Taking Heads

During the retreat of the North Luzon Force to Bataan in the last days of 1941, two recently mobilized reserve divisions of the Philippine Army took up temporary defensive positions astride the Concepcion-Magalang Road along the so-called D-5 Line. The 21st Infantry Division held the western flank, while the …

1942-01-01

AP059

During the retreat of the North Luzon Force to Bataan in the last days of 1941, two recently mobilized reserve divisions of the Philippine Army took up temporary defensive positions astride the Concepcion-Magalang Road along the so-called D-5 Line. The 21st Infantry Division held the western flank, while the 11th Infantry Division held the road and the eastern flank. Their orders were to repel any attacks until the night of January 1st-2nd, then resume their withdrawal southward. In the afternoon of New Year’s Day, a Japanese force struck the 11th Division’s left flank along the road in an attempt to rout the defenders by a coup de main.

Concepcion, Luzon

The Philippines campaign, also known as the Battle of the Philippines or the Fall of the Philippines, was from December 8, 1941 to May 8, 1942 the invasion of the Philippines by the Empire of Japan and the defense of the islands by United States and the Philippine Armies during World War II. The Japanese launched the invasion by sea from Formosa, over 200 miles north of the Philippines. The defending forces outnumbered the Japanese 3-2 but were a mixed force of non-combat experienced regular, national guard, constabulary and newly-created Commonwealth units. The Japanese used first-line troops at the outset of the campaign, and by concentrating their forces, they swiftly overran most of Luzon during the first month. The Japanese high command, believing that they had won the campaign, made a strategic decision to advance by a month their timetable of operations in Borneo and Indonesia and to withdraw their best division and the bulk of their airpower in early January 1942. That, coupled with the defenders' decision to withdraw into a defensive holding position in the Bataan Peninsula, enabled the Americans and Filipinos to hold out for four more months. Japan's conquest of the Philippines is often considered the worst military defeat in US history. About 23,000 American military personnel, and about 100,000 Filipino soldiers were killed or captured.

Japanese

American

Scenario Type = Standard