The Battle of Apoo Beachhead: The Japanese assault at Lingayen Gulf
December 21, 1941
A Japanese fleet moves into the Lingayen Gulf. Careful minesweeping by the Japanese Navy has cleared the way and while an American air attack is damaging and results in the loss of 500 troops killed or wounded and the loss of several 75 mm guns and numerous trucks, it does not materially impede the invasion which begins in the early morning hours of December 21. Poor weather and navigational errors buts the Japanese 4 miles south of there intended landing zone, a 15 mile strength of coast between Apoo and Damortis. This is fortunate for the northern force, which instead of landing into the teeth of the defenses of the 57th Infantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) it lands in an area that is only patrolled instead of defended. However the southern landing by the 1st Formosa Regiment (reinforced) instead of landing in a similarly thinly defended area lands right into the teeth of the 45th Infantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) and the 2nd Battalion/1st Coast Defense Artillery (Philippine Army). Unlike the Philippine Army regiments, the 45th and the other Philippine Scouts infantry regiments are fully equipped, although cannon company has older World War I French 105 guns, and many of the mortars have defective rounds, it has its full compliment of machine guns and its infantry have the 1903 Springfield instead of the less suitable rifles equipping the Philippine Army troops. The Philippine Coast defense troops have six 6 inch naval guns (from USN stocks) as well as 6 pounder guns from the old armored cruiser Baltimore, a pair of 57 mm guns, and best of all 24 heavy machine guns (also from USN stores) and plenty of ammunition.
A few miles behind the beach is the 31st Infantry Regiment (US), as well as the divisional artillery and engineer battalion of the 12th (Philippine) Division. The 11th Infantry (Philippine Army) is 20 miles away, while the 23rd Infantry Division (US), is 60 miles away by road, while the 9th Cavalry Brigade (US) is 50 road miles away.
The two northern landings go reasonably well, although several landing craft are lost and many are damaged in heavy surf but the Japanese get the 2nd Formosa and 47th Infantry regiments get ashore and by late morning their supporting tanks, artillery and anti-aircraft guns are ashore as well. They engage the 57th on the northern flank soon after landing (the 1st Formosa) while elements of the 47th Regiment run into the US 31st as it moves up to counterattack in the jungle east of the beachhead. Heavy fighting results and the inexperience of the American troops results in the the American troops getting lost and shifting to the north instead of attacking the beachhead straight on. They are also surprised by the heavy Japanese tank support (40 are already ashore) which fail to make much progress in the close terrain but are a serious surprise to the American troops who lack much in the way of anti tank weapons.
By late afternoon the 3rd Coast Artillery (Philippine Army, anti-aircraft) arrives to support the American troops, and their 37 mm and 3 inch AA guns prove to be a valuable support. The American counterattack halts the Japanese progress inland but by days end the 31st Infantry has lost almost 25% of its infantry (600 casualties in all),
Meanwhile the 11th Division moves into position, with the 9th Cavalry moving up, while the 23rd Infantry moves up as well. However all of this movement occurs during darkness and none of these troops are yet ready to counterattack before dawn on December 22.
The southern landing by the 2nd Formosa does not go nearly as well for the Japanese. Here the Japanese are still pinned down a mere few yards from the beach by the end of the day, and their follow on tanks and artillery have been diverted to the 47th landing zone. The Japanese have suffered over 600 casualties and have failed to achieve any of their objectives although American losses have not been light either as Japanese warships have been pouring fire ashore all day dueling with the Philippine coast artillery gunners and some beach positions have been overrun.
December 22
The Japanese fight hard to expand their beachhead as morning breaks, with the 1st Formosa attacking the northern flank held by the 45th Infantry, the 47th attacking and pushing hard on the 31st Infantry, and the newly arrived Japanese 9th Infantry Regiment (16th Division) attacks from the north while the Japanese 2nd Formosa continues to attempt to break out of its pent up shallow hold. Japanese commanders are told to ignore losses and continue the attack regardless of the cost.
Fierce fighting pushes the 45th Infantry out of Agoo but the 31st manages to hold its ground and just as importantly so does the 57th Infantry, but in the heavy fighting at Damortis 2nd Lieutenant Sandy Nininger earns his posthumous award of the Medal of Honor as he continues to direct fire and rally his troops in a desperate counterattack in spite of suffering a serious wound and only stops his heroic efforts when he suffers the wound that kills him.
In the late afternoon the 11th Infantry and most of the 9th Cavalry Brigade move up into the assembly area that the stubborn fight of the 57th Infantry has held clear of Japanese troops and launches their counterattack. In spite of determined efforts the Japanese manage to hold their positions although losses are serious on both sides but the Japanese still remained tightly contained and little room is available to bring in the needed reinforcements. However as night comes the pinned down 2nd Formosa slips north across the beaches and links back up with rest of the 48th Division having given up on a frontal assault on Darmotis.
The Japanese beachhead at the end of two days fighting is only 10 kilometers wide and while 15 kilometers deep in the middle, both flanks are only 5 kilometers inland. The Japanese have suffered nearly 6,000 casualties so far and General Homma is facing very difficult decisions on the morning of December 23.
Meanwhile, having been covered by clouds until first light, the fleet carrying the 16th Division arrives at Lamon Bay and in the early morning hours assaults a beach defended by the 21st Infantry Division. The lightly armed Filipino troops are unable to inflict significant damage to the leading Japanese regiment (33rd Infantry) and a determined counterattack by 4 battalions and half of the divisional artillery (6 75 mm guns) fail to make significant headway against the Japanese.
In the north, the Japanese 4th Division is now pushing south from northern Luzon, shoving the lightly armed Filipino troops of the 101st MP brigade who can only delay the Japanese but not stop them.
December 23
The rest of the 16th Division lands at Lamon Bay, pushes the 2/23rd Infantry (PA) aside, and cuts off the 22nd Infantry (PA) at Mauban, where it comes under heavy assault. The Filipinos fight hard but all 2,500 men of the regiment as well as several guns are lost as ammunition is exhausted and most of the officers are killed or wounded. It is a painful blow to General Ord, commander of the II Corps, who oversaw their training and knew many of the officers personally.
Meanwhile, Homma orders the battle to continue in spite of a suggestion that the 48th Division dig in and await relief from the north from the 4th Division moving down from the north. He is already 3 days behind schedule, losses have been heavy, and honor demands that the attack continue. Homma also is convinced that if he can break the Americans here, the campaign will be won. He orders full scale assaults by every available unit south against the 57th Infantry (which has support from the 11th Infantry Regiment, the 112th Cavalry Regiment and 192nd Tank battalion) while the other half of the 48th that remains combat effective attacks north against the 31st and 45th Infantry. The 12th Division is dangerously exposed at this point, as one of its regiments is on the far side of the beach head, and its principal supply route is a mere 3 miles from the Japanese forward penetration (which thankfully for the Americans consists of 3/47 Infantry which is a weak company at this point and a pair of anti tank guns and a few crew for those). General Wainwright orders his troops to hold at all costs, as the 23rd Division is still moving into position and the front must hold to allow them to complete their link up with the 12th Infantry Division.
The American and Filipino troops hold, in spite of the best efforts of the Japanese to break through in the south. However the Japanese finally overrun the gun positions of the 2/1st Coast Artillery which finally ends the American shelling of the southern edge of the beachhead which has inflicted significant damage to the Japanese rear area troops attempting to bring ashore supplies and sunk several landing craft and damaged several Japanese submarine chasers. In the north the Japanese manage to push forward 3 miles when they find a seem between the 45th and 31st Infantry. But while the Japanese gain some ground they have gained what they needed to block the upcoming attack by the 23rd Infantry Division which is finally in position.
At Lamon Bay General Ord is forced to relieve the emotionally shattered commander of the 21st Infantry Division. However 5 of its remaining infantry battalions are pinned in place by heavy Japanese pressure and he can only pull a portion of the surviving troops back. General Ord moves up to take personal command of the situation, ordering General Parker to move the 1st Infantry from its positions around Balayan Bay and the highlands around Cavite with the approval of Eisenhower.
Eisenhower meanwhile decides that with 3 Japanese divisions identified so far it seems unlikely another landing is coming. He orders the 51st Division to move from its positions around Subic Bay, leaving only engineers and coast artillery crews at Fort Witt to hold it. He orders King to send his corps artillery as well, and Eisenhower then orders what is now is his reserve to San Fernando so it can be committed either to the I Corps or II Corps as needed. Eisenhower is worried that he is running out of time however. The situation at Lamon Bay is going badly, but he sees an opportunity to gut a third of the Japanese invasion force and possibly even destroy that third. He will give it another couple of days.
Progress helps him justify that decision as reports come in that night. The 194th Tank Battalion and 65th Infantry Regiment overrun and destroy the leading Japanese elements (the remnant of the 3/47 Japanese Infantry) and Japanese losses continue to mount. The Japanese beachhead is now 10 kilometers deep and 10 kilometers wide and Eisenhower and Wainwright are convinced that Japanese are approaching crisis.
December 24
Homma is becoming desperate and General Tsuchihashi, commander of the 48th Infantry Division is becoming even more so. Another full scale assault is launched on both flanks of the beachhead and room is needed urgently to land the artillery needed to provide the needed firepower to break out of the situation that has become stalemated from the Japanese perspective. At the cost of heavy casualties the 1st Formosa finally manages to push the 45th Infantry back and retake Agoo, gaining 4 kilometers of vitally needed ground and opening sufficient space for Homma to finally land his critically needed artillery battalions and the additional ammunition and supplies that the 48th Division has nearly exhausted.
Orders are sent for the 4th and 16th Divisions to increase their pressure on the Americans. Order are also sent for the 65th Brigade to be moved into action more urgently.
By evening Wainwright is forced to report that his troops are not going to be able to crush the Japanese beach head in the next couple off days. Eisenhower looks at the critical situation facing the 21st Infantry, his heavy casualties to date (8,500 men killed, wounded or missing) and one of his best divisions is badly mauled while another division has been hurt even more severely. He sees little choice. At 0800 hours he orders the I Corps to begin a withdrawal.
Meanwhile at midnight General Homma views his own casualty reports, which number over 10,000 killed, wounded or missing, and he is days behind schedule and already under heavy pressure to get his campaign moving. Over 7,500 of these casualties are from the 48th Division which was scheduled for participation in the invasion of Java scheduled for February.
