_A raider 60mm mortar crew goes into action on New Georgia. Because the
raiders had no heavier weapons, their initial efforts at Bairoko were
mostly unsuccessful._]
Prior to dawn on 18 July four APDs brought the 4th Raider Battalion and
fresh supplies to Enogai. Most of the Rice Anchorage garrison had also
moved up to join the main force. This gave Liversedge four battalions,
but all of them were significantly understrength due to losses already
suffered in the New Georgia campaign. The 4th Raider Battalion was
short more than 200 men. The 1st Raiders reorganized into two full
companies (B and D), with A and C becoming skeleton units. A detachment
of the 3d Battalion, 145th Infantry, remained at Rice Anchorage. More
important, the enemy at Bairoko was now aware of the threat to its
position. Marine patrols in mid-July noted that the Japanese were
busily fortifying the landward approaches to their last harbor on the
north coast of the island.
Liversedge issued his order for the attack. It would commence the
morning of 20 July with two companies of the 1st Raider Battalion and
all of the 4th advancing from Enogai while the 3d Battalion, 148th
Infantry, moved out along the Triri-Bairoko Trail. The American forces
would converge on the Japanese from two directions. The remaining Army
battalion guarded Triri; Companies A and C of the raiders defended
Enogai. These units also served as the reserve. Liversedge requested an
air-strike on Bairoko timed to coincide with the attack, but it never
materialized.
[Illustration: SEIZURE OF VIRU HARBOR