Wartime History
After the January 9, 1945 U.S. Army landing at Lingayen Gulf, the Japanese Army 6th Tank Regiment, less one company was deployed to Munoz by the middle of the month to defend against the American advance. At Munoz, their fifty-five tanks were deployed around an Agricultural School 1.5 miles north of the town guarded by soldiers from the 356th Independent Infantry Battalion. In support was a battery of 47mm anti-tank guns and 105mm howitzers.

After the Japanese defeat at San Manuel on January 28, 1945, American forces began advancing toward Monoz. On January 29, 1945 a column from the "Omori Detachment" was attacked at Pamienta causing casualties and reducing the size of the force. By late January 1945 Japanese turned the town into a fortified area with overlapping and interlocking zones of fire.

Battle of Munoz
On January 26, 1945 U.S. Army artillery began bombarding the town. On January 27, 1945 the U.S. Army 6th Division, 20th Infantry Regiment advanced towards the town but were repulsed by the defenders and resumed bombardment for the next several days.

On January 30, 1945 the U.S. Army resumed their assault supported by M4 Sherman tanks, two platoons of light tanks plus 155mm howitzers and 105mm howitzer battalions On February 2, 1945 the Americans again attacked but were again stopped by enemy firepower. Displeased with the slow progress and unwilling to credit the Japanese defenders, U.S. Army General Patrick, commander of the 6th Division relieved Col. Ives and replaced him with Lt. Col. Maison but he fared no better.

While the U.S. frontal attack was stalled, the other two regiments encircled Munoz with the 63rd Infantry Regiment managed occupying the Agricultural School on February 2, 1945. Meanwhile, the 1st 1st Infantry Regiment liberated San Jose and established a roadblock towards the southwest facing Munoz.

By February 4, 1945 the Japanese defenders at Monoz had lost half their strength and the remaining 35 tanks and were ordered to evacuate but did not get the message for two days. On February 5, 1945 2nd Lt Donald E. Rudolph earned the Medal of Honor attacking enemy positions and pillboxes. On February 6, 1945 the Japanese attempted to break out of Munoz towards San Jose unaware it had already been occupied by the Americans. On February 7, 1945 the surviving Japanese managed to break out from Munoz but were destroyed by U.S. artillery fire from the 53rd Field Artillery Battalion and 58th Field Artillery Battalion on the road to San Jose. Some infantry managed to reach the hills nearby.

In total, the the Japanese force suffered 1,500 KIA with the 6th Tank Regiment loosing 52 tanks, 41 trucks, 16 x 47mm AT guns, 4 x 105mm guns. The U.S. Army lost 90 KIA and 550 WIA.

References
Taki Home Page - The History of Battles of the Imperial Japanese Tanks, Part II

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Last Updated
October 23, 2019