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Post by joeconnor53 on Feb 15, 2018 23:54:12 GMT 8
I'm researching an article on the Bataan fighting and would like help in confirming a few facts:
1. Was the Bagac-Orion line the one the troops were holding when the Japanese launched their final offensive on 4/3/42?
2. Is the distance from this line to Subic Bay about 20 miles? MacArthur's plan for a last-ditch offensive called for an attack to seize the Japanese base at Olongapo/Subic Bay, and I want to make sure I have the correct distance that they would have advanced.
Thanks for the help!
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Post by Karl Welteke on Feb 20, 2018 17:19:01 GMT 8
Hello joeconnor53 1-Yes the Bagac-Orion line was the one the troops were holding when the Japanese launched their final offensive on 4/3/4. Look at my recent entry of 3rd Feb. where the map shows and says: Reserve Battle Position, that is the one! This is the forum thread URL: corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1559/general-army-douglas-macarthur Za602 Distance from Bagac to Olongapo, about 48 km. I traced the distance from Bagac to Olongapo on Google Earth, it is not only 48 km but has many mountain curves, easily defended by the more fit Japanese troops. |
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Post by cbuehler on Feb 22, 2018 1:42:59 GMT 8
That last ditch offensive seems obsurd in hindsight, but I cant help but think that it may not have been so obsurd if considered a little earlier, prior to the re-inforcements Homma received for the final push. Not that it would have changed anything however.
I am not entirely sure just how "more fit" the Japanese troops were however. Probably some of the most recent re-inforcements likely were, but on the whole, my research indicates Japanese were little to no better off than the USAAFE forces with regard to food, medicine and other supplies.
I could add that the resultant "Death March" and the substantial amount of captured USAFFE supplies tend to indicate this.
CB
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Post by Karl Welteke on Feb 22, 2018 16:59:36 GMT 8
Re the fit question- the Japanese broke the Mauben and the Abucay Hacienda Lines by marching around the lines at higher elevations. I don’t think the Allied Forces were ready or able to do that at that time!
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Post by cbuehler on Mar 8, 2018 0:45:49 GMT 8
In regard to the Japanese at Abucay Mauban , most accounts relate that the USAAFE discounted the possibility of such a movement as it was thought to be too difficult!
We are all familiar with the Japanese Army training to exceed the abilities of most other infantry in the world, and this was one example of it. There were others as well during the battles on Bataan and credit is due despite the emotions of a lost battle and its aftermath.
I have touched on this before, but some of the more professional US officers at the time had a more rational opinion of it all.
CB
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