Japanese invasion of Davao

Japanese Invasion of Davao
Part of the Philippines campaign (1941–1942), Pacific Theater
Date19–25 December 1941
Location
Result Japanese victory
Belligerents
 Japan

 United States

Commanders and leaders

Empire of JapanTanaka Raizo
Empire of JapanSakaguchi Shizuu

Empire of JapanMuira Toshio

United StatesJoseph Vachon
United StatesRoger Hilsman
United StatesFrank McGee
United StatesAlvin T. Wilson
Commonwealth of the PhilippinesFrancisco Torres
Commonwealth of the PhilippinesGregorio Ferreol
Commonwealth of the PhilippinesNicolas Gabutina

Commonwealth of the PhilippinesLuis Jakosalem
Units involved

Ground units:
Japanese Fourteenth Army

  • Sakaguchi detachment
    • 146th Infantry Regiment
    • Armored Detachment
    • Artillery Batteries
  • Muira detachment
    • 1/33rd Infantry

Naval units:
Japanese Imperial Navy

  • 2nd Fleet
  • 11th Air Fleet
  • Kure Special Naval Landing Force

Ground units:
Philippine Commonwealth Army

  • 2nd Battalion 101st Infantry
  • 2nd Battalion 82nd Infantry
  • Civilian Home Volunteers

Philippine Constabulary

  • Davao PC Battalion

Air units:
US Army Air Corps

  • 28th US Bombardment Squadron
Strength
6,500 2,000
Casualties and losses
700

1,000

2 PBY Seaplanes

The Japanese Invasion of Davao (Filipino: Paglusob ng mga Hapones sa Davao, Jolo at Arkipelago ng Sulu, Cebuano: Pagsulong sa Hapon sa Davao, Jolo ug Kapuloan sa Sulu) and on Jolo in the Sulu Archipelago on 19 December 1941 was one in a series of advance landings made by Imperial Japanese forces as first step in their invasion of the Philippines. The purpose was to cut off the possibility of reinforcements reaching Luzon from the south and to complete the encirclement of American forces there, with the secondary purpose of establishing a base from which the IJA 16th Army could launch an invasion of British North Borneo and the Netherlands Indies . The first invasion of the Philippines was at Batan Island on 8 December 1941. This was followed by Vigan, Aparri, Legaspi, Davao, and Jolo over the next few days[1]

  1. ^ "The First Landings". Retrieved 18 March 2014.