Order of battle of the Battle of Xuzhou

The Battle of Xuzhou was fought in May 1938 as part of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Japan

The Japanese Order of battle

North China Front Army

Field Marshal Count Hisaichi Terauchi

• 16th Division - Lt. Gen. Keisuke Fujie
  • 19th Infantry Brigade
    • 9th Infantry Regiment
    • 20th Infantry Regiment
  • 30th Infantry Brigade
    • 33rd Infantry Regiment
    • 38th Infantry Regiment
  • 22nd Field Artillery Regiment
  • 20th Cavalry Regiment
  • 16th Engineer Regiment
  • 16th Transport Regiment

• 114th Division -Lt. Gen. Shigeji Suematsu
  • 127th Infantry Brigade
    • 66th Infantry Regiment
    • 115th Infantry Regiment
  • 128th Infantry Brigade
    • 102nd Infantry Regiment
    • 150th Infantry Regiment
  • 120th Field Artillery Regt
  • 118th Cavalry Regiment
  • 114th Engineer Regiment
  • 114th Transport Regiment

• 3rd Infantry Brigade / 2nd Division - Major Gen. Kazuo Isa [2]
  • 4th Infantry Regiment
  • 29th Infantry Regiment

• 13th Infantry Brigade / 7th Division - Major Gen. Tadao Yoshizawa [2]
  • 25th Infantry Regiment
  • 26th Infantry Regiment

• Imada Detachment- Colonel Imada
  • 2nd Tank Battalion - Colonel Imada
    • 36 Type 89 Medium Tanks
  • 1st Battalion/9th Infantry Regiment/16th Division
  • One mountain gun company
  • One engineer platoon
  • and other support units

2nd Army

Gen. Toshizō Nishio

• • 5th Division - Gen. Seishirō Itagaki
    • 9th Infantry Brigade
      • 11th Infantry Regiment
      • 41st Infantry Regiment
    • 21st Infantry Brigade
      • 21st Infantry Regiment
      • 42nd Infantry Regiment
    • 5th Mountain Artillery Regiment
    • 5th Cavalry Regiment
    • 5th Engineer Regiment
    • 5th Transport Regiment

• • 10th Division - Lt. Gen. Yoshio Shinozuka
    • 8th Infantry Brigade
      • 39th Infantry Regiment
      • 40th Infantry Regiment
    • 33rd Infantry Brigade [Seya Detachment]
      • 10th Infantry Regiment
      • 63rd Infantry Regiment
    • 10th Field Artillery Regiment
    • 10th Cavalry Regiment
    • 10th Engineer Regiment
    • 10th Transport Regiment

Central China Expeditionary Force

Field Marshal Shunroku Hata

• 3rd Division- Gen. Lt. Gen. Susumu Fujita
  • 5th Infantry Brigade
    • 6th Infantry Regiment
    • 68th Infantry Regiment
  • 29th Infantry Brigade
    • 18th Infantry Regiment
    • 34th Infantry Regiment
  • 3rd Field Artillery Regiment
  • 3rd Cavalry Regiment
  • 3rd Engineer Regiment
  • 3rd Transport Regiment
• 5th Tank Battalion - Colonel Hosomi (attached to support 3rd Division)
  • 32 Type 89 Medium Tanks
  • 15 Type 94 Tankettes

• 9th Division - Lt. Gen. Ryousuke Yoshizumi
  • 6th Infantry Brigade
    • 7th Infantry Regiment
    • 35th Infantry Regiment
  • 18th Infantry Brigade
    • 19th Infantry Regiment
    • 36th Infantry Regiment
  • 9th Mountain Artillery Regiment
  • 9th Cavalry Regiment
  • 9th Engineer Regiment
  • 9th Transport Regiment

• 13th Division - Lt. Gen. Ryuhei Ogisu
  • 26th Infantry Brigade
    • 58th Infantry Regiment
    • 116th Infantry Regiment
  • 103rd Infantry Brigade
    • 65th Infantry Regiment
    • 104th Infantry Regiment(-)
  • 19th Mountain Artillery Regiment
  • 17th Cavalry Regiment
  • 13th Engineer Regiment
  • 13th Transport Regiment

• Iwanaka Detachment- Colonel Iwanaka
  • 1st Tank Battalion - Colonel Iwanaka
    • 24 Type 89 Medium Tanks, 8 Type 94 Tankettes
  • 17th Independent Tankette Company
  • 1st Battalion / 104th Infantry Regiment / 13th Division
  • One platoon of 19th Mountain Gun Regiment
  • Part of 1st Independent Engineer Company
  • One Independent Motorcar Company
  • Part of 13th Divisional Signal Unit

Notes

• 3rd and 13th Infantry Brigades were under the direct control of North-China Expeditionary Army loaned by Kwangtung Army and returned after the battle.[2]

• Mechanized task forces which consisted of tank battalion and some support units were organized and they rapidly advanced on the flanks of the Chinese forces. The task force of 1st Tank Battalion went up from the south and that of 2nd Tank Battalion went down from the north. The 5th Tank Battalion was used to support the 3rd infantry division." [2]

Air Forces

IJA Air Forces

North China

• Temporary Aviation Army Corps [3][4]
  • 1st Hiko Daitai (Type 88 reconnaissance aircraft)
  • 2nd Hiko Daitai (Kawasaki Ki-10 fighter)
  • 5th Hiko Daitai (light bomber)
  • 6th Hiko Daitai (Type 93 twin engine bomber)
  • 7th Hiko Daitai (reconnaissance aircraft)
  • 9th Hiko Daitai (light bomber)
  • 3rd Independent squadron (large bomber)
  • 9th Independent squadron (Kawasaki Ki-10 fighter)
  • 1st Temporary independent squadron (Mitsubishi Ki-15)

Central China

• 3rd Flight Group[3]
  • 1st independent squadron (reconnaissance aircraft)
  • 6th independent squadron (reconnaissance aircraft)
  • 10th independent squadron (Kawasaki Ki-10 fighters)
  • 8th Hiko Daitai (Ki-10 fighters)[4]

IJN Air Forces[4]

• 12th Kokutai (predominantly fighter unit.)
  • Fighter daitai - Mitsubishi A5M
  • Attack daitai - Yokosuka B3Y1

Station: Daikojo (12/37 – 06/38), Anqing (06/38 – autumn/38)

• 13th Kokutai (predominantly land attack unit.)
  • Fighter daitai - Mitsubishi A5M
  • Attack daitai - Yokosuka B3Y1, Mitsubishi G3M (land attack unit.)

Station: Daikojo (12/37 – 03/38), Shanghai (04/38 – 11/40)

• 14th Kokutai
  • Fighter daitai - Mitsubishi A5M
  • Bomber daitai - ?
  • Attack daitai - ?

(Formed during April 1938.) Station: Sanqzao Island (04/38 – ?)

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.

Pg. 221-230 Map 9-1

[2] Maps and discussion posted on Axis History forum 2nd Sino Japanese War. http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=94112&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30

[3] 抗日战争时期的侵华日军序列沿革 (Order of battle of the Japanese army that invaded China during the Sino Japanese War)

[4] Sino-Japanese Air War 1937-45 http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/sino-japanese.htm

China

Chinese Order of battle[1]

Army

5th War Area - Li Tsung-jen

• 2nd Army Group - Sun Lien-chung [From 1st War area March 1938]
  • 30th Corps - Tien Chen-nan
    • 30th Division - Chang Cing-chao
    • 31st Division - Chih Feng-cheng
  • 42nd Corps - Feng An-pang
    • 27th Division - Huang Chiao-sung[r]
    • 44th Division - Wu Peng-chu
• 3rd Army Group - Sun Tung-hsuen (acting)
  • 12th Corps - Sun Tung-hsuen
    • 20th Division - Sun Tung-hsuen
    • 81st Division - Chan Shu-tang
  • 55th Corps - Tsao Fu-lin
    • 29th Division - Tsao Fu-lin (concurrent)
    • 74th Division - Li Han-chang
  • 56th Corps - Ku Liang-min
    • 22nd Division - Ku Liang-min (concurrent)
    • Pistol Brigade - Wu Hua-wen
• 11th Army Group - Li Pin-hsien +
  • 31st Corps - Wei Yung San
    • 131st Division - Chin Lien-fang
    • 135th Division - Su Tzu-hsing
    • 138th Division - Mo Teh-hung
• 21st Army Group - Liao Lei +
  • 7th Corps - Chou Tsu-huang
    • 170th Division - Hsu Chi-ming
    • 171st Division - Yang Fu-chang
    • 172nd Division - Cheng Shu-feng
  • 48th Corps - Liao Lei (concurrent)
    • 174th Division - Wang Tsan-pin
    • 176th Division - Ou Shou-nien
• 22nd Army Group - Teng His-hou, (Sun Cheng - acting) [from Szechuan]
  • 41st Corps - Sun Cheng
    • 122nd Division - Wang Min-chang
    • 124th Division - Wang Shih-chun
  • 45th Corps - Chen Ting-hsun
    • 125th Division - Chen Ting-hsun (concurrent)
    • 127th Division - Chen Li
  • 366 Division? [6] (peace preservation units?)
  • 372 Division? [6] (peace preservation units?)
• 24th Army Group - Han The-chin (acting)
  • 57th Corps - Miao Chen-liu
    • 111th Division - Chang En-tuo
    • 112th Division - Hou Shou-yi
  • 89th Corps - Han Teh-chin (concurrent)
    • 33rd Division - Han Teh-chin (concurrent)
    • 117th Division - Li Shou-wei[6]
    • attached Kiangsu Peace Preservation Units
• 26th Army Group - Hsu Yuan-chuan (concurrent)
  • 10th Corps - Hsu Yuan-chuan (concurrent)
    • 41st Division - Ting Chih-pan
    • 48th Division - Hsu Chi-wu
  • 199th Division - Lo Shu-chia
• 27th Army Group - Yang Sen
  • 20th Corps - Yang Sen (concurrent)
    • 133rd Division - Yang Han-yu
    • 134th Division - Yang Han-chung
• 3rd Army - Pang Pin-hsun
  • 40th Corps - Pang Pin-hsun (concurrent)
    • 39th Division - Ma Fa-wu
• 19th Army - Feng Chi-an
  • 77th Corps - Feng Chi-an (concurrent) +
    • 37th Division - Chia Chien-hsi
    • 179th Division - Ho Chi-feng
    • 132nd Division - Wang Chang-hai
• 20th Army - Tang En-po
  • 52nd Corps - Kuan Lin-cheng
    • 2nd Division - Cheng Tung-kuo[r]
    • 25th Division - Chang Yao-ming[r]
  • 85th Corps - Wang Chung-lien
    • 4th Division - Chen Ta-ching[r]
    • 89th Division - Division - Hsueh-chung[r]
  • 110th Division - Chang Chen
• 27th Army - Chang Tse-chung
  • 59th Corps - Chang Tse-chung (concurrent) [From 1st War area Jan. 1938]
    • 38th Division - Huang Wei-kang
    • 180th Division - Liu Chen-san
    • 9th Division - Chang Teh-shun [g] Must be a different Division, the 9th is below with 2nd Corps.
    • 13th Cav. Brigade - Yao Ching-chuan
• 2nd Corps - Li Yen-nien
  • 3rd Division - Li Yu-tang [g]
  • 9th Division - Li Yen-nien(concurrent) [g]
• 22nd Corps - Tan Tao-yuan
  • 50th Division - Chen Kuang-yu
• 46th Corps - Fan Sung-pu
  • 28th Division - Tung Chao
  • 49th Division - Chou Shih-mein
  • 92nd Division - Huang Kuo-liang
• 51st Corps - Yu Hsueh-chung +
  • 113th Division - Chao Kuang-lieh
  • 114th Division - Mu Chung-heng
• 60th Corps - Lu Han
  • 182nd Division - An En-fu [y]
  • 183rd Division - Kao Kyin-huai [y]
  • 184th Division - Chang Chung [y]
• 68th Corps - Liu Ju-ming +
  • 119th Division - Li Chin-tien
  • 143rd Division - Li Tseng-chih
• 69th Corps - Shih Yu-san
  • 181st Division - Shih Yu-san (concurrent)
  • New 6th Division - Kao Shu-hsun
• 75th Corps - Shih Yu-san
  • 6th Division - Shih Yu-san (concurrent) [g]
  • 93rd Division - Kan Li-chu
• 92nd Corps - Li Hsien-chou
  • 13th Division - Wu Liang-shen
  • 21st Division - Li Hsien-chou (concurrent)
• 95th Division - Lo Chi
• 104th Division - Wang Wen-yen
• 115 Division? [6]
• 1st Regt. 1st Arty. Bde.
• 4th, 5th,6th and 7th Art. Regt.

Notes:

• [g] German trained reorganized Divisions
• [r] reorganized Divisions
• [y] Divisions with French arms from Yunnan

Airforce

1st Air Route Command (ARC) [5]

• Headquarters at Nanchang
  • 4th Pursuit Group based at Hankou - Mao Ying-Chu
    • 21st Pursuit Squadron - Captain Teng Ming-Teh
      • Polikarpov I-16
    • 22nd Pursuit Squadron - Zhang Wei-Hua
      • Curtiss Hawk III
    • 23rd Pursuit Squadron - Liu Chung-Wu
      • Polikarpov I-15bis
    • 24th Pursuit Squadron - Zhang Zhun
      • Curtiss Hawk III

3rd Air Route Command [5]

• Headquarters at Sian
  • 17th Pursuit Squadron
    • I-15bis based at Sian
  • 25th Pursuit Squadron
    • I-15bis based at Sian
  • 3rd Pursuit Group - Lt. Colonel Wu Yu-Liu
    • based at Hsaio Kan
    • 7th Pursuit Squadron - Xiang Yung
      • I-15bis
    • 8th Pursuit Squadron -
      • I-15bis

Notes 1st ARC was responsible for supporting the 3rd and 5th War Zones in Anhwei, Chekiang, Fukien, Kiangsi and Kiangsu Provinces. The 3rd ARC had its headquarters at Sian and supported the 1st and 2nd War Zones in Honan and Hupei. [5]

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. Pg. 221-230. Map. 9-1
• [3] 抗日战争时期的侵华日军序列沿革 (Order of battle of the Japanese army that invaded China during the Sino Japanese War)
• [5] Sino-Japanese Air War 1937-45 http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/sino-japanese.htm
• [6] Units found on map of battle of Taierzhang: (http://www.xinjunshi.com/ziliao/junshiditu/krdt/200412/1257.html)