"Thunder on Bataan." Topic

I recently purchased this new book on the Provisional Tank Group in the 1941-42 Philippines Campaign. The author is Donald J Caldwell. I'm still reading it, but nothing seems awry so far. I myself was in the middle of doing my own research into the 192nd and 194th tank battalions just prior to suffering a near-fatal heart attack. I still can't find the external drive that contained all of my research, but it generally jibes with what Mr. Caldwell presents. I read ahead to the section of the first armored encounter at Damortis, and I'm happy to report that the author and myself are on the same page in regard to that fight. The Japanese 4th Tank Regiment only had Type 95 Ha-Go tanks and fielded no mysterious SP guns or Shin-hoto Chi-ha tanks, unlike what was reported in an article in Armor Magazine. The only evidence I can find of a long 47mm gun on a tank is from the fall of Corregidor. The only photos of Japanese armor from the invasion period show Type 95 and Type 89 tanks. The Chi-ha with short 57mm gun is a possibility since it was a common AFV, and there were a few tankettes used by the divisional recce regiments in the 48th and 16th divisions of the IJA that participated in the offensive.

I've had my eye on that book for a while now. Those obscure armor battles fascinate me – 1930s era tin cans fighting it out. Like the M3s fighting French R34s (I think) in North Africa.

Good luck with the coronary! I had heart failure and a quadruple bypass three years ago. I feel pretty good now (though it took a long time) hope you're doing well!

It make you wonder why national guard units were their in the first place. In tanks they were untrained with and no really logistical support.