page_title: Battle of Buna–Gona: Allied forces and order of battle
section_title: Infantry
hierarchical_section_title: Battle of Buna–Gona: Allied forces and order of battle / Order of battle / Australian units / Infantry
caption_attribution_description: English: At Sea, off Papua. 1942-12-14. A photograph taken from HMAS Broome, with Australian corvettes Ballarat and Colac ahead, all three ships heading towards Buna to disembark AIF troops.
context_page_description: The Battle of Buna–Gona was part of the New Guinea campaign in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. It followed the conclusion of the Kokoda Track campaign and lasted from 16 November 1942 until 22 January 1943. The battle was conducted by Australian and United States forces against the Japanese beachheads at Buna, Sanananda and Gona. The Allied advance on the Japanese positions at Buna–Gona was made by the 16th and 25th Brigades of the Australian 7th Division and the 126th and 128th Infantry Regiments of the US 32nd Infantry Division. During the course of the battle, a further four infantry brigades, two infantry regiments and an armoured squadron of 19 M3 Stuart tanks were deployed.
  Significant criticism has been levelled at the combat effectiveness of US troops and specifically the 32nd Division, both within the US command and in subsequent histories. A lack of training is most often cited in defence of their performance. Several historians have also commented on the lack of training afforded Australian militia units engaged in the battle although some had the benefit of a "stiffening" of experienced junior officers posted to them from the Australian Imperial Force.
context_section_description: 25th Brigade AIF
  The brigade had been committed to fighting along the Kokoda Track since 13 September.
  Withdrawn to Port Moresby on 4 December.
  2/25th Infantry Battalion.
  Strength on withdrawal: 15 officers and 248 other ranks.
  2/31st Infantry Battalion
  Strength on withdrawal: 9 officers and 197 other ranks.
  2/33rd Infantry Battalion
  Strength on withdrawal: 8 officers and 170 other ranks.
  3rd Infantry Battalion AMF (attached)
  Returned to fighting on Kokoda Track on 3 November
  20 November – Strength 179 all ranks
  Chaforce (attached)
  A composite force initially formed in September from the fitter men of the 21st Brigade and initially numbering about 400.
  Initial strength of each company by parent battalion at the start of the battle:
  2/14 Bn – 6 officers and 103 other ranks.
  2/16 Bn – 6 officers and 103 other ranks.
  2/27 Bn – 6 officers and 105 other ranks.
  16th Brigade AIF
  The brigade had been committed to fighting on the Kokoda Track since 20 October
  2/1st Infantry Battalion
  18 November – Strength 320 all ranks.
  Withdrawn to Port Moresby 17 December.  Strength: 105 all ranks.
  2/2nd Infantry Battalion
  2/3rd Infantry Battalion
  18th Brigade AIF
  Initially attached to 32nd Division at Buna
  2/9th Infantry Battalion
  Arrived 16 December.  Strength: 26 officers and 638 other ranks.
  2/10th Infantry Battalion
  Arrived 19 December.  Strength: 34 officers and 648 other ranks.
  2/12th Infantry Battalion
  Arrived 30 December.  Strength – 33 officers and 582 other ranks.
  21st Brigade AIF
  2/14th Infantry Battalion
  Arrived 25 November – 350 all ranks
  2/16th Infantry Battalion
  Arrived 29 November.  Strength – 22 officers and 251 other ranks.
  2/27th Infantry Battalion
  Arrived from 25 November.  Strength – 21 officers and 353 other ranks.
  30th Brigade AMF
  36th Infantry Battalion
  Arrived from 15 December.
  49th Infantry Battalion
  Arrived 4 December.  Strength – 24 officers and 481 other ranks
  55/53rd Infantry Battalion
  Arrived 5 December
  14th Brigade AMF
  Headquarters arrived 31 December.  The allocation of battalions to the two AMF brigades had been blurred.  The 36th Bn and 55/53rd Bn were more properly part of this brigade and returned to its command.
  2/6th Independent Company
  Attached to 32nd Division, Warren Force.
  Flew to Wanigela in mid October and then marched to Pongani to link up with the advance of 32nd Division.
  Strength when bought forward on 20 November – 9 officers and 109 other ranks.
  Withdrawn to Port Moresby 11 December
  39th Infantry Battalion AMF
  Arrived 2 December.
caption: At sea, off Papua. 1942-12-14. A photograph taken from HMAS Broome, with the Australian corvettes Ballarat and Colac ahead, all three ships heading towards Buna to disembark troops of the 18th Bde.  AWM041250
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