After the outbreak of war in December of 1941, two additional Marine Brigades were formed and sent overseas. The 2nd Marine Brigade was formed from 8th Marine Regiment, the 2nd Defense Battalion, and the 2nd Battalion of the 10th Marine (Artillery) Regiment, and arrived in Samoa in January of 1942. The 3rd Marine Brigade, whose major elements were the 7th Marine Regiment, and the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine (Artillery) Regiment, was also sent to Samoa, arriving in May of that year. With the outbreak of war, one additional Marine Regiment needs to bementioned - the 4th Marines which had been stationed in the International Settlement at Shanghai since 1927. Fearing that the regiment was in an exposed position, the commander of the Asiatic Fleet requested that the 4th Marines be withdrawn from China, and brought back to the Philippines. While awaiting permission, the Marine replacements that were to have gone to China and the 4th Marines were diverted to the 1st Separate Battalion. The 4th Marines evacuated Shanghai on November 28th, 1941, and reaching the Philippines on December 1st, 1941. Upon arrival there, the 4th Marines mustered the following: 4TH MARINE REGIMENT Troop Quality: Veteran Morale: 10 Regimental Headquarters with 1 Command Stand 1 Car 1 Band Stand 1 Support Stand 1 Supply Truck Service Company: with 2 Support Stands 2 Supply Trucks 1st and 2nd Battalions each with Headquarters Company, with 1 Command Stand 1 Recon Infantry Stand 2 Infantry Companies: each with 1 Command Infantry Stand 1 Infantry Stand Weapons Company: with 2 MMG Stands 1 Stokes Mortar Stand (DS) The 1st Separate Marine Battalion, which was already serving in the Philippines, was organized under its own unique TO&E. By the time the 4th Marines arrived in the Philippines, their regimental strength had dropped to 801, while the 1st Separate Marine Battalion mustered some 725 men, who were the replacements withheld from the 4th Marines. 1st Separate Marine Battalion Troop Quality: Experienced Morale: 10 Battalion Headquarters:with 1 Command Stand 1 Car 2 Support Stands 2 Supply Trucks 1 Radar Set Battery A: with 1 Command Stand 1 3" L23 AA Gun 1 Gun Crew Stands (DS) 2 .50 Machine Gun Stands (DS) Company B; with 1 Command Stand 3 Infantry Stands Battery C, with 1 Command Stand 1 3" L23 AA Gun 1 Gun Crew Stands (DS) 2 .50 Machine Gun Stands (DS) Weapons Company 1 Command Stand 4 MMG Stands 1 81mm Mortar Stand (DS) The 4th Marines were fleshed out with the additional of personnel from the Marine Barracks at Cavite and Olongapo and then were sent to Corregidor to serve as the infantry garrison there. The 1st Separate Battalion joined them as their missing third battalion, though Batteries A and C, as well as the radar set, were sent to Bataan to cover the remaining naval anchorage at Mariveles. A battalion of naval infantry was formed there, using Marine NCO's as platoon and squad leaders. With a total strength of some 1600 personnel, less some 300 detached for other service, the 4th Marines lacked sufficient manpower to cover the entire perimeter of the "Rock". In an attempt to stiffen the defenses, some 1200 additional men were added to the 4th Marines, consisting of 128 retired Filipino naval personal, 731 Philippine Air Force Cadets, and the 336 man-strong naval battalion from Mariveles. With the fall of Bataan in April, the survivors who managed to make it to the "Rock" were added into the 4th Marines, which gave it a final strength of some 3,891 officers and men, of which 1,440 were actually Marines. The final organization of 4th Marines was as follows: 4TH MARINE REGIMENT: Corregidor Troop Quality: Experienced, 4th Battalion Trained Morale: 8 Regimental Headquarters:with 1 Command Stand 1 Infantry Stand Regimental Reserve Companies 0 and P, each with 1 Command Stand 3 Infantry Stands 1st Battalion with Headquarters Company, with 1 Command Stand 1 Fixed 37mm Gun Stand 3 Infantry Companies A, B, C, each with 1 Command Infantry Stand 2 Infantry Stands 2 MMG Stand Weapons Company D, with 2 AAMG Stands (DS) 2 MMG Stands 1 Stokes Mortar Stand (DS) 2nd Battalion; (as 1st Battalion) Headquarters Company, 3 Infantry Companies: E, F, G, Weapons Company H 3rd Battalion: with Headquarters Company, with 1 Command Stand 1 Fixed 37mm Gun Stand 3 AAMG Stands 3 Infantry Companies I, K, L, each with 1 Command Infantry Stand 2 Infantry Stands 2 MMG Stands Weapons Company M, with 2 AAMG Stands (ds) 2 MMG Stands 1 81mm Mortar Stand (DS) 4th Battalion: with Headquarters Company 1 Command Stand 4 Infantry Companies Q, R, S, T, each with 2 Infantry Stands Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post USMC Supplement To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1992 by Greg Novak. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com