Battle of Viru Harbor

Battle of Viru Harbor
Part of the Pacific Theater of World War II
U.S. Navy landing craft unload troops at Viru shortly after the harbor was secured by Marine Raiders on 1 July 1943
Date 28 June – 1 July 1943 Location New Georgia, Solomon Islands 8°30′S 157°44′E / 8.50°S 157.73°E / -8.50; 157.73 Result U.S. victory
Belligerents
United States	Japan
Commanders and leaders
Michael S. Currin	Minoru Sasaki Genjiro Hirata Saburo Okamura Masao Hara
Strength
1 infantry company 2 Marine companies 1 artillery battery	245
Casualties and losses
13 killed, 15 wounded	61 killed, ~ 100 wounded

The Battle of Viru Harbor was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II that took place on New Georgia island during the New Georgia campaign from 28 June – 1 July 1943. It was one of the first actions of the campaign and involved an overland advance by elements of a Marine Raider battalion, supported by a United States Army infantry company. Supported by airstrikes, the Marines carried out an enveloping attack on the Japanese defenders around the harbor and forced them to withdraw. The harbor was subsequently used by US forces to support further operations, although plans to build a PT boat base in the area were later canceled when the harbor was found to be unsuitable.