Lat
6° 28' 60S Long 147° 46' 0E Coastal town. Also spelled
Sattelberg or Satelberg. This peak dominates the area, with Finshafen
below.
History
Following
the Australian landing at Finshafen,
the bulk of the Japanese garrison, 4,000 men, had retreated to the 3,000-foot-high
Sattleberg, a peak that dominated Finschhafen and the surrounding area.
There it was joined by the 20th Division and on October 16, 1943,
the Japanese launched a coordinated ground and seaborne counterattack.
This effort failed, but the Japanese kept trying until the end of
October. Thereafter they went on the defensive.
Australian Counter Attack
The Australians had now received
reinforcements and it was their turn to take the offensive. But a month
of difficult fighting was still required to drive the Japanese off Satelberg. Attacked
on November 17 1943 by Australian Army's C Squadron less three troops
was to support the 26th Brigade who were to take over
the
drive to
capture
Sattelberg, so that the road and nearby tracks could be opened. After
taking the peak, they continued their drive to Sio.
Japanese bombing missions against Sattleberg
Novermber 14, 1943 - Ki-49 Helens of the 7th Sentai bomb Australian positions,
without loss