Japanese invasion of Aparri

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Japanese invasion of Aparri
Part of Philippines campaign (1941–1942), Pacific War
Date10 December 1941
Location
Aparri, Philippines
Result Japanese victory
Belligerents
 Japan

 United States

The Japanese Invasion of Aparri (

Jolo Island over the next few days[1]

Disposition of forces

Prior to

Balete Pass to the south, or by a long coastal route. The Cagayan Valley
was not regarded by the Americans as a route of invasion.

The area of Aparri was in theory defended by General Wainwright's North Luzon Force. However, with only a few men and a large territory to cover, Wainwright could spare only one partially trained and equipped Philippine Army division, the 11th Division, commanded by Colonel William E. Brougher, for all of northern Luzon. A reserve division, the 11th had begun to mobilize only in September and was at only two-thirds of its authorized strength of 1500 men per regiment. It also suffered from a serious shortage of equipment, including almost all of its artillery and transports. This division maintained only one battalion in the entire Cagayan Valley, with only one company actually at Aparri.[1] On the Japanese side,

IJAAF 24th and 50th Fighter Regiments launched from the airfield at Batan island captured the day before.[1]

Landing and aftermath

The landing operation at Aparri faced no opposition from American forces; however, after two companies had landed rough seas and winds forced a shift in location to Gonzaga, some 20 miles to the east. Reports of the landing soon reached General MacArthur’s headquarters in Manila, where it was correctly assumed that the objective was to seize airfields from which fighters could deploy for operations further south. However, General Wainwright considered the landing at Aparri to be a feint to divide his already weak defenses, and decided not to offer resistance aside from destroying bridges on the route from Balete Pass.[1]

As the Japanese were unloading at Gonzaga, two

W-19,which was holed and beached.[4]

The Tanaka Detachment reported capture of Aparri airfield by 1300, and the airfield at

IJAAF 50th Sentai with 36 Nakajima Ki-27 fighters was operational at Aparri from the following day.[5]

By 12 December, the Tanaka Detachment has also secured Tuguegarao airfield, fifty miles to the south. With the Americans on the run, Homma decided to leave only a small garrison at Aparri, and to move the bulk of his combat forces to south to assist the invasion force at Lingayen Gulf.[1]

Consequences

In retrospect, the advance landings by the Japanese in northern Luzon, including at Aparri, accomplished little of strategic or tactical value. The air fields seized were small, and with the rapid advance of the Japanese into central Luzon, were soon unnecessary for further operations.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "The First Landings". Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  2. ISBN 1299324614
    .
  3. ^ "Imperial Cruisers". combinedfleet.com.
  4. ^ "IIJN Minesweeper W-19". combinedfleet.com.
  5. ISBN 978-1849086097
    .
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japanese_invasion_of_Aparri&oldid=1187848845"