What caused the Kokoda Campaign?

Answer 1

The Kokoda Track campaign was a series of battles over a period of six months between the Japanese and the Australians. It showed the dogged determination of the Aussies.

The Japanese were attempting to capture bases close to Australia in order to launch more effective air attacks on the Australian mainland .

Port Moresby on the southern coast of New Guinea was in a good position to launch such attacks . The Japanese had attempted to send a fleet around the eastern end of New Guinea but were intercepted and stopped ( the Battle of the Coral Sea ) .

An alternative method was to march overland from the North of New Guinea down the Kokoda track . But Australian troops were sent to stop that move . The Japanese pushed the Australians back down the track until they were actually in sight of Port Moresby . The determined resistance of the Australians the rugged terrain and ambush tactics wore down the Japanese to the point were they were almost a spent force .

Also at that point in time the Americans counter offensive in the Pacific had commenced particularly at the island of Guadalcanal .

The Japanese could no longer hope to continue their attack to the South and began to withdraw back along the Kokoda Track .

The main significance of the fighting on the track was the delaying tactics used by the Australians had allowed time for Port moresby to be heavily reinforced and also had weakened the Japanese to the point that even if they had reached Port Moresby it is unlikely that they would have been able to capture it .

From that point on the Japanese were forced to retreat in the Pacific .

Answer 2

the main purpose of the kokoda campaign was to stop the Japanese from invading Australia. If the Japanese overtook Port Morseby, they would be close enough to easily invade Australia.

Answer 3

The Japanese attempted to drive down the Kokoda Track to take Port Moresby. Australian forces resisted.

Answer 4

The Kokoda campaign happened because the Japanese were trying to take Port Moresby to isolate Australia from the United States. This campaign lasted from July until November of 1942.

Answer 5

The Kokoda Campaign occurred during World War II. The Kokoda Campaign was caused by Japanese troops attempting to invade Port Moresby.

Answer 6

The Japanese wanted the trail because if they gained control over it, they could easily threaten and attack Australia and they also wanted to capture Port Moresby.

Answer 7

To use it as the overland route to capture Port Moresby.