1.
New Zealand
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New Zealand /njuːˈziːlənd/ is an island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island, or Te Ika-a-Māui, and the South Island, or Te Waipounamu—and around 600 smaller islands. New Zealand is situated some 1,500 kilometres east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal, the countrys varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealands capital city is Wellington, while its most populous city is Auckland, sometime between 1250 and 1300 CE, Polynesians settled in the islands that later were named New Zealand and developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand, in 1840, representatives of Britain and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which declared British sovereignty over the islands. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire, today, the majority of New Zealands population of 4.7 million is of European descent, the indigenous Māori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. Reflecting this, New Zealands culture is derived from Māori and early British settlers. The official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, New Zealand is a developed country and ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as health, education, economic freedom and quality of life. Since the 1980s, New Zealand has transformed from an agrarian, Queen Elizabeth II is the countrys head of state and is represented by a governor-general. In addition, New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes, the Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau, the Cook Islands and Niue, and the Ross Dependency, which is New Zealands territorial claim in Antarctica. New Zealand is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Pacific Islands Forum, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sighted New Zealand in 1642 and called it Staten Landt, in 1645, Dutch cartographers renamed the land Nova Zeelandia after the Dutch province of Zeeland. British explorer James Cook subsequently anglicised the name to New Zealand, Aotearoa is the current Māori name for New Zealand. It is unknown whether Māori had a name for the country before the arrival of Europeans. Māori had several names for the two main islands, including Te Ika-a-Māui for the North Island and Te Waipounamu or Te Waka o Aoraki for the South Island. Early European maps labelled the islands North, Middle and South, in 1830, maps began to use North and South to distinguish the two largest islands and by 1907, this was the accepted norm. The New Zealand Geographic Board discovered in 2009 that the names of the North Island and South Island had never been formalised and this set the names as North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui, and South Island or Te Waipounamu
2.
New Zealand Defence Force
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The Chief of Defence Force is Lieutenant-General Tim Keating, who previously served in the capacity of Vice Chief of Defence Force, having been appointed to his current position on 31 January 2014. Brownlee was appointed Minister of Defence as part of a Cabinet reshuffle following the 2014 New Zealand general election, replacing the now Minister of Health, Jonathan Coleman. New Zealands armed forces have three defence policy objectives, to defend New Zealand against low-level threats, to contribute to regional security, New Zealand considers its own national defence needs to be modest, due to its geographical isolation and benign relationships with neighbours. After the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 New Zealands security was dependent on British Imperial troops deployed from Australia, by 1841 the settlers, particularly those in the New Zealand Company settlement of Wellington, were calling for local militia to be formed. In 1843 a local militia had been formed in Wellington without official sanction and this prompted the Chief Police Magistrate Major Matthew Richmond to order its immediate disbandment. Richmond also dispatched 53 soldiers from the 96th Regiment from Auckland to Wellington and these calls for a militia continued to grow with the Wairau Affray. The calls eventually lead to a bill being introduced to the Legislative Assembly in 1844 and those present noted their disapproval of the bill, unanimously deferring it for six months. On 22 March 1845 the Flagstaff War broke out, which proved to be the catalyst for passing the Bill. In 1844 a Select Committee of the House of Commons had recommended that a militia, on 25 March 1845 the Militia Ordinance was passed into law. Twenty-six officers were appointed in Auckland, thereby forming the start of New Zealands own defence force, Major Richmond was appointed commander of the Wellington Battalion of the militia. The newspaper article of the notes that Wellington had a mounted Volunteer Corp. The Nelson Militia were formed about the end of May, in June 1845,75 members of the Auckland Militia under Lieutenant Figg became the first unit to support British Imperial troops in the Flagstaff War, serving as pioneers. Seven militia were wounded in action between 30 June and 1 July 1845, one, a man named Rily, later died of his wounds. The Auckland Militia was disbanded in August or early September 1845 because of budgetary constraints, disbandment of the Nelson and Wellington Militias followed much to the dismay of their supporters. Those at Nelson under Captain Greenwood decided, regardless of pay or not, trouble in the Hutt Valley, near Wellington, in early March 1846 prompted the new Lieutenant Governor George Grey to proclaim martial law and call out the Hutt Militia. Following on from this the paper noted that the No 1 Company of the Wellington Militia had been called out. The paper further noted that Grey intended to maintain two companies of Militia in Wellington, as problems continued in the area at least 160 Militia remained. These were supplemented by volunteers, and Maori warriors from the Te Aro pah
3.
Infantry
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Infantry is the general branch of an army that engages in military combat on foot. As the troops who engage with the enemy in close-ranged combat, infantry units bear the largest brunt of warfare, Infantry can enter and maneuver in terrain that is inaccessible to military vehicles and employ crew-served infantry weapons that provide greater and more sustained firepower. In English, the 16th-century term Infantry describes soldiers who walk to the battlefield, and there engage, fight, the term arose in Sixteenth-Century Spain, which boasted one of the first professional standing armies seen in Europe since the days of Rome. It was common to appoint royal princes to military commands, and the men under them became known as Infanteria. in the Canadian Army, the role of the infantry is to close with, and destroy the enemy. In the U. S. Army, the closes with the enemy, by means of fire and maneuver, in order to destroy or capture him, or to repel his assault by fire, close combat. In the U. S. Marine Corps, the role of the infantry is to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy fire and maneuver. Beginning with the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century, artillery has become a dominant force on the battlefield. Since World War I, combat aircraft and armoured vehicles have become dominant. In 20th and 21st century warfare, infantry functions most effectively as part of a combined arms team including artillery, armour, Infantry relies on organized formations to be employed in battle. These have evolved over time, but remain a key element to effective infantry development and deployment, until the end of the 19th century, infantry units were for the most part employed in close formations up until contact with the enemy. This allowed commanders to control of the unit, especially while maneuvering. The development of guns and other weapons with increased firepower forced infantry units to disperse in order to make them less vulnerable to such weapons. This decentralization of command was made possible by improved communications equipment, among the various subtypes of infantry is Medium infantry. This refers to infantry which are heavily armed and armored than heavy infantry. In the early period, medium infantry were largely eliminated due to discontinued use of body armour up until the 20th century. In the United States Army, Stryker Infantry is considered Medium Infantry, since they are heavier than light infantry, Infantry doctrine is the concise expression of how infantry forces contribute to campaigns, major operations, battles, and engagements. It is a guide to action, not a set of hard, doctrine provides a very common frame of reference across the military forces, allowing the infantry to function cooperatively in what are now called combined arms operations. Doctrine helps standardise operations, facilitating readiness by establishing common ways of accomplishing infantry tasks, doctrine links theory, history, experimentation, and practice
4.
3rd Division (New Zealand)
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The 3rd New Zealand Division was a division of the New Zealand Military Forces. Formed in 1942, it saw action against the Japanese in the Pacific Ocean Areas during the Second World War, the division saw action in the Solomon Islands campaign during 1943–44, but was later disbanded in October 1944. The majority of its manpower was returned to employment, although around 4,000 men were sent to Italy to reinforce the 2nd Division. The 3rd New Zealand Division began forming from New Zealand Military Forces units in Fiji in May 1942, major-General Harold Barrowclough was appointed to command the division on 12 August. In October 1942, the 34th and 36th Battalions were detached from the division to garrison Tonga, the 36th Battalion was accompanied by detachments from the divisional engineer, artillery and service units as N Force. After completing its training in New Zealand the 3rd NZ Division moved to New Caledonia for garrison duty and further training in December 1942. At that time, the brigade, the 15th, came into being. Almost immediately, however, manpower became an issue and during the months of 1943 it became clear that it would not be possible to raise the division to full strength. This request was accepted, however, on 30 June 1943 the government announced that the 15th Brigade would be disbanded along with its heavy artillery and anti-aircraft regiments. This was effected by 10 July 1943, after which the 1st Battalion, Ruahine Regiment, subsequently, the division became a two-brigade division again, although due to Barrowcloughs requests, the division retained all three of its engineer companies. The 3rd NZ Division moved to Guadalcanal in August 1943, from this base, as part of the U. S. I Marine Amphibious Corps, the division provided the ground component for three campaigns against small groups in the Northern Solomons. The 3rd NZ Divisions operations on Vella Lavella ran from 21 September to 9 October 1943, the Americans had landed on the island in August, establishing a beachhead in the south. The divisions 14th Brigade Group, under Brigadier Leslie Potter, landed at the US base a month later as a follow-on force. Upon arrival, they were given the task of clearing the remaining Japanese forces from the north of the island so that it could be used to establish a radar station and a motor torpedo boat base. The New Zealanders were outnumbered by the defenders, nevertheless, they had been well trained, the 35th and 37th Battalions were dispatched along with supporting elements on two axes of advance, one up the east coast, the other up the west. The tactic proved successful and by early October the Japanese defenders were caught in a pocket by the two New Zealand forces, having killed between 200 and 300 Japanese. Total New Zealand casualties in this operation were 32 killed and 32 wounded, the 8th Brigade Group, under the command of Brigadier Robert Row, landed on the islands on 27 October in New Zealands first opposed amphibious operation since Gallipoli in 1915
5.
World War II
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World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, although related conflicts began earlier. It involved the vast majority of the worlds countries—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing alliances, the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, and directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. Marked by mass deaths of civilians, including the Holocaust and the bombing of industrial and population centres. These made World War II the deadliest conflict in human history, from late 1939 to early 1941, in a series of campaigns and treaties, Germany conquered or controlled much of continental Europe, and formed the Axis alliance with Italy and Japan. Under the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union partitioned and annexed territories of their European neighbours, Poland, Finland, Romania and the Baltic states. In December 1941, Japan attacked the United States and European colonies in the Pacific Ocean, and quickly conquered much of the Western Pacific. The Axis advance halted in 1942 when Japan lost the critical Battle of Midway, near Hawaii, in 1944, the Western Allies invaded German-occupied France, while the Soviet Union regained all of its territorial losses and invaded Germany and its allies. During 1944 and 1945 the Japanese suffered major reverses in mainland Asia in South Central China and Burma, while the Allies crippled the Japanese Navy, thus ended the war in Asia, cementing the total victory of the Allies. World War II altered the political alignment and social structure of the world, the United Nations was established to foster international co-operation and prevent future conflicts. The victorious great powers—the United States, the Soviet Union, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and the United States emerged as rival superpowers, setting the stage for the Cold War, which lasted for the next 46 years. Meanwhile, the influence of European great powers waned, while the decolonisation of Asia, most countries whose industries had been damaged moved towards economic recovery. Political integration, especially in Europe, emerged as an effort to end pre-war enmities, the start of the war in Europe is generally held to be 1 September 1939, beginning with the German invasion of Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later. The dates for the beginning of war in the Pacific include the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War on 7 July 1937, or even the Japanese invasion of Manchuria on 19 September 1931. Others follow the British historian A. J. P. Taylor, who held that the Sino-Japanese War and war in Europe and its colonies occurred simultaneously and this article uses the conventional dating. Other starting dates sometimes used for World War II include the Italian invasion of Abyssinia on 3 October 1935. The British historian Antony Beevor views the beginning of World War II as the Battles of Khalkhin Gol fought between Japan and the forces of Mongolia and the Soviet Union from May to September 1939, the exact date of the wars end is also not universally agreed upon. It was generally accepted at the time that the war ended with the armistice of 14 August 1945, rather than the formal surrender of Japan
6.
Battle of Vella Lavella (land)
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The Battle of Vella Lavella was fought from 15 August –9 October 1943 between Japan and the Allied forces from New Zealand and the United States. Vella Lavella is a located in the Solomon Islands that had been occupied by Japanese forces. The Allies successfully recaptured the island, barakoma Airfield on Vella Lavella was later the homebase of VMF-214 Blacksheep and its CO Major Gregory Pappy Boyington. The main New Zealand combat elements were drawn from the 14th Brigade, a Campaign on Two Fronts, Barrowclough in the Pacific. Kia Kaha, New Zealand in the Second World War, mcGee, William L. Occupation of Vella Lavella. The Solomons Campaigns, 1942–1943, From Guadalcanal to Bougainville—Pacific War Turning Point, breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, vol.6 of History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Rottman, Gordon L. Duncan Anderson, ed, Japanese Army in World War II, The South Pacific and New Guinea, 1942–43. The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War, 1939–1945, I, craven, Wesley Frank, James Lea Cate. Vol. IV, The Pacific, Guadalcanal to Saipan, August 1942 to July 1944, the Army Air Forces in World War II. U. S. Office of Air Force History, 3rd NZ Division in the Pacific. Archived from the original on 2006-10-15, the U. S. Army Campaigns of World War II. United States Army Center of Military History, UP THE SLOT, Marines in the Central Solomons. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps, miller, John, Jr. CARTWHEEL, The Reduction of Rabaul. United States Army in World War II, The War in the Pacific, Office of the Chief of Military History, U. S. Department of the Army. Marines in the Central Solomons, CHAPTER5, Central Solomons Mop Up, historical Branch, Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps. History of U. S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II
7.
Battle of the Green Islands
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The Battle of the Green Islands or Operation Squarepeg was fought from 29 January–27 February 1944, between Imperial Japan and Allied forces from the New Zealand 3rd Division and the United States. The Green Islands—located between Bougainville and New Ireland—were part of the Australian Territory of New Guinea, the Allied forces invaded several islands and recaptured them from heavily outnumbered Japanese forces. The main New Zealand combat elements came from the 14th Brigade, once secured, the Green Islands became a forward base for the U. S. South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command, which supplied material and mail to combat soldiers and it also became home to United States Marine Corps fighters and bombers which participated in the allied effort to isolate the Japanese bases on Rabaul and Kavieng. The bases first commander was Lt. Richard M. Nixon, TOP OF THE LADDER, Marine Operations in the Northern Solomons. Marine Corps History and Museums Division, archived from the original on 13 October 2006. Also available at, Gillespie, Oliver A, the Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War, 1939–1945, IV, The Capture of the Green Islands. 3rd NZ Division in the Pacific, archived from the original on 2006-10-15. Miller, John, Jr. CARTWHEEL, The Reduction of Rabaul, United States Army in World War II, The War in the Pacific. Office of the Chief of Military History, U. S. Department of the Army, rentz, John M. Bougainville and the Northern Solomons. Historical Branch, Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps
8.
Brigade
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A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment, two or more brigades may constitute a division. Brigades formed into divisions are usually infantry or armored, in addition to combat units, they may include combat support units or sub-units, such as artillery and engineers, and logistic units or sub-units. Historically, such brigades have sometimes been called brigade-groups, on operations, a brigade may comprise both organic elements and attached elements, including some temporarily attached for a specific task. Brigades may also be specialized and comprise battalions of a branch, for example cavalry, mechanized, armored, artillery, air defence, aviation, engineers. Some brigades are classified as independent or separate and operate independently from the division structure. The typical NATO standard brigade consists of approximately 3,200 to 5,500 troops, however, in Switzerland and Austria, the numbers could go as high as 11,000 troops. The Soviet Union, its forerunners and successors, mostly use regiment instead of brigade, a brigades commander is commonly a major general, brigadier general, brigadier or colonel. In some armies, the commander is rated as a General Officer, the brigade commander has a self-contained headquarters and staff. Some brigades may also have a deputy commander, the headquarters has a nucleus of staff officers and support that can vary in size depending on the type of brigade. On operations, additional specialist elements may be attached, the headquarters will usually have its own communications unit. In some gendarmerie forces, brigades are the organizational unit. The brigade as a military unit came about starting in the 15th century when the British army, as such a field army became larger, the number of subordinate commanders became unmanageable for the officer in general command of said army, usually a major general, to effectively command. In order to streamline command relationships, as well as effect some modicum of control, especially in regard to combined arms operations. The terms origin is found in two French roots, which together, meant roughly those who fight, the so-called brigada was a well-mixed unit, comprising infantry, cavalry and normally also artillery, designated for a special task. The size of such brigada ranged from a company of up to two regiments. The brigada was the forerunner of the battalion task force, battle group. The brigade was improved as a unit by the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus
9.
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
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The New Zealand Expeditionary Force was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I and World War II. Ultimately, the NZEF of World War I became known as the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force, the NZEF of World War II was known as the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The New Zealand Expeditionary Force was the title of the forces sent from New Zealand to fight for Britain during World War I. Upon the outbreak of war, New Zealand immediately offered to provide two brigades—one of infantry and one of mounted troops—with a total of 8,500 men. This contingent sailed for Australia within two months of the start of the war and then joined with the Australian Imperial Force in a convoy sailing for Egypt. New Zealand, like Australia, had a policy of compulsory military training. Conscription was introduced on 1 August 1916 and by the end of the war 124,000 men—nearly half the male population of 250. Of these, about 100,000 had been sent overseas, the NZEF was closely tied to the AIF for much of the war. This division, along with the Australian 1st Division, formed the famous Australian, after the end of the Gallipoli campaign, the NZEF formed its own infantry division, the New Zealand Division, which served on the Western Front for the rest of the war. General Godley was promoted to a command and given II ANZAC Corps. The mounted arm of the NZEF was the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, the brigade remained in Egypt and, combined with the 1st and 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigades, made up the ANZAC Mounted Division which served through the Sinai and Palestine campaign. The New Zealand Expeditionary Force was finally disbanded on 31 December 1921, at the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, it was decided that New Zealand should provide an Expeditionary Force of one division, under then Major-General Bernard Freyberg. This force became known as the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, the first echelon of 2NZEF Headquarters and a Brigade Group landed in Egypt in February 1940. The second echelon, also a Brigade Group, was diverted to Britain on Italys entry into the war, the third echelon arrived in Egypt in September 1940 and concentration of the division was completed just before it was deployed to northern Greece in March 1941. Under the command of Major-General William Stevens, the 2NZEF began demobilising in late 1945, the 2NZEF also had a Pacific Section, which was initially responsible for the defence of Fiji. The basis for the Pacific Section was initially an infantry brigade—the —which arrived on Viti Levu, following the entry of the Japanese Empire into the war, in early 1942, the 2NZEF contingent in Fiji was expanded to two brigades, and formally designated Pacific Section, 2NZEF. Under the command of Major General Owen Mead, the Pacific Section was withdrawn from Fiji back to New Zealand when the United States 37th Division took over defence responsibility, the Pacific Section later became the 3rd Division, the main unit of the 2NZEF in the Pacific. In order to cope with this crisis the New Zealand Government saw no other than to disband one of the countrys two infantry divisions
10.
Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
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The Pacific Ocean theater, during World War II, was a major theater of the war between the Allies and Japan. It officially came into existence on March 30,1942, when US Admiral Chester Nimitz was appointed Supreme Allied Commander Pacific Ocean Areas. In the other theatre in the Pacific region, known as the South West Pacific theatre. Both Nimitz and MacArthur were overseen by the US Joint Chiefs, most Japanese forces in the theater were part of the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, which was responsible for all Japanese warships, naval aircraft, and marine infantry units. The Rengō Kantai was led by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, until he was killed in an attack by U. S. fighter planes in April 1943, Yamamoto was succeeded by Admiral Mineichi Koga and Admiral Soemu Toyoda. The General Staff of the Imperial Japanese Army was responsible for Imperial Japanese Army ground and air units in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. The IJN and IJA did not formally use joint/combined staff at the level, and their command structures/geographical areas of operations overlapped each other. In the Pacific Ocean theater, Japanese forces fought primarily against the United States Navy, US Marine Corps, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and other Allied nations also contributed forces. Pacific Crucible, War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941–1942, the Official Chronology of the U. S. Navy in World War II. In the Service of the Emperor, Essays on the Imperial Japanese Army, a History of Us, War, Peace and all that Jazz. Kafka, Roger, Pepperburg, Roy L. Warships of the World, the Campaigns of the Pacific War
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