Diving Rabaul Wrecks Reefs and Jetties... In January 1942, just 46 days after their devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese Imperial Forces redirected their attention southward and launched an invasion of Papua New Guinea. Their primary objective was the capture of Rabaul on the north-east tip of the large island of New Britain. Specifically, they wanted Rabaul’s Simpson Harbour. And its sheltered, deep-water anchorages as the base for their South Seas 4th Fleet. The first stage of taking all of PNG and then using it as their launch pad to invade Australia. And seize it they did by completely overwhelming the small …