Atlas of Battles

battle, interwar and Second World War

Battle of Karavia Bay

Battle of Karavia Bay was a battle fought on 18 February 1944 at Karavia Bay, in what is now Papua New Guinea. It was part of World War II, which ran from 1939 to 1945. The recorded result: American victory. Recorded strength: 5 destroyers against Land: ~10 artillery pieces; 4 shore batteries; Sea: 2 destroyers; 2 transports.

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The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Farenholt (DD-491) underway off Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (USA), circa in May 1943.
The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Farenholt (DD-491) underway off Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (USA), circa in May 1943.. U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-N-45993, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought18 February 1944
WhereKaravia Bay, Papua New Guinea4.300S, 152.183E
OutcomeAmerican victory
BelligerentsUnited StatesagainstEmpire of Japan
Part ofWorld War II1939 to 1945

Where it sits in World War II

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313 placed engagements of World War II in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date18 February 1944
PlaceKaravia Bay, Papua New Guinea
4.300S, 152.183E
KindBattle, interwar and Second World War
Strength5 destroyersLand: ~10 artillery pieces; 4 shore batteries; Sea: 2 destroyers; 2 transports
Commanders
  • Rodger F. Simpson
Battle of Karavia BayBattle of Karavia BaySiege of TomaBattle of RabaulOperation CartwheelBattle of Bita PakaBattle of Blackett StraitSiege of TomaBattle of RabaulBattle of Blackett Strait100 km4.300S, 152.183E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1944

Battle of Karavia Bay is one of 2,997 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 54 in present-day Papua New Guinea.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q4871386, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Karavia Bay, revision 1375595369, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.