of battle is found the final test of plans, training, equipment, and-above   all-the fighting spirit of units and individuals.

AMERICAN FORCES IN ACTION SERIES presents detailed accounts of particular combat   operations of United States forces. To the American public, this record of high   achievement by men who served their nation well is presented as a preface to   the full military history of World War II. To the soldiers who took part in   the operations concerned, these narratives will give the opportunity to see   more clearly the results of orders which they obeyed and of sacrifices which   they and their comrades made, in performance of missions that find their meaning   in the outcome of a larger plan of battle.

s/Dwight D. Eisenhower  DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER,  Chief of Staff.

**v**

WAR DEPARTMENT  Historical Division  Washington 25, D. C.  1 December 1945

*	The Admiralties: Operations of the 1st Cavalry Division, 29 February   - 18 May 1944*, is the eighth of a series called AMERICAN FORCES IN ACTION.   This study was prepared by the Historical Division from the best military records   available. Although in its published form the book contains no documentation,   the original manuscript, fully documented, is on file in the War Department.   Photographs are from the following sources: U.S. Army Signal Corps (pp. 22,   24, 25, 27, 32, 35, 42, 49, 70, 72, 73, 83, 94, 110, 136, 139); U. S. Army Air   Forces (pp. 16, 72, 86, 106); 8th Engineer Squadron (pp. 68, 88, 91, 98, 101,   130, 138, 147); U.S. Air Transport Command, Overseas Technical Unit (pp. 5,   58, 119, 145); Acme Newspictures, Inc. (pp. 26, 28, 52, 112, 121); U.S. Navy   Department (p. 135). The photographs from Acme Newspictures, Inc., may not be   reproduced without the approval of the War Department. Readers are urged to   send directly to the Historical Division, War Department, Washington 25, D.   C. all comments, criticism, and additional data which may help in the preparation   of a complete and definitive history of the Admiralties operation.

**vi**

Contents

|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | *Page* |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| INVASION PLANNING
1
The Objective     
4     
The Attack Date Is Advanced     
10     
Planning the Reconnaissance in Force     
12     
THE BATTLE FOR LOS NEGROS BEACHHEAD
21
The Landing     
23     
"Hold What You Have Taken"     
29     
Enlarging the Perimeter     
38     
The Big Night Attack (3/4 March)     
43     
Reinforcements     
50     
Enemy Side     
53     
GAINING CONTROL OF SEEADLER HARBOR
58
Advance North (5-7 March)     
60     
New Beachheads: Papitalai and Lombrum     
64     
Supply Problems     
68     
Landing of the 2d Brigade     
71     
ATTACK ON MANUS ISLAND
76
Preparations     
79     
Landing at Lugos Mission (15 March)     
82     
8th Cavalry Moves East (15-16 March)     
85     
Check at the Airdrome (16 March)     
90     
To the Lorengau River (17 March)     
93     
THROUGH LORENGAU TO ROSSUM
97
Lorengau: An Easy Conquest     
97     
Locating the Enemy Strength     
103     
Heavy Going to Rossum     
106     
The 8th Cavalry Breaks the Enemy Hold     
112     
**vii**
 
*Page*
ROUND-UP ON LOS NEGROS
117
Attack on Hill 260     
118     
Patrolling by the 12th Cavalry     
123     
Attack in the Papitalai Hills     
126     
LAST STAGES
135
Capture of Outlying Islands     
135     
Final Mopping Up on Manus     
140     
Construction Activities     
144     
CONCLUSION
148
ANNEX NO. 1: ABBREVIATIONS
151
**viii**

Maps

*No.* 
*Page*
1     
Control in the Pacific, February 1944
x
2     
Allied Advance Toward the Bismarck Sea,         as of 29 February
2
3     
Admiralty Islands
8
4     
Plans for Initial Landing, 29 February
14
5     
The First Day's Beachhead, 29 February
30
6     
Defense of the Airdrome, 2-4 March
40
7     
Expanding the Beachhead: Objectives
60
8     
Expanding the Beachhead: Operations
62
9     
Attack on Manus
77
10     
Landing at Lugos Mission, 15 March
78
11     
Check at the Airdrome, 16 March
90
12     
Advance Through Lorengau, 17-18 March
95
13     
Fight for the Rossum Road, 19-25 March
102
14     
Hill 260, 14-17 March
118
15     
12th Cavalry Probes Inland
124
16     
The Last Fight on Los Negros, 20-25 March
128
**ix**

*page created 28 June 2001*

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