Military unit
Between 1937 and 1945 the Japanese Imperial Army formed 126 Independent Mixed Brigades (numbered 1–136 with some gaps), typically composed of various units detached from other formations. Some were composed of separate, independent assets (usually Independent Infantry Battalions). These brigades were task organized under unified command and were normally used in support roles, as security, force protection, POW and internment camp guards and labor in occupied territories. An Independent Mixed Brigade had between 5,000 and 11,000 troops.[1]
History
The first two of these Independent Mixed Brigades formed by the Kwantung Army in the 1930s were the IJA 1st Independent Mixed Brigade and the IJA 11th Independent Mixed Brigade. Each of these brigades was organized in a unique manner; the 1st was disbanded in 1937 while the 11th was formed into the IJA 26th Division in 1938.
Later a series of Independent Mixed Brigades were formed for the purpose of garrisoning the large territories of China captured in the early phase of the Second Sino-Japanese War.[1] This variety for China was usually organized with five infantry battalions, an artillery unit, and labor troops. In the Pacific theater they had different and more varied configurations of subordinate units.
The Hong Kong Defence Force, which was established in 1942 to occupy Hong Kong, was equivalent to an Independent Mixed Brigade.[2]
List of Independent Mixed Brigades
Kwantung Army
Brigades formed for the Second Sino-Japanese War and Pacific War
- (list is believed to be complete)
Independent Mixed Brigade
Infantry Division (including guard divisions)
Independent Armored Brigade
Japanese infantry and armored units in Home Islands, 15 August 1945
See also
Bibliography
- Victor Madej: Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937–1945. Game Publishing, 1981, OCLC 833591372, OCLC 833591376.
- Philip Jowett: The Japanese Army 1931–45 (1) Osprey Publishing, 2002, ISBN 978-1-8417-6353-8
- Gordon Rottman: Japanese Army in World War II, Conquest of the Pacific Osprey Publishing, 2005, ISBN 978-1-8417-6789-5
- Gordon Rottman: Japanese Army in World War II, The South Pacific and New Guinea, 1942–43 Osprey Publishing, 2005, ISBN 978-1-8417-6870-0
References
- ^ a b Rottman Japanese Army in World War II, The South Pacific and New Guinea, p. 18
- ^ Ness, Leland (2015). Rikugun: Guide to Japanese Ground Forces 1937–1945: Volume 1: Tactical Organization of Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Ground Forces. Helion. p. 178. ISBN 9781912174577.
- ^ a b "Japanese Forces Battle of Taiyan September through November 1937" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- ^ 25th Independent Mixed Brigade (Ban)
- ^ 26th Independent Mixed Brigade (Gaku)
- ^ 28th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kei)
- ^ 29th Independent Mixed Brigade (Tai)
- ^ IJA Landing Craft Depot Ship SHINSHU MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
- ^ IJN LST T.101: Tabular Record of Movement
- ^ 103rd Division (Shun)
- ^ IJN TEIA MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
- ^ 34th Independent Mixed Brigade (Iku)
- ^ IJA Transport MEXICO MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
- ^ 60th Independent Mixed Brigade (Koma)
- ^ KENJO MARU Tabular Record of Movement
- ^ 61st Independent Mixed Brigade (Yoroi)
- ^ RISING STORM – THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY AND CHINA 1931–1941
- ^ 64th Independent Mixed Brigade (Tama)
- ^ 65th Independent Mixed Brigade (Natsu)
- ^ 68th Independent Mixed Brigade (Hoshi)
- ^ 70th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kakan)
- ^ 71st Independent Mixed Brigade (Kanto)
- ^ 72nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Kantetsu)
- ^ a b Japanese Forces Formosa 1 January 1945
- ^ IJN Subchaser CH-38:Tabular Record of Movement
- ^ 75th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kyo)
- ^ 76th Independent Mixed Brigade (Tsu)
- ^ 79th Independent Mixed Brigade (Jobu)
- ^ 80th Independent Mixed Brigade (Eihou/Hikari)
- ^ 81st Independent Mixed Brigade (Shikyo)
- ^ 82nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Shiretsu)
- ^ 83rd Independent Mixed Brigade (Shimou)
- ^ 84th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shiyu)
- ^ 85th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shiketsu)
- ^ 86th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shusou)
- ^ 87th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shindo)
- ^ 88th Independent Mixed Brigade (Chuten)
- ^ 89th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shijun)
- ^ 90th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shinrai)
- ^ Japanese China Expeditionary Army Forces in China Late April 1945
- ^ 91st Independent Mixed Brigade (Chiku)
- ^ 92nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Shiken)
- ^ 100th Independent Mixed Brigade (Banjaku)
- ^ 101st Independent Mixed Brigade (Tatsu)
- ^ "勇払平野の防御陣地". Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ 102nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Hachiman)
- ^ 103rd Independent Mixed Brigade (Hachiku)
- ^ 105th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kan'i)
- ^ 108th Independent Mixed Brigade (Sui)
- ^ Japanese 16th Army Homeland Defense June–August 1945
- ^ 112th Independent Mixed Brigade (Raijin)
- ^ "独立混成第１２３旅団". Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ 127th Independent Mixed Brigade (Sodan)
- ^ 128th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kai)
- ^ 129th Independent Mixed Brigade (Takane)
- ^ 130th Independent Mixed Brigade (Fun'yaku)
- ^ 131st Independent Mixed Brigade (Funshin)
- ^ 132nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Funsen)
- ^ 133rd Independent Mixed Brigade (Fukuju)
- ^ 134th Independent Mixed Brigade (Funrei)
- ^ Record of Operations Against Soviet Russia Northern and Western Fronts (August–September 1945), p. 69
- ^ 135th Independent Mixed Brigade (Fukyu)
- ^ 136th Independent Mixed Brigade (Fun'yaku)
