Made up of elements from the 1st and 2/5th Independent Companies and the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR),[1] Kanga Force conducted a number of small scale raids and reconnaissance operations around Lae and Salamaua before it was disbanded and the individual units became part of the Australian 3rd Division in 1943.

[2] In April 1942 a decision was made by the Australian Army high command to form a guerilla unit, known as Kanga Force, whose job it would be initially to conduct a reconnaissance of Japanese troops at Lae and Salamaua and then later to start a limited offensive to harass and destroy enemy personnel and equipment in the area.

[6] Together with Howard's platoon and the NGVR, these units formed Kanga Force, and as the situation developed it was given the task to start a limited offensive to harass and destroy enemy personnel and equipment in the area.

[6] As Major Fleay attempted to juggle his forces and relieve the exhausted NGVR detachments, his orders from higher were clarified and work began on planning a number of raids in the area.

[12] In addition, the Australians captured a small amount of enemy equipment and a number of documents, including marked maps, sketches, and Japanese orders.