200th Coast Artillery (United States)

200th Coast Artillery (United States) was a regiment of the United States Army Coast Artillery Corps that played a pivotal role in the early defense of the Philippines during World War II. Activated from New Mexico National Guard units, it was one of the first American units to engage in combat following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The regiment's tenacious defense during the Philippines campaign (1941–1942) culminated in its surrender after the Battle of Bataan, with its personnel enduring the Bataan Death March and years as prisoners of war.

History

The lineage of the 200th Coast Artillery traces back to units of the New Mexico National Guard, originally organized in the 19th century. It was federally recognized as a coast artillery regiment in 1924, with its headquarters established at Fort Bliss in Texas. During the interwar period, the regiment trained extensively in both harbor defense and anti-aircraft artillery roles, participating in numerous exercises along the Gulf Coast. In 1941, as tensions rose in the Pacific Theater, the War Department selected the regiment for deployment to the Philippines Department to bolster the defenses of the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East under General Douglas MacArthur.

Organization

The 200th Coast Artillery was organized as a composite regiment, meaning it contained batteries capable of multiple missions. Its primary structure included two battalions: one equipped with the 3-inch anti-aircraft gun M3 and the other with the older but serviceable M1918 155mm Gun for coastal defense. The regiment's manning drew heavily from citizens of New Mexico, many of whom were of Hispanic descent and bilingual, a skill that proved valuable in the Philippines. Key staff officers were often detailed from the Regular Army, while the core of the non-commissioned officer corps came from the National Guard of the United States.

Service in World War II

The regiment arrived at Manila in September 1941 and was initially assigned to defend the southern approaches to Manila Bay and the vital airfields at Nichols Field and Clark Field. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Japanese forces launched immediate air raids on the Philippines, with the 200th engaging enemy aircraft over Clark Field just hours later. Throughout December and January, the regiment provided critical anti-aircraft coverage for the retreating USAFFE forces as they withdrew to the Bataan Peninsula, often operating under heavy aerial bombardment and with deteriorating supplies.

Philippine Islands campaign

During the Philippines campaign (1941–1942), the 200th Coast Artillery was a cornerstone of the defensive perimeter on Bataan. It was tasked with defending the vital coastal flanks and the airspace above the Main Line of Resistance against attacks from the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service and naval bombardment. The regiment fought in key actions, including the defense against landings along the China Sea coast and supported the beleaguered Philippine Division during the Battle of the Points. After months of intense combat, starvation, and disease, the American forces on Bataan surrendered on April 9, 1942, following the orders of Major General Edward P. King.

Legacy and honors

The sacrifice of the 200th Coast Artillery is memorialized by the Bataan Memorial Museum in Albuquerque. Survivors of the regiment were later instrumental in establishing the Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Foundation. The unit received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its defense of the islands. Its lineage and honors are perpetuated today by the 200th Infantry Regiment (United States) within the New Mexico National Guard. The annual Bataan Memorial Death March, a marathon event held at White Sands Missile Range, honors the memory of the regiment and all who suffered in the campaign.

Category:Coast artillery regiments of the United States Army Category:Military units and formations of the United States in World War II