Lack of Reconnaissance PTO (id:#59280)

(Coastal Fortress ID: PK 26.1)   [next]   [previous]

Piis, Luzon, Philippines 1941-12-26 (1 other)

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Overview:

The withdrawal from Luzon was underway. Although outnumbering their enemy, the Southern Luzon Force under General Jones was beating a hasty retreat to the Calumpit bridges into Bataan. When General Jones learned of the retreat of the 1st Infantry Regiment of the 1st Regular Division (PA) from Sampaloc to Lucban he became quite irate. He ordered Major Rumbold the regimental commander to establish contact with the Japanese immediately. Rumbold pushed forward toward Piis but was halted by a combination of rain, darkness, and enemy fire. The next morning, 26 December, Rumbold ordered the 2nd Platoon, Company C, 194th Tank Battalion to attack the Japanese at Piis. They advanced without reconnaissance and, advancing in column along a narrow road, the tanks ran into a strong Japanese roadblock consisting of anti-tank guns, 75mm guns, and several machine guns.

Defender: Japanese (Elements of 2nd Battalion, 20th Infantry Division and the 22nd Field Artillery)  

Errata (source)