US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

Tough Toenails Paring 577
0145 on 3 July, the Japanese light cruiser Ytibari and nine destroyers swept
down to the western approaches of Blanche Channel and carried out a bombardment
of Rendova Harbor and the beach areas. There was negative
damage to the logistic support ships still resting there. A radar-equipped
night flying patrot aircraft called a “Black Cat” made contact with the
Japanese task force and dropped a bomb on it without results, except probably
to add to their worry factor.
Our early morning search and bombing mission by 12 B-25s with P-38s
for air cover failed to locate the retiring Japanese squadron. About all the
Japanese accomplished by the attack was to hammer home to us the lesson
that defensive air search aircraft must be located at and controlled from the
assault landing area, if fast moving light forces were to be located and
turned back before reaching the assault landing areas.’g
To bolster the Munda defenders the Japanese immediately moved about
3,000 troops from Kolombangara to Munda. Additional troops from the
Northern Solomons were moved to Kolombangara and thence to Munda by
almost nightly small barge movements. On 9, 11, and 12 July, another large
group of 5,7oo Japanese troops from the 13th Regiment were moved from
Kolombangara to Bairoko and were added to those defending the Munda
area.
All this troop reinforcement was accomplished despite Allied knowledge
of many of the impending Japanese movements and offensive forays by our
cruiser-destroyer forces into Kula Gulf on 5-6 July and 12–13 July.
TO ZANANA BEACH AND TROUBLE
Patrols moved from the islands astride Onaiavisi Entrance to Zanana
Beach on 30 June and 1 July. During the night of 2 July the first large
contingent, a battalion of the 43rd Division, was embarked by the amphibians
at Rendova and landed at Zanana Beach. Landing craft which towed
troop-loaded rubber boats behind did the chore. At Onaiavisi Entrance native
guides in canoes took position at the head of columns of landing craft and
piloted the lead craft around the numerous shoals and small islands to the
beach. The problem of getting from Onaiavisi Entrance to Zanana Beach as
it appeared prior to the actual landings is illustrated by the accompanying
chart.
wAIRSOPAC War Diary, 3 Jul. 1943.