1941: The Italian colony of Dernaon the Libyan coast fell to an assault by the Australian 6th Division, whilst the British 7th Armoured Division swept south-west through the desert in a major strategic encirclement which closed the net on the Italian Tenth Army at Beda Fomm on 5 February as it attempted to retreat along the coast road.

1943: The Battle of Wau, New Guinea, began as the Japanese recognised that Allied possession of Wau posed a significant threat to important Japanese bases at Lae and nearby Salamaua. The Japanese sought to take the town but were defeated after weeks of heavy fighting.

1945: The Royal Navy's carrier force in the Far East launched a follow-up strike against the Japanese oil refineries at Palembang in Sumatra.