View source for Japanese invasion of Aparri

{{Short description|Overview of the Japanese invasion of Aparri}}
{{infobox military conflict
|partof=[[Philippines campaign (1941–1942)]], [[Pacific War]]
|image=Invasion of the Philippines, 1941.jpg
|image_size=300px
|date=10 December 1941
|place=[[Aparri]], [[Philippines]]
|result=Japanese victory
|combatant1={{flagcountry|Empire of Japan}}
|combatant2={{flag|United States|1912}}
*{{flag|Commonwealth of the Philippines}}
}}
{{Campaignbox Philippines (1941–1942)}}

The '''Japanese Invasion of Aparri''' ([[Filipino language|Filipino]]: ''Paglusob ng mga Hapones sa Aparri'', [[Ilocano language|Ilocano]]: ''Panagraut dagiti Hapon iti Aparri'') on 10 December, 1941, was one in a series of advance landings made by [[Empire of Japan|Imperial Japanese]] forces as a first step in their [[Philippines campaign (1941–1942)|invasion of the Philippines]]. The purpose was to obtain control of local air strips, which could be used as forward bases by fighter aircraft for operations further south. The first invasion was at [[Japanese Invasion of Batan Island|Batan Island]] on 8 December 1941. This was followed by [[Japanese Invasion of Vigan|Vigan]], [[Japanese Invasion of Legaspi|Legaspi]], [[Japanese Invasion of Davao|Davao]], and [[Japanese Invasion of Jolo Island|Jolo Island]] over the next few days<ref name="Hyper">{{cite web|title=The First Landings|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-PI/USA-P-PI-6.html|access-date=18 March 2014}}</ref>

==Disposition of forces==
Prior to [[World War II]], [[Aparri, Cagayan|Aparri]] was considered a substantial port city, with a population of 26,500. However, although located at the mouth of the [[Cagayan River]], it is isolated from the rest of Luzon by mountain ranges to the east, west, and south. Manila and the central plains of Luzon were connected to Aparri by Route 5 through the narrow [[Balete Pass]] to the south, or by a long coastal route. The [[Cagayan Valley]] was not regarded by the Americans as a route of invasion.

The area of Aparri was in theory defended by [[Jonathan M. Wainwright (general)|General Wainwright]]'s North Luzon Force.  However, with only a few men and a large territory to cover, Wainwright could spare only one partially trained and equipped Philippine Army division, the 11th Division, commanded by Colonel William E. Brougher, for all of northern [[Luzon]]. A reserve division, the 11th had begun to mobilize only in September and was at only two-thirds of its authorized strength of 1500 men per regiment. It also suffered from a serious shortage of equipment, including almost all of its artillery and transports. This division maintained only one battalion in the entire Cagayan Valley, with only one company actually at Aparri.<ref name="Hyper"/>
On the Japanese side, [[Masaharu Homma|General Homma]] had organized a detachment from the [[IJA 48th Division]]’s 2nd Infantry Regiment under Colonel Toru Tanaka. This numbered approximately 2000 men of the 2nd Battalion, half the 1st Battalion and the regimental headquarters. The invasion force was supported by a flotilla of the Imperial Japanese Navy led by Vice Admiral [[Kenzaburo Hara (admiral)|Kenzaburo Hara]], consisting of the [[light cruiser]] {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Natori||2}} , destroyers {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Fumizuki|1926|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Nagatsuki|1926|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Satsuki|1925|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Minazuki|1926|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Harukaze|1922|2}},  {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hatakaze|1924|2}}, three minesweepers, six anti-submarine craft and six transports.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dull |first=Paul S |date=1978 |title=A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941- 1945 |url=https://archive.org/details/battlehistoryofi0000dull|url-access=registration |publisher= Naval Institute Press|page= [https://archive.org/details/battlehistoryofi0000dull/page/30 30]|isbn=1299324614}}</ref>  The fleet deployed from [[Mako Guard District|Mako]] in the [[Pescadores]] and arrived at Aparri before dawn on 10 December. The landing operation was covered by aircraft of the [[IJAAF]] 24th and 50th Fighter Regiments launched from the airfield at Batan island captured the day before.<ref name="Hyper"/>

==Landing and aftermath==
The landing operation at Aparri faced no opposition from American forces; however, after two companies had landed rough seas and winds forced a shift in location to [[Gonzaga, Cagayan|Gonzaga]], some 20 miles to the east. Reports of the landing soon reached [[Douglas MacArthur|General MacArthur]]’s headquarters in Manila, where it was correctly assumed that the objective was to seize airfields from which fighters could deploy for operations further south. However, General Wainwright considered the landing at Aparri to be a feint to divide his already weak defenses, and decided not to offer resistance aside from destroying bridges on the route from Balete Pass.<ref name="Hyper"/>

As the Japanese were unloading at Gonzaga, two [[Boeing B-17|B-17 Flying Fortress]] bombers from [[Clark Field]] attacked the transports. One of the aircraft was piloted by Captain [[Colin Kelly]], who reported that he had attacked and severely damaged a Japanese battleship before he was shot down. Kelly was posthumously awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] and was extensively portrayed in Allied [[propaganda]] as the first [[war hero]] for flying his damaged aircraft into the smokestack of the battleship {{ship|Japanese battleship|Haruna||2}} as the first [[kamikaze]]; however, there were no Japanese battleships in the area, and the only losses suffered by the Japanese in this attack was slight damage to the light cruiser ''Natori'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/natori_t.htm|title=Imperial Cruisers|work=combinedfleet.com}}</ref> and the loss of minesweeper [[W-19 class minesweeper|''W-19'']],which was holed and beached.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/W-19_t.htm|title=IIJN Minesweeper W-19|work=combinedfleet.com}}</ref>

The Tanaka Detachment reported capture of Aparri airfield by 1300, and the airfield at [[Camalaniugan, Cagayan|Camalaniugan]] by evening. Construction troops began work immediately on expanding the runways and establishing depot facilities.<ref name="Hyper"/> The [[IJAAF]] 50th ''Sentai'' with 36 [[Nakajima Ki-27]] fighters was operational at Aparri from the following day.<ref>{{cite book |last=Chun |first=Clayton |date=2012 |title=The Fall of the Philippines 1941-42 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |page=42 |isbn=978-1849086097}}</ref>

By 12 December, the Tanaka Detachment has also secured [[Tuguegarao]] airfield, fifty miles to the south. With the Americans on the run, Homma decided to leave only a small garrison at Aparri, and to move the bulk of his combat forces to south to assist the invasion force at [[Lingayen Gulf]].<ref name="Hyper"/>

== Consequences==
In retrospect, the advance landings by the Japanese in northern Luzon, including at Aparri, accomplished little of strategic or tactical value. The air fields seized were small, and with the rapid advance of the Japanese into central Luzon, were soon unnecessary for further operations.<ref name="Hyper"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Dec41attacks}}
[[Category:Battles and operations of World War II involving the Philippines]]
[[Category:Invasions of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Invasions by Japan|Aparri]]
[[Category:1941 in the Philippines]]
[[Category:1941 in military history]]
[[Category:World War II invasions]]
[[Category:Amphibious operations of World War II]]
[[Category:December 1941 events in Asia]]