Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, interwar and Second World War

Battle of Wau

Battle of Wau was a battle fought on 4 February 1943 at Wau, in what is now Papua New Guinea. It was part of the South West Pacific theater of World War II. The recorded result: Allied victory. Recorded strength: 3,000 against 4,000.

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Japanese unsuccessfully attack Wau. At Wau aerodrome 25-pounders are unloaded. At this stage the Japanese were only a short distance from the aerodrome. These guns were assembled and went straight int
Japanese unsuccessfully attack Wau. At Wau aerodrome 25-pounders are unloaded. At this stage the Japanese were only a short distance from the aerodrome. These guns were assembled and went straight int. Bagnall, Frank N, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought4 February 1943
WhereWau, Papua New Guinea7.339S, 146.717E
OutcomeAllied victory
BelligerentsAustralia; United StatesagainstEmpire of Japan
Part ofSouth West Pacific theater of World War II

Where it sits in the South West Pacific theater of World War II

Bombing of Darwin, 1942Battle of the Coral Sea, 1942Battle of Milne Bay, 1942Battle of Buna–Gona, 1942Battle of Wau, 1943Operation Cartwheel, 1943Battle of Hollandia, 1944Battle of Driniumor River, 194419421944Battle of Wau, 1943
8 placed engagements of the South West Pacific theater of World War II in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date4 February 1943
to 31 January 1943
PlaceWau, Papua New Guinea
7.339S, 146.717E
KindBattle, interwar and Second World War
Strength3,0004,000
Casualties and losses349 killed, wounded or missing1,200 dead from all causes (estimate), includes 361 lost on Nichiryu Maru
Commanders
Battle of WauBattle of WauBattle of Lababia RidgeBattle of Mount TambuLanding at NadzabBattle of KaiapitBattle of SattelbergBattle of Mount TambuLanding at NadzabBattle of KaiapitLaeKerema100 km7.339S, 146.717E
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 1943

Battle of Wau 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 Q743889, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Wau, revision 1385680903, 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.