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If an advance against the Japanese on the Huon Peninsula was to be affected then the position at Salamaua had to be dealt with in some capacity. During April and May 1943, Major-General S. G. Savige's 3rd (Militia) Division had fought a series of actions and secured the outlying towns south of Salamaua. After the fall of Mubo a regiment of American Infantry was landed at Nassau Bay, south of Salamaua. This combined force of Australians and Americans was to push the Japanese from the ridges, over the Francisco River and into the town of Salamaua. After the heavy fighting for Buna/Gona it was decided that if a similar defence was mounted then the enemy should be contained in the area rather than risk a protracted and bloody engagement to conquer the town. It was hoped that the attack on Salamaua would draw Japanese troops from the Lae area that was to be the main focus of the campaign. In this the campaign was successful as the much-battered Japanese 51st Division was reinforced on several occasions.
What ensued was a bitter and bloody campaign of patrols and assaults. Spread in a wide net the Allies pressed in upon the Japanese but each position was defended savagely and, as well, the Japanese launched their own attacks in an attempt to disrupt the Allied troops. Mt. Tambu marked the approximate centre of the Japanese line.
Frontal assaults combined with artillery and aerial bombardments were used to try and dislodge the Japanese defenders. When Mt. Tambu finally fell the Japanese withdrew toward the Francisco River. When Australian troops crossed the river above them they were forced to fall back into the town. On 22 August advancing Australians had secured the heights over the town with clear views of the Huon Gulf. From there they undertook harassing attacks against the Japanese but with clear orders not to force their enemy to abandon the town as operations against Lae were beginning and it was preferred that the Salamaua defenders remain rather than reinforce other Japanese positions. On 8 September the remnants of the Japanese 51st Division were ordered to withdraw and a race between Australian units ensued to seize the town. Troops of the 42nd Battalion, 29th Brigade, 5th (Militia) Division seized the filthy, rat-ridden, pestilential' town on 13 September after the Lae offensive had begun.
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