Peter J. Dean is the Director of Studies at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, the Australian National University and a Senior Lecturer at the Australian Command and Staff College. He is the editor of Australia 1942: The Shadow of War (2012), the author of The Architect of Victory: The Military Career of Lieutenant-General Sir Frank Horton Berryman (2011), a contributing editor to the Second World War journal Global War Studies and a managing editor for the journal Security Challenges.

Introduction Peter Dean; 1. MacArthur and Curtin: deciding Australian war strategy in 1943 David Horner; 2. MacArthur's war: strategy, command and plans for the 1943 offensive Peter Dean; 3. The Japanese Army's search for a new South Pacific strategy, 1943 Hiroyuki Shindo; 4. On the offensive: US operations in the Southwest Pacific Area and the South Pacific Ocean Area in 1943 Kevin C. Holzimmer; 5. Perspiration, inspiration, frustration: the RAAF in New Guinea in 1943 Mark Johnston; 6. The naval perspective: the RAN in 1943 Ian Pfenningwerth; 7. Logistics and the Cartwheel operations Ross Mallett; 8. The 'Salamaua magnet' Karl James; 9. From the air, sea and land: the capture of Lae Peter Dean; 10. The Markham-Ramu Valley operation Lachlan Grant; 11. Applying the principles of war: securing the Huon Peninsula Garth Pratten.