Eisenhower in the Pacific: Part 1 The Shoestring Warriors of Luzon
- Thread starter galveston bay
- Start date
vl100butch
Donor
that's one reason I hope the 12 inch mortars can come into play...blast that radio into bits...
And Colonel Sato and his staff as well, along with that damned radio. Maybe even some of the guns and tanks as well.
Anything to stop those rienforcements will be helpful....
Guardian54
Banned
This bolded word says this particular assault is probably repulsed. And then the defenders are going to fight for the island to the last man, the last bullet, and the last bayonet, because surrendering will only get you shot in the back instead of at least going out fighting.
I expect a lot more vicious fighting later on, as in, after the next battle, finding the corpses of some men locked together with Japanese bodies, after knifing the IJA enemy to death in a frenzy after being stuck by a bayonet or multiple.
Guardian54
Banned
The Japanese would have just disposed of the bodies, and a lot of cases of killing the wounded isn't quite that obvious, such as bayoneting them.
From memory of the initial count of Corregidor defenses, I believe that on these 17 thousands, only 2 are active combatants
OTL the numbers were 13,000 of which roughly 2,500 were part of the 4th Marine Regiment (about half of whom were actually Marines), another 6,000 assigned to Coast Artillery (including some sailors), and the rest of the personnel were support and command staff stuck on the Rock
TTL there are
Manpower
65th Infantry Regiment (600 men)
31st Infantry Regiment (600 men)
1st Engineer Brigade (1,500 men)
26th Cavalry Regiment (500 men)
1st Marine Battalion (separate)(900 men)
59th, 60th, 91st, 92nd Coast Artillery Regiments (8,000 men)
Headquarters and Support personnel (2,500 men)
Misc Bataan escapees (2,200) (1,200 assigned to the Coast Artillery,500 to Support, remainder to Engineer Brigade)
Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, US Army Air Force personnel (400 men)
18,200 military personnel plus 1,000 civilians (many of whom are working as support 97and medical personnel)
plus 700 hospital patients (nearly all Americans) who were evacuated from Bataan or were wounded on the Rock
this includes 1050 on Fort Hughes (all Coast Artillery) but also includes the 970 men lost on Fort Drum and Fort Frank, plus the 1,000 casualties suffered in the 1st and 2nd Bombardment, including nearly 300 dead or missing (blown to shreds or buried in collapsed holes), plus the 120 personnel evacuated since the Fall of Bataan by submarine.
The casualties from the fighting so far in the assault are also still in the total personnel above
Assault on Corregidor: May 25-26 (part 4)
The Desperate Hours
The Japanese move quickly to expand their beachhead, certain that aggressive attack will keep the Americans off balance and achieve success. The 1/1 Guards Battalion, with around 300 men, a few light machine guns and knee mortars, and a pair of heavy machine guns holds Infantry Point and the Battery Kysor position and threatens the flank and rear of Water Tank Hill as well as the entrance to the Malinta Tunnel. Troops begin probing forward toward both objectives but find that the Americans are in strength already west of Water Tank Hill (2 companies of engineers) and large force of American infantry and armored vehicles in front of Malinta Hill, which is an alarming development. American fire is preventing communication by runner with Japanese forces further east and the 1/1 Guards has no radio contact.
Thus they are helpless to warn the 261 Infantry, which has 3 intact infantry companies (somewhat reinforced to 200 men each), plus the machine gun company (and its 12 MMG) plus 4 HaGo tanks massing north and east of Water Tank Hill. This force fires advances under heavy machine gun fire of its supporting machine gun company and all 3 infantry companies and the tanks charge Water Tank Hill. However, the Marines have moved up and while not yet dug in, 2 companies of Marines plus the Marine Machine Gun Company (with 24 x 50 caliber machine guns), which are backing the already dug 4 heavy machine guns and 2 x 75 mm guns manned by the remainder of Battery Denver and Battery N and backed by 6 heavy mortars (4.2 inch) of Battery N and M. This massed firepower is a massive and very quickly fatal shock to the Japanese attack force and to Colonel Sato, who is quickly killed by a 4.2 mortar shell that falls on his command post, followed by accurate shooting by the 2 surviving 75 mm guns of Battery N as the gunners shoot every round they have at the enemy guns and machine guns on the bluff supporting the Japanese attack.
For the 600 charging Japanese infantry it is a like walking into a blow torch. They are cut down by the score by accurate rifle and machine fire, and only a few dozen make it to the Marine line, where savage point blank encounters result between frenzied American and Japanese soldiers in the darkness among rocks and blasted vegetation. The fight lasts nearly 30 minutes, but it is a total Japanese defeat worsened as the other 2 Marine Infantry companies move up and join the fight and then press forward toward the Japanese gun and machine gun positions, which have been badly depleted by American fire.
By 0200 Hours the fight is effectively over. Over 700 Japanese are dead or dying, the remaining few are hiding or have fled east but the cost has been high for the Americans, with around 75 Marines dead, another 300 wounded and 20 Coast Artillerymen are dead or wounded from Battery Denver. Among the dead are Lieutenant Colonel John Adams, commander of the 1st Battalion as well as all of the officers who remained of Battery Denver. All four of the Japanese tanks are aflame and lighting up the sky surrounded by a carpet of bodies from both sides.
This attack in turn triggers an attack by the 26th Cavalry, with its tanks and dismounted infantry, supported by 65th Infantry and its 4 Rifle and 1 Weapons Company at 0130 hours into Infantry Point. The Japanese are outpowered and outnumbered but the elite Japanese Guard go down hard, knocking out 2 of the American tanks with their own antitank rifles, and inflicting 145 casualties on the Cavalry and 160 casualties on the 65th Infantry. Only a few of the Japanese Guardsmen survive, by hiding in the rocky slopes leading down to the beach or by slipping away in the darkness east (where nearly of of those survivors are caught and killed in the fighting there).
The 2/1 Guards meanwhile, unaware of disaster to its west, is moving to eliminate the American guns and searchlights that threaten the next wave which is expected in a couple of hours. Supported by 75 m mm light guns and 47 mm antitank guns, along with heavy machine guns and nearly 800 riflemen, they overwhelm the sailors and survivors of Battery N holding the high ground above the Navy Tunnel and wipe out Battery O, which fights a desperate but doomed defense at Hooker Point. This action costs the Americans nearly 200 dead, with a few survivors hiding in the Navy Tunnel behind a barricade for a final stand and a handful of other survivors hiding in the rocks at the far end of the tail. But it cost the Japanese heavily too, as the sailors of the Philippine Coast Guard and their 8 heavy machine guns mow down dozens before shellfire takes them out, and dozens more are killed by American coast artillery soldiers who face no option but death. This action is over by 0200 hours, but has cost the Japanese 200 casualties of their own.
Slaughter off Cavalry Point
It is at this moment that the 14 Shohatsu landing craft return after their trip to Mariveles to pick up the 3/61st Infantry Battalion. There is only room for 350 troops of that battalion but it is the weakest of the 3 battalions of the Japanese infantry regiment as the two other battalions stripped it to make up for the sick still in the hospital with Malaria. Those sick men will count themselves lucky, because the 26th Cavalry spots them as they are moving up, and spotlights on the tanks and halftracks light up the boats, a radio call makes it way to Topside, and a prearranged starshell from a 155 mm gun lights up the sky. All of the remaining 155 guns and all three of the remaining 12 inch mortars open fire at the position designated by the green flare, which is the area around Cavalry Point. Meanwhile, a barrage of 75 mm, 37 mm and 50 caliber and 30 caliber machine guns from the 3 remaining tanks and all 6 halftracks, along with every rifle and BAR that can reach let go on the 14 boats. Not one survives more than 10 minutes in the literal hail of fire. Only a few of the soldiers aboard survive long enough to make it into the water and some swim ashore to Corregidor, while a few others strike out for Bataan.
In less than 15 minutes, another Japanese infantry battalion and 14 more landing craft are gone. There are no American casualties.
The Final Battle
General Steel releases his final reserve at 0300 hours, as it is clear that third wave has been destroyed and only the Japanese on Hooker Point remain. The 31st Infantry and 65th Infantry are sent in to deal with them, supported by the remaining 3 tanks, while the Marines take up positions formerly held by the 4/59th and the remainder of the 26th Cavalry are pulled back into Malinta Tunnel.
It is clear to the remaining Japanese that the situation is hopeless after the quick destruction of the reinforcement wave. With ammunition exhausted for their guns, as only a few rounds per gun were brought ashore (as more was expected in the 4th Wave.... tomorrow morning), the gun crews join in and 1300 Japanese soldiers launch a full scale suicidal Banzai Charge at the American infantry. Several American platoons are overwhelmed and wiped out and indeed the Japanese penetrate right through the 2 American regiments by sheer force of desperation and numbers. Only a few dozen Japanese survive the desperate battle, and they flee to the bluffs along the beach or start swimming for Bataan.
Dawn May 26
The Americans pull the 500 survivors of the 65th and 31st Infantry Regiments back into Malinta Tunnel, while the Marines dig in deep along with the surviving 1,000 engineers of the 1st Philippine Engineer Brigade. Japanese shelling has stopped, as according to plan Homma is waiting for a situation report. Japanese scout planes begin flying over and it is clear that the assault has not only failed but been wiped out.
Homma orders a cease fire while he wonders as he tries to come up with a report that explains the disaster.
For the first time in weeks no shells or bombs fall on Corregidor. A temporary respite that the Americans put to good use burying American and Filipino dead and throwing the Japanese bodies into mass graves.
In all the Japanese have lost nearly 3,600 dead, over half of their landing craft, and one entire infantry regiment destroyed, another one wrecked and suffered yet another defeat at the hands of the Americans.
American losses are severe however. The 4/59th is down to 100 survivors, the 2 infantry regiments and the cavalry are badly mauled, while the marines are down to about three quarters strength. In all, nearly 2,000 American and Filipino soldiers, sailors and marines are casualties, including over 1,200 wounded.
But the Rock has held.
The Japanese move quickly to expand their beachhead, certain that aggressive attack will keep the Americans off balance and achieve success. The 1/1 Guards Battalion, with around 300 men, a few light machine guns and knee mortars, and a pair of heavy machine guns holds Infantry Point and the Battery Kysor position and threatens the flank and rear of Water Tank Hill as well as the entrance to the Malinta Tunnel. Troops begin probing forward toward both objectives but find that the Americans are in strength already west of Water Tank Hill (2 companies of engineers) and large force of American infantry and armored vehicles in front of Malinta Hill, which is an alarming development. American fire is preventing communication by runner with Japanese forces further east and the 1/1 Guards has no radio contact.
Thus they are helpless to warn the 261 Infantry, which has 3 intact infantry companies (somewhat reinforced to 200 men each), plus the machine gun company (and its 12 MMG) plus 4 HaGo tanks massing north and east of Water Tank Hill. This force fires advances under heavy machine gun fire of its supporting machine gun company and all 3 infantry companies and the tanks charge Water Tank Hill. However, the Marines have moved up and while not yet dug in, 2 companies of Marines plus the Marine Machine Gun Company (with 24 x 50 caliber machine guns), which are backing the already dug 4 heavy machine guns and 2 x 75 mm guns manned by the remainder of Battery Denver and Battery N and backed by 6 heavy mortars (4.2 inch) of Battery N and M. This massed firepower is a massive and very quickly fatal shock to the Japanese attack force and to Colonel Sato, who is quickly killed by a 4.2 mortar shell that falls on his command post, followed by accurate shooting by the 2 surviving 75 mm guns of Battery N as the gunners shoot every round they have at the enemy guns and machine guns on the bluff supporting the Japanese attack.
For the 600 charging Japanese infantry it is a like walking into a blow torch. They are cut down by the score by accurate rifle and machine fire, and only a few dozen make it to the Marine line, where savage point blank encounters result between frenzied American and Japanese soldiers in the darkness among rocks and blasted vegetation. The fight lasts nearly 30 minutes, but it is a total Japanese defeat worsened as the other 2 Marine Infantry companies move up and join the fight and then press forward toward the Japanese gun and machine gun positions, which have been badly depleted by American fire.
By 0200 Hours the fight is effectively over. Over 700 Japanese are dead or dying, the remaining few are hiding or have fled east but the cost has been high for the Americans, with around 75 Marines dead, another 300 wounded and 20 Coast Artillerymen are dead or wounded from Battery Denver. Among the dead are Lieutenant Colonel John Adams, commander of the 1st Battalion as well as all of the officers who remained of Battery Denver. All four of the Japanese tanks are aflame and lighting up the sky surrounded by a carpet of bodies from both sides.
This attack in turn triggers an attack by the 26th Cavalry, with its tanks and dismounted infantry, supported by 65th Infantry and its 4 Rifle and 1 Weapons Company at 0130 hours into Infantry Point. The Japanese are outpowered and outnumbered but the elite Japanese Guard go down hard, knocking out 2 of the American tanks with their own antitank rifles, and inflicting 145 casualties on the Cavalry and 160 casualties on the 65th Infantry. Only a few of the Japanese Guardsmen survive, by hiding in the rocky slopes leading down to the beach or by slipping away in the darkness east (where nearly of of those survivors are caught and killed in the fighting there).
The 2/1 Guards meanwhile, unaware of disaster to its west, is moving to eliminate the American guns and searchlights that threaten the next wave which is expected in a couple of hours. Supported by 75 m mm light guns and 47 mm antitank guns, along with heavy machine guns and nearly 800 riflemen, they overwhelm the sailors and survivors of Battery N holding the high ground above the Navy Tunnel and wipe out Battery O, which fights a desperate but doomed defense at Hooker Point. This action costs the Americans nearly 200 dead, with a few survivors hiding in the Navy Tunnel behind a barricade for a final stand and a handful of other survivors hiding in the rocks at the far end of the tail. But it cost the Japanese heavily too, as the sailors of the Philippine Coast Guard and their 8 heavy machine guns mow down dozens before shellfire takes them out, and dozens more are killed by American coast artillery soldiers who face no option but death. This action is over by 0200 hours, but has cost the Japanese 200 casualties of their own.
Slaughter off Cavalry Point
It is at this moment that the 14 Shohatsu landing craft return after their trip to Mariveles to pick up the 3/61st Infantry Battalion. There is only room for 350 troops of that battalion but it is the weakest of the 3 battalions of the Japanese infantry regiment as the two other battalions stripped it to make up for the sick still in the hospital with Malaria. Those sick men will count themselves lucky, because the 26th Cavalry spots them as they are moving up, and spotlights on the tanks and halftracks light up the boats, a radio call makes it way to Topside, and a prearranged starshell from a 155 mm gun lights up the sky. All of the remaining 155 guns and all three of the remaining 12 inch mortars open fire at the position designated by the green flare, which is the area around Cavalry Point. Meanwhile, a barrage of 75 mm, 37 mm and 50 caliber and 30 caliber machine guns from the 3 remaining tanks and all 6 halftracks, along with every rifle and BAR that can reach let go on the 14 boats. Not one survives more than 10 minutes in the literal hail of fire. Only a few of the soldiers aboard survive long enough to make it into the water and some swim ashore to Corregidor, while a few others strike out for Bataan.
In less than 15 minutes, another Japanese infantry battalion and 14 more landing craft are gone. There are no American casualties.
The Final Battle
General Steel releases his final reserve at 0300 hours, as it is clear that third wave has been destroyed and only the Japanese on Hooker Point remain. The 31st Infantry and 65th Infantry are sent in to deal with them, supported by the remaining 3 tanks, while the Marines take up positions formerly held by the 4/59th and the remainder of the 26th Cavalry are pulled back into Malinta Tunnel.
It is clear to the remaining Japanese that the situation is hopeless after the quick destruction of the reinforcement wave. With ammunition exhausted for their guns, as only a few rounds per gun were brought ashore (as more was expected in the 4th Wave.... tomorrow morning), the gun crews join in and 1300 Japanese soldiers launch a full scale suicidal Banzai Charge at the American infantry. Several American platoons are overwhelmed and wiped out and indeed the Japanese penetrate right through the 2 American regiments by sheer force of desperation and numbers. Only a few dozen Japanese survive the desperate battle, and they flee to the bluffs along the beach or start swimming for Bataan.
Dawn May 26
The Americans pull the 500 survivors of the 65th and 31st Infantry Regiments back into Malinta Tunnel, while the Marines dig in deep along with the surviving 1,000 engineers of the 1st Philippine Engineer Brigade. Japanese shelling has stopped, as according to plan Homma is waiting for a situation report. Japanese scout planes begin flying over and it is clear that the assault has not only failed but been wiped out.
Homma orders a cease fire while he wonders as he tries to come up with a report that explains the disaster.
For the first time in weeks no shells or bombs fall on Corregidor. A temporary respite that the Americans put to good use burying American and Filipino dead and throwing the Japanese bodies into mass graves.
In all the Japanese have lost nearly 3,600 dead, over half of their landing craft, and one entire infantry regiment destroyed, another one wrecked and suffered yet another defeat at the hands of the Americans.
American losses are severe however. The 4/59th is down to 100 survivors, the 2 infantry regiments and the cavalry are badly mauled, while the marines are down to about three quarters strength. In all, nearly 2,000 American and Filipino soldiers, sailors and marines are casualties, including over 1,200 wounded.
But the Rock has held.
My reading of the Battle of Wake Island and the Battle of Corregidor (OTL) is that a sizeable reserve could very well have kicked the Japanese right back into the sea and slaughtered them. The Marines lacked that strength.
But if they had....
Thus the germ of the idea that led me to write this timeline to begin with
Thus the payoff
But if they had....
Thus the germ of the idea that led me to write this timeline to begin with
Thus the payoff
Guardian54
Banned
I think the effectiveness of the banzai charge is rather exaggerated.
Now if the defenders could prepare more traps like dirty-tarp-covered ditches and pit traps with punji sticks... that'd be great. The Filipinos should be able to teach the Americans the needed skills.
I expect every last American and Filipino to, if exfiltration is impossible, fight to the last drop of blood after seeing all the executions of the wounded. "Better to go out bludgeoning even one more Jap to death with a rock than to get lined up and used for a beheading contest" would be a mantra of sorts if some present know of the stories surrounding Nanjing.
The specialized landing craft? Months at least.
If rafts and local boats are used, weeks, but that would depend on
a) guerrillas not taking out all possible boats upon learning the Japanese are robbing the locals for them.
b) Everyone on the island being asleep while the local boats slowly approach
In other words, the Japanese are SOL now.
Now if the defenders could prepare more traps like dirty-tarp-covered ditches and pit traps with punji sticks... that'd be great. The Filipinos should be able to teach the Americans the needed skills.
I expect every last American and Filipino to, if exfiltration is impossible, fight to the last drop of blood after seeing all the executions of the wounded. "Better to go out bludgeoning even one more Jap to death with a rock than to get lined up and used for a beheading contest" would be a mantra of sorts if some present know of the stories surrounding Nanjing.
The specialized landing craft? Months at least.
If rafts and local boats are used, weeks, but that would depend on
a) guerrillas not taking out all possible boats upon learning the Japanese are robbing the locals for them.
b) Everyone on the island being asleep while the local boats slowly approach
In other words, the Japanese are SOL now.
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vl100butch
Donor
Atten-shun.....PRE-sent Arms!!!!!!! my salute to the gallant men of TTL...the Rock holds, how badly are the Japanese plans screwed up now?
I feel like the IJA and IJN plans are like a moving bicycle with a broomstick stuck in the front wheel!!!
Seems to me that some unorthodox methods to get supplies to the Rock need to be considered....what about a carrier raid with supplies being dropped by dive and torpedo bombers while fighter sweeps hit Japanese artillery positions on both sides of Manila Bay...and maybe airdrop a few mines as well...what about some B-24's with the second bomb bay converted to fuel tanks and minimum crew and machine guns?
submarines...inflatable boats with outboard motors...even a ton at a time, bringing in medicine, some spares and getting a few wounded out...maybe even some reinforcements...
There needs to be a separate campaign medal...and to use a British example, something along the line of awarding the George Cross to Malta, in this case, every soldier and Marine in a combat formation should get a Silver Star and in the support units a Bronze Star with V....
I feel like the IJA and IJN plans are like a moving bicycle with a broomstick stuck in the front wheel!!!
Seems to me that some unorthodox methods to get supplies to the Rock need to be considered....what about a carrier raid with supplies being dropped by dive and torpedo bombers while fighter sweeps hit Japanese artillery positions on both sides of Manila Bay...and maybe airdrop a few mines as well...what about some B-24's with the second bomb bay converted to fuel tanks and minimum crew and machine guns?
submarines...inflatable boats with outboard motors...even a ton at a time, bringing in medicine, some spares and getting a few wounded out...maybe even some reinforcements...
There needs to be a separate campaign medal...and to use a British example, something along the line of awarding the George Cross to Malta, in this case, every soldier and Marine in a combat formation should get a Silver Star and in the support units a Bronze Star with V....
So were is General Homma going after the disaster? Counting supplies on a island garrison somewhere in the South Pacific.
It will take weeks to get more landing craft to Luzon, which comes at a cost in terms of operations elsewhere. Another Combat Division is needed, more guns are needed (many of the ones present are reaching their barrel life), many more tons of ammunition. All at a cost in shipping and delaying other plans.
The troops have already been recommended for a Presidential Unit Citation (every single unit in OTL except the Marines, all units in this timeline as Eisenhower is not going to short the Marines and Navy), but yes more medals and a special Battle Medal for Corregidor is certain.
As to what happens next... well that will be another chapter..but not tonight
In OTL was replaced and spent the rest of the war in forced retirement until his arrest, trial and execution post war
A similar fate at least awaits him
Guardian54
Banned
A carrier raid that far beyond the Marshalls is suicidal and the USN can't afford it at present.
Subs are the best bet they've got for getting some stuff in and some of the incapacitated out.
I think this campaign may get to the epic defiance level of having men with multiple amputations lying prone under dirty rugs in de facto permanent watch over the landing shores, with a rifle and a couple grenades each.