Allied air power interrupted Hindering the Japanese capacity to reinforce Cause_change_of_strength and resupply Supply the beachheads from Rabaul .

After the battle Hostile_encounter , Allied forces Military_operation continued to expand Expansion their beachhead on Bougainville with the goal of constructing airfields to attack Attack and neutralize Japanese forces Military_operation located at Rabaul and nearby areas .

The campaign was initiated Process_start by the Allies in late 1943 as part of a major offensive which aimed Aiming to neutralise Destroying the important Japanese base at Rabaul , the capital of New Britain , and was conducted Action in two phases between December 1943 and the end of the war Hostile_encounter in August 1945 .

The Japanese regarded the New Britain Campaign as a delaying action , and kept Temporary_stay their forces concentrated Aiming around Rabaul in expectation of a ground assault Attack which never came Action .

The occupation Control of Tulagi by the Japanese was intended to cover Hiding_objects the flank of and provide Supply reconnaissance support Supporting for Japanese forces that were advancing Self_motion on Port Moresby in New Guinea , provide Supply greater defensive depth for the major Japanese base at Rabaul , and serve Assistance as a base for Japanese forces to threaten and interdict the supply and communication routes between the United States and Australia and New Zealand .

The Japanese invaded Attack in order to construct naval and air bases to provide Supply security for their major base at Rabaul , New Britain and to support Supporting strategic operations in the Solomon Islands .

In November 1943 , allied forces landed Self_motion on the west coast of Bougainville as part of the latter stages of Operation Cartwheel , and began Process_start building air bases to assist in the isolation and neutralization of Rabaul .