Eisenhower in the Pacific: Part 1 The Shoestring Warriors of Luzon
- Thread starter galveston bay
- Start date
the actual known Japanese atrocities so far in the campaign are enough to keep spirits focused, not to mention the fact that TTL morale is much improved because they are not malnourished (as they were in OTL)
The last mail from home these people will receive for years to come? Don't underestimate the value of that for morale and it would have been sitting in Australia for months now. The tonnage may be a little off however.
Mail and meal-times always evoke feelings of a little taste home for grunts.
It make sense considering they know the inevitable is coming. The thoughts of fighting for their loved ones will make them fight harder.
Never underestimate human desperation. Or what they believe in.
Noooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted a herroic stand were the Americans were able to hold of the Japanese until around Christmas 42
A more detailed in timeline explanation will be forthcoming but as a submarine can only bring in about 30 -40 tons of cargo, all small items, and the biggest need is large items like ammunition and fuel (for generators and powerplants) aside from absolutely vital small items like medical supplies, radio parts etc, the tonnage is purely nominal anyway
So sending some mail, cigarettes (which would be approaching the end of the stockpiled supply), and a few other luxuries to improve morale is about as useful as 30 tons of rifle ammunition would be. So classifying all of that as mail for this purpose.
But as I said a more detailed explanation is planned
Better morale means less likely to panic or become combat ineffective due to stress.
It was Napoleon who said the moral is to the physical as three is to one. The troops on the fortress islands know they have made the Japanese pay for their advances, they are relatively well fed and have a few luxuries like smokes, chocolate, and mail. The most vulnerable, the female nurses and the severely wounded have been evacuated to a large extent.(1) They are better armed than OTL with adequate ammunition, some tanks, etc. The rock is a modern Alamo, they know they will eventually lose but they are determined to make the Japanese pay a very high price. They know that resistance up to this point has bought time for the USA to gather strength, and while they don't know how this has slowed the Japanese advance compared to OTL they do know that the tide has been stemmed for the moment.
Unlike OTL, most of the defenders will exude defiance not despair.
(1) I don't know about OTL, but I wonder if ITTL those Philippine nurses will also be evacuated before the rock falls. If not is it "racism" or are the Filipino nurses volunteering to stay hoping to avoid the excesses white/European nurses would be subject to.
Unlike OTL, most of the defenders will exude defiance not despair.
(1) I don't know about OTL, but I wonder if ITTL those Philippine nurses will also be evacuated before the rock falls. If not is it "racism" or are the Filipino nurses volunteering to stay hoping to avoid the excesses white/European nurses would be subject to.
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some will (and were) but the limit of available trips is a very large factor
Their safety comes down to the circumstances of surrender, and note in TTL the Filipina women at Bataan were not molested (as surrender occurred before Japanese units reached the rear area)
Operation Mail Call
Southwest Pacific Area Command Special Missions Submarine Force
Part of Eisenhower's Navy (officially Southwest Pacific Naval Forces, later US 7th Fleet), these submarines were for a time the only link to the American-Filipino Forces holding out in 1942, and were the primary link for most of the war for Guerrilla Forces in the Philippines, as well as Special Operations Missions throughout the Southwest Pacific Area when airlift was unavailable. Admiral Bellinger was instrumental in persuading Pacific Fleet to lend the Army these ships, and then persuaded the Navy to continue to keep them on duty, replacing the fleet submarines with specialized cargo submarines as they became available.
Commander (later Captain) Joseph A Connolly (officer in command)
base area: Darwin until March 1942, then Rabaul, New Ireland
Conventional Submarines (not specially equipped or modified)
Swordfish
Sailfish (sunk Darwin February 19)
Seal (sunk Darwin February 19)
Sculpin
Perch (lost April 18 near Cebu)
Stingray
Skipjack
Seawolf
Seadragon
can carry 40 tons of cargo or up to 20-25 passengers (albeit in considerable discomfort)
Large Submarines (specially equipped to carry troops and cargo)
Nautilus
Narwhal
can carry up to 109 fully equipped combat troops, 5 rubber boats, and their support weapons OR up to 200 passengers (in discomfort) or 60 tons of cargo
Cargo Submarines (older mine layers converted to cargo duties(arrive at Rabual on June 5)
Argonaut
Barracuda
Bass
Bonita
can carry up to 125 fully equipped combat troops, 5 rubber boats and their support weapons and equipment or up to 250 passengers (by hot bunking) or up to 60 tons of cargo
History to date
Between January and May, the submarines focused primarily on carrying vital parts, medical supplies, fuses for antiaircraft guns and 3 inch mortar rounds to Bataan and to a lesser extent the harbor forts. They carried out American Nurses, Government officials of the Commonwealth Government (American and Filipino), as well as other American women and children who did not get evacuated in December 1941. The military personnel were evacuated by air until February, although a special mission evacuated a large number of troops and wounded in April (with some success). After the loss of the airlift, additional specialists, including code breaking staff, naval officers and petty officers of the US Navy and Commonwealth Coast Guard, and remaining pilots and senior maintenance staff of the Army Air Force and Philippine Army Air Corps.
By the end of April, the 8 submarines initially assigned had made 24 trips to the Philippine Islands (including 6 to Cebu) and 7 remain. The Seawolf and Skipjack returned to Rabaul on April 26, but the Perch was lost on its 3rd trip. As of May, the newly arrived Nautilus and Narwhal are assigned make a final trip with cargo to Corregidor (to arrive May 26 and 29 Operation Mail Call 2) after they return from their first trip to support General Chynoweth while the Sculpin, Seadragon, and Swordfish are sent on a 4th trip to Corregidor (arriving May 8, 10 and 12, Operation Mail Call) while the other 3 submarines are sent to make their first runs to the southern and central Philippines provide vital parts and small arms to Filipino Guerillas and their American advisers under the command of Brigadier General Chynoweth operating in the hills of the island of Samar (arriving May 16, 18, and 20)
Operation Mail Call
With the fall of Bataan certain in mid April, Eisenhower orders that a shift in priorities be made. Convinced that the men of his former command, those that remain, deserve to hear from home in light of their now certain eventual captivity, he demands that they get some mail and tangible news and comfort from home. Mail for American soldiers has been stacking up at San Francisco since the war began, and he asks that personal letters and magazines be forwarded to Australia for delivery to Americans who continue to fight the Japanese around Manila Bay and elsewhere. When Wainwright arrives after his evacuation, he informs Eisenhower that some basic luxuries, one that soldiers crave most of all, cigarettes, are in short supply, Ike orders that that those be included, as well as canned fruit, candy and canned meat.
The fortresses are most in need of artillery ammunition and fuel oil for generators, neither of which can be brought in by submarine in any reasonable amount. They have adequate fuel and small arms ammunition for their likely future. However, there is a shortage of battle rations, which are a likely need when Corregidor comes under direct artillery attack once Bataan falls, and thus crates of C rations will make up the bulk of the planned supply runs, along with medicine and medical supplies.
The first three submarines were due to leave Rabaul on April 30, but the news of the collapse of the American line led to their delay and mail destined for Bataan was removed. Additional supplies replaced that mail, and the 3 submarines that arrive in Manila Bay the second week of May carry aboard 30 tons of mail (including actual mail plus literally thousands of cartons of cigarettes) as well as 80 tons of C rations with the remaining cargo consisting of medical supplies. They evacuate 40 American hospital patients (all are blind or have suffered multiple amputations), 10 nurses to care for them and 10 officers and enlisted men from the USAFE finance and records sections, who carry valuable items such as payroll records, personnel records summaries noting current strength (and a roster of those who were on Bataan who did not get evacuated), authorized promotions and recommendations for decorations.
The two larger submarines are carrying radio parts, telephone cable, barbed wire and still more medical supplies, as well as nearly 20 tons of canned fruit. The Marine Corps would like its share of combat veterans, requesting that a 100 Marines be evacuated, while the Navy wants 200 more (nearly all of the Navy personnel including Philippine Coast Guard who remain) and the remaining slots are to be given to the Nurses of the Philippine Army Nursing Corps who remain on Corregidor plus what patients can be loaded aboard. A special request by the Army that 50 enlisted men who have 25 years or more of service be offered the option of evacuation make up the final slots. One man in particular, a sergeant for the 59th Coast Artillery, was 1 week shy of 30 years service on December 7, and his name is actually the first name on the Army's list of men to be evacuated.
Part of Eisenhower's Navy (officially Southwest Pacific Naval Forces, later US 7th Fleet), these submarines were for a time the only link to the American-Filipino Forces holding out in 1942, and were the primary link for most of the war for Guerrilla Forces in the Philippines, as well as Special Operations Missions throughout the Southwest Pacific Area when airlift was unavailable. Admiral Bellinger was instrumental in persuading Pacific Fleet to lend the Army these ships, and then persuaded the Navy to continue to keep them on duty, replacing the fleet submarines with specialized cargo submarines as they became available.
Commander (later Captain) Joseph A Connolly (officer in command)
base area: Darwin until March 1942, then Rabaul, New Ireland
Conventional Submarines (not specially equipped or modified)
Swordfish
Sailfish (sunk Darwin February 19)
Seal (sunk Darwin February 19)
Sculpin
Perch (lost April 18 near Cebu)
Stingray
Skipjack
Seawolf
Seadragon
can carry 40 tons of cargo or up to 20-25 passengers (albeit in considerable discomfort)
Large Submarines (specially equipped to carry troops and cargo)
Nautilus
Narwhal
can carry up to 109 fully equipped combat troops, 5 rubber boats, and their support weapons OR up to 200 passengers (in discomfort) or 60 tons of cargo
Cargo Submarines (older mine layers converted to cargo duties(arrive at Rabual on June 5)
Argonaut
Barracuda
Bass
Bonita
can carry up to 125 fully equipped combat troops, 5 rubber boats and their support weapons and equipment or up to 250 passengers (by hot bunking) or up to 60 tons of cargo
History to date
Between January and May, the submarines focused primarily on carrying vital parts, medical supplies, fuses for antiaircraft guns and 3 inch mortar rounds to Bataan and to a lesser extent the harbor forts. They carried out American Nurses, Government officials of the Commonwealth Government (American and Filipino), as well as other American women and children who did not get evacuated in December 1941. The military personnel were evacuated by air until February, although a special mission evacuated a large number of troops and wounded in April (with some success). After the loss of the airlift, additional specialists, including code breaking staff, naval officers and petty officers of the US Navy and Commonwealth Coast Guard, and remaining pilots and senior maintenance staff of the Army Air Force and Philippine Army Air Corps.
By the end of April, the 8 submarines initially assigned had made 24 trips to the Philippine Islands (including 6 to Cebu) and 7 remain. The Seawolf and Skipjack returned to Rabaul on April 26, but the Perch was lost on its 3rd trip. As of May, the newly arrived Nautilus and Narwhal are assigned make a final trip with cargo to Corregidor (to arrive May 26 and 29 Operation Mail Call 2) after they return from their first trip to support General Chynoweth while the Sculpin, Seadragon, and Swordfish are sent on a 4th trip to Corregidor (arriving May 8, 10 and 12, Operation Mail Call) while the other 3 submarines are sent to make their first runs to the southern and central Philippines provide vital parts and small arms to Filipino Guerillas and their American advisers under the command of Brigadier General Chynoweth operating in the hills of the island of Samar (arriving May 16, 18, and 20)
Operation Mail Call
With the fall of Bataan certain in mid April, Eisenhower orders that a shift in priorities be made. Convinced that the men of his former command, those that remain, deserve to hear from home in light of their now certain eventual captivity, he demands that they get some mail and tangible news and comfort from home. Mail for American soldiers has been stacking up at San Francisco since the war began, and he asks that personal letters and magazines be forwarded to Australia for delivery to Americans who continue to fight the Japanese around Manila Bay and elsewhere. When Wainwright arrives after his evacuation, he informs Eisenhower that some basic luxuries, one that soldiers crave most of all, cigarettes, are in short supply, Ike orders that that those be included, as well as canned fruit, candy and canned meat.
The fortresses are most in need of artillery ammunition and fuel oil for generators, neither of which can be brought in by submarine in any reasonable amount. They have adequate fuel and small arms ammunition for their likely future. However, there is a shortage of battle rations, which are a likely need when Corregidor comes under direct artillery attack once Bataan falls, and thus crates of C rations will make up the bulk of the planned supply runs, along with medicine and medical supplies.
The first three submarines were due to leave Rabaul on April 30, but the news of the collapse of the American line led to their delay and mail destined for Bataan was removed. Additional supplies replaced that mail, and the 3 submarines that arrive in Manila Bay the second week of May carry aboard 30 tons of mail (including actual mail plus literally thousands of cartons of cigarettes) as well as 80 tons of C rations with the remaining cargo consisting of medical supplies. They evacuate 40 American hospital patients (all are blind or have suffered multiple amputations), 10 nurses to care for them and 10 officers and enlisted men from the USAFE finance and records sections, who carry valuable items such as payroll records, personnel records summaries noting current strength (and a roster of those who were on Bataan who did not get evacuated), authorized promotions and recommendations for decorations.
The two larger submarines are carrying radio parts, telephone cable, barbed wire and still more medical supplies, as well as nearly 20 tons of canned fruit. The Marine Corps would like its share of combat veterans, requesting that a 100 Marines be evacuated, while the Navy wants 200 more (nearly all of the Navy personnel including Philippine Coast Guard who remain) and the remaining slots are to be given to the Nurses of the Philippine Army Nursing Corps who remain on Corregidor plus what patients can be loaded aboard. A special request by the Army that 50 enlisted men who have 25 years or more of service be offered the option of evacuation make up the final slots. One man in particular, a sergeant for the 59th Coast Artillery, was 1 week shy of 30 years service on December 7, and his name is actually the first name on the Army's list of men to be evacuated.
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authors notes: OTL there was indeed a major priority to get records out and the men who kept them as pay allotments for POWs are based on the soldiers rank, every promotion mattered.
Historically there was not a concentrated effort to organize the submarines into a regular supply line. Admiral King resisted that, and there was not a strong effort made by Macarthur to push for one. TTL Admiral Stark is still Chief of Naval Operations, and Admiral Kimmel is CINCUS (and commands the Atlantic Fleet Battleship force) while Nimitz is not adverse to using the submarines of the old Asiatic Fleet for this mission and indeed thinks that converted cargo carrying submarines are not particularly suitable for anti shipping missions in any event. Eisenhower has been more hands on with his former command throughout the story. Admiral King is commanding in the Caribbean, where he will likely continue to dislike the British but can do little harm to Allied relations.
The garrison OTL was eating 2 meals a day from early January, mostly of rice with some add ons. TTL they are eating more (3 meals a day) but still again mostly rice. After several months of rice, a case of C rations or even SPAM is going to look pretty awesome.
Canned fruit is great for creating home brew alcohol. There are number of stills on Corregidor OTL. Liquor is nearly gone (from those who hoarded or scavenged). Very little of that canned fruit will be eaten for dinner, but a significant number of soldiers on Corregidor and Fort Hughes will have at least a bit of home brew White Lightning before they go into captivity.
Historically there was not a concentrated effort to organize the submarines into a regular supply line. Admiral King resisted that, and there was not a strong effort made by Macarthur to push for one. TTL Admiral Stark is still Chief of Naval Operations, and Admiral Kimmel is CINCUS (and commands the Atlantic Fleet Battleship force) while Nimitz is not adverse to using the submarines of the old Asiatic Fleet for this mission and indeed thinks that converted cargo carrying submarines are not particularly suitable for anti shipping missions in any event. Eisenhower has been more hands on with his former command throughout the story. Admiral King is commanding in the Caribbean, where he will likely continue to dislike the British but can do little harm to Allied relations.
The garrison OTL was eating 2 meals a day from early January, mostly of rice with some add ons. TTL they are eating more (3 meals a day) but still again mostly rice. After several months of rice, a case of C rations or even SPAM is going to look pretty awesome.
Canned fruit is great for creating home brew alcohol. There are number of stills on Corregidor OTL. Liquor is nearly gone (from those who hoarded or scavenged). Very little of that canned fruit will be eaten for dinner, but a significant number of soldiers on Corregidor and Fort Hughes will have at least a bit of home brew White Lightning before they go into captivity.
well hopefully the decision to send 30 tons of mail makes better sense in context now
That is it for tonight... more to come
Still hoping to finish this story by December 31
That is it for tonight... more to come
Still hoping to finish this story by December 31
I recall reading the reaction of the DOW and attack on the PI, by one of the men there. He was watching an old sergeant, a man who had enlisted either in the SpanAmWar or the Insurrection. It was quite a poignant vignette, as the old veteran knew this was his last war, indeed, the end of his life. This was some years ago, don't recall the books title, perhaps someday I'll come across it again.
Donald Reaver
Donor
A good update, looking forward to how you handle the last days, grim as it may be.