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The Battle of the Coconut Grove was a battle between United States Marine Corps and Imperial Japanese Army forces on Bougainville. The battle took place on 13–14 November 1943 during the Bougainville campaign. ==Background== After the battle of Piva Trail and the capture of Piva, a small party of Construction Battalion, with a covering infantry patrol, led by Commander William Painter, Civil Engineer Corps of United States Naval Reserve reconnaissanced for an airfield site. Finding a suitable area located to the north of the perimeter, they set about preparations for the construction of landing strips.〔Shaw, et al. Chapter 4, pp.241-244〕 Painter returned to the Marine permiter positions a day in advance of the combat patrol, which made contact with a Japanese patrol on 10 November. Further patrols were undertaken up the Piva Trail, beyond the coconut grove near the East-West Trail junction, which failed to establish contact with the Japanese.〔 Due to tremendous difficulties encountered in movement and supply through the swamps, it was impossible to advance the perimeter of the beachhead far enough to cover the proposed airfield site selected by Commander Painter. It was therefore decided to establish a strong outpost, capable of sustaining itself until the lines could be advanced to include it, at the junction of the Numa Numa and East-West Trails, in order to avoid a fight for the airfield site should the Japanese occupy it first. On the afternoon of 12 November, General Allen Hal Turnage—commander of the 3rd Marine Division—directed the 21st Marine Regiment to send a company patrol up the Numa Numa Trail at 06:30 on 13 November. The patrol was to move up the Numa Numa Trail to its junction with the East-West Trail and reconnoiter each trail for a distance of about , with a view of establishing a strong outpost in the vicinity in the near future with Company E, 21st Marines led by Captain Sidney Altman assigned to the mission.〔 Afterward, further orders came from headquarters that the patrol should be increased in strength to two companies, with a suitable command group and an artillery forward observer team. The mission was modified in that the outpost at the junction of the East-West and Numa Numa Trails was to be established immediately. In view of the importance of his assignment, Colonel Evans Ames—commander of the 21st Marines—sought divisional orders to send the entire 2nd Battalion, which was granted. Orders were issued for the 2nd Battalion, 21st Marines —under the command of Lt. Col. Eustace Smoak—to move Company E out at 06:30 on 13 November, and proceed to an assembly area in rear of the front line of the 9th Marine Regiment and awaiting until the remainder of the battalion joined it.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Battle of the Coconut Grove」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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