Operation Cartwheel

I'm trying to find out what where the specific original objectives and timetables for this operation. And how much they changed after it was set in motion.

Where Nimitz/Halsey and Mac on the same page about the whole thing ?

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On 1 Jun 2004 11:47:04 -0500, **bg**

If Rabaul was the objective, why was it bypassed ? Who made the decision and when ?

Were enough assets ever allocated to take a base with 100,000 well-entrenched Japanese ?

MacArthur made the decision. As I recall, Manchester regards it as one of Mac's first genius strokes, moving a huge distance beyond the main Japanese stronghold, thereby landing against a lightly defended shore, saving his own men, and leaving the enemy to wither on the vine.

all the best

I would suggest as a start the 2 US Army histories,

Cartwheel: the Reduction of Rabaul by J M Miller Strategy and Command: the first two years by L Morton.

Cartwheel was a work in progress, altering according to the perceived strengths of the allies and Japanese. It was originally an 8 month strategic plan.

Operations like Elkton, Toenails and Reno were tied into the strategy.

The joint Chiefs of Staff meeting at the Quebec made the decision in August 1943, rejecting MacArthur's proposal of July to capture it.

Perhaps enough resources were allocated, but the allies did not try so we do not know. The combined strengths of MacArthur and Halsey were probably enough, but they had better targets once it was clear the allies could move towards the Philippines rather than head for Rabaul.

Geoffrey Sinclair Remove the nb for email.

The original objective of 'cartwheel' was to eliminate Rabaul as a threat to the allies. The basic concept had been approved in 1942.

It wa planned to take up the entire years of 1943. All agreed that Rabaul was the target and needed to be eliminated as a base for Japanese operations.

The debate was on what were the best tacticts to accomplish this. The navy wanted to isolate Rabaul while MacArthur wanted a direct assault. The issue behind this debate was who and how the Philippines would be taken.

Cartwheel was completed in about Feb. 1944

On the other hand, very significant forces were tied down 'to just let it wither on the vine'.

These forces included a lot of Australians, if memory serves, and sustained significant casualties. Less of course than in an assault against Rabaul, but my point is that Rabaul wasn't exactly ignored.