This event was planned around a force-on-force tactical. Due to COVID-19 in 2020, the event was canceled but we decided to share some of the research that went into the planning side of this event. The chosen scenario focused on the action between the American Army 1/145 Battalion and the Japanese Army (IJA) 2nd (Nouchi) Provisional Infantry Battalion from 19-21 February in the vicinity of the Ice/Cold Storage Plant. The depth of research of the event allowed us to place units down to the platoon to a given space during the battle, which was relatively unheard of.
Allied Unit:
37th Division, 145th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, Charlie Company
Axis Unit:
Manila Naval Defense Force, Noguchi Detachment, 2nd Provision Infantry “Nouchi” Battalion, 5th “Fujii” Company*
*It should be noted this was actually an Army unit assigned to the Navy command. The command structure for Manila is tricky and the overlap and overriding commands caused a number of issues, some of which led to the execution of General Tomoyuki Yamashita post-war
The Battle of Manila (1945) was the set-piece of the larger Luzon Campaign during the re-conquest of the Philippines by the United States (US). Following its decisive victory over the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) at Leyte Gulf the previous year, the American troops would have adequate air cover to begin operations to retake Luzon. On 9 January 1945, the US 6th Army under General Walter Krueger landed on a relatively undefended 20 mile beachhead. Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita’s 14th Area Army had withdrawn northward to prepare an organized defense in the more mountainous jungle terrain, which would draw Allied resources from an invasion of Japan. However, the infamous inter-service rivalry between the Japanese Army and Navy commanders led to a sizable garrison of troops to remain in Manila and organize a desperate defense, despite overall orders to withdraw. Likewise, Manila represented a symbolic victory for the Allies—and for General Douglas MacArthur particularly, so taking the city was a priority. Thus the stage was set for the drive on the ancient city.
The Americans committed the 1st Cavalry Division and the 37th Infantry Division to the fight. They faced Admiral Sanji Iwabuchi’s Manila Naval Defense Force comprised of approximately 17000 Navy and Army troops. As the 1st Cavalry Division raced to encircle the Japanese garrison, the 37th drove straight south into the outskirts of the city. There the 129th, 148th and the 145th Infantry Regiments engaged with skirmish units of the Noguchi Detachment, a primarily IJA force, in early February. Breaking through to the Pasig River a few days later, the 145th split its battalions to continue to press south while also securing the northern sector known as the Tondo Pocket. This area was heavily defended by members of the Japanese maruha (colloquially known as “suicide” boats) crews around the port in an intense close-quarters action in which both sides paid heavy prices.
Further south, the Japanese 3rd Provisional Infantry Battalion (PIB) detonated charges to destroy the three bridges spanning the Pasig on 4 February. From their position on the opposite side of the Pasig, they were in an excellent position to halt the 37th’s drive against the 2nd PIB. After the withdrawal of the 2nd PIB to the 3rd’s right flank on the Intramuros side of the Pasig, it was up to the 145th to make the dangerous crossing and assault the well dug in Japanese. The Americans crossed on 19-20 February and engaged the Japanese troops across the entire front in famous buildings like the General Post Office, Legislative Building, Ice Plant, and the City Hall. The Cold Storage Plant was directly adjacent to the General Post Office providing key overwatch protection to this structure, breaking up American assaults and inflicting heavy casualties. Both buildings were an important gateway to the eventual American assault on Intramuros. As such, 145th committed the entire 1st Battalion (1/145) supported by the regimental Cannon Company to take these key positions…
After crossing the Pasig River, the 1/145th turned northward to carve out territory around Intramuros. There was a concerted push all along the line (approx disposition in Green) to take Taft Ave (highlighted in yellow). Charlie Company of the 145th was tasked with taking the Post Office but ran into stiff resistance from the surrounding buildings, notably enfilade, intense fires from the Cold Storage Plant garrisoned by the Japanese 5th Company (Red). Numerous attempts were made to flush the Japanese out, resulting in heavy allied casualties over the course of four days of intense fighting. It was only with the support of armor and the regimental gun company that the allies were able to make headway. The presence of armor on February 21st lead 1st Lt. Fujii Ichirou to abandon his position and follow the previous orders from Japanese command to break out when possible to save strength for the decisive campaign to come. That night the 5th company snuck across the Quezon bridge, eventually making it back to Yamashita Group lines, making them one of the few Japanese units to survive the battle. Elements of the American 145th entered the Cold Storage Plant and surrounding area the following day
Grooming Standards: Japanese soldiers typically had completely shaved or close shaved heads (manual states 3mm of hair). As this is generally an “extreme” hairstyle for most, we will accept a high undercut with either a No.1 or 2 guard. Any additional hair must not be visible when wearing the soft cover cap. Facial hair should be reflective of the campaign.
Glasses: Only round frame styles common in wartime Japan will be allowed. No nose pads, etc.
All Leather Gear: ALL LEATHER EQUIPMENT MUST BE TREATED WITH HUBERD’S, NEETSFOOT OIL, BEESWAX, OR SOME OTHER DARKENING OIL BEFORE THE EVENT. Acceptable: Original, Nakata, Hikishop, or Cocomo Unacceptable: World War Supply, IMA-USA, ebay, or any other low quality repro.
All Soft Gear: Please weather your gear appropriately if using repros. Sun-fade, leave in the rain, etc. Work out in kit, garden, etc. Get natural wear to your uniforms to have a lived in look.
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
SUSTAINMENT EQUIPMENT: Minimum 24 hr level (How to Pack the Type 99 Pack)
Senshi sōshodai 060-kan Shō-gō rikugun sakusen (2) Ruson kessen, (Tokyo: NIDS Library & Historical records Search System, 2018) pg 98-141.
Staff Group B, Section 13, CSI Battlebook 13-B: Battle of Manila (Fort Leavenworth: Combat Studies Institute, 1986).
William G. Robertson, Lawrence A. Yates, Block by Block: The Challenges of Urban Operations (Fort Leavenworth: U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Press 2003).
