Important Note: All references to American troops in this article should actually read Filipino/Americans, as a large portion of those who served were citizens of the Philippines fighting along side their American Allies.
After the surrender of Bataan on April 9, 1942, Corregidor and its satellite fortifications still held out as the lone island of Allied resistance to the Japanese sweep across the Pacific. The Japanese had hoped that Corregidor would have surrendered along with the defenders of Bataan, but found that this hope was denied to them. In one of the ironies so often found in history, part of the case of the Bataan Death March resulted from the Japanese high command's preoccupation with the need to continue the campaign and reduce Corregidor. They were far more interested in moving troops and equipment southward into Bataan than they were in moving their prisoners north out of Bataan.
The fall of Bataan brought the American commanders on Corregidor up against their worst possible nightmare, having to defend against an attack mounted from Bataan. This had long been known to be the fortress "'Achilles' heel" for one very important reason: Most of the heavy artillery on the "Rock" consisted of flat trajectory guns intended to serve as coastal defense artillery. The exception to this were the 12" mortar batteries, which had been developed in the early 1900s as an antiship weapon.
The theory was that four 12" mortars firing armor piercing shell out to 15,000 yards could not only bracket an enemy ship with one salvo, but probably penetrate its armored decks as well. Due do this, most of the shell provided for these weapons was AP, instead of HE, which limited their usefulness as counterbattery weapons.
For semi-mobile artillery, Corregidor had 24 of the 155L36 ex-French WWI era field guns and an additional 48 ex-British 18# field guns, rebored to take the ammunition for the French 75L36. Again, these were flat trajectory weapons, and their usefulness was further limited by the fact that transport to shift them about the island was limited. The lack of counterbattery weapons meant that the enemy who attacked Corregidor from Bataan, by using howitzers emplaced in the many ravines there, could carry out indirect fire on the island without fear of counterbattery save from the 12 mortars. These weapons, which were placed in sub surface, but open-topped mortar pits, quickly, became the primary target of the Japanese pre-invasion bombardment, with the result that all but one weapon was silenced.
To protect against invasion, Corregidor was ringed with smaller caliber coastal defense weapons, as well as the above mentioned 155s and 75s. As a further safeguard, the only US Marine regiment in the Philippines, the 4th Marines, was ordered to the "Rock" to serve as the island's infantry garrison. The 4th had long been known as the "China Marines," having been stationed in Shanghai from 1927 to late November, 194 1. (The regiment arrived on December 1st, though some elements stationed in North China were capture by the Japanese before they were able to sail to safety.)
With a total strength of some 1600 personnel, less some 30 detached for other service, the 4th Marines lacked sufficient main power to cover the entire perimeter of the "Rock." In an attempt t stiffen the defenses, some 1200 additional men were added to the 4th Marines, consisting of 128 retired Filipino naval personal, 73 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. Corregidor is shaped as a tadpole, with many of the island's defenses and posts being placed on the head of the tadpole. Accordingly, the Regimental Headquarters, Regiment; Reserve Companies, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Battalions were stationed there. The 1st Battalion was ordered to defend the tail of the tadpol. From late December of '41 through April of '42, the Marines dug in endured the intermittent Japanese bombardment and bombings, and all the while watched their supplies run lower and lower. By late April, the continued shortage of supplies meant the end was in sight for the beleaguered garrison.
For the Japanese though, Corregidor could not be allowed to surrender on its own. As the last remaining Allied outpost, it needed to fall as soon as possible. From the fall of Bataan onward, the "Rock" came under repeated Japanese air and artillery bombardment. The Japanese increased both their weapons and equipment going so far as to use an observation balloon to direct their fire more accurately. The Japanese planned for a pair of night landing in early May, with one force hitting the tail of the island fast, followed by second assault the following night on the islands head.
Bombardment Begins
On the Emperor's birthday, April 29, 1942, the pre-invasion bombardment commenced. One hundred and sixteen different weapons, ranging from 240mm howitzers to 75mm field guns opened fire on the island, and kept the bombardment up for the next seven days. Each area of the island, including all beach defenses was attacked in turn, to ensure that the defenders could not guess where the Japanese assault would come. As a Japanese artillery officer states in a preinvasion meeting, that after the artillery finished, the infantry could walk ashore...
Terrain
The tail of the island fits nicely on a 4' by 8' table, and can be built by Geohex or other means. The Japanese may land at any point along the shore, except at the area marked as cliffs on the south side of the island. Landing craft may unload cargo on the beach below the cliffs on the north side of the island, but movement across the cliff section is limited. Weapons and tanks may not cross this area. Infantry stands may move from the base of the cliff to the top in one turn with a full move order.
After the month-long bombardment, the island was quite bare of cover. The area marked as the 92nd Philippine Scouts Barracks consists of four rubbled buildings.
More The Fall of the Rock
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© Copyright 1993 by Greg Novak.
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