Seeadler Harbor - History

History

Further information: Admiralty Islands campaign#Securing Seeadler Harbour

On February 29, 1944, General Douglas MacArthur led Operation Brewer to take the islands from the Japanese who had occupied them beginning in 1942. The islands were secured by the Americans on March 19, 1944, who then built a large base at Seeadler Harbor including wharves and an airbase. This base served as a staging area for further World War II operations in New Guinea and the Philippines.

USS Mount Hood exploded accidentally while moored in Seeadler Harbor on 10 November 1944. The ship was carrying ammunition and the tremendous explosion caused 432 fatalities, 371 wounded, damage to surrounding ships and base from debris and sinking or severely damaging 22 smaller craft.

The wrecks of the U.S. Navy's Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks, AFDB-2 and AFDB-4, and an Imperial Japanese ship amongst others are located within the harbor.

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