Pre 1937 Movements of Japanese forces to China

[Jerry Asher]

Hi Fontessa: Congratulation on being selected a TROM God and again accept my appreciation of your outstanding contribution. We are nearing, for a time, an end of my questions and imposition on your time. May I conclude however with the following. In 1927, the 1st Shandong Expeditiion, a force of between 2,500 and 4,000 men was sent to Qingdao and on to Jinan. (Can't find right now a better ID, as to what division. Force may have come from Dalian not Japan proper, during May 1927 and left in five increments in September 1927.

A year later, the 2nd Shandong Expedition, involving a land movement from Tianjin on April 20 of 450 men: then orders on April 19th for 6th Division elements to move--they landed on 25th April at Qingdao, then 2nd Division which began landing at Qingdao on April 27th and finally movement of 3rd Division sometime after 8 May, 1928. I find a reference to a 3rd Shandong Expedition but not sure if that is not a reference to May movement of the 3rd Division. These forces returned to Japan in 1929.

Finally, and thank you again. You know if you were here, I owe you a big dinner, and more. The movements of the 9th and 11th Divisions during the 1st Shanghai Incident of February 1932.

I am not sure that even the records of JACAR call back to these events. Many thanks for everything.

[hisashi]

The following explanation owe much to:
The "Manchurian Incident" and Japanese Political-Military Relations
Fuhito Kanda (Keiai Univ.) Mar 1999
http://www.u-keiai.ac.jp/issn/menu/ronbun/no3/001.pdf

Kwantung army those day consisted of a division and an independent garrison (several battalions). In 1927 the division was 10th and near to the day of switch.

The first troop was 33rd brigade from 10D, namely 10ID and 63ID. After they advanced to Jinan, IJA sent another brigade of 10D, 8th brigade (39IR, 40IR), and some others.

JACAR ref:B02031867200 is a record of evacuation in Jul 1927. Page 10 gives a list of troops finally there. I don't know why but IJA did not send support elements of 10D; only four infantry regiments and division HQ. Instead, They sent 2nd battalion of 20th field artillery regiment and a platoon from 14th engineer battalion from 14D. 14D was arriving to Dalian to replace 10D. IJA added telecommunication section and railroad engineer section from GHQ elements in Japan. Lastly, IJN sent some landing troops from protected cruiser Hirado, Tsushima and DD Asagao (DD No.10 then).

'3rd' Shandong Expedition refered to the sending of 3rd division you mentioned.

JACAR ref:B13081162500 is a report to the diet from the government on 2nd/3rd Shandong Expedition. 2nd Expedition force consisted of:
3 companies from Tianjin
6D HQ 11B (HQ, 13IR and 47IR), 36B(HQ, 23IR, 45IR) in total 8 infantry battalions (so somewhat understrength regiments)
a cavalry platoon, a field arty battalion, an engineer company (all from 6D)
6D arrived Qingdao from 25 to 27 Apr.
In 4 May the government approved reinforcements.
28B (15IR and 50IR in total 4 battalions plus an arty battery) of 14D (Dalian, Kwantung Army)
6 aircrafts from Korean army
railroad engineer unit (2700 men) from Japan
They arrived Qingdao from 6 to 9 May.
In 8 May the government approved additional reinforcements ('3rd' Shandong Expedition), a whole 3D. In exchange 3 companies from Tianjin and 28B from Dalian was ordered back to their base. 3D arrived Qingdao from 17 May to 5 Jun


JACAR ref:C13050041100. 9th division's report. Departed Ujina in 10-11 Feb, arrived Shanghai in the evening of 13 Feb (perhaps 14 for the latter half of division).
1st wave:Iwate Maru, France Maru, Mikasa Maru (Div HQ), Maya Maru, Urasio Maru, Tsukuba Maru, Yakumo Maru, Ikoma Maru, Amur Maru. Mainly combat troops.
2nd Wave (departed in 11 Feb): Akihisa Maru, Florida Maru, Hakkai Maru, Shinryu Maru, Aida Maru, Miharu Maru, Ujina Maru. Mainly support troops.

JACAR ref:A03023773100 11th division's report. 43rd and 12th IR departed Japan in 27 Feb and made a landing operation in 1 Mar. 22nd IR reinforced 9th division. The force took them appeared simply as 2nd fleet. It mainly consisted of 4th squadron (CH Myoko, Nachi,Haguro and Ashigara), 2nd desron (CL Jintsu, DD Asagiri,Amagiri,Yugiri,Sagiri, Isonami, Uranami, Shikinami,Ayanami, Matsu, Sakaki, Sugi, Kashiwa). Matsu etc. were Kaba-class, not Matsu-class of course.

[fontessa]

The first troop was 33rd brigade from 10D, namely 10ID and 63ID.

According to JACAR ref:C01003782100:
The 33rd Mixed Infantry Brigade based on the 33rd Infantry Brigade, the 10th Division was transported to Qingdao. The convoy consisted of 香港丸 Hong Kong Maru and 長平丸 Nagahira Maru. The embarkation allotment was as follows.
- Hong Kong Maru: Brigade HQ, 63rd Infantry, 1st Battalion of 10th Infantry, 1 platoon of 14th Engineer Battalion and Radio Section (1,457 men)
---- Boarded at Dalian on 30 May
---- Landed at Qingdao on 31 May
- Nagahira Maru: 10th Infantry (minus 1st Battalion) (541 men)
---- Boarded at 柳樹屯 Liushutun on 30 May
---- Landed at Qingdao on 31 May

The below is the organization of the 33rd Mixed Infantry Brigade
(JACAR ref:C01003776100)
- Brigade HQ (54 men)
- The 10th Infantry Regiment (937 men)
- The 63 Infantry Regiment (957 men)
- The 1st platoon, the 1st Company, the 14th Engineer Battalion (60 men)
- Radio Section (20 men)
Total 2,028 men

fontessa

[Jerry Asher]

Many thanks to hisashi and fontessa. You have given me much to enjoy. I have the naval component of 1st Shandong as being the 2nd Dispatched Squadron, the two cruisers you listed and DesDiv 29. Again, thank you for all you do and share.

[Jerry Asher]

Hi Fontess and Hisashi: I am in need of clarification for these posts:
In regarding July 1927 return of 1st Shandong: Are other ships mentioned?

In regard 2nd Shandont movement of elements of 6th Division from Tianjisn May 6 -9, 1928--did thy move by ship or train? If by ship--any names? etc.

In regard 3rd Shandong from Japan to Qingdao, Third Division arriving May 17 through June 5th--any details on ships etc

I add a movement in 1936 to bolster the Tianjin or Beijing garrsion--any details? I understand they land at chingwantdoa? These ought to have a been a regiment size force being assigned garrsion duty. Many thanks, its afternoon here, and I must start school on Monday.

A comment, previous answers include also movement of 9th Division to 1st Shanghai Incident Feb 1932.

[fontessa]

Hello Jerry:

In regarding July 1927 return of 1st Shandong: Are other ships mentioned?

According to JACAR C01003775400, the ship allotment for the 10th Division was as follows.
■ from Qingdao to Ujina
台中丸 Taichu Maru (3,212 tons)
- The 10th Division HQ
- The 8th Infantry Brigade HQ
- The 39th Infantry Regiment (minus 2 companies)
春蕐丸 Shunka Maru (2,839 tons)
- The 10th Infantry Regiment
- 2 companies of the 39th Infantry Regiment
原田丸 Harada Maru (4,190 tons)
- The 33rd Infantry Brigade
- The 63rd Infantry Regiment
- Railway Section
- Signal Section
- Medical Section
神端丸 Shintan Maru (2,983 tons)
- The 40th Infantry Regiment
■ from Qingdao to Dalian
龍鳳丸 Ryuho Maru (3,191 tons)
- 1 battalion of the 20th Field Artillery Regiment
- 1 platoon of the 14th Engineer Regiment

In regard 2nd Shandont movement of elements of 6th Division from Tianjisn May 6 -9, 1928--did thy move by ship or train? If by ship--any names? etc.

The 6th Division was transported from Japan to China. Unfortunately the record is not left.

In regard 3rd Shandong from Japan to Qingdao. Third Division arriving May 17 through June 5th--any details on ships etc

According to JACAR C04021682000, the ship allotment for the 3rd Division was as follows
Departed Ujina on 14 and 15 May
Arrived at Qingdao on 17 ~ 20 May
信濃丸 Shinano Maru (6,155 tons)
- The 5th Infantry Brigade HQ
- The 6th Infantry Regiment
- The 10th Field Artillery Regiment (minus 1 company)
- 1 company of the 68th Infantry Regiment
台中丸 Taichu Maru (3,212 ton)
- The 68th Infantry Regiment (minus 1 battalion and 2 company)
長城丸 chojo Maru (2,334 tons)
- 1 company of the 68th Infantry Regiment
- The 34th Infantry Regiment (minus 2 battalions)
生駒丸 Ikoma Maru (3,156 tons)
- 1 battalion of the 34th Infantry Regiment
- 1 company of the 10th Field Artillery Regiment
笠置丸 Kasagi Maru (3,100 tons)
- 1 battalion of the 34th Infantry Regiment
- The 3rd Engineer Battalion (minus 1 company)
- 1 cavalry company (minus 2 platoons)
神端丸 Shintan Maru (2,983 tons)
- 1 battalion of the 34th Infantry Regiment
- 2 cavalry platoons

I add a movement in 1936 to bolster the Tianjin or Beijing garrsion--any details? I understand they land at chingwantdoa?

According to JACAR C01003132100, The ship allotment for China Garrison Army was as follows.
■ 1st transportation (from Moji and Ujina to 泰皇島 Qinhuangdao)
Departed on 9 and 10 May
Arrived on 14 and 15 May
生駒丸 Ikoma Maru (3,173 tons)
- Infantry Brigade HQ
- 1st Infantry Regiment HQ, 1st and 2nd Companies
- 1st Battalion HQ and 1st Machinegun Company, 1st Infantry Regiment
- Engineer Unit
- 1st Machinegun Company, 2nd Infantry Regiment
- 1st Company, Artillery Regiment
宇品丸 Ujina Maru (2,218 tons)
- 1 company of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment
- Artillery Regiment HQ and the 2nd Battalion
神速丸 Jinsoku Maru (3,202 tons)
- 3rd Company, 1st Infantry Regiment
- 2nd Battalion (minus 1 company), 1st Infantry Regiment
- 2nd Infantry Regiment HQ
- 1st Battalion (minus 3rd Company and 1st Machinegun Company), 2nd Infantry Regiment
- 2nd Battalion HQ, 2nd Infantry Regiment
- 2nd Battalion (minus HQ), 2nd Infantry Regiment
明海丸 Meikai Maru (3,193 tons)
- 3rd Company, 2nd Infantry Regiment
- 1st Battalion (minus 1st Company), Artillery Regiment
■ 2nd transportation (from Niigata to 塘沽 Tanggu)
Departed on 22 and 23 May
Arrived on 29 and 30 May
生駒丸
- 3rd Battalion (minus 2 companies) and Infantry Gun Unit, 1st Infantry Regiment
- Infantry Gun Unit and 3rd Machinegun Company, 2nd Infantry Regiment
宇品丸
- 1 company of 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment
- 9th Company, 2nd Infantry Regiment
- Tank Unit
明海丸
- 1 company of 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regimen
- 3rd battalion (minus 9th company), 2nd Infantry Regiment
- Cavalry Unit

fontessa

[Jerry Asher]

Thank you Fontessa: You've made my Sunday.