As Sombreru Pillboxes

As Sombreru Pillbox I
Nearest city Tumon, Guam
Area less than one acre
MPS Japanese Coastal Defense Fortifications on Guam TR
NRHP Reference # 88001883[1]
Added to NRHP March 4, 1991
As Sombreru Pillbox II
Location S shore of Tumon Beach in Tumon Bay, Tumon, Guam
Coordinates 13°30′22″N 144°47′48″E / 13.50611°N 144.79667°E / 13.50611; 144.79667
Area less than one acre
MPS Japanese Coastal Defense Fortifications on Guam TR
NRHP Reference # 88001864[1]
Added to NRHP March 4, 1991
As Sombreru Pillbox III
Location W of Matapang Park, Tumon, Guam
Coordinates 13°30′20″N 144°47′49″E / 13.50556°N 144.79694°E / 13.50556; 144.79694
Area less than one acre
MPS Japanese Coastal Defense Fortifications on Guam TR
NRHP Reference # 88001887[1]
Added to NRHP March 4, 1991

The As Sombreru Pillbox I, As Sombreru Pillbox II, and As Sombreru Pillbox III are three historic defensive fortifications on Guam, near Tumon, that were listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1991. They are pillboxes, a type of defensive fortification, built by the 48th Independent Mixed Brigade; 29th Division of the Imperial Japanese Army during 1941-1944, between Japan capturing Guam on December 8, 1941 from the United States and the U.S. recapturing Guam in 1944.

"As Sombreru Pillbox I" has also known been known as As Sombreru Point Japanese Fortification. Its precise location is not disclosed by the National Register; it is listed as "Address Restricted".[1]

"As Sombrero Pillbox II" is a 2.40-by-2.70-metre (7.9 ft × 8.9 ft) pillbox located 7 metres (23 ft) in from the high tide line on the south shore of Tumon Beach in Tumon Bay. Its roof slab is about .45-metre (1.5 ft) thick.[2]

"As Sombrero Pillbox III" is located on Matapang Beach west of Matapang Park, about 9 metres (30 ft) in from the high tide line. It is a 4.0-by-2.70-metre (13.1 ft × 8.9 ft) two-room pillbox with a "complex configuration" of six walls; its west-facing wall is .45-metre (1.5 ft) thick and has a gun port commanding the center of Tumon Bay. Entrance and an air vent come through the east wall. It was built of steel-reinforced concrete including beach rubble, and, as of the NRHP listing date, was in "excellent" condition. There are "impressions of tabi prints and a possible Japanese character" in the cement roof, which is about .25-metre (0.82 ft) thick.[3]

It is not clear whether any of these pillboxes engaged directly in the 1944 battle for Guam. These pillboxes were clearly designed to repel invaders coming from the sea. The U.S. invasion beginning on July 21, 1944, however, was further to the south and west; the area of these pillboxes was over-run by U.S. forces coming from the south, on about August 2, 1944.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ Antonio Martinez, Jr. (November 2, 1990). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: As Sombrero Pillbox II (66-01-1203)" (PDF). National Park Service. and accompanying photo from 1986
  3. ↑ Antonio E. Martinez, Jr. (November 5, 1990). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: As Sombrero Pillbox III" (PDF). National Park Service. and accompanying photo from 1986
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