South Luzon Force

South Luzon Force (II Philippine Corps)
South Luzon Force (II Philippine Corps)
Hukbong Timog Luzon
Active	November 4, 1941 - April 9, 1942
Disbanded	April 9, 1942
Countries	Commonwealth of the Philippines ; United States
Allegiance	United States
Branch	Army
Type	Corps
Role	South Luzon territorial defense force
Size	25,000
Part of	Luzon Force ; USAFFE
Garrison/HQ	Limay, Bataan ; Fort William McKinley, Makati, Rizal
Engagements	Battle of Bataan ; Battle of Mauban ; Battle of Atimonan ; Battle of Bicol
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Major General George S. Parker Major General Albert Jones (Acting)

Last updated August 19, 2024

South Luzon Force was a corps-sized unit of the US Army Forces Far East (USAFFE) active in the Philippines between 1941 and 1942. Created along with other 3 commands under the USAFFE, it was officially announced on November 4, 1941, and BGen. (Later MGen.) George M. Parker was appointed to command, making him responsible for the defense of Southern Luzon of any invasion. General Parker established his headquarters in Fort William McKinley in Rizal province.

He selected Col Stuart MacDonald as his Chief of Staff from December 8 to December 24, 1941, Colonel Louis R. Dougherty served as Chief of Staff from December 25, 1941 to January 13, 1942. Colonel Arnold J. Funk served as Chief of Staff from January 23 to March 2, 1942 before he was moved as Chief of Staff of Luzon Force. Colonel Charles Steele served as Chief of Staff from March 2 to April 9, 1942.

Comprising force staffs are the following officers and their designations in December 1941.

Bataan Defense Force | II Corps^[1]
Name	Rank	Designation
Ovid O. Wilson	Major	Assistant CS - G1
Dennis Moore	Major	Assistant CS - G2
Arthur Christensen	Captain	Assistant to the Assistant CS - G2
Howard D. Johnston	Lieutenant Colonel	Assistant CS - G3
Albert C. Wolfe	Major	Assistant to the Assistant CS - G3
John H. Bennett	Major	Assistant CS - G4

John Neiger	Captain	Aide to the Commanding General
Thomas M. Tarpley Jr	Major	Adjutant General
Hal C. Granberry	Major	Signal Officer
William C. Chenoweth	Major	Engineer Officer
Arthur L. Shreve	Lieutenant Colonel	Artillery Officer
W. Hinton Drummond	Major	Surgeon
Nicholas N. Milhailov	Lieutenant	Air Liaison Officer
Kearie L. Berry	Lieutenant Colonel	Quartermaster and Ordinance Officer

Initially assigned combat units are 41st Division under BGen. Vicente Lim (formerly Philippine Army Vice Chief of Staff) covering Southern Tagalog region, 51st Division under BGen. Albert Jones covering Bicol Peninsula, and 71st Division (unit from Visayas) under Col. (BGen) Clyde Selleck as reserve. However, 71st Division was transferred to North Luzon Force in late November as its Force Reserve.

At the start of hostilities in December 1941 additional units was assigned to support. 2nd Provisional Group under LCol. David Babcock equipped with T12 Gun Carriage (75mm), Provisional Field Artillery Battalion from 88th Field Artillery, 515th Coast Artillery (AA), and Provisional Infantry Brigade under BGen. Simeon De Jesus, composing of Philippine Constabulary units of Southern Luzon.

1st Regular Division of Philippine Commonwealth Army under BGen. Fidel Segundo was reactivated as its reserve but got engaged to repulse Japanese landings in Mauban and Atimonan beaches.

War Plan Orange (WPO-3)

General MacArthur ordered General Parker to go to Bataan to make all preparations as he is to implement WPO3, all forces will withdraw to Bataan. The command of South Luzon Force was temporary passed on to BGen. Albert Jones commander of 51st Division. After the withdrawal is completed both officers reverted to its old command. South Luzon Force is now renamed to II Philippine Corps.

Surrender

II Philippine Corps surrendered on April 9, 1942, along with other forces in Bataan after General Edward King commander of Luzon Force surrendered to Japanese 16th Division. All marched from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga under the heat of the sun without food or water later known as Death March.

Order of Battle November 1941 to January 1942

Headquarters, South Luzon Force
41st Division - BGen. Vicente Lim
51st Division - BGen. Albert Jones
1st Regular Division - BGen. Fidel Segundo
51st Provisional Infantry Brigade (PC) - BGen. Simeon De Jesus, PA
Provisional Group (SPM) - LCol. David Babcock
515th Coast Artillery (AA) - LCol. Henry Peck

Order of Battle January to April 1942 (Renamed II Philippine Corps)

Headquarters, South Luzon Force
41st Division - BGen. Vicente Lim
51st Division - BGen. Albert Jones
91st Division - BGen. Luther Stevens
Provisional Group (SPM) - LCol. David Babcock
515th Coast Artillery (AA) - LCol. Henry Peck
57th US Infantry Regimental Team (PS)
Provisional Field Artillery Brigade - Col. Albert Ives

Related Research Articles

United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) was a military formation of the United States Army active from 1941 to 1946. The new command's headquarters was created on 26 July 1941, at No. 1, Calle Victoria, Manila, Luzon, the Philippines, with General Douglas MacArthur as commander. The Chief of Staff was Brigadier General Richard K. Sutherland and the Deputy Chief of Staff was Lieutenant Colonel Richard J. Marshall. The core of this command was drawn from the Office of the Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines.

The Philippines campaign, also known as the Battle of the Philippines or the Fall of the Philippines, was the invasion of the American territory of the Philippines by the Empire of Japan and the defense of the islands by United States and the Philippine Armies during World War II.

The Battle of Bataan was fought by the United States and the Philippine Commonwealth against Imperial Japan during World War II. The battle represented the most intense phase of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II. In January 1942, forces of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy invaded Luzon along with several islands in the Philippine Archipelago after the bombing of the American naval base at Pearl Harbor.

Vicente Lim y Podico was a Filipino brigadier general and World War II hero. Lim was the first Filipino graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Prior to the establishment of the Philippine Army, he served as an officer in the Philippine Scouts. During the Battle of Bataan, Lim was the Commanding General of the 41st Division, Philippine Army (USAFFE). After the fall of the Philippines he contributed to the Filipino resistance movement until his capture and subsequent execution.

The 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army, nicknamed Tabak Division, is the Philippine Army's primary infantry unit, and specializes in anti-guerrilla warfare. The division has been involved in combating terrorists in Southern Mindanao.

The 2nd Infantry Division, Philippine Army nicknamed Jungle Fighter, is the Philippine Army's primary infantry unit specializing in jungle warfare.

The 41st Infantry Division was a division of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).

The 61st Division of the Philippine Army was an infantry division from the 1941 to 1942.

The 51st Infantry Division was a division of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).

The 31st Infantry Division was a division of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).

The 21st Infantry Division was one of the 10 reserve division of the Philippine Army mobilized under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). The unit was involved in the delaying action against the Japanese invasion in the plains of Central Luzon, and the Battle of Bataan in 1942.

The 11th Infantry Division was one the reserve division of the Philippine Army that was mobilized in September 1941 under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).

The 71st Infantry Division was a reserve division of the Philippine Army that fought under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). It was known for its fight with Japanese invading forces in Layac Junction, that was ordered to hold until all retreating Fil-American forces of crossed into Bataan Peninsula.

The 81st Infantry Division was a reserve division of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). It was established in the prewar period and fought 1941–1942. Its troops are from Cebu, Bohol, and Leyte but most of its troops are Americans and junior officers are Filipinos coming mostly from Luzon. The division served in defense of Mindanao but it never commanded the 4 of its maneuver regiments but was supplemented with 61st Infantry from Panay and 73rd Infantry from Negros. Also, 2nd Regular Regiment was transferred to its command in the early part of Japanese invasion of Mindanao.

The 101st Infantry Division was one the reserve divisions of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE)'s 10th Military district mainly entire island of Mindanao.

The 91st Infantry Division was a division of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).

The North Luzon Force was a corps-sized grouping of the U.S.-sponsored Philippine Army, defeated in battle against the Japanese in 1941–42.

Luzon Force or Bataan Defense Force is a short-lived Field Army size unit created in the Philippines after the restructure of command organized by General Douglas MacArthur commander of US Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). He wished to control the 4 Commands from Australia with its representative in Corregidor Island. Major General Jonathan M. Wainwright IV was selected to command as the senior general officer in Bataan peninsula.

51st Field Artillery Regiment is a reserve unit of Philippine Commonwealth Army activated and organized in 1941 and fought during World War II. The regiment is a component of 51st Infantry Division under Brigadier General Albert M. Jones, responsible for the defense of Bicol Peninsula.

41st Field Artillery Regiment is a reserve unit of Philippine Commonwealth Army activated in August 1941 and organized to defense Southern Luzon area. It was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Amado Martelino. It was part of General Vicente Lim's 41st Infantry Division who fought in Bataan.

References

↑ Wainwright, Jonathan (December 1941 – May 1942). "General Wainwright Report". Filipino-American Memorials: 1–10.

Morton, Louis (1953). Chapter IV: Prewar Plans, Japanese and American (in) The Fall of the Philippines United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific. Washington DC: Center of Military History, United States Army. (p70)

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Wainwright, Jonathan (December 1941 – May 1942). "General Wainwright Report". Filipino-American Memorials: 1–10.

[1]