US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

524 Atnpbibians Came To Conquer
of Viru Harbor, New Georgia, and Wickham Anchorage, at the eastern
approaches to Vangunu Island, as areas to be seized.
Viru Harbor was, in the early planning, also a location where sizable
forces could be profitably and safely disembarked from landing ships and
then moved by small landing craft closer to Munda to assist in the flank
assault on Munda airfield. Segi Point was selected because it was the only
area where a fighter strip might be built to assist in the assault on Vila
airfield or even on Munda, if success there was long delayed.
The small contingent of Japanese troops at Viru and Wickham, in each
case, was a magnet as well. If the Japanese needed these locations to control
and safeguard the islands, then we might need them also.
Rice Anchorage, upon Kula Gulf, almost directly north of Munda, was
selected as the location where the troops whose task would be to seal off
the northern flank of Munda would be landed.
ASSIGNING THE TASKS
The amphibians had one major task and four minor ones to accomplish
the morning of 30 June, and a further task four or more days later.
Rear Admiral Turner divided the amphibious assault force of Task Force
31 into two major groupings for 30 June. The division was based on whether
the tasks were to be accomplished in the eastern or western part of the
New Georgia Group. Appropriately, he labeled them the Eastern Force and
the Western Force.
The Rice Anchorage Landing Group was separately organized using the
destroyer type transports and minesweepers assigned to the 30 June landings.
It was called the Northern Landing Group.
CTF 31 (Rear Admiral Turner) retained immediate command of Task
1
I I I I 1
WESTERN FORCE SCREEN EASTERN FORCE
TG 31.1 TG 31.2 TG 31.3
Turner Ryan Fort
RESERVE
MTS GROUP
TG 31.4
Calveft
NEw GEORGIA
OCCUPATION FORCE
Hester