Skip to content
The War AtlasThe · War · Atlas

BATTLE // January 30, 1945

Raid at Cabanatuan

LOADING MAP TELEMETRY…

Overview

The Raid at Cabanatuan, also known as the Great Raid, was a rescue of Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians from a Japanese camp near Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. On January 30, 1945, during World War II, United States Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts and Filipino guerrillas attacked the camp and liberated more than 500 prisoners.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Raid at Cabanatuan rescued more than 500 Allied prisoners of war and civilians held at a Japanese camp near Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, in the Philippines. Conducted on January 30, 1945, by U.S. Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts, and Filipino guerrillas, the operation demonstrated the capacity for joint U.S.-Filipino forces to execute a complex deep-penetration rescue under wartime conditions. The liberation of the prisoners removed a significant number of Allied personnel from Japanese captivity at a moment when advancing U.S. forces were retaking the Philippines, and it underscored the operational value of coordinated special operations and guerrilla support in the Pacific theater.

Tactics

The raid was carried out by U.S. Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts, and Filipino guerrillas attacking the Japanese camp directly. Beyond the combined assault on the camp, the overview does not describe the specific maneuvers, dispositions, or terrain use employed during the operation.

Forces & casualties

Troop strength

  • Japan1,000
    medium

Casualties

  • Japan1,000
    medium100% loss rate

Commanders (6)

Compare with sibling battle

6 options

Pick a battle to compare side-by-side

Related

6 sibling battles · 6 factions

Last verified June 2026
Cite this page →Suggest a correction →