Simpson Harbour
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Simpson Harbour
|settlement_type = Harbour
|image_skyline = Mercy sits at anchorage in Simpson Harbor in Rabaul during Pacific Partnership 2015 150706-N-BK290-056.jpg
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|image_caption = {{USNS|Mercy}} at anchor in Simpson Harbour
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|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = Papua New Guinea
|subdivision_type1 = Township
|subdivision_name1 = Rabaul
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|named_for = Cortland Simpson
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File:Katsuragi (AWM 099798).jpg
Simpson Harbour is a sheltered harbour of Blanche Bay, on the Gazelle Peninsula in the extreme north of New Britain. The harbour is named after Captain Cortland Simpson, who surveyed the bay while in command of {{HMS|Blanche|1867|6}} in 1872.
{{cite book
|title=World War II Pacific Island Guide: A Geo-Military Study
|last=Rottman |first=Gordon L.
|year=2001 |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=Santa Barbara, CA. |isbn=0-313-31395-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/worldwariipacifi00rott_245/page/n193 172] |url=https://archive.org/details/worldwariipacifi00rott_245|url-access=limited
}}
The former capital city of Rabaul is on its shores.
The harbour is part of a huge flooded caldera, Rabaul caldera. The harbour is ringed by a number of volcanoes.
History
The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force captured Rabaul during World War I after entering Simpson Harbour.
During World War II, the Imperial Japanese utilised the harbour as a major naval base. Approximately 65 Japanese ships were sunk in the harbour by Allied air attacks.
The surrender of the Japanese forces of New Guinea, New Britain, and the Solomon Islands took place on 6 September 1945 in a ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Glory|R62|6}}. Representing the Japanese were General Hitoshi Imamura, Commander Eighth Area Army, and Admiral Jinichi Kusaka, Commander Southeast Area Fleet.
Image:Aust fleet Rabaul (AWM J03326).jpg|The Australian squadron entering Simpson Harbour, Rabaul, in September 1914
File:RabaulSunkShip.jpg|Sunken Japanese transport ships in Simpson Harbour at Rabaul (1943)
File:Japanese cruiser Haguro at Rabaul.jpg|Aircraft of the USAAF attack Japanese ships, 2 November 1943
File:B-25s in New Guinea.jpg|90th Bomb Squadron during the 2 November 1943 attack on Simpson harbor
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/png_simpson.html Pacific War Wrecks]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081227050459/http://www.rapopoplantationresort.com/html/diving.html Rapopo Plantation Resort - divesite]
Category:East New Britain Province
{{EastNewBritainProvince-geo-stub}}