Japanese army handbook

The number of sections varies from about 8 to Total strength is about to men. Total strength is about The approximate total of signal equipment in the unit is 32 telephones. The unit also utilizes pigeons, dogs, helio lamps, semaphores, and ground panels, as well as plane pickups. Some personnel are armed with rifles. The infantry group is commanded by a major general and consists of a headquarters, an infantry group signal unit only in the strengthened division , and three infantry regiments.

In some instances, tankette companies, of 80 to men with 10 to 17 tankettes, have been assigned to the infantry group. Infantry group headquarters. The headquarters, composed of 70 to officers and men, is divided into an administrative staff, a headquarters guard equipped with automatic weapons , and a small field baggage section. In the standard division a small signal unit may be furnished from the division signal unit.

Infantry group signal unit. The strength is about officers and enlisted men. Strength analysis. Infantry group tankette company. These units have been identified in a few divisions. They are believed to be organized into three or four platoons and a company train, with a total of from 80 to personnel. They are believed to have 10 to 17 tankettes and trailers. They probably are used for reconnaissance purposes, since divisions in which they are found normally do not have cavalry or reconnaissance regiments.

They also may be used for front-line transport. The regiment is commanded by a colonel and its components are, in general:. Regimental headquarters including regimental train. Regimental signal company. Regimental infantry gun unit. Regimental antitank gun company. A pioneer or labor unit may be added. Tabular strength and equipment tables. The following tables illustrate the two types of the strengthened regiment, as described by the Japanese. The first table illustrates a substantially stronger infantry regiment in which a heavy weapons platoon has been added to the rifle companies and more infantry guns have been added to the regiment.

Strengthened regiment. Units Personnel Horses Rifles Light machine gun Grenade discharger Heavy machine gun mm anti-tank rifle or mm anti-tank gun mm battalion gun mm infantry gun Regt Hq with train 50 4 Regt Sig co 23 30 Regt Inf Gun co 42 20 4 Regt AT co 23 20 6 3 Inf Bns and Train 4, 2, 36 24 12 Each 1, 37 49 12 8 4 Bn Hq and Train 96 50 1 1 4 Rifle cos each 9 12 1 MG co 12 guns 45 12 1 Bn Gun co 40 8 4 Total, Regimental 4, 2, 36 24 6 12 4 Figures in parentheses are interpolations.

Indicates presence believed. Infantry regimental headquarters. The infantry regimental headquarters normally is composed of about 55 officers and enlisted men. It consists of a staff, made up of administration, code and intelligence,ordnance, and intendance sections. In addition there is an antiaircraft section, or headquarters guard, and a color guard. Total strength of headquarters with train is about officers and enlisted men.

Regimental commander--colonel 1 Operations and training officer--major 1 Adjutant--major or captain 1 Color bearer--lieutenant 1 Code and intelligence officer 1 Gas or smoke officer 1 Ordnance officer 1 Intendance officer 1 Medical officers 2 Veterinary officer 1 Total 11 Additional officers may be attached. Sergeant major in charge of personnel records 1 Sergeant major in charge of supply 1 Sergeant major in charge of arms and equipment 1 Sergeant major in charge of orders liaison 1 Runners and orderlies 6 Medical orderlies 2 Veterinary orderlies 2 Total 14 c Code and Intelligence section.

Two noncommissioned officers and eight men. One ordnance noncommissioned officer and six technical noncommissioned officers. One noncommissioned officer and four men.

Japanese Standard Infantry Regiment. Five men. The regimental train is divided into a field baggage section and an ammunition section. The baggage section usually includes about 30 one-horse, two-wheeled transportation carts, or about 40 pack horses. It carries the regimental baggage as well as one day's rations for regimental units not included in battalions.

Kitchen equipment normally is carried in the division train, but it may be attached to regiments. Frequently all trains of all regimental units are grouped in one body. The ammunition train, equipped with horses and two-wheeled transport carts, carries a day's unit of fire for the regiment. Field baggage section. One noncommissioned officer and 39 men. Ammunition section. One noncommissioned officer and 80 men. Regimental train. If motorized, the train will be reduced in most cases.

Regimental pioneer labor unit. The type "A" organization definitely includes in its establishment a regimental pioneer unit of set composition. This consists of a commander, 6 sections, and a material section. It numbers from to men, and its duties consist of general construction work. When "B" class divisions are moved into areas where personnel are required for demolition work, road construction, etc. While a regimental labor company, with a strength as high as , may be found in any division, this does not necessarily involve any increase in the strength of the regiments.

The approximate signal equipment in the company is 12 to 20 telephone sets, 11 to 30 miles of insulated wire, 3 to 5 light radio sets, 2 to 3 ground to air sets, ground to air panels, dog sections, pigeons sections, heliograph, and other usual signal equipment.

Regimental infantry gun company. The company consists of a headquarters, a firing unit of 2 platoons total of 4 guns , and an ammunition platoon. The total strength is officers and enlisted men. At times mortars probably the short barreled mm may be substituted or included. Regimental infantry gun battalion. The battalion consists of a small headquarters group of 24 officers and enlisted men and 2 "A" type gun companies. The company comprises a firing unit of 2 platoons total of four guns and an ammunition platoon.

The strength of the company is , and the total strength of the battalion is officers and enlisted men. Four mm regimental infantry guns. Regimental antitank company. The regimental antitank company consists of a headquarters, a firing unit of three platoons, and an ammunition platoon. The total strength is about officers and enlisted men equipped with six antitank guns. In the strengthened type division the antitank company is not a regimental unit, but there are 3 antitank companies, one in each infantry battalion, and each company usually is equipped with 4 antitank guns.

The strength of this 4-gun company is approximately officers and enlisted men. Infantry battalion standard. The infantry battalion normally is commanded by a major and consists of a headquarters and train, 4 rifle companies, and machine gun company, and.

Its total strength is 1, officers and enlisted men. There are approximately rifles, 36 grenade dischargers, 37 light machine guns, 12 8 heavy machine guns 7. Infantry battalion strengthened. This infantry battalion normally is commanded by a major and consists of a headquarters and train, 4 rifle companies, a machine gun company, a battalion gun company, and a battalion anti-tank company.

There are approximately rifles, 37 light machine guns, 49 grenade dischargers, 4 heavy machine guns 7. Infantry battalion strengthened, modified. This infantry battalion normally is commanded by a major and consists of a headquarters and train, 4 rifle companies, a machine-gun company, and a battalion-gun company.

There are approximately rifles, 37 light machine guns, 49 grenade dischargers, 12 heavy machine guns 7. Battalion headquarters. The battalion headquarters normally consists of about 37 officers and enlisted men, divided into administration, ordnance and intendance, liaison, code and intelligence, and an antiaircraft, or headquarters guard, sections. In addition there is a battalion train. Total strength of battalion headquarters and train is officers and enlisted men.

Battalion commander--major 1 Adjutant--captain or lieutenant 1 Ordnance officer 1 Intendance officer 1 Medical officers 3 Veterinary officer 1 Additional officers may be attached. Sergeant major in charge of personnel 1 Sergeant major in charge of supplies 1 Sergeant major in charge of arms and equipment 1 Sergeant major in charge of orders liaison 1 Runners and orderlies 5 Medical orderlies 4 Veterinary orderly 1 c Ordnance and intendance section.

Two noncommissioned officers and one technician. One noncommissioned officer and two men. The battalion train is generally similar in equipment and function to the regimental train. Strength of the battalion train may vary. If motor transport is used it will normally be reduced.

Infantry rifle company "B" type. The company consists of a company commander, usually a captain, a company headquarters, and three rifle platoons. Total strength is officers and enlisted men. Warrant officer in charge of personnel 1 Sergeant major in charge of personnel 1 Noncommissioned officer in charge of supply 1 Noncommissioned officer in charge of arms and equipment 1 Runners and orderlies including buglers 10 Medical orderlies 4 Total 18 c 3 Rifle platoons each Platoon commander--lieutenant 1 Liaison noncommissioned officer 1 3 rifle-Light machine gun sections noncommissioned officer and 39 1 grenade discharger section 13 2.

Same as No. There are in the company rifles, nine light machine guns, and nine grenade dischargers. Infantry rifle company "A" type without heavy weapons platoon. The company consists of a company commander, usually a captain, a company headquarters, and 3 rifle platoons.

Captain or First Lieutenant. Warrant officer in charge of personnel 1 Sergeant major in charge of personnel records 1 Noncommissioned officer in charge of supply 1 Noncommissioned officer in charge of arms and equipment 1 Runners and orderlies including buglers 10 Medical orderlies 4 c 3 Rifle platoons each Platoon commander 1 Liaison noncommissioned officer 1 3 rifle-light machine gun sections noncommissioned officer and 14 men 45 1 grenade discharge section noncommissioned officer and 14 men 15 2.

There are in the company rifles, 9 light machine guns, and 12 grenade dischargers. Infantry rifle company "A" type with heavy weapons platoon. The company consists of a company commander, usually a captain, a company headquarters, 3 rifle platoons, a heavy weapons platoon, and an ammunition platoon. Total strength is Platoon commander 1 Liaison noncommissioned officer 1 2 heavy machine gun sections noncommissioned officer and 10 men 2 7.

Eleven men. There are in the company rifles, 9 light machine guns, 12 grenade dischargers, 2 heavy machine guns, two mm antitank rifles. Battalion machine-gun company gun company. This machine-gun. Warrant officer in charge of personnel 1 Sergeant major in charge of personnel records 1 Noncommissioned officer in charge of supply 1 Noncommissioned officer in charge of arms and equipment 1 Runners and orderlies including buglers 6 Medical orderlies 3 c Firing unit 3 platoons, each Platoon commander, first or second lieutenant 1 Liaison noncommissioned officer 1 4 gun sections noncommissioned officer and 10 men 14 2.

Noncommissioned officer in charge. The company has twelve 7. Battalion machine-gun company 8-gun company. The eight machine-gun company consists of a headquarters, a firing unit of 4 platoons each having 2 heavy machine guns , and an ammunition platoon. The total strength is It is this company which has been met most commonly in recent operations. Battalion machine-gun company 4-gun company.

This company has only 4 machine guns; the other 8 of the normal battalion complement of 12 guns usually have been allocated to the rifle companies and are shown in the rifle companies' strengths. The company consists of a headquarters, 2 gun platoons, and a small ammunition platoon. Battalion gun platoon. The battalion gun platoon consists of a headquarters, a firing unit of 2 gun sections, and an ammunition section. Its total strength is 55 officers and enlisted men.

It is equipped with two mm battalion guns. First or Second Lieutenant. Nine men. Sergeant major in charge of personnel records 1 Noncommissioned officer in charge of arms and equipment 1 Noncommissioned officer in charge of the observers 1 Runners and orderlies 5 Medical orderly 1 c Firing unit.

Battalion gun company without anti-tank rifles. The battalion gun company consists of a headquarters, a firing unit of 2 gun platoons, and an ammunition platoon.

Its total strength is First Lieutenant. Thirty-two men. Warrant officer in charge of personnel 1 Sergeant major in charge of personnel records 1 Noncommissioned officer in charge of supply 1 Noncommissioned officer in charge of arms and equipment 1 Noncommissioned officer in charge of liaison 1 Signal section noncommissioned officer and 8 men 9 Runners and orderlies 5 Medical orderlies 2 Observation section noncommissioned officer and 10 men 11 c Firing unit two gun platoons, each 31 62 Platoon commander--First or Second Lieutenant 1 2 gun sections noncommissioned officer and 14 men 30 4 Equipment.

The company has four mm battalion guns. Battalion gun company with antitank rifle. The battalion gun company consists of a headquarters, a firing unit of 2 gun platoons armed with mm battalion howitzers, 4 platoons of mm antitank rifles, and an ammunition platoon.

Its total strength is about The company has four mm battalion guns and eight mm antitank rifles. The normal artillery component of a standard division is a gun regiment of mm field or mountain artillery which may be motorized, horse-drawn, or pack.

Field artillery regiment horse-drawn. The regular field artillery regiment consists of a regimental headquarters, three battalions of mm guns each battalion having a battalion headquarters, three gun companies, and a train , and a regimental train.

Total strength is about 2, officers and enlisted men. Normal armament is thirty-six mm guns. The regimental headquarters consists of a colonel or lieutenant colonel in command, an adjutant, and a staff of about 14 noncommissioned officers and enlisted men. The total strength of the headquarters, including the headquarters operational group, is about officers and enlisted men.

The total strength is about officers and enlisted men. The strength is about to officers and enlisted men. The latter is divided into an observation platoon and a signal platoon. A machine-gun section for defense also is reported. The total strength of the headquarters, including the headquarters operational group, is about 80 officers and enlisted men.

The total strength is about 60 officers and enlisted men. The total strength is about officers and enlisted men, with four mm field guns. There is a total of thirty-six mm field guns. It is estimated that there are rifles per battalion and 34 per company and approximately 2, horses to the regiment. Mountain artillery pack. Mountain artillery regiments are similar to field artillery regiments, except that all equipment is carried on pack animals, and the companies are armed with mm mountain guns instead of mm field pieces.

Strengths are increased so that the regimental totals are about to officers and men with thirty-six mm mountain guns. Some mountain artillery regiments may include a battalion of mm pack mountain howitzers.

Existence of such a weapon has been reported but not confirmed. Administrative Section. Headquarters operational group. Administrative section 10 2. Headquarters operational group 90 2. Battalion train. Three gun companies each Company headquarters 60 Company train 42 2 gun platoons each 55 4 Regimental equipment. There is a total of thirty-six mm mountain guns.

Mixed field artillery regiment. The field artillery regiment normally consists of a headquarters and train and 3 battalions of mm field guns or mm howitzers. When horse-drawn, the regiment numbers approximately 2, officers and enlisted men.

This figure will decrease with the degree of motorization. There is a total of twelve mm field guns and twenty-four mm howitzers. The medium artillery battalion. This battalion consists of a headquarters divided into an administrative staff and a headquarters operational group and 3 companies of four mm howitzers. Its total personnel strength is about , and there are horses. Artillery in the strengthened divisions.

Other independent artillery and antiaircraft units may be assigned or attached. The artillery group is under command of either a major general or a colonel. An artillery group headquarters consists of approximately officers and enlisted men. It includes a staff, a small guard, and a train, and an observation-balloon platoon also may be included. The functions of the group headquarters are to command the organic artillery of the division and unify control of attached artillery.

Each infantry division normally contains either one cavalry or one reconnaissance regiment or unit. Within both the standard and the strengthened divisions, the regimental cavalry is organized basically along the same lines. However, within the modified strengthened division there is a marked difference of organization; accordingly, a separate detailed organization has been shown for the modified cavalry regiment.

Also within this division, unlike the other two, there does not appear to be a reconnaissance regiment as an alternative for the cavalry regiment. The cavalry regiment. The division cavalry regiment consists of a headquarters and train, 3 rifle and saber companies, and a machine gun company. Eighty-two men. Command section 20 Signal section mainly radio 50 Equipment section 12 b Regimental train.

Two hundred men. Total Company commander 1 Company headquarters 16 d Three rifle and saber platoons each Platoon commander. Liaison noncommissioned officer. Twenty-four men. Two machine gun sections noncommissioned officer and 10 men. One hundred fifty-eight men. Company commander 1 Company headquarters 13 1. Two machine gun platoons each Two mm antitank rifle sections noncommissioned officer and 10 men.

One antitank gun platoon mm. Twenty-seven men. Observer section. Military Wiki Explore. Popular pages. Grant Richard Winters Harry Welsh. Project maintenance. Explore Wikis Community Central. Register Don't have an account?

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