U S Military Operation Rescue of American Prisoners

Rescue of American Prisoners: U.S. Military Operation

The objective of this project is to carry out a rescue operation of 511 Americans and Allied forces from the Japanese POW (prisoner of war) camp very near the Cabanatuan. The six Ranger Battalion element, Alamo Scouts as well Filipino guerillas reinforced the operations in order to liberate 511 Americans prisoners held by the Japanese. Overview of the operation reveals that it was one of the difficult and successful operations ever carried out by the Rangers. This study evaluates the military decision process regarding the operation, and discusses the competent strategy Lt Col Mucci and the subordinate employed in competing for the operation[footnoteRef:1]. [1: Department of Army. FM 6-0 Commander and Staff Organizations and Operations. USA. 2015.]

Mission

The mission of Lt Col Mucci was to liberate 511 America prisoners held hostage by the Japanese forces.

Commander Intent

The purpose of the operation is to use the military assault to take the Japanese forces by surprise and evacuate the prisoners to the friendly zone. To carry out the operation, we need to annihilate the Japanese guards. The Ist Platoon would be directed to kill the Japanese found at different locations. Moreover, the task of the 2nd Platoon was to eliminate the guards stationed at the rear entrance in the compound occupied by the prisoners. The six-man bazooka team was chosen from the 2nd platoon to destroy the Japanese pillbox. The task of the Alamo Scouts was to play a critical role in the surveillance of the stockade before the attack. More importantly, the role the Filipino Guerrillas were to serve as guides and provide the helping hands during the rescue operations. The techniques and principles in the liberation operations were to use a total discretion to carry out the operations without being detected by the Japanese enemies. The intent was to use a complete surprise over the forces to liberate the prisoners successfully. We will use the Filipinos to achieve our mission by assisting in providing food, water, and helping hands for the wounded soldiers.

Liberation of the prisoners will also involve setting up the roadblocks on the Cabanatuan main highway to prevent Japanese from coming to the city. Guerillas under Captain Pajota direction would be ordered to set up the roadblock, and cut phones lines that link to the park. By using the Company F, the intent was to eliminate the guards stationed at the rear entrance, and prevent Japanese penetrating the area occupied by the prisoners. The Company C was to kill the Japanese forces at the gate to allow 1st and 2nd Cartoon penetrating the yard and liberate the prisoners.

Decisive Operation

Our decisive operation was to liberate the American prisoners using the tactical forces of the Company A, Company C and Company F. We will ensure that all the prisoners are liberated alive to demonstrate the success of the operation[footnoteRef:2]. Thus, we would need to wipe out the guards to facilitate easy penetration of the Rangers into the camp. After the liberation, we would lead the prisoner outside the camp to a concealed location and be asked to remain there until the 6th Army Platoon sent a signal to LCT Mucci.[footnoteRef:3] [2: Department of Army. ADP 1-02 & ADRP 1-02 Operational Terms and Military Symbols. USA. 2015.] [3: King, Michael .J. Chapter 6 Cabanatuan" of Leavenworth Papers in Rangers: Selected Combat Operations in World War II. Leavenworth Papers .Combat Studies Institute. 1985.]

Shaping Operations (SO).

We will use logical and methodical strategies to complete the operations. Captain Jason's guerilla will mount a roadblock at the major highways, within 800 yards to the compound in order to prevent any Japanese coming from Cabanatuan city. Staff Sergeant James are to form the six-man bazooka, and Company F will be tasked to give the guerilla with the antitank protection. The Pajota guerillas are in charge of establishing the roadblock, and the guerillas will be in charge of cutting the phone line. The role of Company F was also to eliminate the Japanese guards, and six men were to destroy the pillbox. The Company C was to kill all Japanese forces stationed in any location. The Weapons Section was to follow the 1st Section, and advance to destroy the Japanese trucks and building house with a bazooka. The 2d Platoon was to open the prisoners' camp and evacuate the prisoners from the camp. Moreover, the 2d Section was to provide the helping hand for the Ist Section as they move through the gate. Moreover, the 2d Section was to open fire as Weapons Section penetrated through the gate to prevent the Japanese forces from escaping.

Tactical Fires

The doctors and other medical personnel are to take part in the operation by providing health assistance for the wounded soldiers.

The photographers were to take the pictures of the event for the record purpose.

Alamo Scout participated in the operation by giving the Rangers the helping hands.

Ist Section was o open fire at the enemy through the fence.

The 1st Platoon was to force the entrance where the Japanese hide the prisoners.

Weapons Section was to guide the reserve, guide the prisoners to march to the north. DONE

Intelligence

The recommendation of the Pajota's was to use an American airplane to buzz the compound before the attack because it was noted that the Japanese raised their head when they noticed an American aircraft in the area. The strategy was to distract the attention of the Japanese to assist the Rangers penetrating the prisoner camp without being noticed. Another intelligent strategy was by using the surveillance plane armed with the satellite to take the picture of the camp to estimate the number of Japanese in the camp. The picture will also assist LCT Mucci estimating the number of Japanese in the Cabanatuan city to understand the number of Rangers for the operation.[footnoteRef:4] [4: Black, Robert. Cavalry Raids of the Civil War. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. 2004.]

Sustainable Operations