Japanese invasion of Cotabato

Japanese invasion of Cotabato City
Part of Sakaguchi Landings
DateApril 29, 1941 – May 12, 1942
Location
Result Japanese victory
Belligerents

 United States of America

  •  Commonwealth of the Philippines
 Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders

United States William F. Sharp
United States Joseph P. Vachon
United States Russell J. Nelson
United States William Baldwin
United States Paul Schultz
Commonwealth of the Philippines Calixto Duque

Commonwealth of the Philippines Francisco Donesa
Empire of Japan Kawaguchi Kiyotake
Units involved

"""Ground Units:"""" Mindanao Force

  • 101st Infantry Division
    • 102nd Infantry Regiment
      • 2nd Battalion
    • 104th Infantry Regiment
      • 2nd Battalion
    • 103rd Infantry Regiment
      • 3rd Battalion
    • 101st Field Artillery
      • 2nd Battalion

Philippine Constabulary

  • 3rd PC Infantry Regiment

Air units:
US Army Air Corps

  • 28th US Bombardment Squadron

"""Ground units:"""

  • Kawaguchi Detachment
    • 9th Infantry Brigade
  • Armored Detachment
  • Artillery Detachment
Strength

4,600 Troops

2x QF 2.95inch Guns

3,560 Troops 4 Destroyers 18 Armored Vehicles

Artillery Guns

Japanese invasion of Cotabato is one of the three landings made by Japanese Army during their

sieged of Mindanao. The landings in west coast of Mindanao took place in Zamboanga City in Zamboanga Province, Malabang in Lanao Province, and in towns Cotabato and Parang of Cotabato Province. Kawaguchi Detachment objective was to move towards Kabacan and link up with Muira Detachment who was driving west from Digos, Davao to control Sayre Highway from the southern terminus of it, which under the area of responsibility of 101st Infantry Division assigned in Cotabato-Davao Sector.[1]

Japanese was able to reached their objective on May 3, 1942, which created confusion among the troops of the Filipino and Americans defending the area due to sudden infiltration of the Japanese in Pikit town just few miles from Kabacan. The landing further inland in Pikit gave more complications on the Cotabato subsector forces forcing the Digos subsector to retreat to Kabacan.[2]

  1. ^ Morton, Louis (1953). The Fall of the Philippines, November 1, 1941 – May 12, 1942 (1st ed.). Washington, D.C.: US Government Printing Office (published June 26, 1952). pp. 510–513.
  2. ^ Tarkington, Hiram (November 1, 1941 – May 25, 1942). There were others. pp. 315–320.