Operation Lilliput was a convoy operation directed by G. Operations Instructions Number 21 of 20 October for transportation of troops, weapons, and supplies in a regular transport service between Milne Bay and Oro Bay , New Guinea between 18 December and June in order "to cover reinforcement, supply, and development of the Buna-Gona area upon its anticipated capture" by the Australian 7th Division and the United States Army's 32d Division.
Corvettes provided the majority of the escort force. Losses during Imperial Japanese air attacks amounted to two merchant ships, ' s Jacob and Van Heemskerk , sunk and two badly damaged while several of the corvettes also sustained damage and casualties. The western terminus of the convoys was Oro Bay some miles km from Milne Bay and noted for its treacherous approaches between Milne Bay and Cape Nelson.
The final approach was through a channel from. The port area, with a capacity for six to eight ships in an anchorage of about 90 feet On 14 December , an advance party of the Lilliput Task Force arrived with landing barges in advance of the first U.
Carpender commanding Allied Naval Forces noting the entire area between Cape Nelson and Buna was so filled with reefs that destroyers would be limited in maneuver and not effective against Japanese forces with clear sea room from bases in Rabaul. Further, requirements preliminary to the Guadalcanal operation required fleet units be on standby south of New Guinea. Thus the convoys would only have small, shallow draft warships for escort. Initial landing operations were carried out under cover of night and construction of the 72 miles km of road between the port and Dobodura Airfield was begun by Australian units later augmented by U.
Army units and equipment with completion within months. In the meantime, jeeps were used over jungle trails to deliver supplies.
