Visayan Force
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| Visayan Force | |
|---|---|
| Active | March 1942 - May 1942 |
| Disbanded | May 11, 1942 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Allegiance | United State of America, Philippine Commonwealth |
| Branch | Army |
| Size | 20,000 |
| Part of | US Forces in the Philippines |
| Garrison/HQ | Camp X, Talisay, Cebu |
| Engagements | Battle of Cebu Battle of Panay |
| Commanders | |
| Commander |  BGen. Bradford Chynoweth, USA |
| Chief of Staff | Col. Irvine Schudder Col. Roger Hilsman Sr |
US Forces in the Philippines Commands
| |
|---|---|
| Previous | Next |
| Luzon Force | Mindanao Force |
Visayan Force was a corps-size unit of United States Forces in the Philippines (USFIP) during World War II. Before his departure to Australia, General Douglas MacArthur reorganized the forces in the Philippines with Bataan Forces will Luzon Force and splitting Visayas-Mindanao Force to Visayas Force and Mindanao Force respectively. He will retain control of these forces from Australia from his representative in Corregidor Island. Major General William F. Sharp commander of Visayas-Mindanao Force will release Visayas islands from his authority and retain command of forces in Mindanao. This took effect on March 17, 1942 upon General MacArthur left Philippines from Del Monte Fields in Maluko, Bukidnon in Mindanao islands.[1].
Organization[edit]
BGen. Bradford Chynoweth was the commander of 61st Infantry Division based in Panay island was appointed to command the new force and ordered to transfer to Cebu island. He moved to Cebu to command all forces in the Visayas islands. He setup his headquarters in Camp X southeast of Talisay. He brought along 2 officers Capt Thomas Powell Jr and Capt Deter, 61st Infantry Division's engineer and medical officers. They resumed their duties as Visayas Force Engineer and Medical officers[2].
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Supply Run[edit]
Due to low supplies in Bataan, USFIP HQ in Corregidor pressured USAFFE to send much needed supplies and breakthrough the Japanese naval blockade. Several ships tried to bring supplies in Bataan but not successful, few reached Cebu and unload their supplies so they could go back to Australia. Others landed in different islands to avoid Japanese ships patrolling Visayas waters. SS Legazpi was sunk off Mindanao, SS Panay sunk off Negros. These gave forces in Bataan their fate.
Defense Preparation[edit]
Understanding his force lack supplies, weapons, & ammunition their strategy is to wage guerilla warfare the soonest Japanese land in each island. Total personnel in Visayan Force reached 20,000 men organized to 5 different garrisons, but with obsolete rifles and no artilleries available they resorted to Molotov bombs and various weaponries available.
The largest is Chynoweth's former command the Panay Force, which is now under his previous division chief of staff Colonel Albert F. Christie who he promoted to Brigadier General. To replaced 61st, 62nd Infantry Regiments, 61st Field Artillery Regiment which General Sharp taken to Mindanao, BGen Christie the island commander organized 64th and 65th Provisional Infantry Regiments. With the addition of Constabulary troops brought Panay Force to 7,000 men[3].
Negros Force under Colonel Roger Hilsman who is already have combat experience, fought the Japanese landings in Davao but his health has been the issue. He was brought to Cebu by Chynoweth to recuperate and ordered Lieutenant Colonel Carter McClennan the commander of 63rd Infantry Regiment in Panay to command. They organized 74th and 75th Provisional Infantry Regiments and assigned each battalion to different sector. McClennan force has 3,000 men.
Cebu Force under Colonel Irvine Scudder, have remnants of 81st Infantry Division. 83rd Infantry Regiment in Northern Cebu based in Liloan and 82nd Infantry Regiment(less 1st Battalion) in Southern Cebu based in Argao. It has the Cebu Military Police Regiment which has roughly 1,000 men. A Quartermaster Depot and Medical hospital for wounded soldiers are also in the island bringing about 6,500 men in the island.
Bohol Force under Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Grimes in Bohol island has 1st Battalion, 83rd Infantry added with Militia and constabulary units has 1,000 men. However, days before the Kawaguchi detachment reached Cebu, General Chynoweth transferred entire Bohol Force to Cebu to cover Cantabaco town which is situated at the inter-island highway a vital place for island's defense.
Leyte-Samar Force under Colonel Theodore Cornell. 81st Infantry Regiment and 93rd Infantry Regiment was taken by General Sharp to Mindanao, days before the split of the command and to replace these regiments he organized Leyte and Samar provisional regiments to fill the ranks. Also added to his Force are the constabulary units in both islands have 2,500 men.
Operation Baus Au[edit]
The most interesting feature the Visayan Force in the preparation on its defense was a program known as Operation Baus Au, visayan word for "Get Back" Initiated by General Chynoweth during his tenure as commander of 61st Infantry Division and Panay Garrison, he then adopted on Cebu. Operation Baus Au was the large-scale movement of goods, supplies, and weapons into the interior for use later in guerilla warfare. Secret storage for ammunition caches were established in remote and inaccessible places, and at mountain hideouts.
Japanese Landings[edit]
Cebu[edit]
On April 9, 1942 first word came of Japanese approach to Cebu, the Japanese split to 2 groups after steaming for Cebu from the South, all troops are alerted and coast watch was monitoring. Before dawn Japanese Kawaguchi Detachment landed in Talisay and Cebu City in eastern coast and the other group landed in Toledo and Pinamungajan towns in southern west coast of Cebu where they were met by 3rd Battalion, 82nd Infantry Regiment[4]. Cebu Military Police Regiment under LCol Howard Edmands was tasked to defend the capital where bulk of Kawaguchi detachment landed. His regiment hold the Japanese long enough to allow demolition teams to complete their work then fall back into the hills[5]
Panay[edit]
Kawamura Detachment who came from Lingayen reached Panay island April 16, 1942 and landing started by dawn, Kawamura detachment has 4,160 men. Bulk of General Kawamura's troops came ashore at Iloilo, smaller force landed at Capiz to the North of Panay island. Two days later third landing was made at San Jose, Antique along southwest coast. None of the landings were opposed considering not 1 artillery is available in the island garrison. General Christie already established his guerilla headquarters in the mountains and full of stocks for his men. Almost immediately he send his men out on hit-and-run raids. Japanese was aroused on this tactic and organized a punitive expedition to capture General Christie and destroy his headquarters. A Filipino agent warned them of the Japanese plan and prepared a ambush plan in a road towards General Christie's headquarters. The force was annihilated and survivor went back to San Jose but still Japanese control the major cities and road networks which totally control the island. Kawamura detachment was replaced by 10th Japanese Independent Garrison to prepare for an invasion in Mindanao.
Surrender[edit]
With Cebu defense no longer viable and Panay island totally in Japanese control, all forces are now doing guerilla warfare with Japanese. General Wainwright upon knowing the collapsed on Visayas defense. Ordered General Sharp to reconstitute the former Visayas-Mindanao Force since there was no viable force to go against the Japanese. However, on May 6, 1942 a surrender order was sent by General Sharp to General Chynoweth with doubts he received emissaries from both General Sharp and General Wainwright as proof of the authenticity of the order.
Order of Battle[edit]
- Panay Force (61st Infantry Division) - Col. Albert Christie
- 63rd Infantry Regiment
- 64th Provisional Infantry Regiment
- 65th Provisional Infantry Regiment
- Provisional PC Battalion
- Negros Force - Col. Roger Hilsman | Col. Carter McClennan (Acting) | Col Roger Hilsman
- 74th Provisional Infantry Regiment - Major Sam Jones
- 75th Provisional Infantry Regiment - Col. Teburcio Ballesteros
- Provisional PC Battalion
- PC Negros Occidental Company
- PC Negros Oriental Company
- Cebu Force - Col. Irvine Schudder
- 82nd Infantry Regiment - LCol. Emigdio David
- 83rd Infantry Regiment - LCol. Fortunato Borbon/ LCol. Rufus Rogers
- Cebu Military Police Regiment - LCol. Howard J. Edmands
- Cebu Quartermaster Depot
- PAAC Detachment
- Provisional Medical Battalion
- PC Cebu Company
- Bohol Force - LCol. Arthur Grimes
- 1st Battalion/83rd Infantry
- PC Bohol Company
- Leyte-Samar Force - Col. Theodore Cornell
- Leyte Provisional Infantry Regiment'
- Samar Provisional Infantry Regiment
- PC Leyte Company
- PC Samar Company
References[edit]
- ↑ Morton, Louis (June 26, 1952). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C. pp. 498–501.CS1 maint: Date and year (link) Search this book on
- ↑ Morton, Louis (June 26, 1952). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, C.C. pp. 502–503.CS1 maint: Date and year (link) Search this book on
- ↑ Tarkington, Hiram (1942). "There were others" (PDF). 1: 46.
- ↑ "Pacific Wrecks". December 8, 1941 – May 9, 1942.
- ↑ "Japanese lands in Cebu". Canberra Times. p. 1.
Bibliography[edit]
- Morton, Louis (1953). Chapter IV: Prewar Plans, Japanese and American (in) The Fall of the Philippines United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific. Center of Military History, United States Army. Search this book on
- Tarkington, Hiram W. There Were Others by Col (west-point.org)
See Also[edit]
- US Army Forces in the Far East
- North Luzon Force
- South Luzon Force
- Luzon Force
- Visayas-Mindanao Force
- Mindanao Force
- Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays
External Links[edit]
- http://bataanlegacy.org/uploads/3/4/7/6/34760003/pa-71st_infantry_division_history.pdf
- https://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/5-2/5-2_28.htm#p502
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