Chapter 8 - Amphibious exercises and rehearsals

Summary

By 1944, the 7th Division was largely focused on a future role in amphibious warfare. Each of its subordinate infantry brigades were directed to participate in training at the Amphibious Warfare Training Centre in preparation for future operations. Although the 7th Division’s amphibious exercises Octopus and Seagull would be scenarios of proposed Australian participation in the liberation of the Philippines, ultimately the division would conduct two amphibious landings in an effort to defeat Japanese forces in Borneo. Chapters 8 and 9 will examine the 18th Brigade’s transition to an amphibious assault brigade and the conduct of the amphibious assault at Balikpapan. In order to do so, chapter 8 will provide an analysis of the evolution of modern amphibious operation, which led to the Allied doctrine and exercise model that guided the amphibious operations in the SWPA.