Fighting for the Fortresses PTO (id:#65880)

(HASL 11 - Sword & Fire: Manila ID: SF CG II)   [next]   [previous]

Manila, Luzon, Philippines 1945-02-21 (7 others)

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Overview:

Once across the Pasig River, the 37th Infantry Division pushed south into the Paco District and west along the river toward Intramuros. The Gls quickly discovered that they were in the thick of the Japanese defenses. Every store and house had a machine gun nest. Each pile of rubble concealed snipers and mortars. Every major building had been transformed into an impregnable fortress. For the next three weeks, American infantrymen and Japanese marines and sailors would do battle over every square inch of downtown Manila. To clear the defenders, the Americans used heavy caliber artillery, flamethrowers, and explosives. The Japanese countered by blowing up anything that could be of use to the American forces, in addition to trying to match the American artillery batteries shell for shell. The formula for the complete destruction of the city had been set in motion.

Defender: Japanese (5th Naval Battalion, Central Force Sector and Headquarters Battalion)  

Errata (source)