Atlas of Battles

battle, interwar and Second World War

Battle of Wakde

Battle of Wakde was a battle fought on 21 May 1944 at Wakde, in what is now Indonesia. It was part of World War II, which ran from 1939 to 1945. The recorded result: American victory; Major staging point and air-base gained. Recorded strength: ~1,500 men; 4 Sherman tanks against ~800 men.

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United States troops on the coconut palm shattered foreshore of Wakde Island.
United States troops on the coconut palm shattered foreshore of Wakde Island.. Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought21 May 1944
WhereWakde, Indonesia1.933S, 139.017E
OutcomeAmerican victory; Major staging point and air-base gained
BelligerentsUnited States; Australia (naval)againstEmpire of Japan
Casualties and losses40 killed; 107 wounded; 2 tanks lostand759 killed; 4 captured
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

Date21 May 1944
PlaceWakde, Indonesia
1.933S, 139.017E
KindBattle, interwar and Second World War
Strength~1,500 men; 4 Sherman tanks~800 men
Casualties and losses40 killed; 107 wounded; 2 tanks lost759 killed; 4 captured
Commanders
  • Jens A. Doe
Battle of WakdeBattle of WakdeBattle of Lone Tree HillBattle of HollandiaBattle of Lone Tree Hill100 km1.933S, 139.017E
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 Wakde is one of 2,997 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 69 in present-day Indonesia.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q4872707, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Wakde, revision 1370276644, 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.