US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

544 Amphibians Came To Conq~er
While paying much attention to New Georgia Island, the Japanese had
paid scant attention to the island of Rendova during the six months prior
to our landings there. On 30 June they had only about 150 troops, including
a signal detachment and some engineers on this heavily wooded 20-mile
long squash-shaped island.
Some of these Japanese were manning lookout stations 8 to 12 miles from
Rendova Harbor, but the majority formed a very surprised and ineffective
reception party for the Army troops landing on Rendova.
THE RENDOVA ADVANCE UNIT
The Dent (APD-7) and the Water~ (APD-9) were told off by CTF 31
as the Rendcwa Advance Unit, TU 31.1.2, for landing the first Army troops.
These consisted of two jungle-trained and physically hardened companies of
the 172nd Regiment, called Barracudas after the voracious pike-like fish
dangerous to man.