Testing the Tenets of Manoeuvre: Australia’s First Amphibious Assault since Gallipoli The 9th Australian Division at Lae, 4–16 September 1943

In this paper, Brigadier Field examines the role of the 9th Australian Division in Operation Cartwheel which involved the capture of the Japanese Base at Lae. He uses this division’s expeditionary operations and amphibious manoeuvre as the basis for analysis of the seven tenets of manoeuvre described in current Land Warfare Doctrine. The result highlights the challenges inherent to expeditionary operations and amphibious manoeuvre in Australia’s primary operating environment.  Brigadier Field also offers that the analysis of the 9th Divisions part in Operation Cartwheel provides a means for the ADF to develop its thinking in preparation for the introduction of amphibious ships under current ADF Joint Projects.