The Japanese landed two battalions at Lae and Salamaua on the Huon Gulf on 8 March 1942 giving them control of the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits.
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The range runs into the Saruwaged Range to the east and together they form a natural barrier between the Ramu and Markham valleys to the south and Vitiaz Strait to the north.
The Imperial Japanese Navy submarine Japanese Kaidai class submarine I-181 was beached upon Gneisenau Point in Kelanoa Harbour, after it was attacked in Vitiaz Strait by a United States Navy destroyer and a PT boat on 16 January 1944 and lost with all (89) hands.
The Saruwaged Range runs into the Finisterre Range to the west and together they form a natural barrier between the Ramu and Markham valleys to the south and Vitiaz Strait to the north.