CHAPTER 3 - WWII JAPANESE FIELD ORGANIZATIONS - SECTION 4



TABLE OF CONTENTS










22. BORDER AND INDEPENDENT GARRISON UNITS.



a. Border garrisons.
Border garrisons are commanded either by major generals or colonels and vary in size. No. 1 border garrison, for example, is divided into four sectors, each under the command of a colonel. Each sector contains:

1. An infantry unit
2. An artillery unit
3. An engineer unit

Most of the other border garrisons are not subdivided into sectors and contains only the three units, the infantry and artillery units being commanded by lieutenant colonels, and the engineer units by captains. It may be assumed that these infantry units are roughly equivalent to battalions. At present all teh border garrisons are located in Manchuria.

b. Independent garrisons.
Independent garrison units usually are commanded by major generals, althogh one or two are commanded by colonels. They contain three or four infantry battalions, but apparently no supporting arms or services. They are employed in rear areas.



23. FORTRESSES.



a. General. - The coastal defense fortresses in the Japanese Empire are to be found in Japan Proper, Korea, Formosa, the Bonin islands, the Ryukyu islands, the pescadores and Manchuria. These fortresses are commanded by officers ranging from lieutenant general to colonel, according to importance of the fortress. The fortress commander is responsible for either to the commander of the army district or to he army commander inthe area concerned . Fortification construction comes under the Fortification Directorate which is responsible to the Chief of Staff.

b. Organization. The normal organization of fortresses is believed to be-

HEADQUARTERS
One heavy artillery regiment or battalion.
One or more infantry battalions.
Construction and port engineers.
Signal units.
AA units.


Armament includes coastal guns ranging from 4.7 - inch to 12-inch caliber. It is probable that there are also 14 and 16 inch guns in some units.

c. The following are Japanese fortified zones:


Num Name of fortress Area Rank of commanding officer Division or army command
1 Amami Oshima Ryukyus Colonel Western Division Army
2 Chichijima Bonins Major General Eastern district army
3 Chinkai Bay Korea Major General Korean army
4 Eiko bay Korea Colonel Western District army
5 Funauke Ryukyus Colonel Western District army
6 Hoyo Japan ----- Western District army
7 Iki Japan Major General Western District army
8 Keelung Formosa Major general Formosa army
9 Maizuru Japan Colonel Central District Army
10 Nagasaki Japan Major general Western District Army
11 Nakagusuku bay Ryukyus Colonel Western District Army
12 North Kuriles Japan Colonel Northern Area Army
13 Pescadores Off Formosa Major General -----
14 Port Arthur Manchuria Lieutenant General Kwantung Army
15 Rashin Korea Major General Korean Army
16 Reisui Korea Colonel Korean Army
17 Shimonoseki Japan Lieuteant General Western District Army
18 Soya Hokkaido Lieutenant Colonel Northern Area Army
19 Takao Formosa ----- Formosa Army
20 Tokyo bay Japan Lieutenant General Eastern District Army
21 Tsugaru hakodate Japan Major General Northern Area Army
22 Tsushima Japan ----- Western District Army
23 Yura Japan Colonel Central District Army


Table 1. List of WWII Japanese fortified zones.







SECTION II - ARMS (Non-individual)



1. INFANTRY


a. Independent infantry regiments and batallions.
(1) The independent infantry regiment or battalion basically will be the same unit as that shown under divisional infantry, modified to perform such special duties as may be required.

(2) Independent mixed regiment. A few units known as independent mixed regiments exist. It is believed that htey are independent infantry regiments into which small elements of artillery, engineers, etc., have been incorporated.

Independent infantry mortar units.
(1) There are two types of mortar units, the infantry mortar units ( Hakugeki tai), and teh artillery mortar unit ( Kyuho tai ). The former, commanded by infantry officers, are mobile units; the latter, commanded by artillery officers, are probably siege , or heavy, semifixed, defense units. It is possible that the independent infantry mortarregiment is largely an administrative or training unit, for only independent battalions so far have been encountered in the field.

(2) Organization. the independent infantry mortar battalion is organized as follows:


Figure 56. WWII Japanese Independent Mortar Battalion Organization Chart.

2. CAVALRY



a. The cavalry regiment.
The nondivisional cavalry regiment is believed to consist of a headquarters with a signal section, ammunition train and transport, four rifle and saber companies, and a machine gun company. The organization of rifle and saber companies is identical with that of the division cavalry regiment. The machine gun company has four platoons, of two machine guns each, and a fifth platoon with eight antitank guns. This type of regiment is found in the independent cavalry brigades.

b. Organization.


Figure 57. WWII Japanese Independent Cavalry Brigade Organizational Chart.




3.TANKS



a. Tank regiment. These units have been reported to have a headquarters, 3 or 4 companies, a regimental ammunition train, and a total strength of 800 to 850 men equipped with 85 to 95 light and medium tanks.

(1) Organization.


Figure 58. Tank Regiment Organizational Chart. 		(2) Variant. There are indications that a different organization for the regiment exists, consisting of a headquarters, 1 light tank company (10 light tanks), 2 medium tank conmpanies (each with 10 medium tanksand 2 light tanks), and a regimental train. The total strength is estimated at 700 officersand enlisted men with approximately 60 tanks.

b. cavalry-brigade tank unit. Cavalry brigade tank units are reported to consist of a headquarters, 2 companies of light tanks, and a unit train. The unit ammunition train carries chemical warfare material and has 6 reserve light tanks. The total personnel strength of the unit is about 350 officers and enlisted men equipped with 30 tanks. There are about 80 trucks included in the trains.

c. Independent mixed brigade tank unit. The organization of this type unit is believed to include a headquarters, 3 light tank companies, 1 medium tank company, 1 light armored car company, and a combat train. It is reported to have a total of about 20 medium and 65 light tanks, 25 armored cars, and a personnel strength of about 970 men.

d. Independent tank companies. Reports have been received of independent tank companies. These may be tank companies, either light or medium, detached from a tank regiment for temporarily independent operations.



e. Independent light armored car (tankette) companies.
These independent companies are divided in two categories by the Japanese, one type being listed as Keisokosha (armored vehicle) companies and the second as Keisokosha (light armored vehicle) companies. It is possible that both types are equipped with armored cars, but it is believed that tankettes have been substituted for those vehicles. In either case the company is believed to number approximately 130 officers and enlisted men, divided into headquarters, four platoons, and a company train, with 17 tankettes or armored cars.


4. ARTILLERY



a. Field artillery.
A few independent field artillery regiments and battalions have been identified as of 1944. Their organization is believed to be similar to that of field artillery regiment or battalion in the standard divisions, except that the regiment may have only two battalions.

b. Mountain artillery.
These units are organized into independent battalions and regiments.

The regiment. The regiment is commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel. It consists of a headquarters, a regimental train, 2 battalions (each with three companies), and a battalion train. The regiment strength is approximately 2,500 officers adn enlisted men. A regiment seen in action operated approximately 1,500 strong, although it had left most of its horses and large parts of its train in rear areas.Units were as follows:

(a) Regimental headquarters and field train originally consisted of about 750 officers and enlisted men; battalion headquarters, of approximately 230 officers and enloisted men.

(b) each company had approximately 185 officers and enlisted men, divided in 2 gun platoons and an ammunition platoon. The first gun platoon had 2 guns while the second had only 1 gun and a pioneer squad. (Naormal armament is believed to be four guns to a company).

(c) The battalion field train ahd about 140 officers and enlisted men. (Overstrength in headquarters was presumably attributable to the necessity of manhandling the equipemnt).

(2) The battalion. The independent mountain artillery battalion is believed to be identical to with the battalion of the independent regiment. It has a total strenth of some 925 officers and enlisted men. In operation the strength has fallen as low as 500.

c. Medium artillery.
(1) The regiment. There are several types of medium artillery regiments in the Japanese army. One type of unit encountered was organized into a regimental headquarters; a regimental train; and 2 battalions each of 3 firing companies and a train. The regiment was equipped with 24 tractor drawn type "96" 150-mm howitzers and numbered approximately 1,500 officers and enlisted men.

(2) Organization.


Figure 59. WWII Japanese medium artillery Organizational chart. 		(3) Variants. It is likely that other regiments are equipped throughout with 105-mm guns, or are mixed and have one battalion of guns and one of howitzers. The 105-mm gun battalion has been reported to have only two companies of four guns each.

(4) Figures of strength for medium artillery regiments equipped with the older horse drawn 159-mm howitzer would necessarily be higher than those quoted above and might be expected to approximate 2,300 officers and enlisted men.


(5) The battalion. Medium artillery is also organized into independent battalions. The organization and armament of such units probably approximates that of the battalion of the regiment.

d. Heavy artillery.
(1) General. Japanese ehavy artillery units fall into two categories, mobile and fixed. Some fixed heavy artillery units were designed originally to fulfill a coast defense role for the Japanese empire. Some, however, also are located to protect strategic centers farther afield.

Organization. The following four types of heavy artillery regiment orgnization have been reported, but the details have not been confirmed as of 1944.

a.
Headquarters and train
  1. Two battalions.
  2. Two companies, four 240-mm howitzers.
  3. Total regiment 1,533 men, sixteen 240-mm howitzers, 95 motor vehicles.

b.
Headquarters.
  1. Two companies, four 240-mm howitzers, tractor drawn.
  2. Regimental ammunition train.
  3. Total regiment 789 men, eight 240-mm howitzers, tractor drawn, 167 motor vehicles (includes 52 tractors).

c.
Headquarters.
  1. Two companies, two 300-mm mortars.
  2. Total regiment 623 men, four 300-mm mortars, 40 vehicles.

d.
Headquarters.
  1. Regimental train.
  2. Two companies, four 150-mm guns.
  3. Total regiment, 637 men, eight 150-mm guns, tractor-drawn, 115 vehicles.


e. Antiaircraft artillery.
(1) General. Japanese antiaircraft artillery is organized into brigades, regiments, battalions, and companies. In addition there are searchlight and other miscellaneous units.

(2) Brigade.
These are assigned one to each district army. They are commanded by general officers and composed of two or more antiaircraft regiments.

(3) The regiment.
The regiment is believed to consist of two battalions, a company of light antiaircraft and a searchlight battalion.

(4) The Battalion.
The antiaircraft battalion has alternative organizations; one giveing it a main armament of eighteen 75-mm guns, and the other twelve 75-mm guns. (It is believed that some units may be equipped with larger caliber antiaircraft guns).

(a) The 18-gun battalion.

1. This battalion consists of a headquarters, 3 firing companies and battalion train. Tabular strength of the unit is approximately 575 officers and enlisted men, with eighteen 75-mm antiaircraft guns and 6 to 9 machine guns.

2. Organizations.


Figure 60. WWII Japanese Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion Headquarters Organizational Chart. 		3. The battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel; headquarters and train number some 155 officers and enlisted men. It has been found, however, that these units may enter operations overstrength, the reason for this addition being apparently the inclusion of an extra number of antiaircraft machine guns. Thus one battalion headquartersand train operated with 210 officers and enlisted men equipped with 16 machine guns.

4. Strength for the company is approximately 140 with an armament of six 75-mm antiaircraft guns and 2 machine guns. These units also have been seen in operations well over strength and with additional machine guns.

(b) The 12-gun battalion.
The organization of this unit is similar to that outlined above except that each platoon has only two 75-mm guns, thereby reducing the battalion armament to 12 guns. Its total strength is estimated at 400 officers and men.

(5) The independent (heavy) antiaircraft company.
These companies are similar in organization to those of battalions. They may have either four or six 75-mm guns and include a train.





(6) The machine cannon company.
(a) General. The machine cannon company normally consists of headquarters , 3 platoons and a train. Its strength, when motorized, is 160 men, and it has six 20-mm machine cannon and six 13-mm machine guns. The unit also may be horse dfrawn or pack, in which cases the strength would be appropriately increased.

(b) General.

Figure 61. WWII Japanese machine cannon company Organizational Chart. 		(c) Variants. There are variants of the above organization. The company may consists of 4 platoons with 2 machine cannons in each of the first 3 platoons, and 6 machine guns in the fourth platoon. Alternatively, the armament of the unit may be increased from 12 to 16 weapons and teh strength to 200.

(7) Fireld searchlight battalion.
The battalion is composed of a headquarters and 2 searchlight companies each of which is divided into a company headquarters and 2 platoons. The platoons are divided into 3 sections each equipped with a searchlight and a sound locator. All equipment is carried on trucks. The total strength is about 450 men, 12 searchlights, 12 sound locators, 50 motor vehicles.

(8) Independent searchlight companies.
These units are organized similarly to the company of the battalion.



(9) Other antiaircraft units.
Antiaircraft observation units and barrage balloon units are known to exist, but details of their organization are not available. Certain units are listed as field air defense units. They appear to be in the nature of group or higher organization headquarters, controlling all antiaircraft defense in a selected area, and have under their command antiaircraft battalions or companies, machine cannon units, searchlight units, and possible barrage balloons or antiaircraft obeservation units. Their size will dependentirely upon the situation and the guns and equipment available. The larger units are commanded by major generals or colonels.

(10) Independent mortar regiment and battalions (artillery)
I addition to the Independent "infantry" mortar regiments and battalions described in paragraph 1 b, there are other independent mortar regiments and battalions which are commended by artillerymen and probably are artillery units. The regiments may be composed of a headquarters and 2 or more battalions. The battalions are commanded by majors or captains and probably are divided into 3 companies.

(11) Shipping artillery.
Japanese shipping artillery regiments are designed to afford transports and other shipping protection from attack by aircraft or submarines. The regiment normally is composed of a headquarters ans 12 companies but the 2 regiments encountered have included 6 or more additional companies. Tabular organization calls for about 2,300 men to teh regiment and about 190 men per company; operating strengths have been about 150 men per company. Companies include antiaircraft gun companies (six 75-mm AA guns each), 75-mm field artillery companies (four 75-mm field guns each), and machine cannon companies (six 20-mm machine cannons). They are organized into headquarters, including obsertvation and signal squads, gun platoons, and gun squads.

Units usually are broken up to operate is small detachments. Two field artillery gun sections and two machine cannon sections frequently are assigned as the complement of small army transports.

(12) Artillery intelligence units (sound and flash).

(a) Artillery intelligence regiments.
1. General. The regiment is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and is divided into a headquarters group, a survey unit, a plotting unit, and a sound detector unit. When horse-drawn , it is believed to number approximately 675 officers and men.

2. Organization

Figure 62. WWII Japanese Artillery Intelligence Regiment Organizational Chart. 		(b) Obervation balloon regiments and companies. The Japanese are known to have balloon regiments and companies, and such units were employed to give artillery observation during the final assault on Singapore. A motorized balloon company is reported to have a strength of approximately 145 personnel, 23 motor vehicles, and 1 observation balloon.






5. ANTITANK UNITS



a. General.
Apart from the antitank gun units included in infantry organizations, there are a number of independent antitank gun battalions and companies as well as cavalry brigade antitank units. Antiaircraft units, especially machine cannon companies, are designed to fulfill a dual purpose role.

b. Independent antitank battalion.

(1) General.
The battalion is an 18-gun unit, with a strength of about 500 officers and men. It has been seen to operate with as few as 350. It may be motorized, horse drawn, or pack.

(2) Oragnization (motorized) battalion.

Commanding officer headquarters - 55 officers.
- 45 men.

Headqurters section - 4 officers.
- 21 men.

Transport section - 24 men.

3 independent antitank companies - 5 officers.
- 121 men, six 37-mm or 47-mm antitank guns, 15 vehicles.

Headquarters section - 1 officer.
- 10 men.

3 gun platoons - 1 officer.
- 24 men, two 37-mm or 47-mm antitank guns.

2 gun squads - 11 men
- One 37-mm or 47-mm antitank gun.

1 ammunition platoon - 10 officers.
- 29 men.

1 battalion ammunition train -1 officer.
- 61 men.


(3) Its total strength is 490 men and it has eighteen 37-mm or 47-mm AT guns and 67 notor vehicles. The above personnel figure should be increased for horse drawn or pack units.

c. Independent antitank conpany. The independent company is 6 or 8 gun unit, and, as in the case of the battalion, it may be motorized, horse drawn, or pack. The irganization of the 8-gun unit is shown below.




Figure 63. WWII Japanese Independent Anti tank unit Organizational Chart. 		(1) As a pack unit, the company has 250 men, eight 37-mm guns, 2 light machine guns, 5 riding horses and 76 pack horses. As a horse-drawn unit, the armament would be similar, but the exact strength figure is unknown.

(2) As a motorized unit, the company might number 180 to 200 and armed with eight 37-mm or 47-mm guns.

(3) Six gun units are generally similar, with strength decreased proportionately.


d. Cavalry brigade antitank unit.
The antitank unit of the cavalry brigade consists of three firing platoons, each of two 37-mm or 47-mm guns, and an ammuniton platoon. The total strength is about 140 officers and men with six 37-mm or 47-mm guns.


6. ENGINEERS


a. Enginner groups.
These are administrative units commanded by a genral officer. They supervise engineer activity and control independent engineer units in a theater of operations.

b. Independent engineer regiments.
These units are often attached to divisions in the field. They are divided into the following six different types according to the proncipal function they fulfill:

TYPE FUNCTION
'A' KO ----- Open warfare.
'B' OTSU ----- Position warfare.
'C' HEI ----- Heavy bridge building.
'D' BO ----- Shipping-landing operations.
'E' TEI ----- River crossing.
'F' KI ----- Attacking pillboxes and special firing positions.
They are similar in general organization, consisting of a regimental headquarters, 3 companies, and a material platoon. The tabular strength of each is approximately 1,000 men. The commanding officer is a colonel or lieutenant colonel.

Companies are composed of 4 plattons of 4 or more squads each an average of 250 to 300 men. The number of motor trucks varies.

Personnel carry rifles and probably some light machine guns. It has been noted that regiments are prepared ti undertake special duties other than those for which they are designated.

c. Independent engineer battalions,
These are known to exist. They are commanded by lieutenant colonels or majors.

d. Independent engineer companies.
These units consist of a headquarters and 2 platoons of 3 or 4 sections each. One unit had an operational strength of approximately 165 officers and men.

e. Field road construction units.
These are engineer troops organized into a unit of a headquarters and 2 or 3 companies. Duties are general construction, particularly of roads and airfields. Units are commanded by lieutenant colonels and majors; companies are estimated to have about 125 officers and enlisted men.

f. Bridge-building and river crossing material companies.
These units consist of personnel and equipment for bridge building and river crossings. Strengths vary from 250 to 600, depending upon whether they are draft or motorized.

g.
(See shipping units, anchotages, see section II, par 2 c., page 50)




7. CHEMICAL WARFARE



a. The Japanese are known to have a chemical warfare service and organized chemical warfare units. The division units previously have been discussed (See page 1/m). Besides these, gas battalions and independent gas companies are known to exist. The Japanese have used sternutatory or suffocating gas in China. They have established factories for poison gas manufacture, developed anti-gas measures, and issue an efficient gas mask to their services. They, therefore, should be considered capable of gas warfare.

b. Picked personnel from all Japanese units are trained in decontamination and antigas work. Although normally acting as regular troops, such personnel are especially equipped to carry out chemical warfare duties; upon occassion they may be formed in temporary smoke (gas) units for the conduct of offensive chemical warfare. It is estimated that there are about 250 such men in an infantry regiment or its equivalent.

8. AIRBORNE UNITS



Figure 64. WWII Japanese Airborne Units Organizational Chart. 		a. General.
The Japanese army raid-training department has experimented with airborne units, and it is probable that in addition to known parachute units some airborne troops are available for service. The Japanese have referred to an airborne force composed of a glider force and parachute force but give no details.

b. Parachute force.
The parachute force has been described as composed of a headquarters, two parachute battalions, and an artillery unit. Total strength is estimated to be about 1,750.

c. Parachute battalion.
The battakion us composed of a headquarters and 3 companies with a small nonflying supply section. Companies are 3 platoons, each of 2 rifle sections and 1 heavy weapons section. A rifle section has 6 riflemen and an antitank group. The heavy weapons section has a heavy machine gun section of 9 men, and a cannon section of 5 men. The total strength is estimated to be about 600 to 700.





SECTION III - SERVICES (Non-divisional)



1. GENERAL.
The services of the Japanese army are:

- Intendance.
- Technical, including ordnance.
- Medical.
- Veterinary.
- Judicial (legal).
- Military band.


2. TRANSPORT. Transport is divided into road (animal and mountain), railway and water units.

a. Road transport units.
(1) General. Transport regimentd of depot divisions form the source of personnel for division and independent transport regiments as well as for other units requiring transport personnel.

(2) Field transport commands. ( Yasen Yusobu ). These are usually commanded by major generals. They are administrative organizations probably controlling all independent transport units under an army command.

(3) Field motor transport depots ( Yasen Jidoshasho ). These are usually under command of a colonel or lieutenant colonel, except in the larger theaters of operations (Asiatic mainland) where a major general commands. They are believed to be administrative units responsible for storage, maintenance, and control of motor transport in a given operational area.

(4) Independent transport regiments (horse). These are estimated to number about 3,000 officers and men. Commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel, they are composed of a headquarters, and from 4 to 8 draft or pack transport companies.

(5) Motor transport regiments. These consists of about 1,500 officers and men with 300 vehicles. They are commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel.

(6) Independent transport battalions (horse). These are estimated at about 1,700 officers and enlisted men and usually are commanded by majors. They are composed of a headquarters and 3 to 4 draft or pack transport composed.

(7) Independent motor transport battalions. These are estimated at about 800 officers and enlisted men divided into a headquarters and three companies. Usually commanded by majors, they are believed to be equipped with about 150 one and one half ton trucks.

(8) Independent transport companies (horse). These are estimated at about 350 officers and enlisted men, and commanded by captains or first lieutenants. They usually are equipped with about 200 to 250 single horse, 2-wheel, transportation carts (1/4 ton).

(9) Independent motor transport companies. Estimated at about 175 officers and men and about 50 trucks, these units are commanded by a captain or first lieutenant. They are divided into 3 platoons and maintenance section, with the platoon consisting of 4 or 5 sections each.

(10) Provisional transport unites. such units, formed by assigning combat or service elements other than transport to provisionally formed transport units, will be found operating behind the lines. Their size, organization, and equipment will vary depending upon their mission; after its completion they return to normal duties.

(11) Line of communication transport supervision detachments. These consist of military and civilian personnel, whose duties are to supervise and control locally commandeered transport.



b. Railway units.
(1) Railway commands (Tetsudo Bu), Field railway ( Yasen Tetsudo), Special railway (Tokusetsu Tetsudo), and Railway transport (Tetsudo Yuso). These units are believed to maintain, control, and coordinate rail traffic in the larger theaters. They are composed of a headquarters, one or more railway regiments, supply depots, and construction and operation units. They are commanded by genral officers.

(2) Railway Regiment. The railway regiment consists of headquarters, 4 battalions (2 companies of 4 platoons), and a supply depot. Strength is approximately 2,500 officers and enlisted men, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel. such regiments are designed to operate and guard railways.

(3) Armored train units. These are reported to consists of about 500 officers and enlisted men (infantry, artillery, and engineers) and to operate armored trains.

c. Water (shipping) units. Water (shipping) units are headed by a sea transport headquarters in Japan.

(1) Branch officer. Termed shipping groups, are situated at the principal base ports in theaters of operations. They control a veriable number of shipping engineer requirements and embarkation units.

(2) Shipping Engineer Regiments. These units are the large operations in the Japanese Army. They are equipped with the necessary landing craft and equipment for amphibious operations and movement of supplies and men. Organizational strength approximates 1,200 officers and enlisted men, divided into a headquarters and 3 companies of several sections each. A lieutenant colonel normally commands. The regiment is equipped with 150 to 200 alnding craft of all types.

(3) Debarkation Units. These include necessary personnel and equipment for the loading and unloading of transports at the more forward bases or during landing operations. Strength is estimated at 1,000 officers and enlisted men.

(4) Shipping transport commands (headquarters). These, like shipping groups, are situated at the principal base ports, where they are responsible for the shipping installations at these bases. They also fuel vessels, store cargoes and, in conjuction with the Navy, plan and route sea transport in a given area. Size of the unit depends on the volume of shipping in the theater.

(5) Shipping transport area units. These are variable sized units responsible for the armament and defense of vessels operating in a particular area. They control shipping ordnance, shipping antiaircraft artillery, and shipping signal units, dettachments of which are assigned for the defense of intercommunication between vessels and convoys.

(6) Anchorage units. These are believed composed of a headquarters and variable number of land duty, water duty, and construction duty companies. Respectively, these companies are probably a stevedore company of approximately 350 officers and enlisted men, a barge and ligheter operations company of the same strength, and a general construction engineer company probably also of the same strength.

(7) Shiopping transport battalions. The existance of these units is known, but details of their orgnization are lacking (as of 1944). They are believed to operate small sailing and motor craft.





3. INTENDANCE.



a. General. Intendance service is responsible for clothing, rations, forage, contratcs, pay, and the upkeep of army buildings. It is a separate organization combining functions of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps and Finance Department. it is under the control of the intendance Bureau of teh War Ministry. Intendance personnel are assigned to armies, divisions, and lower units, they also are found at various depots, factories, and other places requiring accounting and quartermaster services.

b. Field Freight Depots. They are to be found functioning as units or split into branches along the lines of communication of armies. Each depot is responsible for the supply of several divisions. They store and supply rations, clothing, and other supplies.




4. ORDNANCE (TECHNICAL SERICE).



a. General. Prior to organization of the technical service ( Gijutsu Bu ) in 1941, ordeance duties in the Japanese army were performed by personnel detailed from various branches, usually artillery and engineers, who functioned under general supervision of the ordnance bureau of the War Ministry. At present, however, ordnance personnel belong to the technical service. As the name implies, this service includes the various types of technicians in the army, such as gunsmiths, mechanics, electricians, saddlers, etc. All of whom may be attached to units as required.

b. Functions. Ordnance personnel are responsible for provide arms, ammunition, engineer stores, and supplies not furnished by the intendance service. Ordnance functions are discharged in the field by field ordnance depots, stattioned at principal rear bases. Size of these depots will vary according to the theater of operations, and branches will be fond along the lines of communications.






5. MEDICAL.



a. General.
The medical service is a separate service functioning under the medical bureau of the War Ministry. In addition to divisional medical service, the following are known to exist:

b. Casualty clearing stations.
These are unassigned medical units with strength of approximately 100 officers and enlisted men. They evacuate casualties from the division field hospitals to line of communication hospitals.

c. Line of communication hospitals.
These , with a strength of about 250 officers and enlisted men, can accomodate 500 to 1,000 patients. They consists of 2 sections and are usually found at rear bases or along the lines of communication.

d. Army hospitals.
These are larger hospitals of varying size generally situated well behind forward base areas.

e. Base hospitals.
In each home divisional district, there are hospitals to meet the requirements of the various units in peacetime. These, as well as private and other government hospitals, are utilized as base hospitals during wartime.




6. VETERINARY.



This is a separate service which functions under the horse administration section, military administration bureau, of teh War Ministry. A veterinary department or section is attached to the staff of armies, area armies, divisions, and other oversea commands, while dettachments operate with all units containing animals. Vetererinary hospitals, with a staff of about 150 capable of handling 700 sick horses, and veterinary quarantine hospitals are found along the lines of communication or at bases.






7. SIGNAL.



a. Before the war the functions of the signal corps were performed by communication units of the corps of engineers. In 1941, however, an Inspectorate of Communications was set up directly subordinate to the War Department General Staff. This was tantamount to the establishment of a separat esignal corps. Troops are classified as signal communications men.

b. The signal regiment (army signal unit).

(1) The regiment is composed of a headquarters, several wire companies (motor, draft or pack), several radio platoons (motor, draft or pack), a fixed radio unit, a radio interpret unit, and a field pigeon unit.

(2) The headquarters consists of about 120 officers and enlisted men, and includes a transport section, a repair section, and an air-ground radio section.

(3) The wire companies' approximate strength are 250 men draft, 320 pack, and 300 motor. They are believd to be equipped with 36 telephones and 8 telegraph instruments. The draft and pack companies carry about 35 miles of wire, while the motor companies carry 70 miles. Companies include a signal platoon, 3 maintenance platoons and a transport platoon.

(4) Radio platoons operate 1 radio station. They include draft, pack or motor transportation and are of 35 to 45 men in strength.

(5) The fixed radio unit has a strength of about 25 officers and enlisted men and operates a long distance radio station.

(6) The radio intercept unit is divided into a headquarters with train, an intercept unit equipped with 6 receivers, and a direction finding unit equipped with 4 direction finders. Its strength is approximately 290 officers and enlisted men.

(7) The pigeon unit has a headquarters of some 20 officers and men, including a train, as well as several pigeon platoons. a platoon has about 50 men and is divided into 3 sections, each equipped with 40 carrier pigeons.

(8) Although complete signal regiments as outlined above are likely to be found operations with the larger headquarters, it will be more usual to find their individual components operating as independent units on the line of communication or with smaller organizations in the field to supplement their signal networks.




8. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE.



The Japanese Army's postal system operates through networks of central, field, and branch post offices set up in forward and rear areas. APO numbers evidently are assigned to localities, rather than to units, and remain fixed. In certain instances field post offices may act as paying agencies for the army, in addition to accepting and delivering military mail and handling postal money orders and military postal savings. A free Air-mail service for military personnel is reported in operation.






9. JUDICIAL.



The judicial (legal) service of the Jaoanese army formerly was entirely in the hands of civilians attached to various units. In 1941 these civilians were commissioned in the Army, where they continue to perform their usual legal duties.




10. MILITARY BAND.



This service furnishes the personnel for the Japanese army bands. These bands do not appear to have any secondary duties.





SECTION IV - MILITARY INTELLIGENCE


1. GENERAL.
Military intelligence is a function of the 2nd Bureau, Army General Staff, headed by a major general. Intelligence of a more general nature flows to the high command through a complex organization, at the top of which is the Intelligence Department fo the Imperial General Headquarters. In a subordinate position, there is also he Central Commission for intelligence, a coordinating body which maintains contact with all goivernment dettachments and disseminates information. Intelligence received from armed forces in the field is routed through the usual military channels to the 2nd Bureau of teh General Staff. This purely military function resembles the system employed by other armies.

2. COMBAT INTELLIGENCE.
Intelligence officers are assigned to army, division, and regimental staffs. While they appear to have no permanently organized units for collecting combat intelligence, geographic areas are assogned to various regular units which are made responsible for the susual items of information sought in combat intelligence. It is noteworthy that the Japanese recently have been stressing the amount of military information that can be gathered from prisoners of war and from captured documents.

3. THE TOKOMU KIKAN (SPECIAL SERVICE AGENCY).
This agencuy is believed to be directly under orders of the Imperial General Headquarters and organized into units which are assigend only to armies or geographical areas, espionage, counterespionage, propaganda, and fifth column activities, together with a measure of undercover supervision over occuppied territories, appear to be principal duties of personnel and agency.

A major general was declared to be in command of the Tokumu Kikan organization at Canton in 1942. Close cooperation between the Tokumu Kikan and military police apparently can be effected when required, in as much as counterespionage is included among the duties of the latter. (For details of the Japanese military police service, See Chapter 6).






SECTION V - REORGANIZATION


1. GENERAL.
Manuy indications show that the Japanese Army is in the process of reorganizing (1944) and modernizing various units. Some of this modernization program has been accomplished and it must be expected that there will be continued progress. On the other hand there are definete limitations to the speed with which equipment can be obtained and distributed, and personnel indoctrinated and trained. It is believed, therefore, that while there will be a gradual increase in the number of the stronger and more modern units the bulk of the army will continue to be compressed, as it is at present, largely of average organizations such as have been described.