View source for Japanese invasion of Legazpi

{{Short description|Overview of the Japanese invasion of Legazpi}}
{{infobox military conflict
|partof=[[Philippines campaign (1941–1942)]], [[Pacific War]]
|image =[[File:Invasion of the Philippines, 1941.jpg|250px|A map of Luzon Island showing Japanese landings and advances from 8 December 1941 to 8 January 1942]]
|caption=A map of Luzon Island showing Japanese landings and advances from 8 December 1941 to 8 January 1942
|date=12 December 1941
|place=[[Legazpi, Albay|Legazpi]], [[Philippines]]
|result=Japanese victory
|combatant1={{flagcountry|Empire of Japan}}
|combatant2={{flag|United States|1912}}
*{{flagcountry|Commonwealth of the Philippines}}
}}
{{Campaignbox Philippines (1941–1942)}}
{{Campaignbox South West Pacific theatre}}
The '''Japanese Invasion of Legazpi''' ([[Filipino language|Filipino]]: ''Paglusob ng mga Hapones sa Legazpi'') on 12 December 1941 was one in a series of advance landings made by Imperial Japanese forces as first step in their [[Philippines campaign (1941–1942)|invasion of the Philippines]]. The purpose was to obtain control of local air strips, which could be used as forward bases by fighter aircraft for operations in central [[Luzon]]. Control of Legazpi was an important point in the Japanese strategy, as it would also give them control of [[San Bernardino Strait]], between the islands Luzon and [[Samar]], which would prevent the Americans from bringing in reinforcements from the south.
The first invasion was at [[Japanese Invasion of Batan Island|Batan Island]] on 8 December 1941. This was followed by [[Japanese Invasion of Vigan|Vigan]], [[Japanese Invasion of Aparri|Aparri]], Legazpi, [[Japanese Invasion of Davao|Davao]], and [[Japanese Invasion of Jolo Island|Jolo Island]] over the next few days<ref name="Hyper">{{cite web|title=The First Landings|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-PI/USA-P-PI-6.html|access-date=18 March 2014}}</ref>
==Disposition of forces==
[[Legazpi, Albay]] is the capital of [[Albay Province]], in far southern [[Luzon]] at the southern end of the [[Bicol Peninsula]]. The city of Legazpi was an important seaport, and the southern terminus of the [[Philippine National Railways|Manila Railway]].
The area of Legazpi was in theory defended by [[George M. Parker (general)|General Wainwright]]'s South Luzon Force with two infantry divisions, the 41st Division to the west and the 51st Division to the east.  With these two divisions, Parker was expected to cover a very large geographic area with five large bays suitable for amphibious operations, and over {{convert|250|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=off}} of coastline suitable for landings. Moreover, both divisions were undermanned, poorly trained, and suffered from a serious shortage of equipment. In addition, the situation was complicated further in that the enlisted troops spoke only the local [[Bicol languages]], whereas the officers spoke only [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] and [[English language|English]].<ref name="Hyper"/>
On the Japanese side, [[Masaharu Homma|General Homma]] had organized a detachment of 2500 men from the [[16th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|IJA 16th Division]], led by Major General [[Naoki Kimura]], with the Infantry Group HQ, 33rd Infantry Regiment and a battery from the 22nr Field Artillery Regiment. He also had a detachment of 575 men from the [[Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces|Kure 1st SNLF]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Chun |first=Clayton |date=2012 |title=The Fall of the Philippines 1941-42 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |page=42 |isbn=978-1849086097}}</ref>
The invasion force was supported by a large fleet from the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] led by Rear Admiral [[Kyuji Kubo]], consisting of the [[light cruiser]] {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Nagara||2}},  the destroyers {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Yamakaze|1936|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Suzukaze||2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Kawakaze|1936|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Umikaze|1936|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Yukikaze|1939|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Tokitsukaze|1939|2}}, the seaplane tenders {{ship|Japanese seaplane carrier|Mizuho||2}} and {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier |Chitose||2}}, two minesweepers, two patrol vessels and seven transports.<ref name="Dull">{{cite book |last=Dull |first=Paul S |date=1978 |title=A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941- 1945 |publisher= Naval Institute Press|pages= 30–32|isbn=1299324614}}</ref>
Distant cover was provided by Vice Admiral [[Ibō Takahashi]] with the aircraft carrier {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Ryūjō||2}}, heavy cruisers {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Haguro||2}}, {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Myōkō||2}} and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Nachi||2}} and the destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Shiokaze||2}}. In addition, the covering fleet was accompanied by Destroyer Squadron 2 with the [[light cruiser]] {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Jintsu||2}} and destroyers {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Amatsukaze|1939|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hayashio||2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Kuroshio||2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hatsukaze||2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Natsushio||2}}, and {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Oyashio||2}}, which was tasked with minelaying operations in San Bernardino Straits.<ref name="Dull"/>
==Landing and aftermath==
The Kimura Detachment landed at Legazpi on the morning of 12 December without opposition, as the nearest American forces were over {{convert|150|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} away. By 09:00 they were in control of both the airfield and the railroad. The following day, the Japanese naval covering force withdrew to Palau.<ref name="Hyper"/>
The Philippine 51st Division sent an engineering battalion south into the Bicol Peninsula to destroy bridges and to prevent railroad equipment from falling into the hands of the Japanese. The first American counterattack was a strafing attack on 12 December by two fighter aircraft of the [[Far East Air Force (United States)|Far East Air Force]] on the newly captured airstrip at Legazpi, killing three Japanese. This was followed by an attack by three [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]] bombers, which destroyed nine Japanese aircraft on legazpi runway. However, only one of the B-17s made it back to its base at [[Del Monte Airfield]].
Once the city of Legazpi was secure, Kimura sent his forces north on Highway 1 to capture the city of [[Naga, Camarines Sur|Naga]], the capital of [[Camarines Sur Province]] on 18 December.<ref name="Hyper"/>
Continuing north from Naga and repairing bridges as they advanced, the Japanese reached the town of [[Sipocot, Camarines Sur|Sipocot]] on 19 December and [[Daet, Camarines Norte|Daet]], capital of [[Camarines Norte Province]] on 21 December.   General Parker ordered two companies of the 52nd Infantry to make a stand north of Sipocot, as the Bicol Peninsula is very narrow in that area, enabling a small force to considerably delay the Japanese advance. In the early morning of 22 December, a company from the Kimura Detachment engaged the Americans. However, the 52nd Infantry had a good geographic position, and was able to push the Japanese {{convert|6|mi|km|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} south.<ref name="Hyper"/>
However, on 23 December, the Japanese made a landing at [[Atimonan, Quezon|Atimonan]], the capital of [[Quezon Province]] to the north of the American positions. Although thus encircled, a portion of the 52nd Infantry managed to make its way back to American lines.<ref name="Hyper"/>
== Consequences==
In retrospect, the advance landings by the Japanese in southern Luzon, including at Legazpi, largely accomplished its strategic objective of encircling the American forces in central Luzon, preventing both escape and reinforcement. Tactically, the air fields seized were small, and with the rapid advance of the Japanese into both central and southern Luzon, were soon unnecessary for further operations.<ref name="Hyper"/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Dec41attacks}}
[[Category:Battles and operations of World War II involving the Philippines]]
[[Category:History of Albay]]
[[Category:Legazpi, Albay]]
[[Category:Invasions of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Invasions by Japan|Legaspi]]
[[Category:World War II invasions]]
[[Category:1941 in the Philippines]]
[[Category:1941 in military history]]
[[Category:History of Camarines Sur]]
[[Category:Naga, Camarines Sur]]
[[Category:History of Quezon]]
[[Category:Amphibious operations of World War II]]
[[Category:December 1941 events]]