Taking a Stand at Rosario

On 22 December, the main Japanese landing on the island of Luzon came ashore at Lingayen Gulf. The objective was Manila, but getting there required a breakthrough of blocking positions on the main roads along the way. First up after the beach was secured was the town of …

1941-12-22

J149

On 22 December, the main Japanese landing on the island of Luzon came ashore at Lingayen Gulf. The objective was Manila, but getting there required a breakthrough of blocking positions on the main roads along the way. First up after the beach was secured was the town of Rosario, which lay astride Route 3, one of the main north/south roads. Rosario was lightly defended until General Wainwright ordered the Philippine Scouts and Company C of the 192nd Tank Battalion there to hold it as long as possible.

Rosario, 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

Filipino / American

Scenario Type = Standard