While I grant wikipedia is an iffy source, take a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_occupation_of_the_Philippines
The Philippines came pretty close to liberating themselves in OTL. Japanese control was, as in much of China, limited to urban areas, military complexes, and key logistic routes.
Pretty hard for a resistance movement to do much more than that.
Have the forts in Manila Bay ignore Wainwright's surrender orders.
Urban areas, military complexes, and key logistic routes are all that matters militarily. Partisans in a backwater have little effect.
But the hoary old myth about them having only armour piercing rounds instead of High explosive is entirely true; armour piercing rounds just bury themselves deep in the mangrove swamp before exploding.And the hoary old myth about Singapore's batteries only being able to fire seaward is just that, a hoary old myth.
my reading of Toland "Rising Sun", and "Not in Shame" as well as "Corrigidor, Saga of a Fortress" and the US Army official history is that Corrigidor was nearly out of food when the Japanese launched their final assault.
So you need significantly better staff work by the US Army (specifically McArthur) to ensure that it has the food needed to hold out for 12 months.
Anyway, the best way to hold Corregidor is to hold Bataan.
Basically, if MacArthur had allowed/encouraged the moving of stores forward, Bataan could have held out quite a bit longer, and then Corrigidor beyond that. Maybe.
Could they hold out until relief came? probably not.
Let’s call that a no.No way anyone is holding out in the PI for 2 or 3 years.
I would take that with a very large pinch of salt Grid, resistance armies were a nuisance, but without external help they seldom amounted to a force that could defeat occupying armies.The Philippines came pretty close to liberating themselves in OTL.
While I grant wikipedia is an iffy source, take a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_occupation_of_the_Philippines
The Philippines came pretty close to liberating themselves in OTL. Japanese control was, as in much of China, limited to urban areas, military complexes, and key logistic routes.
Pretty hard for a resistance movement to do much more than that.
Which is a larger version of the same problem without the benefit of water between you and the screaming hoards of the Emperor.
Except that the stretch of water actually offered not protection at all. Tactically this was a river-crossing operation like the landings on Singapore or Messina Strait, not something like Operation S....n.
I think you misunderstood my point. I don’t think Bataan or Corregidor could be held, but on Corregidor you at least have the respite that the Japanese gentlemen are going to have to make a major assault; they aren’t just going to jump out of a trench twenty five metres from you and come at you in a screaming horde anytime of the day or night; or crawl into your pit in the middle of the night to shave you neck with their bayonet.
It would also have a major [Bad] effect on US planning. As long as it holds, The public will be demanding the US go rescue the Troops.Back to the topic, Corregidor holding would seriously screw up the Japanese war plans. That's considering that the fort covered the entrance to Manila Bay. However, there may come a point where the fort is rendered useless when it has run out of ammunition. In a siege, food and water are not the only necessities.
...but I did know that McArthur was a fool from Costello's book Day's of Infamy, being about the B-17s he allowed to be destroyed for the bribe, the asshole!
mac was bribed to allow the japanese to destroy his air force? that sounds like a conspiracy theory. he was a foll, a rather big one but comitting treason sounds far fetched.
I would take that with a very large pinch of salt Grid, resistance armies were a nuisance, but without external help they seldom amounted to a force that could defeat occupying armies.
Contrary to popular belief, the Yugoslavian partisans did not drive the Germans out of their country and neither did the Greek partisans.