Admiral Halsey
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Powered through the story and loving it so far. Question though any differences from the OTL attack on Pearl?
Eisenhower in the Pacific: Part 1 The Shoestring Warriors of Luzon
- Thread starter galveston bay
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Driftless
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Battle At Dawn - Marvelous alternate telling of the attacks on the Hawaiian Archipelago (Pearl, Midway, etc)
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Yup. The three tales (so far) are connected, with the Battle At Dawn leading off, but all three overlap somewhat in their time sequences. A Rising Sun on Tropical Seas is just a few pages into the tale as well. It's quite an ambitious undertaking Galveston Bay has going.
And also, if you want a central POD to this interconnected thing, the POD is Douglas MacArthur dying in a car crash in May of 1937. This leads to Knox being a bit more brave with Roosevelt and asking for more resources for Pearl Harbor, and also leads to Ike being appointed to a chief of staff position in the Philippines.
And everything snowballs form there, as the better American performances and butterflies lead to the British sending more naval assets to Malaya and Singapore
The First Battle of Bataan
The siege begins
By January 16, the first elements of the Japanese 4th and 16th Divisions are scouting out American and Filipino defenses and clashing with patrols sent out to see what the Japanese are up to. The rest of both divisions, as well as the 14th Army artillery and the 65th Brigade are in position by January 20, although Homma is a bit disquieted by the strength of the American positions which seem strong everywhere except in the dense jungles of Mount Natib, but conditions there are difficult due to the terrain and dense vegetation. He would prefer to use the 48th Division as well, which has mostly been rebuilt back up to to strength but has orders for it to be embarked no later than February 1 as it has a mission further south. In exchange he will get the 38th Infantry Division, freshly rebuilt from its fierce battle at Hong Kong but it will arrive on the ships that will be embarking the 48th Division, which means it will not be ready for action until February 4 or later as it has to land at Lingayen and then move overland to Bataan.
The staff of the 14th Army estimates that the Americans exhausted most of their artillery ammunition fighting at the beachhead, and as the Americans and Filipinos were driven back routinely after the first few days, they are certain that once driven out of their entrenchments the Americans and Filipinos will route and ultimately surrender. This turns out to be a severe underestimate of what lies ahead.
The Japanese offensive calls for the 65th, supported by tanks, to attack the American 12th Division, heavily supported by artillery, which should result in drawing into action the bulk of the American reserves. The 16th Division will attack the 23rd, 51st and 11th Divisions with a regiment each, its primary goal to pin those divisions in place, supported by tanks and engineers in the attack on the 23rd Division. The primary thrust will be by the 4th Division, whose veterans should make short work of the Filipinos of the 1st Division, take Albun, Nagpilapil and then swing over to the coast, take Abucy and thus cut off the entire US I Corps. To further accelerate the American collapse, a landing by the 1st SNLF at Bagac will result in the American II Corps being cut off or at the very least the commitment of the rest of any spare American forces.
Meanwhile, the patrol actions convince Eisenhower and Wainwright that the Japanese first attack is imminent but news that the entire 48th Division is still in Manila leads them to consider a possible amphibious attack by it from Nasughu against Mariveles or even Corrigedor so to guard against that the 9th Cavalry will be kept back, while a report of a build up of Japanese landing craft at Subic Bay means that the III Corps must remain on alert. Admiral Rockwell meanwhile prepares the remaining gunboats, minesweepers, armed patrol craft and PT boats of the Philippine Coast Guard and US Navy for action although he considers the Subic Bay area the more likely threat as the Japanese have not yet moved up minesweepers to clear the extensive minefields defending the American harbor defenses from attack from the South China Sea (and thus Mariveles and Corregidor are likely safe for now).
The 1st Battle of Bataan
On January 21, the Japanese open up at first light with a heavy barrage against defenses held by the 12th and 23rd Divisions, thus threatening both flanks of the American line. Eisenhower orders all artillery to remain silent, as ammunition must be saved for the attack although he is willing to use nearly all of it to shatter this first Japanese effort and thus knock them back on their heels. By an hour after dawn the Japanese are attacking all across the front. The only place the Japanese gain any ground at all is a few hundred yards held by the 13th PA Regiment, which is pushed back. Elsewhere the first day sees gains only limited to the outer American defenses and even there they are desperately costly.
Off Bagac Bay the Japanese suffer disaster, as the US and Filipino boats and craft of the inshore patrol catch the Japanese by surprise in the darkness, followed by air attacks by the entire Bataan air detachment. The few Japanese troops that get ashore are wiped out by the vengeful 21st Division, eager for revenge after its painful retreat from Lamon Bay and only a handful of prisoners are captured ashore and a few dozen survivors manage to return to Subic Bay aboard badly shot up landing craft. The Japanese escorts, a few submarine chasers are all badly shot up and 3 are sunk, while the arrival of several destroyers is too late as the Americans have already retreated back to Mariveles by the time they arrive and Japanese Army bombers are concentrating on the front, leaving little support for other missions. Over 1,400 Japanese Navy Special Landing Force Troops are killed by drowning or gunfire and they make no significant impact on the battle.
Meanwhile as the second day of fighting continues, Eisenhower is pleased to learn that he has the naval support he needs and thus his reserves can now be committed elsewhere if he desires. The Japanese have managed to push the 31st US and 57th PS from the Orani River, although at a heavy cost to both sides, although their push elsewhere is bogged down. Eisenhower takes the 101st Infantry Regiment from III Corps and gives it to Wainwright to use as his tactical reserve but withholds permission to commit the 9th Cavalry just yet. Meanwhile General Parker launches a counterattack with elements of the 43rd PS and most of the 11th Infantry Division, catching the somewhat battered Japanese 16th Division off guard as it has yet to face a serious American attack in the campaign so far.
By dawn on day 4, King is forced to pull the 45th PS out of the line as it is down to a third of its strength and now Eisenhower gives permission for the 9th Cavalry to attack. It hits the 65th Brigade and its attacked tanks and engineers at the deepest point of the Japanese penetration (2 kilometers from the Orani River) while on the left, Parker continues his attack on the 16th Division which is really small groups of soldiers on each side trying to find each other in the jungle before the enemy spots them. Heavy artillery fire on both sides continues to shred units and vegetation but only on the coastal plain is it really effective.
By the end of the 4th Day, January 25, it is clear to General Homma that the Americans are not going to collapse. Indeed there is a danger they might destroy some of his badly depleted infantry regiments. His troops have already suffered nearly 11,000 casualties, well over half his infantry and casualties among his engineers and tanks are equally severe while his light artillery, which has been moved nearly to the front line, is similarly hard hit. The 4th Division, which was supposed to outflank the American line, has run head on into a buzz saw held by the 1st PA Division, which has given almost no ground at all and indeed does not seem likely to either. Limited to a single track for resupply, the Japanese cannot build up sufficient firepower superiority to clear the Filipinos out of their positions and find a dense series of interlocking positions that indeed mirror what their own defense would have been.
Eisenhower has Wainwright call a halt to Parker's attack which has already completely restored his original line and other than a push by the 12th Infantry and 9th Cavalry to push off the Japanese penetration (which is already starting to retreat) I Corps is to cease operations once it restores its original line as well. Already artillery ammunition is down by 60% and there is little likelihood of more arriving. Casualties have been serious as well, with over 6,000 men killed or wounded and many of them are the 65th and 31st US, neither of which are going to see replacements. Indeed the 3 regiments of the 12th Division are down to 45% strength in their infantry overall, and while more engineers can be made into Filipino infantry replacements there will be no American infantry replacements. Satisfied with his defensive victory, Eisenhower wires Washington the details
It is the first American ground victory of World War II, and while only a defensive victory and while the Americans and Filipinos are still under siege, it is still a major boon to US morale at home. Eisenhower and Wainwright are both hailed as heroes, while several American and Filipino officers and men are hailed by the press as medal citations come in.
The US Navy is not left out by Eisenhower either, his report of the success of the PT Boats under Lieutenant Commander Bulkeley will lead ultimately lead to a highly successful book and movie based on the actions of the PT crews and a large number of volunteers for PT Boats throughout the war. The personal thanks by General Eisenhower and his recommendation of the personnel of the 16th Naval District for a Presidential Unit Citation is cause for a great deal of appreciation by the Navy for Eisenhower and would be remembered for a long time to come.
By January 16, the first elements of the Japanese 4th and 16th Divisions are scouting out American and Filipino defenses and clashing with patrols sent out to see what the Japanese are up to. The rest of both divisions, as well as the 14th Army artillery and the 65th Brigade are in position by January 20, although Homma is a bit disquieted by the strength of the American positions which seem strong everywhere except in the dense jungles of Mount Natib, but conditions there are difficult due to the terrain and dense vegetation. He would prefer to use the 48th Division as well, which has mostly been rebuilt back up to to strength but has orders for it to be embarked no later than February 1 as it has a mission further south. In exchange he will get the 38th Infantry Division, freshly rebuilt from its fierce battle at Hong Kong but it will arrive on the ships that will be embarking the 48th Division, which means it will not be ready for action until February 4 or later as it has to land at Lingayen and then move overland to Bataan.
The staff of the 14th Army estimates that the Americans exhausted most of their artillery ammunition fighting at the beachhead, and as the Americans and Filipinos were driven back routinely after the first few days, they are certain that once driven out of their entrenchments the Americans and Filipinos will route and ultimately surrender. This turns out to be a severe underestimate of what lies ahead.
The Japanese offensive calls for the 65th, supported by tanks, to attack the American 12th Division, heavily supported by artillery, which should result in drawing into action the bulk of the American reserves. The 16th Division will attack the 23rd, 51st and 11th Divisions with a regiment each, its primary goal to pin those divisions in place, supported by tanks and engineers in the attack on the 23rd Division. The primary thrust will be by the 4th Division, whose veterans should make short work of the Filipinos of the 1st Division, take Albun, Nagpilapil and then swing over to the coast, take Abucy and thus cut off the entire US I Corps. To further accelerate the American collapse, a landing by the 1st SNLF at Bagac will result in the American II Corps being cut off or at the very least the commitment of the rest of any spare American forces.
Meanwhile, the patrol actions convince Eisenhower and Wainwright that the Japanese first attack is imminent but news that the entire 48th Division is still in Manila leads them to consider a possible amphibious attack by it from Nasughu against Mariveles or even Corrigedor so to guard against that the 9th Cavalry will be kept back, while a report of a build up of Japanese landing craft at Subic Bay means that the III Corps must remain on alert. Admiral Rockwell meanwhile prepares the remaining gunboats, minesweepers, armed patrol craft and PT boats of the Philippine Coast Guard and US Navy for action although he considers the Subic Bay area the more likely threat as the Japanese have not yet moved up minesweepers to clear the extensive minefields defending the American harbor defenses from attack from the South China Sea (and thus Mariveles and Corregidor are likely safe for now).
The 1st Battle of Bataan
On January 21, the Japanese open up at first light with a heavy barrage against defenses held by the 12th and 23rd Divisions, thus threatening both flanks of the American line. Eisenhower orders all artillery to remain silent, as ammunition must be saved for the attack although he is willing to use nearly all of it to shatter this first Japanese effort and thus knock them back on their heels. By an hour after dawn the Japanese are attacking all across the front. The only place the Japanese gain any ground at all is a few hundred yards held by the 13th PA Regiment, which is pushed back. Elsewhere the first day sees gains only limited to the outer American defenses and even there they are desperately costly.
Off Bagac Bay the Japanese suffer disaster, as the US and Filipino boats and craft of the inshore patrol catch the Japanese by surprise in the darkness, followed by air attacks by the entire Bataan air detachment. The few Japanese troops that get ashore are wiped out by the vengeful 21st Division, eager for revenge after its painful retreat from Lamon Bay and only a handful of prisoners are captured ashore and a few dozen survivors manage to return to Subic Bay aboard badly shot up landing craft. The Japanese escorts, a few submarine chasers are all badly shot up and 3 are sunk, while the arrival of several destroyers is too late as the Americans have already retreated back to Mariveles by the time they arrive and Japanese Army bombers are concentrating on the front, leaving little support for other missions. Over 1,400 Japanese Navy Special Landing Force Troops are killed by drowning or gunfire and they make no significant impact on the battle.
Meanwhile as the second day of fighting continues, Eisenhower is pleased to learn that he has the naval support he needs and thus his reserves can now be committed elsewhere if he desires. The Japanese have managed to push the 31st US and 57th PS from the Orani River, although at a heavy cost to both sides, although their push elsewhere is bogged down. Eisenhower takes the 101st Infantry Regiment from III Corps and gives it to Wainwright to use as his tactical reserve but withholds permission to commit the 9th Cavalry just yet. Meanwhile General Parker launches a counterattack with elements of the 43rd PS and most of the 11th Infantry Division, catching the somewhat battered Japanese 16th Division off guard as it has yet to face a serious American attack in the campaign so far.
By dawn on day 4, King is forced to pull the 45th PS out of the line as it is down to a third of its strength and now Eisenhower gives permission for the 9th Cavalry to attack. It hits the 65th Brigade and its attacked tanks and engineers at the deepest point of the Japanese penetration (2 kilometers from the Orani River) while on the left, Parker continues his attack on the 16th Division which is really small groups of soldiers on each side trying to find each other in the jungle before the enemy spots them. Heavy artillery fire on both sides continues to shred units and vegetation but only on the coastal plain is it really effective.
By the end of the 4th Day, January 25, it is clear to General Homma that the Americans are not going to collapse. Indeed there is a danger they might destroy some of his badly depleted infantry regiments. His troops have already suffered nearly 11,000 casualties, well over half his infantry and casualties among his engineers and tanks are equally severe while his light artillery, which has been moved nearly to the front line, is similarly hard hit. The 4th Division, which was supposed to outflank the American line, has run head on into a buzz saw held by the 1st PA Division, which has given almost no ground at all and indeed does not seem likely to either. Limited to a single track for resupply, the Japanese cannot build up sufficient firepower superiority to clear the Filipinos out of their positions and find a dense series of interlocking positions that indeed mirror what their own defense would have been.
Eisenhower has Wainwright call a halt to Parker's attack which has already completely restored his original line and other than a push by the 12th Infantry and 9th Cavalry to push off the Japanese penetration (which is already starting to retreat) I Corps is to cease operations once it restores its original line as well. Already artillery ammunition is down by 60% and there is little likelihood of more arriving. Casualties have been serious as well, with over 6,000 men killed or wounded and many of them are the 65th and 31st US, neither of which are going to see replacements. Indeed the 3 regiments of the 12th Division are down to 45% strength in their infantry overall, and while more engineers can be made into Filipino infantry replacements there will be no American infantry replacements. Satisfied with his defensive victory, Eisenhower wires Washington the details
It is the first American ground victory of World War II, and while only a defensive victory and while the Americans and Filipinos are still under siege, it is still a major boon to US morale at home. Eisenhower and Wainwright are both hailed as heroes, while several American and Filipino officers and men are hailed by the press as medal citations come in.
The US Navy is not left out by Eisenhower either, his report of the success of the PT Boats under Lieutenant Commander Bulkeley will lead ultimately lead to a highly successful book and movie based on the actions of the PT crews and a large number of volunteers for PT Boats throughout the war. The personal thanks by General Eisenhower and his recommendation of the personnel of the 16th Naval District for a Presidential Unit Citation is cause for a great deal of appreciation by the Navy for Eisenhower and would be remembered for a long time to come.
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authors notes:
The Japanese had a great deal of trouble attacking well defended fortified positions held by the US Army in World War II, and in fact although they frequently made considerable gains, they were almost always ejected after suffering severe, even catastrophic casualties. Here they suffered heavy but not shattering casualties mainly due to the shortage of artillery ammunition, the smaller number of machine guns compared to later in the war, lack of American air support, and the smaller size of the American guns (mostly 75 and a few 105 and 155 vs later war)
The Japanese are not invincible Jungle fighters, indeed they had as many problems as everyone else did and this is seen in the later stages of the Battle of Kokoda Track, as well as at Guadalcanal. Here they are fighting the Filipinos who are used to the heat and terrain and while not as well trained overall are trained well enough.
Thus they are rebuffed.
Historically this offensive led to the Battle of the Points and the Battle of the Pockets, both severe Japanese defeats (both resulting in near total Japanese losses) but the Japanese historically outflanked the American line and forced it back to the Second defense line. Not so in this case, although casualties were serious.
It will be weeks before the Japanese can try again.
This first battle historically is what in my view saved Macarthur from disgrace. He did well enough to ensure that the siege of Bataan would be a lengthy one and his troops well enough to ensure they were viewed as heroes. A bit more so here for Eisenhower and his troops.
The Japanese had a great deal of trouble attacking well defended fortified positions held by the US Army in World War II, and in fact although they frequently made considerable gains, they were almost always ejected after suffering severe, even catastrophic casualties. Here they suffered heavy but not shattering casualties mainly due to the shortage of artillery ammunition, the smaller number of machine guns compared to later in the war, lack of American air support, and the smaller size of the American guns (mostly 75 and a few 105 and 155 vs later war)
The Japanese are not invincible Jungle fighters, indeed they had as many problems as everyone else did and this is seen in the later stages of the Battle of Kokoda Track, as well as at Guadalcanal. Here they are fighting the Filipinos who are used to the heat and terrain and while not as well trained overall are trained well enough.
Thus they are rebuffed.
Historically this offensive led to the Battle of the Points and the Battle of the Pockets, both severe Japanese defeats (both resulting in near total Japanese losses) but the Japanese historically outflanked the American line and forced it back to the Second defense line. Not so in this case, although casualties were serious.
It will be weeks before the Japanese can try again.
This first battle historically is what in my view saved Macarthur from disgrace. He did well enough to ensure that the siege of Bataan would be a lengthy one and his troops well enough to ensure they were viewed as heroes. A bit more so here for Eisenhower and his troops.
What is the status of Fort Wint on Grande Island in Subic Bay? With 2 x 1x10", 4 x 6" disappearing guns, and 8x 3" guns it could provide some heavier support to the left flank of three American line. In OTL it was precipitously abandoned. Hopefully here it has not been, an would have contributed to the defeat of the amphibious flanking move.
Nice update and the US and Filipinos have stopped the Japanese first attacks. They have lost valuable men, especially those trained to US Army standards. The Filipino's will step in and keep the lines manned, but the lack of years of training will take a toll. The artillery ammunition will not last much beyond the next major attacks. From there the US and Filipinos will have to suffer unanswered barrages which will be the cause of more casualties.
That that the PT men got a special mention. Now will TTL John Kennedy still be transferred to the Solomans or will events take him in another direction?
it was indefensible because of the heights overlooking the Subic Bay base also overlook Fort Wint
the 6 inch and 3 inch guns were moved but the 10 inch guns were wrecked in place
I haven't decided yet.. in "Gorings Reich" I made him one of the historians working for Samuel Eliot Morison
Fair enough. Though his Dad pissed off a lot of Britons, he might make his way as a Naval Attache to England and perhaps prove himself away from Daddy's politicking.
And the Japanese is going to pay for every meter they gain.
It is a desperate battle, but every less infantryman, tank, artillery shell, ship or truck that gets sent down to South East Asia will help ABDA immensely.
So, any chance of ammunition arriving from Australia or elsewhere is less than possible...