How the Japanese defeated the Americans in the Philippines
Japanese Marines watch the shelling of Manila
The operation to seize the Philippines, then owned by the United States, began on December 8, 1941. Already on January 2, 1942, Japanese troops captured the capital of the country, Manila.
Continuing the offensive, the Japanese blocked the main forces of the US-Philippine army on Corregidor Island. On May 6-8, 1942, US and Filipino forces under the command of General Jonathan Wainwright surrendered. The Philippines came under the rule of the Land of the Rising Sun. More than 100 Americans and Filipinos were captured. The defeat of the Allied forces led to the occupation of the Philippines, which lasted two and a half years.
USA "Victory Program"
In the second half of 1941, given the growing threat of war with Japan, the United States stepped up preparations for war. An economic defense council and a department for the supply of raw materials for the military industry were created. The military budget is being increased, military factories are being built, and a strict limit is imposed on the use of metals and other strategic materials by civilian industries. Output increases significantly weapons and military equipment. In August, a law was passed to increase the term of military service from 12 to 18 months.
After the Japanese occupied Indochina, the United States further intensified its preparations for war. So, in July 1941 alone, 1500 aircraft were produced, 3 times more than in July 1940. In 1941, the country produced 1,3 thousand medium and heavy tanks, although in 1939-1940. they were not released at all. By the end of the summer of 1941, about 960 combat and auxiliary ships of various classes were under construction in the United States.
By the beginning of the war, the personnel of the American army had been increased to 1,6 million people. The ground forces had 37 divisions (including 5 tank and 2 cavalry), over 40 air regiments. But most of the divisions were at the deployment stage, had little experience and were poorly trained. The fleet at the beginning of December 1941 consisted of about 940 ships, including 17 battleships, 8 aircraft carriers, 37 cruisers, 170 destroyers and more than 110 submarines. But the fleet was divided into two theaters - the Atlantic and the Pacific. In September 1941, at the direction of President Roosevelt, the headquarters of the ground and naval forces developed a plan ("Victory Program"), which provided for an increase in the size of the army to 8,8 million people, to have 215 divisions in the ground forces, and 60 thousand aircraft in the air force.
The problem was that Washington and London, having great superiority in military-economic and scientific-technical potential over Japan, believed that they still had time. Back in August 1941, the top leadership of Japan decided to first launch an offensive in the south. And Roosevelt wrote to Churchill on October 15 that the Japanese would head north. Thus, the United States and Britain will have at least a two-month respite in the Far East. Churchill thought the same. On November 5, when the Japanese headquarters issued orders to complete preparations for the attack on American and British possessions, the chiefs of staff of the army and fleet The United States, General Marshall and Admiral Stark, presented to Roosevelt a memorandum in which they proposed to postpone the war by diplomatic means to the last. It was only later that the Americans and the British realized that Japan had escaped the trap set (Why Japan attacked the United States), and will not attack Russia. Therefore, the United States and Britain did not have time to take emergency measures to strengthen the defense of their bases and possessions in the Asia-Pacific region (APR).
In addition, Germany was considered the main enemy and it was planned to concentrate the main efforts on the European theater. Britain considered its main task to be the defense of its possessions in Southeast and South Asia, especially Singapore, and the provision of sea communications. The United States also planned to defend its possessions, sea communications, support the British and defend the "Malay Barrier" - the Malacca Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and the island chain from Java to Australia. To ensure the sea communications of the United States to the Philippines and Singapore, it was planned to seize positions in the Marshall Islands and in the Caroline Islands zone, to disrupt the enemy's communication routes. The main role in containing Japan will be played by the Air Force, Navy and part of the ground forces.
Japanese soldiers fire a 70mm Type 92 cannon in the jungle of the Bataan Peninsula
Allied forces
In general, the armed forces of the United States, Britain and Holland in the Pacific Ocean had great power. In particular, they had more ground forces than the Japanese, who were bound by the war in China and held a large grouping against the USSR and reserves in the mother country. The Allies had 22 divisions (11 British, 9 American and 2 Dutch, not counting auxiliary forces) against 11 Japanese. The allies had some advantage in battleships (11 versus 10), submarine fleet.
The Japanese had a significant advantage in aircraft carriers (10 versus 3), in terms of the number of aircraft based on them (575 versus 220), as well as base and army aviation (about 1700 aircraft versus 1300). In addition, the training of the flight personnel of the British Air Force was weak, most of the machines were outdated and inferior in performance characteristics to Japanese aircraft.
Also, part of the allied forces consisted of Malay, Indonesian, Filipino and other formations that had just been formed or were just being created. Their combat experience, training and weapons were significantly weaker than the Japanese.
Allied troops were dispersed over vast areas, their interaction was not worked out, there was no single command. The allies underestimated the capabilities of the Japanese, especially their ability to simultaneously develop offensives in several strategic directions at once. The Japanese had the opportunity to be the first to inflict a crushing blow on the enemy, which significantly undermined the enemy's combat potential.
Filipino and American troops on the Bataan Peninsula
Defense of the Philippines
After the Spanish-American War of 1898, the Spanish colony of the Philippines became a dependent territory of the United States. In 1935, the islands received autonomy status within the United States. The Philippines were supposed to gain complete independence in a few years, so they had their own government and army.
On August 15, 1941, General Marshall approved a plan to strengthen the defense of the Philippines. Troops, weapons, aircraft, tanks (two battalions), artillery and air defense systems began to be transferred to the islands. The construction of fortifications on the island of Luzon began. The air force in the Philippines planned to be reinforced with 4 regiments of heavy bombers (272 aircraft) and 2 groups of fighters (130 aircraft). A combined squadron from Hawaii arrived in September. In October - November, a batch of B-17 long-range bombers was deployed. It was believed that in the event of war, bombers would be able to interfere with the actions of the Japanese fleet and troop transports south of Formosa, and replace large forces of the fleet.
The strengthening of the defense of the Philippines was planned to be completed by February 1942. By the end of winter, transfer another 20 thousand American soldiers and complete the formation of 10 Philippine divisions. By the beginning of the war with Japan, the army group of General Douglas MacArthur included up to two American divisions (Philippine division, infantry, cavalry and two artillery regiments and units of the National Guard), 4 Philippine divisions (several more divisions were in the stage of formation), 277 aircraft ... The total number of the US-Philippine army group is about 150 thousand people (including 31 thousand Americans). The personnel, especially among the Filipinos, were poorly trained. There were no serious defensive structures on the islands, or they were under construction. Only on Luzon was the Bataan Peninsula fortified and there was a fortress on Corregidor Island, located at the entrance to Manila Bay. The arrival of bombers and especially fighters was slow. The air defense was weak.
The US Asian Fleet was based in the Philippines under the command of Rear Admiral Thomas Hart. There are 45 warships in total. They included the Houston heavy cruiser, the Marblehead and Boyes light cruisers, the Langley and Childs air carriers, 12 destroyers, and 28 submarines.
Generals Wainwright and MacArthur (right). January 1941
Japanese invasion forces
The Philippines was one of the primary targets of the Japanese Empire. The capture of the Philippine Islands was primarily a military-strategic task. It was necessary to prevent the use of the islands by American troops and navy. Secure your communications between the Japanese islands and areas in the south, seize a foothold for the development of an offensive in the Dutch East Indies and against Australia. Also, the Japanese were interested in the natural resources of the islands.
The Japanese command planned to launch a series of surprise air strikes against air and naval bases, gain air and sea supremacy, land troops in the north and southeast of Luzon Island, defeat the enemy grouping, and capture the capital of the Philippines, Manila. At the same time, land amphibious forces in the south of the Philippine Islands to assist the main forces and capture the naval bases.
The task of capturing the Philippines was to be solved by the 14th Japanese army under the command of Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma (129 thousand people), the 5th air unit of Lieutenant General Hideyoshi Obata (based on Formosa-Taiwan, 200 machines), 11th air force of the base sea aviation (300 aircraft). At sea, the operation was supported by the Philippine Fleet Operational Formation from the 3rd Fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Takahashi (an aircraft carrier and 3 aircraft, 10 cruisers, 29 destroyers, about 100 transports and auxiliary vessels). In the first echelon, the 16th Division (based on the Ryukyu Islands and in Palau) and the 48th Infantry Division (Formosa), which were to capture the island of Luzon, were advancing. The 65th brigade was assigned the task of garrison service.
Japanese invasion of the Philippines
Fall of Manila
In the early days of the war, the Japanese Air Force, which was based on the island of Taiwan, carried out massive raids on Philippine airfields and Cavite naval bases on the island. Luzon and Davao in Mindanao. Japanese aircraft destroyed half of the bombers and more than a third of the fighters. The Americans transferred the surviving 17 B-17 bombers, about 70 fighters and naval aircraft to the southern regions. That is, the Japanese won air supremacy at the very beginning of the invasion. American plans to thwart an air attack on the Philippines were thwarted. The Japanese created favorable conditions for the landing of amphibious forces. In addition, the Americans, even before the start of the war, took large surface ships of the Asian fleet to the south, and then to Dutch India. There are several gunboats and boats left on Luzon.
Thus, the American command did not dare to use the fleet against the enemy, especially in the conditions of enemy air superiority. The submarines were unable to do anything. The Japanese achieved complete superiority in the air and at sea.
The Japanese, not meeting opposition from the American Air Force and Navy, on December 10, 1941, landed an advanced force on Luzon. They quickly captured the Aparri and Vigan areas with naval support. The aircraft of the 5th air group are immediately transferred to the airfields located here. At the same time, in the south of the island of Luzon, in Legazpi Bay, another Japanese landing party is landing.
On December 22-24, the main forces of the 14th Army landed in Lingaen Bay and in the Lamon area, which developed an offensive against Manila. Earlier, the Japanese had landed troops on the islands of Mindanao and Holo. They were supported by the Air Force and the Navy.
The American-Filipino troops, left without the support of aviation and navy, were unable to resist the Japanese landings. On December 23rd, General MacArthur orders the withdrawal of troops to the Bataan Peninsula. The Japanese continued their offensive and occupied Manila on January 2, 1942. In 25 days of the operation, the Japanese army completed its main tasks.
Japanese artillery fires 105 mm Type 92 cannons at American positions on Bataan.
Japanese tank type 97 "Chi-Ha" on the captured island of Corregidor
Japanese soldiers celebrate victory in the Battle of Corregidor. They stand in front of a 12-inch coastal gun of the American battery.
Surrender
On the Bataan Peninsula, the allied forces (12,5 thousand Americans and 67 thousand Filipinos, together with refugees - 100 thousand), taking advantage of the favorable conditions of the terrain, were able to hold out for three months. In addition, the main strike force of the invasion, the Japanese 48th Division, was replaced by the much less efficient 65th Brigade. The Japanese 5th Air Group, together with the 48th Division, was transferred to Dutch India, which weakened the Japanese grouping on Luzon. This allowed the Allies to repel Japanese attacks in January and February. The Japanese command postponed the decisive assault until spring.
The allies suffered from a lack of food and disease, it was impossible to help them. They also ran out of ammunition and medicines. Therefore, the command of the Philippine group, represented by General MacArthur, was evacuated to Mindanao, then to Australia. MacArthur handed over command to Major General John Wainwright. On March 28, 1942, after air and artillery preparation, the Japanese attacked again. On April 3, the Allied defenses were broken. On April 8, the commander of the US-Philippine forces on Bataan, the chief of artillery, General Edward King, agreed to surrender. On April 9, the allied forces laid down their arms. 75 thousand people were captured. The Japanese treated the prisoners extremely cruelly, many military and civilians were killed, died of heat and exhaustion during the transition to concentration camps (Bataan death march).
General E. King discusses the terms of the surrender of American troops on Bataan with Colonel Nakayama of the Japanese army
Japanese soldiers celebrate victory in the Battle of Bataan
Captured Americans and Filipinos before the Bataan Death March. The prisoners were forced to walk more than 90 km from Bataan to Tarlak along broken roads. Exhausted and exhausted people were deprived of rest and drink, many died or were killed during this transition
The last major seat of American resistance in the Philippines was the Corregidor fortress. The island of Corregidor, turned into a fortress during the First World War, blocked the entrance to Manila Bay. It housed two coastal defense regiments, an anti-aircraft artillery regiment, a marine regiment and the remnants of units that were able to evacuate from Bataan. Here were located the Malinta tunnels, which were built for storing ammunition, and were used to house the headquarters of the allied army, the Philippine leadership, diplomats who fled from Manila were also located here.
In December 1941 - April 1942, the Japanese Air Force bombed the island, it was shelled by artillery. Since March, the wreck was blocked, communication with the outside world was maintained only with the help of submarines. Submarines brought in supplies and mail, evacuated high-ranking military personnel and diplomats, and took out important documents and valuables. After the surrender of the Americans on the Bataan Peninsula, the Japanese concentrated their forces on the capture of Corregidor.
Japanese soldiers land on Corregidor Island
A Japanese soldier fires a flamethrower at an American fortification on Corregidor Island. May 1942
American and Filipino soldiers surrender to Japanese forces on Corregidor Island
On May 1, 1942, a powerful artillery bombardment of the fortress began. The Japanese finally suppressed the enemy's artillery, and on the night of May 5-6, they landed an assault force of 2 battalions and captured a bridgehead in the northeastern part of the island. The Japanese reinforced the landing with artillery and tanks. The Americans were driven back to their bunkers. On May 6, General Wainwright offered surrender. Japanese commander Homma insisted that all American forces in the Philippines surrender. Wainwright accepted these terms. On May 8, he sent a telegram to all American troops ordering them to lay down their arms. On Corregidor 12 thousand people surrendered (about 2 thousand more were killed and wounded).
Part of the American-Filipino troops did not lay down their arms and resisted (partisan) until the summer of 1942. Thus, the Japanese troops carried out a major operation to capture the vast archipelago. The decisive role was played by the conquest of air and sea supremacy, which led to the success of the landed amphibious forces. The weak pre-war training of the American-Philippine army also affected, which could not organize a serious opposition to the enemy, effectively use the available aircraft, did not prepare fortified areas with supplies of everything necessary, partisan bases in vast forests and swamps. Plus the inaction of the Asian fleet. The Japanese skillfully used landings: first, to capture individual areas with airfields and bases located there, then they carried out the transfer of the main forces and aviation. Troops simultaneously landed in several places on Luzon Island and on other islands, which led to the dispersal of enemy forces.
The American command, in order to fend off the enemy's success, had to urgently create a powerful military foothold in Australia, strengthen the defenses of the islands in the southwestern Pacific, Hawaii and Alaska.
Street view of Manila shortly after the surrender of American troops
Japanese troops during a parade in Manila. Japanese artillery tractors Type 92 5-t Prime Mover "I-Ke" tow 105mm Type 92 Cannon cannons. On horseback is the commander of the 14th Army, Japanese Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma. The Japanese military victory parade took place after the besieged US-Philippine army surrendered in Bataan. May 18, 1942 (
Japanese troops during a parade in Manila. In the foreground, a formation of Japanese trucks with personnel in bodies.
- Alexander Samsonov
- https://ru.wikipedia.org/, http://waralbum.ru/
Information