How long could bataan have out?

[Michael Muzzarelli]

The question is if war plan Orange had been followed from dec. 8 how long could the Americans hold out? Also does anyone think the Pensacola convoy could have been pushed through?

 

[Scott Washburn]

If MacArthur had immediately begun construction of fortifications on Bataan and shifted food supplies there (there a was a half million tons of rice available in warehouses near Manila) then they could have held out for a lot longer than they did. The Japanese never had an overwhelming force and unless they committed a lot more troops, then the defenders might have held out for a year or more. As for getting relief convoys through, that was unlikely.

 

[Turrosh Mak]

The longer Bataan held out, the more political pressure the US government would be under to "do something". Bataan could become to the US what Przemyśl was to the Austro-Hungarian empire or Verdun to the French.