Eisenhower in the Pacific: Part 1 The Shoestring Warriors of Luzon

Where would they get the skilled manpower to operate a large and obsolete cruiser like the Rochester? And that's leaving aside the fact that after so many years out of commission she was little more than a floating hulk who's boilers were worn out from serving as a power plant for the naval base she was moored at.

However, she seems to have had her main guns still mounted in the late 1930s. It might be worth removing them to serve as shore batteries, if suitable ammunition can be scrounged up in the States.
For the Rochester to have Been usable would require a POD, ca.1935 so her power plant and engines overhauled, and kept functional, as well as a shore based powerplant for Subice Bay/Olopongo. IMO a better buy for the Phillipines, would be building another half dozen PG's based on the Treasury class USCG cutters, but replace the 5"51's with 5"25's.
 
For the Rochester to have Been usable would require a POD, ca.1935 so her power plant and engines overhauled, and kept functional, as well as a shore based powerplant for Subice Bay/Olopongo. IMO a better buy for the Phillipines, would be building another half dozen PG's based on the Treasury class USCG cutters, but replace the 5"51's with 5"25's.

Long term that would indeed be the way for the Philippine CG to go, along with a few minesweepers.

An ideal CG at independence would be a few gunboats and cutters, a few minesweepers, a few small transport vessels (ideally LCM/LST mix), and a couple of score of small motor gunboat/torpedo boat type craft. That keeps the numbers reasonably small in terms of manpower while providing sufficient patrol flexibility for the nation that consists of literally hundreds of islands small and large. As independence is not scheduled until 1945, the Commonwealth Government when planning in 1937-38 assumed it had plenty of time for all that.

An old armored cruiser is simply a great big target of the IJNAF to bomb and a massive head ache to keep running before that. The guns however will find new homes
 
Fleets in the last days of Peace
Further Expansion of the Philippine Coast Guard 1941
In early 1941, the Philippine Coast Guard gains the old hydrographic vessel “Pathfinder” from US Coast and Geoditic Survey office, which is converted into an officer training ship, and orders are placed for 4 minesweepers to be delivered in 1942 (former USN vessels). The Coast Guard also acquires 8 J2F Ducks, enough to start a detachment at Cebu and another at Davao to patrol over the southern and central islands.

In late 1941, the heavy cruiser Louisville arrives escorting 2 transport ships carrying what would be the last reinforcements to reach Luzon before the shooting starts. The Louisville is attached to the Asiatic Fleet, giving Admiral Hart a heavy cruiser division, while the light cruiser Marblehead is detached as it has orders to proceed to the Atlantic Fleet to join her sisters there. She escorts the convoy out of the Southwest Pacific and is near the Santa Cruz Islands when war begins, along with her charges.

As the Marblehead leaves, the Yangtze Patrol Gunboats, as well as the 4th Marine Regiment arrives over the week between December 1 and December 5. The Marine Regiment (with its 2 battalions) is moved to Subic Bay, where it joins the 1st Seperate battalion, which is organized as an air defense artillery battalion and has its own radar. The Regiment is assigned as part of the strategic reserve and as a quick reaction force. The gunboats are assigned to assist the Philippine Coast Guard, although many of their senior petty officers and indeed most of the crew members are quickly reassigned to help out with seriously undermanned ships of the Asiatic Fleet, however orders have barely been cut when the war begins.

The British Deterrent Force and final Allied naval reinforcements
In the fall of 1941, worried about growing tensions with Japan, Winston Churchill proposes reinforcing the Eastern Fleet with a pair of fast heavy warships, as well as a carrier for air support. Initially he proposes sending the Prince of Wales, the Repulse and the Indomitable, along with 4 destroyers. However fate soon deals a blow to that plan. On September 27, the Prince of Wales, covering a convoy to Malta, is torpedoed by Italian aircraft, and while she survives, has suffered sufficient damage to knock her out of action for several months. The carrier Indomitable hits an uncharted rock in the Caribbean on her maiden voyage, requiring repair time for her as well.

Frustrated with his initial plan Churchill decides that a force of fast battle cruisers and heavy cruisers would serve as the deterrent force, being able to make fast slashing raids against any Japanese invasion forces and then escape before the older Japanese battle line could catch them and thus they would serve as the deterrent force he wants. He is gambling, but considering how desperate the situation is looking in late November 1941, with the possibility of Soviet defeat as well as the critical situation in North Africa, he feels a gamble is justified. On November 27, the Renown and light cruiser Trinidad are ordered to the Indian Ocean where they will join the Repulse and form the basis of Force Z, which will be commanded by Admiral Phillips. It it expected that the three ships, along with what cruisers and destroyers can be scraped up from the Eastern Fleet will arrive in Singapore no later than December 12, 1941.

Informal discussions during the meeting at Argentan Bay propose that in the event of war, British, Australian, and American surface forces will combine to defend the Malay Barrier alongside the Free Dutch. A command structure is still being determined even as war comes. However, the clear importance of air cover after the losses and damage suffered by the Royal Navy makes it clear that clear that additional air reinforcements are needed to cover the Eastern Fleet if it is to operate out of Singapore and 5 squadrons of Hurricanes are sent to Malaya, arriving on December 6. They are still being uncrated and the squadrons are still forming when war begins.

The final reinforcement arriving in the theater is the American heavy cruiser Pensacola, which is escorting several transports to the Philippines and is just east of Fiji on the morning of December 7. y Admiral Stark issues three different sets of orders to the convoy, ordering it first to Pearl Harbor, then to sending it to Samoa before finally sending it to Brisbane and eventually the cruiser and some of the transports to Darwin. This, along with the heavy losses suffered in the Hawaiian Islands, is a major reason for his replacement with Admiral King in 1942. However the Pensacola finally joins the Asiatic Fleet in mid January 1942.


Allied Naval Forces ABDA Command (American, British, Dutch, Australian) December 8, 1941


American forces
Surface Forces (Glassford)
CA Houston, Louisville, CL Boise, 13 Clemson class DD, tender Black Hawk, tankers Pecos, Trinity,
seaplane tender Childs, Preston (both converted destroyers),
(all are at Iliolo, Panay on December 8 except for four destroyers at Cavite undergoing maintenance or repair)
en route CA Pensacola

Submarine Forces
29 submarines, with 4 S Boats, 25 fleet boats, of which 3 fleet boats are at Cavite undergoing repair. All other submarines are on patrol to the north, northwest and northeast of the Philippines beginning December 1 after the receipt of the war warning on November 30. 3 submarine tenders are at Cavite on December 8.

16th Naval District Forces (includes Philippine Coast Guard) (Rockwell)
6 minesweepers, 2 seaplane tenders, 1 ocean going tug, 1 submarine rescue vessel, 6 PT boats, 5 smaller PT boats (Filipino crews), 5 gunboats (former Yangtze Patrol), 2 armed yachts, 1 armed sailing yacht, 12 armed patrol boats/craft, 4 mine tenders, 2 converted yachts (minelayers), 4 armed light transports

(5 small PT boats, 2 minelayers, 2 armed patrol boats in Lingayen Gulf, 4 armed patrol craft at Cebu, remainder at Subic Bay, Manila Bay or off Corregidor)


Aircraft
Patrol Wing (PATWING) 10 with 28 Catalina, 5 Kingfisher, 5 Ducks, 12 Seagull (including 4 aboard each CA and 2 aboard the CL) (all operating out of Manila Bay) plus 4 Filipino Ducks at Davao with the seaplane tender Heron and 4 Filipino Ducks with the seaplane tender Langley at Cebu. Four of the Catalina and 3 Kingfisher are with the Preston and Childs at Panay.

British Eastern Fleet (at Singapore)

several minesweepers, patrol craft and gunboats, 5 submarines, Fleet Air Arm Catalina, Hudson and Swordfish aircraft
en route

BC Renown, Repulse, CA Dorsetshire, Devonshire, Exeter CL Trinidad, Caledon, 8 destroyers (at Trincomalee on December 8, 1941)

Australian forces (link up with Penscola Convoy once the war starts)
CA Australia, Canberra, CL Hobart, Perth, 4 destroyers

Dutch Forces in theater
Light cruisers Tromp, De Ruyter, Java, 8 destroyers, 16 submarines


(additional British, Australian and Dutch forces are in the Indian Ocean or operating from eastern Australia when the war begins. Not included are a number of British and Dutch support ships and craft)
 
authors notes:
The US gets one more CA, the Philippine Coast Guard adds some more coastal and patrol craft which will be useful, and another US CA is on the way. Both CA additions and the Marblehead going to the Atlantic are as a result of the effects, either before the war or once it starts, of the "Battle at Dawn" storyline

The change to Force Z is partly poetic license, partly some butterfly ripples from the point of departure from 1937. The Prince of Wales was indeed attacked on that date, so could have taken a hit. Churchill wanted his deterrent force. Considering that the original plan was to send 4 R class BBs to Singapore initially, sending a force of big gun cruisers (and that is what the two BCs are at this point) is a much saner idea. The Duke of York was barely in commission, while the King George V is the heart of the Home Fleet, so neither of them can replace the Prince of Wales if she isn't available. The carrier hitting the rock off Jamaica is just one of those things so keeping it.

This means however ABDA command is going to be a bit different from OTL

There are other ships in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific, including some doomed small ships at Guam, Hong Kong, Shanghai, but they have no effect on the story, and ships from other commands are not yet assigned to commands that will have a bearing on this story (as of yet).
 
A few butterflies changing the line up, but nothing too drastic. I await the fates, if any major changes, of Force Z and ABDA.
 
Mounting Urgency: Krueger and Eisenhower prepare for war
Mounting Urgency
After a few days of inspections by General Krueger and analysis of plans by General Eisenhower, a flurry of orders begins flowing out of the Manila Hotel where both Admiral Hart and General Krueger (for a brief time) live. Both commanders agree to move their headquarters initially to Fort McKinley, adjacent to Nichols Field and within a few miles of Cavite after Eisenhower convinces Generals Krueger and Frank that it would be highly desirable for Admiral Hart to have use of a DC3 or Beechcraft at his beck and call, and that such a gift would improve cooperation. For the first time in the history of the Department the two services have staff working at the same location.

Eisenhower persuades Krueger, who needs little such, that the best thing to do is to get the USAFE out in the field for some field training, particularly the I Corps. Live fire training is particularly needed for support weapons and artillery, and on November 11th, for over a week, the units of I Corps do just that, while it is the first such ever for the Philippine Army Divisions. Many problems are found, but some of the more pressing are that nearly 80% of the mortar ammunition for the 3 inch mortars that provide the bulk of company and battalion firepower for the Philippine Army are duds. An urgent message is sent to the United States for immediate resupply, while every available ordinance sergeant in the Far East is put to work looking for solutions that can be done locally.

pi2.jpg

elements of the 6th Cavalry Brigade moving to wartime positions December 1941


Eisenhower meanwhile discovers that little has been done to prepare the movement of supplies to Bataan in the event that War Plan 3 (the back up plan) gets put into effect, and he bargains with the Navy, Army Air Force and just flat out strips I Corps of their medium and heavy trucks, and organizes them into truck companies with Philippine Army drivers, along with Military Police Companies. These companies remain assigned to their units but on the issue of a code word, they are assigned to the Quartermasters who will use them to move supplies from base areas on the Luzon plain as well as government warehouses such as the NARIC warehouse as well as corporate warehouses along the south harbor of Manila well be seized on issue of that same code word. Supplies will then be moved to Bataan by barge, craft and ship. Eisenhower also orders General Moore to immediately fill his warehouses for his harbor forts and ensure that stocks for 12 months are on hand at all times.

d91b083197622a20a31199bf40e6bc2f.jpg

USAFE air defense units take positions during November Maneuvers


Another maneuver is set for January 1942, where the I Corps will prepare in cooperation with the newly arrived 27th Bombardment Group (and their A24 dive bombers) as well as naval forces to practice a counterattack on a potential Japanese landing at Lingayen Gulf. However, the first war warning on November 30 makes it clear that time is increasingly running out. Krueger orders his troops to hurry their maintenance stand downs and get everything back up and running as quickly as possible. He also finalizes his command structure. He remains as theater commander, but he places Eisenhower as commander of all forces in Luzon. Under him is General Wainwright, commanding the US I Corps, General Ord, commanding the II Corps, and General King, commanding the III Corps, plus General Moore commanding the Harbor Defenses of Manila Bay, Subic Bay, Lingayan Gulf, Lamon Bay and Balayan Bay. General Frank commands US Army Air Forces Far East (USAAFFE) but his responsibilities have been expanded to include liaison and cooperation with the Australians, Dutch and British. After an inspection of the American Volunteer Group, Generals Frank and Eisenhower send a cable to Washington urging that Claire Chennault be given a reserve commission of Brigadier General and Eisenhower, Frank and Hart quietly work out a plan to make use of that organization in case war comes before it leaves.

In late November and early December, the 4th Marine Regiment arrives from Shanghai, and Admiral Hart generously places it under Army tactical command. Krueger is pleased to get another regiment of regulars, and he promptly allocates it as the reserve for III Corps.

As of December 8, 1941, all Filipino troops have at least 9 months service, with most having more than that, and are familiar with their weapons and chain of command. While still limited in their tactical training, they are not substantially less trained than the US National Guard troops that have sent to join them.


US Army Far East (USAFE) December 1941
Commander: General Walter Krueger
Luzon Force (Eisenhower) (army level headquarters

Lingayen Defense Zone
I Corps – Wainwright (Tarlac area)
6th Cavalry Brigade - 1st Provisional tank group (US NG) (192nd and 194th tank battalion with 108 M3 Stuarts and 46 halftracks with 75 mm guns) 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts), 112th Cavalry Regiment (TX/Montana NG), (San Jose area)
12th Infantry Division - 31st US Infantry regiment, 43rd Philippines Scouts (PS) infantry regiment, 57th PS infantry regiment, 86th Field Artillery regiment (PS), plus support (10,000 men) (Rosario area)
23rd Infantry Division - 65th US Infantry regiment, 45th PS infantry regiment, 47th PS infantry regiment, 88th field artillery regiment (PS) plus support (10,000 men) (Paniqui area)
attached

11th Infantry Division (PA) reinforced – 11th, 12th, 13th Light Infantry Regiments, 11th Field Artillery battalion (PA)(12 75 mm guns), 11th Antitank battalion (PA)(12 2.95 inch guns), plus 1st PA Coast Artillery regiment (6 x 8 inch guns, 6 x 6 inch guns, 4 x 6 pounder guns (57 mm), 2 x 3 pounder guns (47 mm) all from the old armored cruiser Baltimore, plus 6 x 155 guns (World War I issue). (these Naval guns provided in late November 1941)

Also directly attached to this command are 5 torpedo boats, 2 minelayers and 2 armed trawlers of the Philippine Coast Guard along with the 250 Filipino Coast Guardsmen and 10 US Navy advisors.
Also attached: 2nd Engineer Brigade (Philippine Army)

The coast artillery is dug in in positions recently constructed by the Philippine Army 2nd Engineer Brigade which is still at work on positions for the 11th Infantry Division when the war begins. Engineers assigned to the infantry divisions are assisting in providing cover and concealment for the I Corps mobile troops.

Manila Defense Area
II Corps – Ord
1st Infantry Division (PA) – 1st, 2nd, 3rd Infantry regiments, 4th Field Artillery regiment (24 75 mm guns, 6 105 mm guns, all World War I era), 1st antitank battalion (18 37 mm guns with jeeps, 12 .50 caliber machine guns with jeeps) (Fort McKinley)

21st Infantry Division (PA) reinforced – 21st, 22nd light infantry regiments, 21st artillery battalion, 21st anti tank battalion, 1st battalion / 2nd PA Coast Artillery (12 x 155 guns) Infante area (coast artillery) / Lamon Bay area (infantry) As of December 8 only the coast artillery is dug in, the remaining units are still in tents. This division has almost no vehicles aside from its artillery prime movers and a few staff cars for the division staff and a few trucks for moving supplies.

The 23rd Light Infantry Regiment along with the 2nd Battalion / 2nd PA Coast Artillery (12 x 155 guns) is stationed at Balayan on Balayan Bay, and is fully dug in at the command of the regimental commander.
3rd Engineer Brigade (Lamon Bay) which is about to begin improving defenses for the 21st Infantry Division and attached coast artillery.

Bataan / Subic Bay defense area
III Corps – King
51st Infantry Division – 51st, 52nd, 53rd light infantry regiments, 51st artillery battalion, 51st anti tank battalion. This division is strung out defending the Iba Field area, as well as the long coast from Subic Bay to Cape Bolinao. It is deployed as a picket force except for the 51st regiment and artillery and anti tank battalions that are deployed around Iba Field.

4th Marine Regiment - 1st and 2nd battalions, 1st separate battalion (anti aircraft), provisional 3rd battalion (forming as a training unit to train Filipino marines). (Subic Bay) (attached is the 3rd Battalion / 2nd PA Coast Defense Artillery with 8 x 8 inch guns)
4th Engineer Brigade – construction work in Bataan
III Corps has administrative control of the 11th Infantry Division (PA) that is in the I Corps area

Manila Bay Forts
Harbor Defense Command – Moore
Fort Mills (Corregidor), Fort Drum, Fort Frank, Fort Hughes (also Fort Wint at Subic Bay)
garrison: 91st, 92nd Coast Artillery (PS), 59th Coast Artillery (US), 60th Coast Artillery (anti aircraft, US)
attached: 91st MP Brigade (PA) (garrison troops for Fort Mills)

Other units
4th Engineer Brigade (PA) (airfield construction central Luzon)
101st MP Brigade (PA) garrison duty USAFE facilities in central Luzon (less several companies in northern Luzon as picket forces)
IV Corps – Sharp
31st Infantry Division (PA) Cebu, Panay, Leyte
41st Infantry Division (PA), 803rd airfield construction battalion (US) Mindanao

a useful map
https://baldrunner.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/missionsluzon-citylocatermap.jpg
 
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authors notes
the historical order of battle can be found here
http://niehorster.org/013_usa/_41_usarmy/philippines/_usaffe.htm

if you click on units you can get information on sub units

for the coast artillery assigned to the forts it will take you to the various batteries assigned

There are some differences as to what is assigned outside of the historical Manila Bay and Subic Bay forts as well as the substantial differences in divisions created and deployed for the Philippine Army

This timeline has a PA that has considerably more training than the one in OTL (which had about 3 months, often less, for most of its men). The number of machine guns and other support weapons are more densely allocated to the fewer divisions fielded as are the motor vehicles, US advisors, trucks, signal equipment and anything else that matters.

There are also 2 more US regiments, 1 regular infantry (Puerto Rican enlisted men, thus Spanish speakers, with American (as in White) officers and only some Puerto Rican junior officers. This was a pre war regiment that spent most of its pre Korean War career as a garrison unit. The 112th Cavalry Regiment is a Texas and Montana National Guard regiment of horse cavalry whose horses have not yet been sent over. In other words, its a small infantry unit, but with some trucks to haul it around (and some of course ride atop the tanks). Just look at the 26th PS Cavalry Regiment to get a feel for its manpower and for the 65th Infantry, look at any of the PS Infantry Regiments.

Note that this is an all or nothing defense. Picket forces to get warning off if the Japanese land where they aren't supposed to, with strong defenses at the most likely landing places.

The American experience is that Lamon Bay would be too rough between October - March for a landing. As it turns out this was incorrect (OTL), but it is considered a potential if unlikely landing place, hence the relatively weak force defending it (TTL).

Coming soon (probably tomorrow, possibly Monday) what the Japanese have planned. If time permits (wife got moved to hospital 70 miles away instead of only 30 miles away) I will start the shooting part of the war... at least the opening air campaign. Its plotted out and merely awaits writing. But you know how RL can be....
 
Further Expansion of the Philippine Coast Guard 1941
In early 1941, the Philippine Coast Guard gains the old hydrographic vessel “Pathfinder” from US Coast and Geoditic Survey office, which is converted into an officer training ship, and orders are placed for 4 minesweepers to be delivered in 1942 (former USN vessels). The Coast Guard also acquires 8 J2F Ducks, enough to start a detachment at Cebu and another at Davao to patrol over the southern and central islands.

In late 1941, the heavy cruiser Louisville arrives escorting 2 transport ships carrying what would be the last reinforcements to reach Luzon before the shooting starts. The Louisville is attached to the Asiatic Fleet, giving Admiral Hart a heavy cruiser division, while the light cruiser Marblehead is detached as it has orders to proceed to the Atlantic Fleet to join her sisters there. She escorts the convoy out of the Southwest Pacific and is near the Santa Cruz Islands when war begins, along with her charges.

As the Marblehead leaves, the Yangtze Patrol Gunboats, as well as the 4th Marine Regiment arrives over the week between December 1 and December 5. The Marine Regiment (with its 2 battalions) is moved to Subic Bay, where it joins the 1st Seperate battalion, which is organized as an air defense artillery battalion and has its own radar. The Regiment is assigned as part of the strategic reserve and as a quick reaction force. The gunboats are assigned to assist the Philippine Coast Guard, although many of their senior petty officers and indeed most of the crew members are quickly reassigned to help out with seriously undermanned ships of the Asiatic Fleet, however orders have barely been cut when the war begins.

The British Deterrent Force and final Allied naval reinforcements
In the fall of 1941, worried about growing tensions with Japan, Winston Churchill proposes reinforcing the Eastern Fleet with a pair of fast heavy warships, as well as a carrier for air support. Initially he proposes sending the Prince of Wales, the Repulse and the Indomitable, along with 4 destroyers. However fate soon deals a blow to that plan. On September 27, the Prince of Wales, covering a convoy to Malta, is torpedoed by Italian aircraft, and while she survives, has suffered sufficient damage to knock her out of action for several months. The carrier Indomitable hits an uncharted rock in the Caribbean on her maiden voyage, requiring repair time for her as well.

Frustrated with his initial plan Churchill decides that a force of fast battle cruisers and heavy cruisers would serve as the deterrent force, being able to make fast slashing raids against any Japanese invasion forces and then escape before the older Japanese battle line could catch them and thus they would serve as the deterrent force he wants. He is gambling, but considering how desperate the situation is looking in late November 1941, with the possibility of Soviet defeat as well as the critical situation in North Africa, he feels a gamble is justified. On November 27, the Renown and light cruiser Trinidad are ordered to the Indian Ocean where they will join the Repulse and form the basis of Force Z, which will be commanded by Admiral Phillips. It it expected that the three ships, along with what cruisers and destroyers can be scraped up from the Eastern Fleet will arrive in Singapore no later than December 12, 1941.

Informal discussions during the meeting at Argentan Bay propose that in the event of war, British, Australian, and American surface forces will combine to defend the Malay Barrier alongside the Free Dutch. A command structure is still being determined even as war comes. However, the clear importance of air cover after the losses and damage suffered by the Royal Navy makes it clear that clear that additional air reinforcements are needed to cover the Eastern Fleet if it is to operate out of Singapore and 5 squadrons of Hurricanes are sent to Malaya, arriving on December 6. They are still being uncrated and the squadrons are still forming when war begins.

The final reinforcement arriving in the theater is the American heavy cruiser Pensacola, which is escorting several transports to the Philippines and is just east of Fiji on the morning of December 7. y Admiral Stark issues three different sets of orders to the convoy, ordering it first to Pearl Harbor, then to sending it to Samoa before finally sending it to Brisbane and eventually the cruiser and some of the transports to Darwin. This, along with the heavy losses suffered in the Hawaiian Islands, is a major reason for his replacement with Admiral King in 1942. However the Pensacola finally joins the Asiatic Fleet in mid January 1942.


Allied Naval Forces ABDA Command (American, British, Dutch, Australian) December 8, 1941


American forces
Surface Forces (Glassford)
CA Houston, Louisville, CL Boise, 13 Clemson class DD, tender Black Hawk, tankers Pecos, Trinity,
seaplane tender Childs, Preston (both converted destroyers),
(all are at Iliolo, Panay on December 8 except for four destroyers at Cavite undergoing maintenance or repair)
en route CA Pensacola

Submarine Forces
29 submarines, with 4 S Boats, 25 fleet boats, of which 3 fleet boats are at Cavite undergoing repair. All other submarines are on patrol to the north, northwest and northeast of the Philippines beginning December 1 after the receipt of the war warning on November 30. 3 submarine tenders are at Cavite on December 8.

16th Naval District Forces (includes Philippine Coast Guard) (Rockwell)
6 minesweepers, 2 seaplane tenders, 1 ocean going tug, 1 submarine rescue vessel, 6 PT boats, 5 smaller PT boats (Filipino crews), 5 gunboats (former Yangtze Patrol), 2 armed yachts, 1 armed sailing yacht, 12 armed patrol boats/craft, 4 mine tenders, 2 converted yachts (minelayers), 4 armed light transports

(5 small PT boats, 2 minelayers, 2 armed patrol boats in Lingayen Gulf, 4 armed patrol craft at Cebu, remainder at Subic Bay, Manila Bay or off Corregidor)


Aircraft
Patrol Wing (PATWING) 10 with 28 Catalina, 5 Kingfisher, 5 Ducks, 12 Seagull (including 4 aboard each CA and 2 aboard the CL) (all operating out of Manila Bay) plus 4 Filipino Ducks at Davao with the seaplane tender Heron and 4 Filipino Ducks with the seaplane tender Langley at Cebu. Four of the Catalina and 3 Kingfisher are with the Preston and Childs at Panay.

British Eastern Fleet (at Singapore)

several minesweepers, patrol craft and gunboats, 5 submarines, Fleet Air Arm Catalina, Hudson and Swordfish aircraft
en route

BC Renown, Repulse, CA Dorsetshire, Devonshire, Exeter CL Trinidad, Caledon, 8 destroyers (at Trincomalee on December 8, 1941)

Australian forces (link up with Penscola Convoy once the war starts)
CA Australia, Canberra, CL Hobart, Perth, 4 destroyers

Dutch Forces in theater
Light cruisers Tromp, De Ruyter, Java, 8 destroyers, 16 submarines


(additional British, Australian and Dutch forces are in the Indian Ocean or operating from eastern Australia when the war begins. Not included are a number of British and Dutch support ships and craft)

Good on the cruisers, from photos, (navsource) all the heavy USN Cruisers had their full , for the time, AA armament of 8 x 1 5"/25cal, and 4 x4x 1.1" installed as well as .50 cal MG. Question, I have seen references that radar for the Houston was at Cavite, but war broke out before it was installed. Will this happen, or will Houston get radar? Louisville did not get hers until a May 1942 Refit at Mare Island.
 
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Mounting Urgency
After a few days of inspections by General Krueger and analysis of plans by General Eisenhower, a flurry of orders begins flowing out of the Manila Hotel where both Admiral Hart and General Krueger (for a brief time) live. Both commanders agree to move their headquarters initially to Fort McKinley, adjacent to Nichols Field and within a few miles of Cavite after Eisenhower convinces Generals Krueger and Frank that it would be highly desirable for Admiral Hart to have use of a DC3 or Beechcraft at his beck and call, and that such a gift would improve cooperation. For the first time in the history of the Department the two services have staff working at the same location.

Eisenhower persuades Krueger, who needs little such, that the best thing to do is to get the USAFE out in the field for some field training, particularly the I Corps. Live fire training is particularly needed for support weapons and artillery, and on November 11th, for over a week, the units of I Corps do just that, while it is the first such ever for the Philippine Army Divisions. Many problems are found, but some of the more pressing are that nearly 80% of the mortar ammunition for the 3 inch mortars that provide the bulk of company and battalion firepower for the Philippine Army are duds. An urgent message is sent to the United States for immediate resupply, while every available ordinance sergeant in the Far East is put to work looking for solutions that can be done locally.

pi2.jpg

elements of the 6th Cavalry Brigade moving to wartime positions December 1941


Eisenhower meanwhile discovers that little has been done to prepare the movement of supplies to Bataan in the event that War Plan 3 (the back up plan) gets put into effect, and he bargains with the Navy, Army Air Force and just flat out strips I Corps of their medium and heavy trucks, and organizes them into truck companies with Philippine Army drivers, along with Military Police Companies. These companies remain assigned to their units but on the issue of a code word, they are assigned to the Quartermasters who will use them to move supplies from base areas on the Luzon plain as well as government warehouses such as the NARIC warehouse as well as corporate warehouses along the south harbor of Manila well be seized on issue of that same code word. Supplies will then be moved to Bataan by barge, craft and ship. Eisenhower also orders General Moore to immediately fill his warehouses for his harbor forts and ensure that stocks for 12 months are on hand at all times.

d91b083197622a20a31199bf40e6bc2f.jpg

USAFE air defense units take positions during November Maneuvers


Another maneuver is set for January 1942, where the I Corps will prepare in cooperation with the newly arrived 27th Bombardment Group (and their A24 dive bombers) as well as naval forces to practice a counterattack on a potential Japanese landing at Lingayen Gulf. However, the first war warning on November 30 makes it clear that time is increasingly running out. Krueger orders his troops to hurry their maintenance stand downs and get everything back up and running as quickly as possible. He also finalizes his command structure. He remains as theater commander, but he places Eisenhower as commander of all forces in Luzon. Under him is General Wainwright, commanding the US I Corps, General Ord, commanding the II Corps, and General King, commanding the III Corps, plus General Moore commanding the Harbor Defenses of Manila Bay, Subic Bay, Lingayan Gulf, Lamon Bay and Balayan Bay. General Frank commands US Army Air Forces Far East (USAAFFE) but his responsibilities have been expanded to include liaison and cooperation with the Australians, Dutch and British. After an inspection of the American Volunteer Group, Generals Frank and Eisenhower send a cable to Washington urging that Claire Chennault be given a reserve commission of Brigadier General and Eisenhower, Frank and Hart quietly work out a plan to make use of that organization in case war comes before it leaves.

In late November and early December, the 4th Marine Regiment arrives from Shanghai, and Admiral Hart generously places it under Army tactical command. Krueger is pleased to get another regiment of regulars, and he promptly allocates it as the reserve for III Corps.

As of December 8, 1941, all Filipino troops have at least 9 months service, with most having more than that, and are familiar with their weapons and chain of command. While still limited in their tactical training, they are not substantially less trained than the US National Guard troops that have sent to join them.


US Army Far East (USAFE) December 1941
Commander: General Walter Krueger
Luzon Force (Eisenhower) (army level headquarters

Lingayen Defense Zone
I Corps – Wainwright (Tarlac area)
6th Cavalry Brigade - 1st Provisional tank group (US NG) (192nd and 194th tank battalion with 108 M3 Stuarts and 46 halftracks with 75 mm guns) 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts), 112th Cavalry Regiment (TX/Montana NG), (San Jose area)
12th Infantry Division - 31st US Infantry regiment, 43rd Philippines Scouts (PS) infantry regiment, 57th PS infantry regiment, 86th Field Artillery regiment (PS), plus support (10,000 men) (Rosario area)
23rd Infantry Division - 65th US Infantry regiment, 45th PS infantry regiment, 47th PS infantry regiment, 88th field artillery regiment (PS) plus support (10,000 men) (Paniqui area)
attached

11th Infantry Division (PA) reinforced – 11th, 12th, 13th Light Infantry Regiments, 11th Field Artillery battalion (PA)(12 75 mm guns), 11th Antitank battalion (PA)(12 2.95 inch guns), plus 1st PA Coast Artillery regiment (6 x 8 inch guns, 6 x 6 inch guns, 4 x 6 pounder guns (57 mm), 2 x 3 pounder guns (47 mm) all from the old armored cruiser Baltimore, plus 6 x 155 guns (World War I issue). (these Naval guns provided in late November 1941)

Also directly attached to this command are 5 torpedo boats, 2 minelayers and 2 armed trawlers of the Philippine Coast Guard along with the 250 Filipino Coast Guardsmen and 10 US Navy advisors.
Also attached: 2nd Engineer Brigade (Philippine Army)

The coast artillery is dug in in positions recently constructed by the Philippine Army 2nd Engineer Brigade which is still at work on positions for the 11th Infantry Division when the war begins. Engineers assigned to the infantry divisions are assisting in providing cover and concealment for the I Corps mobile troops.

Manila Defense Area
II Corps – Ord
1st Infantry Division (PA) – 1st, 2nd, 3rd Infantry regiments, 4th Field Artillery regiment (24 75 mm guns, 6 105 mm guns, all World War I era), 1st antitank battalion (18 37 mm guns with jeeps, 12 .50 caliber machine guns with jeeps) (Fort McKinley)

21st Infantry Division (PA) reinforced – 21st, 22nd light infantry regiments, 21st artillery battalion, 21st anti tank battalion, 1st battalion / 2nd PA Coast Artillery (12 x 155 guns) Infante area (coast artillery) / Lamon Bay area (infantry) As of December 8 only the coast artillery is dug in, the remaining units are still in tents. This division has almost no vehicles aside from its artillery prime movers and a few staff cars for the division staff and a few trucks for moving supplies.

The 23rd Light Infantry Regiment along with the 2nd Battalion / 2nd PA Coast Artillery (12 x 155 guns) is stationed at Balayan on Balayan Bay, and is fully dug in at the command of the regimental commander.
3rd Engineer Brigade (Lamon Bay) which is about to begin improving defenses for the 21st Infantry Division and attached coast artillery.

Bataan / Subic Bay defense area
III Corps – King
51st Infantry Division – 51st, 52nd, 53rd light infantry regiments, 51st artillery battalion, 51st anti tank battalion. This division is strung out defending the Iba Field area, as well as the long coast from Subic Bay to Cape Bolinao. It is deployed as a picket force except for the 51st regiment and artillery and anti tank battalions that are deployed around Iba Field.

4th Marine Regiment - 1st and 2nd battalions, 1st separate battalion (anti aircraft), provisional 3rd battalion (forming as a training unit to train Filipino marines). (Subic Bay) (attached is the 3rd Battalion / 2nd PA Coast Defense Artillery with 8 x 8 inch guns)
4th Engineer Brigade – construction work in Bataan
III Corps has administrative control of the 11th Infantry Division (PA) that is in the I Corps area

Manila Bay Forts
Harbor Defense Command – Moore
Fort Mills (Corregidor), Fort Drum, Fort Frank, Fort Hughes (also Fort Wint at Subic Bay)
garrison: 91st, 92nd Coast Artillery (PS), 59th Coast Artillery (US), 60th Coast Artillery (anti aircraft, US)
attached: 91st MP Brigade (PA) (garrison troops for Fort Mills)

Other units
4th Engineer Brigade (PA) (airfield construction central Luzon)
101st MP Brigade (PA) garrison duty USAFE facilities in central Luzon (less several companies in northern Luzon as picket forces)
IV Corps – Sharp
31st Infantry Division (PA) Cebu, Panay, Leyte
41st Infantry Division (PA), 803rd airfield construction battalion (US) Mindanao

a useful map
https://baldrunner.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/missionsluzon-citylocatermap.jpg
While the idea of lending Admiral Hart a transport aircraft sounds good, remember he had both PBY's and J2F'so available. Our TL, Hart used a PBY, to fly to Singapore to meet Admiral Philips.J2F'so, we're amphibious, aso were PBYs 4'So And Later models.
 
Thanks for the new info and breakdown on the US forces.

As mentioned by others, your first priority is your wife and family. Sorry to hear that she was moves further away. Best wishes for her recovery and hopefully being able to come home when she is able.

Update when you have time, but we will understand if Real Life takes you away.
 
. . .You have things like Quezon bouncing back and forth between advocating a strong defense, to preparing to abolish the Army after the fall of France and cozying up to the Japanese economically, to desperately rushing to the Americans and declaring military defense to be solely their responsibility, all within a period of five years. . .

. . .You have the US dithering as to whether or not arms should be supplied to Philippine troops, refusing to mobilize the PCA along with the National Guard in 1940 out of fear it might provoke Japan, and steadfastly rejecting Commonwealth appeals to tap into the close to $300 million in excise tax revenue (that was supposed to be used to prepare the Philippines for independence) for military purposes. . . .

My God. . .
 
Because of delays in funding, the construction of new torpedo storage magazines was not completeded,OTL, at Miravales,Bataan and on Corrigidor prior to the outbreak of the war and when Cavite was devastated by bombing, approximately 300 torpedoes as well as spare parts for maintenance were destroyed. A large number of those were MK tens. IIRC, mining was controlled by the Army.

Dear All,

Okay this is news to me: Firstly the brainless farting of the PC-Gov; compounded by equal brainless farting of the US-Gov; then the Congressional mandated excise tax post-bellum usage ---- And now I discover that

"mining was controlled by the Army".
Speechless

Imagines clusterf*uck
 
Dear All,

Okay this is news to me: Firstly the brainless farting of the PC-Gov; compounded by equal brainless farting of the US-Gov; then the Congressional mandated excise tax post-bellum usage ---- And now I discover that

"mining was controlled by the Army".
Speechless

Imagines clusterf*uck
Uh.....

what......

how....

why!?

That's not how armed forces branches worked after all!
 
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