Shaggy Ridge is a long razorback (stratigraphic)

ridge A ridge is a long, narrow, elevated geomorphologic landform, structural feature, or a combination of both separated from the surrounding terrain by steep sides. The sides of a ridge slope away from a narrow top, the crest or ridgecrest, wi ...

in the

Finisterre Range The Finisterre Range is a mountain range in north-eastern Papua New Guinea. The highest point is ranked 41st in the world by prominence with an elevation of 4,150 m. Although the range's high point is not named on official maps, the name "Mount ...

, in north eastern

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea, officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is an island country in Oceania that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and offshore islands in Melanesia, a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean n ...

. Its highest point is above sea level. The ridge is located between the valleys of the

Mene The moonfish of the genus ''Mene'', the sole extant genus of the family Menidae, are disk-shaped fish which bear a vague resemblance to gourami, thanks to their thread-like pelvic fins. Today, the genus is represented only by ''Mene maculata'' ...

and Faria Rivers and culminates at one end in Kankiryo Saddle, which links it to Faria Ridge and divides Faria Valley and Mindjim River Valley. From the Ramu Valley, the ridge runs NNW, and the highest point is located at 145°44.23'E:5°46.36'S.

History

The ridge was named after an

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

n soldier, Captain Robert "Shaggy Bob" Clampett, commander of "A" Company, 2/27th Infantry Battalion, the first Allied ground unit to reconnoitre the area during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Shaggy Ridge was the site of several battles during the

Finisterre Range campaign The Markham Valley, Ramu Valley and Finisterre Range campaigns were a series of battles within the broader New Guinea campaign of World War II. The campaigns began with an Allies of World War II, Allied offensive in the Ramu Valley, from 19 Sep ...

of 1943–1944. The ridge was the site of major Japanese defensive positions, blocking access from the Ramu Valley to the north coast of New Guinea. In December 1943, the Australian 7th Division attacked; the difficult terrain made this a famous campaign which did not end until the last Japanese positions were captured in January. The battles on Shaggy Ridge itself were: * Battle of The Pimple * Battle of Cam's Saddle * Battle of Faria Ridge * Battle of Prothero I and II * Battle of McCaughey's Knoll * Battle of Kankiryo Saddle * Battle of Crater Hill

In popular culture

Fighting at Shaggy Ridge was featured in the Australian documentary '' Jungle Patrol'' (1944).

Notes

Landforms of Papua New Guinea Ridges Landforms of Oceania {{PapuaNewGuinea-geo-stub