WWII Japanese Army
1941-1945 Tank Division

CD TO&E

by Loren Wiseman and Greg Novak

The series of battles fought in 1938/39 between the Japanese and Russian armies in Mongolia convinced the Japanese Army that the Mechanized Mixed Brigade was badly outclassed by its Russian counterparts. To help protect the plains of Manchuria from a possible Russian attack, four armored divisions were organized there starting in 1941. Numbered as the 1st through 4th Tank Divisions, only the 2nd Tank Division was to leave the area, as it was sent in 1944 to help defend the Philippines.

TROOP QUALITY: Experienced
MORALE: 10

DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS, with:

    1 Command Medium Tank
    1 Staff Radio Truck

1 TANK BRIGADE, with:

    HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, with:
      1 Command Medium Tank
      1 Recon Light Tank
      1 Staff Radio Truck

    3 TANK REGIMENTS, each with:

      HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, with:
        1 Command Medium Tank
        1 Recon Light Tank
        1 MMG Stand
        1 Light Truck

      LIGHT TANK COMPANY, with: 2 Light Tanks
      4 MEDIUM TANK COMPANIES, each with: 2 Medium Tanks

1 MOTORIZED INFANTRY REGIMENT, with:

    REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, with:
      1 Command Stand
      1 Car
      1 MMG Stand
      1 Light Truck
      2 Recon Type 95 Light Tanks
      1 Medium Supply Truck

    3 MOTORIZED INFANTRY BATTALIONS, each with:

      BATTALION HEADQUARTERS, with:
        1 Command Stand
        1 Car
        1 37L45 AT Gun
        1 4 Ton Tractor
        1 Gun Crew
        1 MMG
        1 Light Truck

      4 INFANTRY COMPANIES, each with:

        1 Command Stand
        3 Infantry Stands
        1 Weapons Stand
        4 Light Trucks

      INFANTRY GUN COMPANY, with:

        1 75mm Infantry Gun
        1 Gun Crew Stand (DS)

        1 Medium Truck

1 ARTILLERY REGIMENT, with:

    REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS
      1 Command Stand
      1 Car
      2 37L45 AT Guns
      2 Gun Crew Stands
      1 MMG Stand
      3 Light Trucks
      3 Medium Supply Trucks

      1 LIGHT BATTALION, with:

        1 Command Stand
        1 FO Stand
        2 Cars
        3 75mm Field Guns
        3 Gun Crew Stands (DS)
        3 Tractors

      2 MEDIUM BATTALIONS, each with:

        1 Command Stand
        1 FO Stand
        2 Cars
        3 105mm Howitzers
        3 Gun Crew Stands (DS)
        3 Tractors

ANTITANK BATTALION, with:

    HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, with:
      1 Command Stand
      1 Car
      1 MMG Stand
      1 Light Truck
      1 Medium Supply Truck

    3 ANTITANK COMPANIES, each with:

      1 Gun Crew Stand
      1 4 ton Tractor
      1 47L44 AT Gun

1 ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY REGIMENT, with:

    REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, with:
      1 Command Stand
      1 Car
      1 Medium Supply Truck

    1 ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY BATTALION, with:

      BATTALION HEADQUARTERS, with:
        1 Command Stand
        1 Car

      HEAVY AAA COMPANY, with:

        2 75mm AAA Guns
        2 Gun Crew Stands (DS)
        2 Tractors

      2 LIGHT AAA COMPANIES, with:

        3 20mm AA Guns
        3 Gun Crew Stands
        3 Light Trucks

    2 MACHINE CANNON (AAA) BATTALIONS, each with:

      BATTALION HEADQUARTERS, with:
        1 Command Stand
        1 Car

      3 LIGHT AAA COMPANIES, with:

        1 20mm AA Guns
        1 Gun Crew Stands
        1 Light Trucks

1 RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION, with:

    BATTALION HEADQUARTERS, with:
      1 Command Stand
      1 Car
      1 37L45 AT Gun
      1 Gun Crew
      2 MMG Stands
      3 Light Trucks

    1 MOTORIZED INFANTRY RECON COMPANY, with:

      1 Command Stand
      3 Infantry Stands
      1 Weapons Stand
      1 Car
      4 Light Trucks

    2 LIGHT TANK COMPANIES, each with:

      3 Recon Light Tanks or 3 Recon Armored Cars

    1 MEDIUM TANK COMPANY

      1 Command Medium Tank
      1 Medium Tank

ENGINEERING REGIMENT, with

    REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, with:
      1 Command stand
      1 37L45 AT Gun
      1 Gun Crew Stand
      1 MMG Stand
      1 Engineer Flamethrower Stand
      3 Light Trucks
      2 Medium Trucks

    6 ENGINEER COMPANIES, each with:

      1 Command Stand
      3 Engineer Stands
      3 Light Trucks

    1 BRIDGING COMPANY, with

      2 Engineer Stands
      3 Medium Trucks
      1 Medium Bridge
      1 Assault Boat Trailer

NOTES

1. The 2nd and 3rd Tank Divisions did not have an AAA Regiment present.
2. The 2nd Tank Division did not have its Reconnaissance Regiment with it in the Philippines.

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© Copyright 1991 by Greg Novak.
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