The Japanese Invasion of Vigan (Filipino: Paglusob ng mga Hapones sa Vigan, Ilocano: Dimmarup dagiti Hapones iti Vigan) on 10 December 1941 was one in a series of advance landings made by Imperial Japanese forces as first step in their invasion of the Philippines. The purpose was to obtain control of local air strips, which could be used as forward bases by fighter aircraft for operations further south. The first invasion was at Batan Island on 8 December 1941. This was followed by Vigan, Aparri, Legaspi, Davao, Jolo Island over the next few days Disposition of forces Vigan is the capital of Ilocos Sur Province, in northwestern Luzon, about 220 miles north of Manila on the coastal Route 3. It is bordered on the east by the Cordillera Mountains which separate it from the Cagayan Valley. The city is about three miles from the coast, and is served by the port of Pandan on the mouth of the Abra River. The area of Vigan was in theory defended by General Wainwright's North Luzon Force. However, with only a few men and a large territory to cover, Wainwright could spare only one partially trained and equipped Philippine Army division, the 11th Division, commanded by Col. William E. Brougher, for all of northern Luzon. A reserve division, the 11th had begun to mobilize only in September and was at only two-thirds of its authorized strength of 1500 men per regiment. It also suffered from a serious shortage of equipment, including almost all of its artillery and transports. On the Japanese side, General Homma had organized a detachment from the IJA 48th Division’s 2nd Infantry Regiment under Colonel Kanno. This numbered approximately 2000 men of the 3rd Battalion, and half the 1st Battalion. The invasion force was supported by a flotilla of the Imperial Japanese Navy led by Vice Admiral Shoji Nishimura, consisting of the light cruiser , the destroyers , , , , , , , six minesweepers, nine anti-submarine craft and six transports The fleet deployed from Mako in the Pescadores and arrived at Vigan before dawn on 10 December. The landing operation was covered by aircraft of the IJAAF 24th and 50th Fighter Regiments launched from the airfield at Batan Island captured the day before. Landing and aftermath At the same time as the landing operation at Aparri, the Kanno Detachment disembarked at Vigan faced no opposition from American forces;