Philippines Research Paper

The importance of the Philippines to the Japanese was evident in the fact the archipelago was the largest concentration of forces ground forces other than that found in China. Defeat of Japanese forces at the Philippines would set the ground work for further assault on China and Japanese home island. To secure the Philippines the United States would commit the X Corps, which was comprised of the 1st Calvary and the 24th Divisions; The XXIV Corps made of the 7th and 96th Divisions and finally a regimental combat team from the 21st Infantry would be utilized in the landings at Leyte to establish a beachhead and foundation for further operations in the Philippines. The X Corps was not new to combat within Southeast Asia and was present for New Guinea. The 7th Division …show more content…
The regimental combat team from the 21st Division had previously received specialized training in amphibious landings and jungle warfare and in addition they also were present for the landings at New Guinea. Finally the 6th Ranger Battalion was to play a support role in taking outlying islands to assit in guiding the landing force to Leyte. The United States had collected an invading ground force with all but one unit having experience in combat within the Southeast Asia region and against the formidable Japanese Army and their island defense tactics. As previously stated the Japanese had only the 16th Division to defend Leyte Island from the approaching seaborne invasion. The 16th Division had a long history of combat engagements during the Second Sino-Japanese War in the late 1930’s and During World War II, the division had participated in the taking of the Philippines in 1941-1942 and remained stationed in the Philippines for the duration of the war. The Japanese 16th Division had the opportunity to prepare well planned and established defensive positions and was also familiar with the island and its terrain, which the United States had reconnaissance understanding, but not firsthand