Osprey Fortress 4 : American Defenses of Corregidor and Manila Bay 1898-1945

The Philippines were declared an American Territory on January 4, 1899, and fortification construction began soon after on the islands in the mouth of Manila Bay. Among the sites built were Fort Mills (Corregidor), Fort Frank, and the unique and formidable 'concrete battleship' of Fort Drum. War came in December 1941, and the defenses suffered constant Japanese bombardment, leading to the surrender of American forces. In 1945 the forts were manned by Japanese soldiers determined to hold out to the bitter end. Bloody and brutal fighting ensued. This book brings to life the fortifications of this key strategic location, and considers both their effectiveness and historical importance. Text by Mark Berhow and Terrance McGovern with illustrations by Chris Taylor.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• Design and Development
• Tour of the Sites
• The Principles of Defense
• The Living Sites
• Operational History
• Aftermath
• The Sites Today
• Bibliography and Further Reading
• Glossary
• Index