Japanese Suffered Horrific Losses When Americans P-40 Tomahawk Planes Destroyed Japanese Navy in WW2

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During the 1941–1942 Philippines campaign, American forces defended the Bataan peninsula against Japanese forces. The 7,000-strong Philippine Islands served as a natural barrier separating Japan from East and Southeast Asia. Japan planned attacks against Malaya, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Hawaii, American-held Guam, Wake Islands, and Wake Islands. The combined U.S.-Filipino soldiers only managed to mount a sustained struggle in the Philippines when the first elements of the Japanese 14th Army landed on December 10. The Philippines were unprepared for war with Japan due to restrictions on Japanese warships and limited resources. The United States military amended War Plan Orange-3 in April 1941, limiting the defense of the Philippines to Manila Bay and surrounding areas.

In December 1941, President MacArthur divided his forces into four commands, with the Philippine Army's Northern Luzon Force and the South Luzon Force defending Manila Bay. The Japanese Army, led by Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma, had 60,000 ground soldiers, 13,000 air service support personnel, and 30,000 combat veterans. The Japanese invasion plan was to destroy the American air force on the first day, making landfalls at Lamon Bay and Lingayen Gulf. The American and Philippine withdrawal to Bataan was rapid and in good order, with the exception of a stand at San Fernando town. The significant ramifications of the changes to USAFFE defensive plans were evident, with supplies distributed to command centers in North and South Luzon from the main depots at Bataan and Corregidor.

The American and Filipino forces successfully retreated to the Bataan Peninsula, but their arrival was primarily due to the Japanese order to capture Manila. General Homma's decision to prioritize the capture of Manila over the American withdrawal was rebuked by Imperial Japanese Army Headquarters. The American strategy involved defending the Bataan Peninsula, with the 14th Army capturing Manila on January 2, 1942. The American-Filipino forces faced challenges in defending the peninsula, with the Japanese Army launching their first assaults on January 9. The 14th Army, despite suffering horrific losses, drove the American-Filipino defenders from the Mauban-Mabatang Line in January 1942. The battle was entirely controlled by American-Philippine artillery fire until the withdrawal to the next defensive line. The fighting resembled that of a rifleman, with the 31st "All American" Infantry Regiment and the 45th Philippine Scout Infantry Regiment being the best forces the defenders had.

The Japanese attacked I Corps on the western edge of the Bataan Peninsula, causing a significant loss of 1,400 troops. The Allied forces had to withdraw to the south, leaving the Filipinos vulnerable to attack. However, the Japanese did not impede their enemy's southward maneuver and missed it entirely. American light tanks and artillery held them back, forming a new 4,500-yard defense line between the United States and the Philippines. The Japanese commander, Maj. Gen. Naoki Kimura, launched an amphibious assault on the west coast to cut the West Road, the only supply route connecting the United States and the Philippines. The Americans managed to remove the Japanese toeholds in two weeks, resulting in 750 American and Filipino casualties, with nearly one-third being killed.

The Philippine Army faced significant challenges during World War II, with the Japanese attacking II Corps and causing significant damage to the landing troops. The American-Filipino army faced supply issues and malnutrition, leading to a weaker fighting capacity. MacArthur's forces prepared for potential enemy attacks, with heavy artillery and heavy artillery bolstering their forces. The Japanese attacked II Corps, shattering the American-Filipino forces in less than 36 hours. The defense of Bataan ended after 93 days, with 12,000 American and 64,000 Filipino POWs taken over by the Japanese. The Philippine Scouts, a legitimate US Army force, faced additional challenges, including a lack of rice and inadequate antiaircraft ammunition. The Ifugao tribesmen in the Philippine Army had better food access due to their foraging skills.