Guangdong Operation order of battle

Below is the order of battle for the Canton Operation, October to December 1938 during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Imperial Japanese Army

21st Army - Lt. Gen. Motoo Furusho [8]

5th Division - Lt. Gen. Rikichi Ando [8]
- 9th Infantry Brigade
  - 11th Infantry Regiment
  - 41st Infantry Regiment
- 21st Infantry Brigade
  - 21st Infantry Regiment
  - 42nd Infantry Regiment
- 5th Field Artillery Regiment
- 5th Cavalry Regiment
- 5th Engineer Regiment
- 5th Transport Regiment
18th Division - Lt. Gen. Seiichi Kunou [8]
- 23rd Infantry Brigade
  - 55th Infantry Regiment
  - 56th Infantry Regiment
- 35th Infantry Brigade
  - 114th Infantry Regiment
  - 124th Infantry Regiment
- 22nd Cavalry Battalion
- 18th Mountain Artillery Regiment
- 12th Military Engineer Regiment
- 12th Transport Regiment
104th Division - Lt. Gen. Toshio Miyake [8]
- 107th Infantry Brigade
  - 108th Infantry Regiment
  - 170th Infantry Regiment
- 132nd Infantry Brigade
  - 137th Infantry Regiment
  - 161st Infantry Regiment
- 104th Field Artillery Regiment
- 104th Cavalry Regiment
- 104th Engineer Regiment
- 104th Transport Regiment

Forces directly under 21st Army:^[1]

3rd Independent Machinegun Battalion (独立機関銃第三大隊)
6th Independent Machinegun Battalion (独立機関銃第六大隊)
21st Independent Machinegun Battalion (独立機関銃第二十一大隊)
11th Independent Light Armored Car Company (独立軽装甲車第十一中隊)
51st Independent Light Armored Car Company (独立軽装甲車第五十一中隊)
52nd Independent Light Armored Car Company (独立軽装甲車第五十二中隊)
111th Mountain Artillery Regiment (山砲兵第百十一聯隊)
10th Independent Mountain Artillery Regiment (独立山砲兵第十聯隊)
1st Heavy Field Artillery Brigade (野戦重砲兵第一旅団)
2nd Mortar Battalion (迫撃第二大隊)
21st Mortar Battalion (迫撃第二十一大隊)
11th Independent Heavy Siege Artillery Battalion (独立攻城重砲兵第十一大隊)
1st Independent Heavy Mortar Battalion (独立臼砲第一大隊)
2nd Independent Heavy Mortar Battalion (独立臼砲第二大隊)
3rd Division's 6th and 7th Field Anti-Aircraft Batteries (第三師団第六、第七野戦高射砲隊)
3rd Division's 8th and 9th Field Anti-Aircraft Batteries (第三師団第八、第九野戦高射砲隊)
1st Division's 6th and 8th Field Anti-Aircraft Batteries (第一師団第六、第八野戦高射砲隊)
5th Division's 2nd Field Anti-Aircraft Battery (第五師団第二野戦高射砲隊)
20th Division's 2nd Field Anti-Aircraft Battery (第二十師団第二野戦高射砲隊)
1st Independent Balloon Company (独立気球第一中隊)
15th Independent Engineer Regiment (独立工兵十五聯隊)
8th Signal Communication Unit (第八通信隊)
6th Field Meteorological Unit (第六野戦気象隊)
3rd Field Survey Unit (第三野戦測量隊)

4th Flight Group - Major Gen. Tomo Fujita [8][2] (Formed on September 19, 1938, under the 21st Army)

64th Hiko Sentai - Major Tamiya Teranishi,[2][3] (Base: Ertaokou 8/38 – 11/38)
- 1st Chutai - Captain Mitsugu Sawada
  - Nakajima Ki-27 fighter aircraft
- 2nd Chutai - Captain Tsuguroku Nakao
  - Kawasaki Ki-10 fighter aircraft
  - Nakajima Ki-27 fighter aircraft
27th Hiko Sentai - ? [2][3]
- 1st Chutai - ?
  - Light bomber - ?
31st Hiko Sentai - ? (Base: Canton 11/38 – ) [2][3]
- Light bomber unit.
1st Aviation Corps (reconnaissance aircraft)[2]
94th Flight Group [2]
97th Flight Group [2]
3rd Flying Field Squadron [2]
1st Field Operation Flying Field team.[2]

Notes:

21st Army formed on September 19, 1938, and attacks Guangzhou October 12, 1938. [2]

Tactical Organization of the 21st Army

21st Army^[2]

Oikawa Detachment (及川支隊)
- 9th Infantry Brigade (Detached from 5th Division)
  - 11th Infantry Regiment
- 5th Engineer Regiment (Detached from 5th Division)
  - 1st Company
- Forces under Oikawa Detachment:
  - 52nd Independent Light Armoured Car Company
  - 10th Independent Mountain Artillery Regiment (1 Battalion)
    - 1st Battalion
  - 15th Independent Engineer Regiment
18th Division
- 23rd Infantry Brigade
  - 55th Infantry Regiment
  - 56th Infantry Regiment
- 35th Infantry Brigade
  - 114th Infantry Regiment
  - 124th Infantry Regiment (Detached except for 3rd Battalion)
    - 3rd Battalion
- 22nd Cavalry Battalion
- 18th Mountain Artillery Regiment
- 12th Military Engineer Regiment
- 12th Transport Regiment
- Forces under 18th Division:
  - 3rd Independent Machinegun Battalion
  - 21st Independent Machinegun Battalion
  - 11th Independent Light Armoured Car Company
  - 51st Independent Light Armoured Car Company
  - 111th Mountain Artillery Regiment
  - 2nd Mortar Battalion
  - 2nd Independent Heavy Mortar Battalion
104th Division
- 107th Infantry Brigade (108th Infantry Regiment remained in Manchuria)
  - 170th Infantry Regiment
- 132nd Infantry Brigade (161st Infantry Regiment remained in Manchuria)
  - 137th Infantry Regiment
- 104th Field Artillery Regiment (2 Battalions remained in Manchuria)
- 104th Cavalry Regiment (1 Battalion remained in Manchuria)
- 104th Engineer Regiment
- 104th Transport Regiment
- Forces under 104th Division:
  - 124th Infantry Regiment (Detached from 18th Division, 2 Battalions)
    - 1st Battalion
    - 2nd Battalion
  - 6th Independent Machinegun Battalion
  - 5th Field Artillery Regiment (1 Battalion)
    - 2nd Battalion
  - 10th Independent Mountain Artillery Regiment (2 Battalions)
    - 2nd Battalion
    - 3rd Battalion
  - 21st Mortar Battalion (1 Company)
    - 1st Company
  - 11th Independent Heavy Siege Artillery Battalion
5th Division
- 9th Infantry Brigade
  - 41st Infantry Regiment
- 21st Infantry Brigade
  - 21st Infantry Regiment
  - 42nd Infantry Regiment
- 5th Field Artillery Regiment (2 Battalions)
  - 1st Battalion
  - 3rd Battalion
- 5th Cavalry Regiment
- 5th Engineer Regiment (Except for 1st Company)
- 5th Transport Regiment
- Forces under 5th Division:
  - 21st Mortar Battalion (3 Companies)
    - 2nd Company
    - 3rd Company
    - 4th Company
  - 1st Independent Heavy Mortar Battalion
  - 3rd Division's 8th Field Anti-Aircraft Battery
21st Army Direct Control
- 1st Heavy Field Artillery Brigade
- 3rd Division's 6th, 7th and 9th Field Anti-Aircraft Batteries
- 1st Independent Balloon Company

Imperial Japanese Navy

5th Fleet - Vice Admiral Kōichi Shiozawa (塩澤中将)^[3]

9th Cruiser Division - Vice Admiral Kōichi Shiozawa (塩澤中将)^[3]
- Cruiser Myōkō (妙高) (Flagship)
- Light Cruiser Tama (多摩)
10th Cruiser Division - Rear Admiral Seiichiro Fujimori (藤森少将)^[3]
- Light Cruiser Tenryū (天龍)
- Light Cruiser Tatsuta (龍田)
8th Cruiser Division - Rear Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa (小澤少将)^[3]
- Light Cruiser Kinu (鬼怒)
- Light Cruiser Yura (由良)
- Light Cruiser Naka (那珂)
2nd Torpedo Squadron^[3]^[4]
- Light Cruiser Jintsū (神通)
- 8th Destroyer Division^[4]
  - Destroyer Amagiri (天霧)
  - Destroyer Yūgiri (夕霧)
  - Destroyer Asagiri (朝霧)
- 12th Destroyer Division^[4]
  - Destroyer Shirakumo (白雲)
  - Destroyer Murakumo (叢雲)
  - Destroyer Shinonome (東雲)
  - Destroyer Usugumo (薄雲)
5th Torpedo Squadron^[3]^[4]
- Light Cruiser Nagara (長良)
- 16th Destroyer Division^[4]
  - Destroyer Fuyō (芙蓉)
  - Destroyer Asagao (朝顔)
  - Destroyer Karukaya (刈萱)
- 23rd Destroyer Division^[4]
  - Destroyer Kikuzuki (菊月)
  - Destroyer Mochizuki (望月)
  - Destroyer Mikazuki (三日月)
  - Destroyer Yūzuki (夕月)
First Carrier Division^[3]^[4]
- Aircraft Carrier Kaga (加賀)
- 29th Destroyer Division^[4]
  - Destroyer Oite (追風)
  - Destroyer Hayate (疾風)
Second Carrier Division^[3]^[4]
- Aircraft Carrier Sōryū (蒼龍)
- Light Aircraft Carrier Ryūjō (龍驤)
- 30th Destroyer Division^[4]
  - Destroyer Mutsuki (睦月)
  - Destroyer Mochizuki (望月)
  - Destroyer Kisaragi (如月)
  - Destroyer Yayoi (弥生)
Second Base Force^[3]
14th Air Group^[3]
Takao Air Group^[3]
Seaplane Tender Chitose (千歳)^[3]
Seaplane Tender Kamikawa Maru (神川丸)^[3]
3rd Destroyer Division^[3]^[4]
- Destroyer Shimakaze (島風)
- Destroyer Shiokaze (汐風)
- Destroyer Nadakaze (灘風)
1st Gunboat Division^[3]^[4]
- Special Gunboat Shuri Maru (首里丸)
- Special Gunboat Nagatoshiyama Maru (長壽山丸)
- Special Gunboat Nagashiroyama Maru (長白山丸)
1st Combined Air Group^[3]
Additional Units:
- 11th Minesweeper Division^[4]
  - Minesweeper No. 16 (掃十六)
  - Minesweeper No. 14 (掃十四)
  - Minesweeper No. 15 (掃十五)
  - Minesweeper No. 13 (掃十三)
  - Minesweeper No. 18 (掃十八)
  - Minesweeper No. 17 (掃十七)

China

Canton Area Defense October 1938 [1]

4th Route Army - Yu Han-mou [1]

62nd Army - Chang Ta
- 151st Division - Mo His-teh
- 152nd Division - Chen Chang
63rd Army - Chang Jui-kuei
- 153rd Division - Chang Jui-kuei
- 154th Division - Liang Shih-chi
- 182nd Division - Li Zhen
65th Army - Li Chen-chiu
- 156th Division - Li Chiangi
- 157th Division - Huang Tao
- 158th Division - Tseng Yu-chiang
9th Separate Brigade - Li Chen-liang
20th Separate Brigade - Chen-liang
2nd Separate Regiment - ?
Humen Fortress Command - Chen Tse
Chen Chongfan’s Artillery Brigade - Chen Chongfan
A Tank Battalion from Canton Tank Corps - ?
Anti-Aircraft Gun Battalion - ?
Tax Police Division - Sun Liren

Navy[1]

River Defense Command - ?
- Haimen Fortress
- Pearl River flotilla
  - Shao-ho
  - Hai-chou
  - Hai-hu
  - Hai-ou

Airforce[1] Kwang tung Air Defense command - ? (3 x 75mm AA batteries, 20 lesser caliber AA batteries, 4 searchlights )

41st AAA Regt.
- 1 battery ? mm (Humen Fortress)
- ?
45th AAA Regt.
- 2 76.2mm AA batteries (Canton)
- ?
3rd Searchlight detachment
- 4 searchlights

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.

[3] Sino-Japanese Air War 1937-45

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

March 1938

2nd Carrier Division
- RYUJO (CF Toshihiko Odawara)
  - F 9 Mitsubishi A5M
  - DB 15 D1A1
- SORYU
  - F 18 A5M & A4N1
  - DB 27 DA2
  - TB 12 B4Y1

References

Citations

^ NIDS SS89 1976, pp. 456–457
^ NIDS SS89 1976, pp. 228
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p NIDS SS79 1975, pp. 56–57
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m NIDS SS79 1975, pp. 62–63

Bibliography

戦史叢書第079巻中国方面海軍作戦＜2＞昭和十三年四月以降 [Senshi Sōsho Volume 79] (in Japanese). The National Institute for Defense Studies. 1975.
戦史叢書第089巻支那事変陸軍作戦＜2＞昭和十四年九月まで [Senshi Sōsho Volume 89] (in Japanese). The National Institute for Defense Studies. 1976.

[SenshiSosho89_456-457-1] NIDS SS89 1976, pp. 456–457

[SenshiSosho89_228-2] NIDS SS89 1976, pp. 228

[SenshiSosho79_1-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p NIDS SS79 1975, pp. 56–57

[SenshiSosho79_2-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m NIDS SS79 1975, pp. 62–63

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[2]

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