Location
Lat 4° 12' 0S Long 152° 10' 60E  Rabaul means 'mangrove' in Tolia language. The town was built on reclaimed mangrove swamp land at the edge of Simpson Harbor.

History
The town was established by the German empire in the early 1900s as the capital of their colony Deutsch Neu Guinea. At the start of WWI, Allied forces, primarily Australian occupied the area on September 11, 1914 by assaulted the German Radio station at Bitapaka. After the war, the League of Nations mandated it to the Australians until attacked by the Japanese. Heavily damaged by a volcanic eruption of 1937 when Vulcan and Tavurvur exploded.

Japanese Assault
Japanese flying boats bombed Rabaul beginning on January 4, 1941. Admiral Nagumo's carrier force from Akagi, Kaga, Shokaku and Zuikaku struck on January 20th. On the 22nd the carrier planes returned, but found no targets and preformed aerobatics instead. An invasion convoy arrived via St. Georges Channel on January 22, supported by aircraft from Turk and Nagumo's carrier aircraft.

After midnight of January 23, 1942 the 'South Seas Detachment' built around 144th Infantry Regiment landed and several places around the Rabaul area: at Raluana Point and west of Kokopo. At Kerawun and north of Vulcan. At Malaguna, west of Praed Point and Nordup. Only the outnumbered Australian Army 2/22nd Battalion and New Guinea Volunteer Rifles opposed. By morning, they had occupied Rabaul.

Developed into a massive base and Army and Navy Headquarters in the South Pacific. The Navy controlled the eastern half of the town, with their HQ at the New Guinea Club building. The 8th Army HQ at four corners intersection. At the war's peak, 97,000 Japanese troops were stationed in the vicinity, in addition to Allied POW's, slave laborers and even reportedly 3,000 'comfort woman' (prostitutes) including 800 from Korean and Japan.

Defenses
There were five airfields used by the Japanese, and several seaplane anchorages in the harbor. Reportedly, 367 anti-aircraft weapons (192 Army, 175 Navy) were established by late 1942. The harbors were defended by an estimated 43 costal guns and 20 searchlights according to US Strategic Bombing Survey in 1943. The Rabaul area was the most heavily defended target in the South-West Pacific area.

Isolation
Bypassed by the Allies, it remained in Japanese hands for the duration of the war and was subject to almost daily air raids, left to "wither on a vine" until the Japanese surrender. Americans dropped 20,000 tons of bombs on the town and vicinity. Conditions for the Japanese deteriorated once it was cut off from supply. They were forced to commandeer food from the natives and to fend for themselves by large scale gardening.

Missions Against Rabaul Town
January 4, 1942 - 1945

Post War
At the end of the war, it took two years to transfer Japanese POWs back to Japan, and an Allied court and gallows dealt with war criminals. Some served prison sentences of hard labor in the area until the early 1950s.

Today
Devastated by a volcanic eruption in 1994 that covered most of the town in ash, Rabaul has grown around the new airport, across the harbor at Kokopo and slowly life & commerce along the harbor and town returns to normal.

Simpson Harbor
Rabaul's harbor, the focal point of the Japanese Naval base. Many ships were sunk here during the war, including warships and merchant. Many wrecks remain to this day.

New Guinea Club
Built prior to the war. Occupied by the Japanese navy until late 1943, when the HQ was relocated to underground tunnels to the north. After the war, the club was rebuilt, and again after the 1994 volcano eruption. Today contains a displays of wartime relics and history related to Rabaul.

Anti-Aircraft & Search Light Bunker
Japanese Bunker in town near New Guinea Club. Also know as 'The Admiral's Bunker' or 'Yamamoto Bunker'. This is the bunker where Admiral Yamamoto supposedly spent his last night before being shot down over Bougainville. This is highly unlikely.

Four Corners
Four way intersection at the western edge of Rabaul town. Japanese 8th Army HQ was based at this location.

Tunnel Hill (Tunnel Hill Road)
Germans created 'Ratavul Tunnel' or 'Ratavul Pass Road' to connect Rabaul to Talili Bay, cutting through the ridge line. After an earthquake, the tunnel collapsed and was expanded into a road cut but was still known as 'Tunnel Hill'. During the war, the Japanese built tunnels into the sides of the road, including several 6th Kempei Tai (Military Police) tunnels for Allied POWs. Many were executed on March 3/4, 1944, the "Tunnel Hill Massacre".

Volcanology Observatory
Prior to the Japanese attack, Australian Army established an anti-aircraft position at the observatory. The Japanese also used it for anti-aircraft guns and tunneled the road to it with tunnels.

Japanese War Memorial
The War Memorial is overlooking the harbor a few km out of town on Namanula Hill Road is the memorial, the main Japanese memorial in the Pacific. Excellent views. Nearby is a huge kapok tree.

Chinatown
Eastern portion of Rabaul town. Japanese 'comfort woman' (prostitutes) were housed here in the earlier stages of the war, until the town was heavily bombed.

Rabaul POW Prison
Located in Rabaul town, this building was a prewar Taylor shop. Converted into a prison run by the Kempei-Tai, this location was used to hold Allied prisoners during 1943, until the town was heavily bombed, and prisoners moved to Tunnel Hill.

Japanese Tunnels
As the war turned against the Japanese, and Rabaul area was subjected to daily bombing raids, many tunnels were dug into the pumice ridges for hospitals, guns, bunkers, gun emplacements, barracks and HQ. During the early months of 1944, Japanese dug (with labor force) a tunnel complexes that by November reached 70km for the Navy and 80km for the Army. By the end of the war, it was estimated these lengths doubled. Another estimate places Gazelle Peninsula tunnels at 500km in collective length.

Army General Iwao Matsuda's HQ included a four post bed, luxury bath, personal prayer room, air raid shelter, cans of coca-cola, Philippine beer and expensive imported food. Meanwhile, his troops were sick, starving and dying. Post war, Japanese POW labor was used to empty out most known tunnels, especially to collect and dispose of munitions. Occasionally, a tunnel is discovered or a landslide reveals others and untouched caches of arms or equipment are found.

Japanese Radar
Installed in February or March 1943, this Radar set had a range of 150km , working in tandem with sets on New Ireland and Bougainville.

Generator
Located near the north of Rabaul town in tunnels was the Japanese Fuso electric generators were used after the war, from until at least 1952, run by Ernie Smith.

War Criminals Gallows
The frame of the gallows constructed post-war to hang Japanese war criminals remained into the late 1960's.

Brian Bennett recalls:
"Harry had been the Australian Provost Marshall in Rabaul post war and had a lot to do with Japanese POW who were held in Rabaul until about 1947. Harry saw a lot of the war criminals strung up.The steps for the gallows were by the main water tank at the Malaguna Vocational center for many years. Harry had a yard in Rabaul for ages that still had all sorts of interesting stuff in it. In Rabaul area it was Harry Croydon, Arthur Viggers, Arthur Brown, Pat Roberts, Jack Chipper."

Kokopo
Town located to south of Rabaul, across Simpson Harbor.

Talili Bay
Located to the west of Rabaul, bordering Kula and including Watom Island. Linked to Rabaul by Tunnel Hill Road.

Tavurvur
Volcano to the east of Lakunai Airfield. Major eruptions occurred in 1937 (destroyed Rabaul), 1941-1943 and 1994 (destroyed Rabaul). During the Japanese landing at Rabaul on the night of January 22/23, 1942, an eruption light up the night sky, guiding the Japanese landing force. After occupation, minor eruptions spread ash over Lakunai airfield and Rabaul town area.

The prewar volcanologist at Rabaul, Dr. Fisher was consulted by the RAAF about the possibility of triggering an eruption. During the war, some Allied planes dropped bombs into the crater of Tavurvur, but it is unconfirmed if these efforts were deliberate or accidental. None triggered any eruption. Reference: Volcano Town.

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
May 9, 2010