Battle of Empress Augusta Bay

The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, on 1–2 November 1943 – also known as the Battle of Gazelle Bay, Operation Cherry Blossom, and in Japanese sources as the Sea Battle off Bougainville Island (ブーゲンビル島沖海戦) – was a naval battle fought at night in Empress Augusta Bay near Bougainville Island. The naval battle was a result of Allied landings at Cape Torokina in the first action in the Bougainville campaign of World War II. It may also be considered as part of the Solomons and New Guinea campaigns. The battle was significant as part of a broader Allied strategy—known as Operation Cartwheel—aimed at isolating and surrounding the major Japanese base at Rabaul. The intention was to establish a beachhead on Bougainville, within which an airfield would be built.

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1943  Wikimedia, Wikidata
Battle of Gazelle Bay; Operation Cherry Blossom; Sea Battle off Bouganville Island
battle, 

• NavWeaps page^@
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Location: -6.4, 155.15, KML, Cluster Map, Maps,
3 places

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1943-11-01T00:00:00Z

1943-11-02T00:00:00Z

1943 Battle of Empress Augusta Bay

1943-11-03T00:00:00Z

1943-11-03T00:00:00Z

1943 Landings at Cape Torokina

1944-03-08T00:00:00Z

1944-03-25T00:00:00Z

1944 Bougainville counterattack

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Frameless

View forward from USS Columbia (CL-56) during Battle of Empress Augusta Bay 1943

USS Montpelier (CL-57) firing at Empress Augusta Bay

MerrillMontpelier

USS Cleveland (CL-55) in floating drydock ABSD-1 off Espiritu Santo on 12 January 1944. (NH 98059)

MerrillNavyCross

USS Columbia (CL-56) shelling Japanese facilities in the Shortlands on 1 November 1943

Type	Subtype	Date	Description	Notes	Source
event	armed conflict	1943	Battle of Empress Augusta Bay	battle	Wikidata
event	armed conflict	1943	Landings at Cape Torokina	battle	Wikidata
event	armed conflict	1944	Bougainville counterattack	offensive	Wikidata
link	page		NavWeaps page@		Wikidata
commons	image		View forward from USS Columbia (CL-56) during Battle of Empress Augusta Bay 1943		Commons
commons	image		USS Montpelier (CL-57) firing at Empress Augusta Bay		Commons
commons	image		MerrillMontpelier		Commons
commons	image		USS Cleveland (CL-55) in floating drydock ABSD-1 off Espiritu Santo on 12 January 1944. (NH 98059)		Commons
commons	image		MerrillNavyCross		Commons
commons	image		USS Columbia (CL-56) shelling Japanese facilities in the Shortlands on 1 November 1943		Commons