Order of Battle Peiking – Hankow Railway Operation

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Order of Battle Peiking – Hankow Railway Operation (August 1937– Jan. 1938)

[edit] Japan

North China Front Army – Field Marshal, Count Hisaichi Terauchi( Mid August 1937 - Dec. 37) , [1]

China Garrison Army - Lt. Gen. Kiyoshi Katsuki
- China Stationed Infantry Brigade (Kawabe Brigade) – Major Gen. Shozo Kawabe, [1]
  - 1st China Stationed Infantry Regiment
  - 2nd China Stationed Infantry Regiment
- China Stationed Cavalry Unit
- China Stationed Artillery Regiment
- China Stationed Engineer Unit
- China Stationed Tank Unit (17 tanks)
- China Stationed Signal Unit
- Army Hospital

1st Army – Lt. General Kiyoshi Katsuki , [1]
- Detached Regiment of 5th Division *,***, [1]
  - composition ?

- 14th Division – Gen. Kenji Doihara , 土肥原賢二[1]
  - 27th Infantry Brigade
    - 2nd Infantry Regiment
    - 59th Infantry Regiment
  - 28th Infantry Brigade
    - 15th Infantry Regiment
    - 50th Infantry Regiment
  - 20th Field Artillery Regiment
  - 18th Cavalry Regiment
  - 14th Engineer Regiment
  - 14th Transport Regiment
  - 2nd Tank Battalion – Col. Imada***

- 6th Division – Lt. Gen. Hisao Tani 谷寿夫, [6][7]
  - 11th Infantry Brigade
    - 13th Infantry Regiment
    - 47th Infantry Regiment
  - 36th Infantry Brigade
    - 23rd Infantry Regiment
    - 45th Infantry Regiment
  - 6th Field Artillery Regiment
  - 6th Cavalry Regiment
  - 6th Engineer Regiment
  - 6th Transport Regiment

- 20th Division – Lt. Gen Bunzaburo Kawagishi 川岸文三郎 **, [6][7]
  - 39th Infantry Brigade
    - 77th Infantry Regiment
    - 78th Infantry Regiment
  - 40th Infantry Brigade
    - 79th Infantry Regiment
    - 80th Infantry Regiment
  - 26th Field Artillery Regiment
  - 28th Cavalry Regiment
  - 20th Engineer Regiment
  - 20th Transport Regiment
  - 1st Tank Battalion – Col. Baba***

- 108th Division - Lt-General Kumaya Shimomoto [6][7]
  - 25th Infantry Brigade
    - 117th Infantry Regiment
    - 132nd Infantry Regiment
  - 104th Infantry Brigade
    - 52nd Infantry Regiment
    - 105th Infantry Regiment
  - 108th Field Artillery
  - 108th Cavalry Regiment
  - 108th Engineer Regiment
  - 108th Transport Regiment

2nd Army – General Toshizo Nishio (early Oct. 37 from Hsiaofan Chen), [1]

- 16th Division – Gen. Kesao Nakashima, [1]
  - 19th Infantry Brigade
    - 9th Infantry Regiment
    - 20th Infantry Regiment
  - 30th Infantry Brigade
    - 33rd Infantry Regiment
    - 38th Infantry Regiment
  - 22nd Field Artillery Regiment
  - 20th Cavalry Regiment
  - 16th Engineer Regiment
  - 16th Transport Regiment

- 109th Division - Maj. General Yamaoka Shigeatsu 山岡重厚 [6][7]
  - 31st Infantry Brigade
    - 69th Infantry Regiment
    - 107th Infantry Regiment
  - 118th Infantry Brigade
    - 119th Infantry Regiment
    - 136th Infantry Regiment
  - 109th Mountain Artillery Regt
  - 109th Cavalry Regiment
  - 109th Engineer Regiment
  - 109th Transport Regiment

- 10th Division (Motorized Square Division)– Gen Rensuke Isogai (arrived Early Sept.)***? , [1]
  - 8th Infantry Brigade
    - 39th Infantry Regiment
    - 40th Infantry Regiment
  - 33rd Infantry Brigade
    - 10th Infantry Regiment
    - 63rd Infantry Regiment
  - 10th Field Artillery Regiment
  - 10th Cavalry Regiment
  - 10th Engineer Regiment
  - 10th Transport Regiment

Army Airforce [2]

Rinji Hikodan
- 1st Hiko Daitai/16th Hiko Rentai - Captain Takeshi Takahashi
  - 1st Chutai [Ki-10]
  - 2nd Chutai [Ki-10]
  - Base: Changpeh (08/37 – 09/37), Hailang (10/37 – 09/38)
- 2nd Hiko Daitai - Major Saburo Kondo
  - 2nd Chutai [Ki-10]
  - Base: Tientsin (07/37 – 12/37)

Notes:

Main force of the 5th Division was in Shansi [1]

After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the conflict between Japan and China became a general war. Japan sent two tank battalions to China from Japan proper in Sept. 1937:
- 1st Tank Battalion – Col. Baba
- 2nd Tank Battalion - Col. Imada

Two tank battalions were assigned to the 1st Army in Hebei. The 1st Army started to attack the Chinese in the south of Peking in Sep. 14, and advanced towards the southwest. Tanks were used for infantry support and tank battalions were attached to the infantry divisions. [3] The 1st Tank Battalion was attached to the IJA 20th Division.[3] 2nd Tank Battalion was attached to IJA 14th Division.[5]

[edit] Sources:

[1] Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) 2nd Ed. ,1971. Translated by Wen Ha-hsiung , Chung Wu Publishing; 33, 140th Lane, Tung-hwa Street, Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China. Pg. 184 - 191. Map 4

[2] Sino-Japanese Air War 1937-45

[3] Taki’s IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY PAGE

[4] Madej, W. Victor, Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols], Allentown, PA: 1981

[5] Forum: Pacific War 1941-1945, discussion about Shanghai Defense force Aug. 11 1937

[6] Generals from Japan

[7] 陸軍師団長一覧 (Generals of Division)