Knowledge (XXG)

Battle of Bataan (1945)

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108: 207: 196: 140: 184: 173: 162: 94: 125: 744:(USAAF), the 34th RCT sustained heavy casualties, its offensive bogged down, barring any further progress. Gen. Jones then directed the 152nd to resume the attack on the Japanese to the north of Route 7, while on 6 February, the 151st Regiment rejoined the battle to relieve the disengaging 34th RCT. But further confusion and frustration on the pass reigned and on day's end, Maj. Gen. Hall relieved Maj. Gen. Jones of command and replaced him with Brigadier General 716:
yards off the highway and not be able to see the road. The Japanese had honey-combed every hill and knoll at the Zig-Zag with foxholes linked by tunnels or trenches; at particularly advantageous Points they had constructed strong points centered on log or dirt pillboxes. All the defenses were well camouflaged, for rich, jungle foliage covered most positions, indicating that many had been prepared with great care and had been constructed well.
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to try to find the main line of resistance, along with a determined defense by the Japanese, all contributed to difficulty in correctly identifying all units of the 152nd at times with respect to their exact locations. The northwest to southeast line of Japanese defenses, definitively unknown at the
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eastward through the pass. Gradually, the Japanese were pushed back and eventually overrun on 8 February. Three days later, on 11 February, the 151st was withdrawn for another mission; while the 152nd continued the offensive, and by 14 February 1945, the 149th and 152nd Regiments finally linked up.
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Meanwhile, the East Force moved on 12 February from Dinalupihan south toward Pilar. It was soon augmented by elements of the 149th Infantry Regiment. At Pilar the force split, part continuing south past the town, and part turning west astride Route 111. On 18 February the two forces linked up near
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On the day Brig. Gen. Chase assumed command, the 149th Infantry Regiment completed its eastward march north of Route 7 and linked up with XIV Corps. It then turned westward astride Route 7 to link up with the rest of the 38th Division. In tandem, the 151st and 152nd Regiments began making progress
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Except for the 38th Division's brutal struggle at 'Zig-Zag Pass', the swift and easy recapture of the province of Zambales and the Bataan peninsula enabled the Americans full use of Manila Bay and its world-class deepwater port. This development subsequently allowed the easy resupply of US forces
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The Japanese lost heavily on the defense of 'Zig-Zag Pass', with more than 2,400 killed and 75 wounded. Col. Nagayoshi escaped with about 300 men and joined other defenders farther south of the peninsula, holding out until mid-February. The 38th Infantry Division lost 270 men and had 420 wounded,
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few pieces of ground combined to the same degree to roughness and dense jungle. The main road, Route 7 twists violently through the pass, following a line of least terrain resistance that wild pigs must originally have established. The jungle flora in the region is so thick that one can step five
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Nagayoshi had decided to make a stand in the rugged Zambales mountains at the northern base of the Bataan peninsula, which the Americans named 'Zig-Zag Pass'. Abundance in supplies and ammunition had him prepared for a long battle, but his main defensive lines were stretched thin, at 2,000 yards,
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On 31 January 1945, driving west of Olongapo, the 38th Division advanced east on the intricate maze of enemy fortifications in 'Zig-Zag Pass', at the same time seeking out both Japanese flanks. But on the morning of 1 February, after about three miles (5 km) of steady progress, the 152nd
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By 15 February, two 38th Division task forces under XI Corps were employed for the southern Bataan amphibious landings. One, the South Force commanded personally by Brig. Gen. Chase, consisted of the 151st Infantry Regiment reinforced by a battalion of the 34th RCT, the 139th Field Artillery
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After mopping up operations against scattered small pockets of resistance, 'Zig-Zag Pass' was securely in the hands of the 38th Division. As a testament to the ferocity of the struggle, XI Corps killed about 2,400 of the 2,800-man Japanese force while taking only 25 prisoners.
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While the capture of Manila was significant for both military and psychological reasons, the seizure of Manila Bay was crucial from a logistical point of view. Its harbor was in American hands but would remain unused until the Bataan peninsula and the island of
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Bagac. A final major engagement occurred during the night of 15 February, and mopping up operations continued throughout the peninsula for about another week. Finally, on 21 February, after three years, Bataan was again secure in American and Filipino hands.
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type steel helmets were found that had been there for three years, along with the whitened remains of American soldiers that the Japanese had not buried. From Mariveles the force split, part moving up the west coast toward
634:, the commander of Japanese forces in the Philippines, had decided that defending Manila Bay was well beyond the capabilities of his forces, thus only some 4,000 Japanese troops of Maj. Gen. Rikichi Tsukada's 270: 736:
The 34th RCT was then ordered to resume the unsuccessful eastward offensive of the 152nd on 'Zig-Zag Pass'. However, after six days of severe fighting, despite heavy supporting artillery barrages and
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after an amphibious landing. Elsewhere, surprise was complete, there was only one US casualty, an enlisted man, who was gored by an angry bull. By the end of January, Zambales province was liberated.
638:, which had been dispersed to now captured Mindoro, Corregidor and Southern Luzon were left to oppose the Americans. The principal unit was the Nagayoshi Detachment under Col. Nagayoshi Sanonebu. 934: 623:
coast some twenty-five miles (40 km) northwest of Bataan, drive rapidly east across the base of the peninsula, and then sweep south, clearing Bataan, including its eastern coast.
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Regiment ran into Japanese strongpoints at 'Horseshoe Bend', the first known major 'Zig-Zag Pass' obstacles. In two days of heavy fighting, resulting in high casualties for the
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that were offshore nearly five miles (8 km), then provided covering fire from their .50 Cal and .30 Cal machine guns as they landed at Mariveles. Bullet-pierced American
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On 11 February, the South Force sailed south off the west coast north of Bataan, spent the night of 14 February at sea, and went ashore at 10:00 on 15 February at
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was given the mission to pass through positions held by the 34th and drive eastward along an irregular and unimproved Route 7 about twenty miles (30 km) to
884: 693:, then turn south and west along Route 7 to meet up with the 152nd. Maj. Gen. Hall of XI Corps believed that Route 7 could be taken in less than a week. 686: 678: 674: 616: 612: 605: 944: 842: 770: 766: 733:
time, also contributed to the confusion. With his offensive effectively stalled, Maj. Gen. Jones relieved the 152nd's regimental commander.
280: 939: 728:, all eastward progress had stopped. The unfavorable, twisting terrain, communications difficulties in the thick jungle, and relocation of 539: 773:, was attached to the 38th Division for the mission. Brig. Gen. William Spence, the 38th Division Artillery commander, led the force. 869: 427: 914: 520: 113: 711:. Nonetheless, Nagayoshi and his 39th Infantry Regiment intended to hold out indefinitely. 'Zig-Zag Pass' was described thus: 741: 659: 626:
But American intelligence had badly overestimated the enemy strength on Bataan, thinking that the Japanese had a full
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World War II in the Pacific: An Encyclopedia (Military History of the United States) by S. Sandler (2000) Routledge
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secured the entrance to Subic Bay from the south and was ordered into XI Corps reserve. Meanwhile, the
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to enable the use of its harbor and open new supply lines for American troops engaged in the crucial
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area of the southern province of Zambales, Luzon, without opposition. They promptly dashed to the
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from the 727th Amphibian Tractor Battalion carried the 151st Infantry Regiment ashore from the
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Battalion, and other attached elements. The other, the East Force, consisted of the reinforced
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were captured by the 34th Regiment Combat Team (RCT) on 30 January as well as Grande Island in
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In effect, a small force could hold off an entire army from this position indefinitely.
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was ordered to move eastward, north of and parallel to the 152nd, link up with
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airstrip but found out that Filipino guerrillas under the command of Captain
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while the 34th Regiment suffered 68 dead and 268 wounded.
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Military History of the Philippines during World War II
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had strained the capability of their supply lines at
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On 29 January 1945, the 38th Division landed in the
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Battles of World War II involving the United States
592:'s Sixth Army, the task to seize Bataan, and later 797:, the other part moving up the east coast toward 530:, part of the campaign for the liberation of the 16:Filipino-American recapture of Bataan from Japan 565:The rapid advance of US forces heading towards 30: 885:United States Army Center of Military History 882:: World War II Commemorative Brochures, Luzon 557:to invading Japanese forces on 9 April 1942. 264: 8: 608:commanded by Maj. Gen. Henry L.C. Jones and 534:, was waged to secure the western shore of 910:South West Pacific theatre of World War II 271: 257: 249: 27: 19:For the battle that occurred in 1942, see 930:Battles of World War II involving Japan 707:which left his position vulnerable to 630:on the peninsula. Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. 843:Military history of the United States 7: 221:35,000 US troops, Filipino guerillas 540:battle for the liberation of Manila 619:, the XI Corps was to land on the 506:Battle for the Recapture of Bataan 31:Battle for the Recapture of Bataan 14: 905:Philippines campaign (1944–1945) 610:Colonel Aubrey "Red" S. Newman's 205: 194: 182: 171: 160: 138: 123: 106: 92: 588:bestowed on Lieutenant General 282:Philippines campaign (1944–45) 114:Commonwealth of the Philippines 573:almost to the breaking point. 1: 742:United States Army Air Forces 55:31 January – 21 February 1945 945:February 1945 events in Asia 940:January 1945 events in Asia 760:Landings at Southern Bataan 701: 660:Republic of the Philippines 549:peninsula's recapture also 961: 853:History of the Philippines 702:Struggle on 'Zig-Zag Pass' 146:Second Philippine Republic 18: 848:Military history of Japan 581:in the west was secured. 290: 228: 215: 153: 84: 47: 35: 658:(later president of the 428:Cotabato and Maguindanao 915:1945 in the Philippines 687:149th Infantry Regiment 679:152nd Infantry Regiment 675:151st Infantry Regiment 642:March to the peninsula 617:24th Infantry Division 606:38th Infantry Division 514:Labanan para sa Bataan 493:Action of 24 July 1945 154:Commanders and leaders 771:6th Infantry Division 767:1st Infantry Regiment 551:avenged the surrender 229:Casualties and losses 224:2,800 Japanese troops 740:bombing runs by the 673:The 38th Division's 483:South China Sea raid 833:Bataan death march 709:flanking maneuvers 632:Tomoyuki Yamashita 211:Nagayoshi Sanenobu 925:History of Bataan 818:retaking Manila. 600:, fresh from the 586:Douglas MacArthur 501: 500: 388:Villa Verde Trail 247: 246: 80: 79: 952: 778:Mariveles Harbor 746:William C. Chase 442:Naval operations 285: 283: 273: 266: 259: 250: 210: 209: 199: 198: 189:Aubrey S. Newman 187: 186: 178:Henry L.C. Jones 176: 175: 165: 164: 144: 142: 141: 133: 129: 127: 126: 112: 110: 109: 98: 96: 95: 65:Bataan Peninsula 49: 48: 28: 21:Battle of Bataan 960: 959: 955: 954: 953: 951: 950: 949: 895: 894: 890: 878: 861: 824: 811: 762: 704: 699: 656:Ramon Magsaysay 644: 563: 553:of the US Army 502: 497: 488:Raid on Taihoku 286: 281: 279: 277: 242: 240: 235: 204: 203: 201:Rikichi Tsukada 193: 181: 180: 170: 169: 167:Charles P. Hall 159: 139: 137: 124: 122: 121: 107: 105: 93: 91: 68: 38:Pacific theater 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 958: 956: 948: 947: 942: 937: 932: 927: 922: 917: 912: 907: 897: 896: 888: 887: 877: 876:External links 874: 873: 872: 860: 857: 856: 855: 850: 845: 840: 835: 830: 823: 820: 810: 807: 761: 758: 703: 700: 698: 695: 643: 640: 602:Leyte Campaign 590:Walter Krueger 562: 559: 499: 498: 496: 495: 490: 485: 480: 475: 470: 463: 458: 450: 439: 438: 431: 424: 411: 410: 405: 400: 395: 390: 385: 380: 373: 366: 359: 354: 349: 342: 327: 326: 319: 314: 309: 304: 291: 288: 287: 278: 276: 275: 268: 261: 253: 245: 244: 237: 231: 230: 226: 225: 222: 218: 217: 213: 212: 191: 156: 155: 151: 150: 149: 148: 118: 117: 116: 87: 86: 82: 81: 78: 77: 76:Allied victory 74: 70: 69: 63: 61: 57: 56: 53: 45: 44: 33: 32: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 957: 946: 943: 941: 938: 936: 933: 931: 928: 926: 923: 921: 920:1945 in Japan 918: 916: 913: 911: 908: 906: 903: 902: 900: 893: 891: 886: 883: 880: 879: 875: 871: 870:0-8153-1883-9 867: 863: 862: 858: 854: 851: 849: 846: 844: 841: 839: 836: 834: 831: 829: 828:Aubrey Newman 826: 825: 821: 819: 815: 808: 806: 802: 800: 796: 791: 787: 783: 779: 774: 772: 768: 759: 757: 753: 749: 747: 743: 739: 734: 731: 727: 721: 718: 717: 712: 710: 696: 694: 692: 688: 684: 680: 676: 671: 669: 665: 661: 657: 653: 652:San Marcelino 649: 641: 639: 637: 633: 629: 624: 622: 618: 614: 613:34th Infantry 611: 607: 603: 599: 595: 591: 587: 582: 580: 574: 572: 571:Lingayen Gulf 568: 560: 558: 556: 552: 548: 543: 541: 537: 533: 529: 525: 522: 519: 515: 511: 507: 494: 491: 489: 486: 484: 481: 479: 476: 474: 471: 469: 468: 464: 462: 459: 457: 455: 451: 449: 446: 445: 444: 443: 437: 436: 432: 430: 429: 425: 423: 420: 419: 418: 417: 416: 409: 406: 404: 401: 399: 396: 394: 391: 389: 386: 384: 381: 379: 378: 374: 372: 371: 367: 365: 364: 360: 358: 355: 353: 350: 348: 347: 346:Lingayen Gulf 343: 341: 340: 336: 335: 334: 333: 332: 325: 324: 320: 318: 315: 313: 310: 308: 305: 303: 302: 298: 297: 296: 295: 289: 284: 274: 269: 267: 262: 260: 255: 254: 251: 238: 233: 232: 227: 223: 220: 219: 214: 208: 202: 197: 192: 190: 185: 179: 174: 168: 163: 158: 157: 152: 147: 136: 135: 134: 132: 119: 115: 104: 103: 102: 101: 100:United States 89: 88: 83: 75: 72: 71: 67:, Philippines 66: 62: 59: 58: 54: 51: 50: 46: 43: 39: 34: 29: 26: 22: 892: 889: 816: 812: 803: 775: 763: 754: 750: 735: 722: 719: 714: 713: 705: 672: 645: 635: 625: 583: 575: 564: 544: 513: 505: 503: 478:Convoy Hi-81 465: 454:Shin'yō Maru 453: 448:Convoy Hi-71 441: 440: 433: 426: 413: 412: 408:Bessang Pass 375: 368: 362: 361: 344: 337: 329: 328: 321: 299: 292: 243:25 prisoners 239:2,400 killed 120: 90: 85:Belligerents 42:World War II 36:Part of the 25: 790:World War I 683:Dinalupihan 648:San Narciso 636:Kembu Group 598:US XI Corps 555:Luzon Force 532:Philippines 352:Kirang Pass 236:688 wounded 899:Categories 859:References 730:battalions 685:while the 594:Corregidor 579:Corregidor 561:Background 536:Manila Bay 524:guerrillas 467:Leyte Gulf 377:Corregidor 357:Cabanatuan 241:75 wounded 234:338 killed 809:Aftermath 691:XIV Corps 668:Subic Bay 526:from the 473:Ormoc Bay 393:Los Baños 323:Cebu City 822:See also 726:regiment 664:Olongapo 628:division 621:Zambales 584:General 528:Japanese 521:Filipino 510:Filipino 456:incident 422:Bukidnon 415:Mindanao 403:Wawa Dam 216:Strength 60:Location 769:of the 461:Formosa 398:Palawan 339:Mindoro 294:Visayas 868:  738:napalm 697:Battle 596:. The 567:Manila 547:Bataan 518:Allied 383:Baguio 370:Manila 363:Bataan 317:Negros 312:Simara 143:  128:  111:  97:  73:Result 799:Pilar 795:Bagac 435:Davao 331:Luzon 307:Panay 301:Leyte 131:Japan 866:ISBN 786:LSTs 782:LVTs 545:The 504:The 52:Date 780:. 40:of 901:: 801:. 748:. 615:, 542:. 512:: 508:( 272:e 265:t 258:v 23:.

Index

Battle of Bataan
Pacific theater
World War II
Bataan Peninsula
United States
Commonwealth of the Philippines
Japan
Second Philippine Republic
United States
Charles P. Hall
United States
Henry L.C. Jones
United States
Aubrey S. Newman
Empire of Japan
Rikichi Tsukada
Empire of Japan
v
t
e
Philippines campaign (1944–45)
Visayas
Leyte
Panay
Simara
Negros
Cebu City
Luzon
Mindoro
Lingayen Gulf

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