Shortland Islands is a volcanic island group located on the northern part of the Western Province, Solomon Islands, just southeast of Bougainville Island. The group of island has a total area of 414 square kilometers. The largest island is the Shortland Island, named after John Shortland, a naval officer from England, on 1788, it was also known as Alu Island. Shortland Island is 16 by 13 kilometers with 185 meters highest elevation. Next is Fauro Island which is 15 by 10 kilometers with 400 meters highest elevation, others are Ovau, Pirumeri, Magusaiai, and Ballalae Islands. Shortland Islands served as a Japanese command center, airfield, and anchorage for most of their operations within Southern Pacific waters.
On 1886, the Germans claimed the islands, the island remained within German New Guinea until 1890, when the islands were transferred to British protectorate along with the rest of the Northern Solomon Islands. The British Flag was raised in the island on 1890 by British sloop, HMS Torch.
The Japanese invaded the islands on March 30, 1942, as part of Yamamoto's plan to extend Japan's defensive perimeters. the Japanese troops met no resistance as they occupied the islands. One of the two platoons that occupied the islands began constructing a seaplane base, this was observed by a passing Allied recon plan. The other platoon departed from the Island to occupy Kieta. The seaplane harbor base was used by the R-Area Air Force (Homan Koku Butai) commanded by Rear Admiral Jojima Takatsuga with the 11th Seaplane Tender Division under the IJN 8th Fleet for offensive seaplane operations. Seaplane tenders Chitose and Kamikawa Maru were stationed on Shortland. On August 22, 1942, 8th Fleet Flagship Choukai arrived with Isokaze at Shortland Island, Choukai continued to returning to Shortland after participating several operations afterwards. Several ships from the IJN were also returning to Shortland.
On November 3, 1942, the IJN 18th construction battalion began to built an airfield on Ballalae Island, they used 370 people from the locals and soon 513 British POWs from Singapore. Many of the POWs died due to harsh treatment, disease, and Allied air raids. The mistreatment of the POWs during the construction was considered as one of the atrocities committed by the Japanese during the war. The airfield was completed and begun operation on January 9, 1943.
On October 16, 1942, first aircraft attack on the Island, B-17 heavy bombers from USAAF 5th Air Force bombed Shortland Island, the bombing repeats on November 1, 1942. On November 3, 1942, Chitose departed from Shortland to Truk escorted by DesDiv 6's Akatsuki and Ikazuchi, she transfered the flag 11th seaplane tender division to Kamikawa Maru, Chitose will be now converted as an aircraft carrier afterwards.
On January 1, 1943, B-17 bombers escorted by P-38 fighters from USAAF 13th Air Force, attacked destroyers 30 miles south of Shortland Island. On January 7, 1943, B-17 bombers escorted by P-38 and P-40 fighters bombed a troop transport near the Shortland, the group attacked Shortland again on January 18, 1943. On January 20, 1943, the 13th Air Force engaged a group of A6M fighters during another bombing mission on Shortland, the USAAF managed to shoot down 8 aircraft with 1 lost.
On February 1, 1943, bombers from the 13th Air Force attacked the area between Shortland and Bougainville, one the next day, fighters from 13th Air Force attacked Shortland, they were intercepted by 20 Japanese aircraft, Allied fighters managed to shoot 9 of them. On February 13, 1943, USN and the 13th Air Force conducted joint operation to attack areas within Shortland, Kahilli and Buin, they were intercepted by 45 Japanese aircraft, the Allies lost 3 B-24s, 2 P-40s and 4 P-38s due to engine failure, anti-aircraft batteries and aircraft. The operation for the next day was cancelled due to heavy lost from the previous operation.
On March 29, 1943, USN and the 13th Air Force resumed their operation to attack Shortland, fighters from the Allies strafed the seaplane base, destroyed 7 F1M floatplanes and strafed submarine-chaser No-28. They also attacked a destroyer on their way back. By April 1, 1943, R-Area Air Force ceased to operate in Shortland
On April 18, 1943, Admiral Yamamoto, commander of the combined fleet, will be flying from Rabaul to Ballalae Airfield on one of the two G4M1 bombers escorted by 6 A6M2 fighters, this was encrypted by the Allies, President Roosevelt ordered to 'Get Yamamoto', the 13th Air Force sortied out 16 P-38 fighters to intercept the aircraft, the P-38s managed to shoot down the 2 G4M1s and killed Yamamoto with 1 fighter lost from the engagement.
On June 30, 1943, Task Force 36.2 which consisted of light cruisers, USS Montpelier CL-57, USS Cleveland CL-55, USS Columbia CL-56, and USS Denver CL-58, with destroyers USS Philip DD-498, USS Saufley DD-465, USS Renshaw DD-499 and USS Waller DD-466, bombarded Ballalae Airfield.
On August 6, 1943, a P-38 recon-fighter plane escorted by 8 F4U fighters from Banika performed an armed reconnaissance on Shortland, they engaged 12 A6M fighters, the Allied aircraft managed to shoot down 5 with 1 F4U lost and 2 F4Us damaged.
By October of 1943, some of the Japanese in Ballalae airfield had already fled, the British declared the island as neutral but there are still heavy presence of anti-aircraft batteries within the island. On October 9, 1943, F4U fighters from USMC strafed Shortland. On November 13, 1943, night fighter harassed Shortland. On November 14, 1943, P-40 night-fighters from the 13th Air Force attacked Shortland, they destroyed 1 seaplane and 2 barges. On November 30, 1943, bombers from 13th Air Force bombed Shortland again. At total of 8 aerial operations were conducted on Shortland during the whole month of December 1943. Another 2 aerial operations on January 1944. On February 29, 1944, USN fighter aircraft attacked from South of Boungainvile to Shortland Island. 3 more aerial operations were conducted by the 13th Air Force on the month of March 1944.
Since the US bypassed capturing further islands within Southern Pacific area, Shortland Islands remained as a Japanese territory until the end of the war. On September 6, 1945, General Imamura Hitoshi and Admiral Jin'ichi Kusaka signed the declaration of surrender aboard on British Carrier HMS Glory, remaining troops from Rabaul and any of the Japanese occupied territories within Southern Pacific, also surrendered.
After the war, the Solomon Islands remained as a British Territory, the Shortland Islands was re-established as a leading copra producing area, they become part of the Western District. The Solomon Islands gained their independence on July 7, 1978, Shortland Islands becomes a part of the Western Province.
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Operations command centerInside the command centerDockInside the Commander's residenceFleet girl dormitoryComm CenterDestroyer dormitoryBeachMess hallCruiser dormitoryTo the immediate north is Bougainville Island.BougainvilleDockCarrier dormitoryCommander's ResidenceCommand centerBattleship dormitorySubmarines are staying at the destroyer dormitory for now.The first floor has been taken over by the fleet girls and turned into a recreational lounge.
Admiral lives in the second floor corner room.Commander's Residence
The main building of an ex-British colonial era farm. The game main-screen roomAt Shortland Anchorage
An IJN base in the Solomon Islands.