 Complete the following phrase:  The role of the machine gun battalion was to provide direct fire support in addition to the machine guns that were organic to infantry battalions. With an authorised strength of 700 to 800 men, like other machine gun battalions, it was equipped with 48 Vickers medium machine guns and organised into four machine gun companies. There was also several support platoons and a headquarters company. Assigned at divisional level to the 6th Division, the battalion was employed initially defend the beaches around Port Moresby against a possible Japanese landing. This lasted until January 1943, when one of its companies was transferred to Milne Bay where it joined the 11th Division and carried out patrols and other defensive tasks; other elements of the battalion were deployed forward by air to Wau, to defend the vital airfield in January and February 1943. At Wau, a company from the 7th Machine Gun Battalion was assigned to Kanga Force and the 17th Brigade. They subsequently took part in the 