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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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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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