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To: 5th MEB

Could the Phillipines have held out if they were adequately supplied?


158 posted on 08/04/2013 6:11:42 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: blueunicorn6
Could the Phillipines have held out if they were adequately supplied?

Better than that, they could have kicked Homma off Luzon.

159 posted on 08/04/2013 6:36:32 PM PDT by fso301
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To: blueunicorn6

What they really needed was reinforcements and trained combat units. These could only have been provided if the US and the Philippines had started mobilization much earlier.
They also needed an open, secure supply line to Australia for aircraft replacements.

They also lacked air units appropriate for naval interdiction. The three squadrons of A-24 divebombers that were on the way (the light bomber group ground crew was in the Philippines, but without planes; they were all captured) would have been ideal, but they would also have required time to train, and they would require replacements to stay in the fight. Attrition would quickly exterminate any fixed body of combat planes.

Without good combat units, time to train the Filipinos, or aircraft to retain air superiority and counter Japanese Naval superiority, there was no way to retain control of the strategically vital parts of the country such as the central plain of Luzon (the Philippines ricebowl) or Manila. the only option was to retreat into Bataan.

Bataan fell not due to lack of supplies from the US. They had plenty of ammunition. They mainly lacked food, which could have been sourced directly in the Philippines, plus quinine, of which for the most part they could also have had locally. The core problem at Bataan was that USAFFE had to switch war plans in a hurry the moment it became clear that the mobile warfare/beach defense strategy was not going to work because the Philippine Army was not up to it. So they had to revert to WPO-3, defense of Bataan, with no notice and little time to complete the necessary logistics. The withdrawal was conducted rapidly and brilliantly, but not enough time or transport was available to fully stock Bataan. They managed to gather in just two months rations, if that. With a couple of weeks prep they could have stocked for six months or more.


160 posted on 08/04/2013 6:44:52 PM PDT by buwaya
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To: blueunicorn6
I doubt it. The Japanese supply line was short, while ours was thousands of miles. I am sure that the Japanese would have owned the islands before we got started.
209 posted on 08/24/2013 7:29:05 AM PDT by ANGGAPO (Layte Gulf Beach Club)
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