IGHQ Army Order 655 and 881

[Joan Pinyol]

Dear friends,

I've found the reference to two IGHQ Army Orders (655 and 881).

The IGHQ Army Order no. 655 was issued on July 4th, 1942. It assigned the order of battle to 1st Mechanized Army. Is the same IGHQ Order that assigned the OOB to 1st and 2nd Area Armies?

At its turn, the IGHQ Order no. 881 assigned the units of the disbanded 1st Mechanized Army to other armies in Manchuria. Is the same IGHQ that re-organized all the Kwntung Army after the 2nd Area Army and the 2nd Army were dispatched to New Guinea? Included this Order the OOB of these units for New Guinea? If so, it was one of the biggest Army Orders.

Thanks a lot in advance for your comments and suggestions.

PS: In the topic General Index of Legal .... remained a question abouth 8th Area Army unanswered. Is in the 2nd page.

[fontessa]

Hello Joan,

The IGHQ Army Order no. 655 was issued on July 4th, 1942. It assigned the order of battle to 1st Mechanized Army. Is the same IGHQ Order that assigned the OOB to 1st and 2nd Area Armies?

Yes, Dairikumei No.655 dated 4 July 1942 ordered the OOBs of Mechanized, 1st and 2nd Area Armies. (Strictly speaking, these were not OOBs. These were called 編組 Henso (Peacetime Composition). Kwantung Army in those days were in “peacetime”. The OOB of Kwantung Army was not ordered until May 1945! )

The OOBs in the end of 1942 were as follows.
◇ Mechanized Army
- Mechanized Army HQ
- 1st Tank Division
- 2nd Tank Division
- Tank Instruction Brigade
◇ 1st Area Army
- 1st Area Army HQ
- 2nd Army
- 3rd Army
- 5th army
- 20th Army
- 28th Division
- 3rd Independent Mountain Artillery Regiment
- 3rd and 4th Companies, 12th Independent Engineer Regiment
- 27th Independent Engineer Regiment
- 17th Signal Regiment
- 251st Independent Motor Transport Company
- 252nd Independent Motor Transport Company
- 253rd Independent Motor Transport Company
- 55th Transport Battalion
- 1st Mudanjiang Army Hospital
- 2nd Mudanjiang Army Hospital
- 3rd Mudanjiang Army Hospital
- Ning'an Army Hospital
- 1st Area Army Tentative Court-Material
- 6th Kwantung Army Interroment Camp
◇ 2nd Area Army
- 2nd Area Army HQ
- 4th Army
- 6th Army
- 14th Division
- Aershan Garrison Unit
- 3rd Independent Garrison Unit
- 18th Signal Regiment
- 265th Independent Motor Transport Company
- 266th Independent Motor Transport Company
- 267th Independent Motor Transport Company
- 268th Independent Motor Transport Company
- 269th Independent Motor Transport Company
- 276th Independent Motor Transport Company
- Qiqihar Army Hospital
- Fularji Army Hospital
- Aershan Army Hospital
- 2nd Area Army Tentative Court-Material
- 7th Kwantung Army Interroment Camp

At its turn, the IGHQ Order no. 881 assigned the units of the disbanded 1st Mechanized Army to other armies in Manchuria. Is the same IGHQ that re-organized all the Kwntung Army after the 2nd Area Army and the 2nd Army were dispatched to New Guinea?

The size of re-organization after the dispatch of 2nd Area and 2nd Armies limited to minimum level. The 2nd Area Army was disbanded by Dairikumei No.881 dated 30 October 1943. And the 3rd Area Army was organized by the same Dairikumei. The 3rd Area Army succeeded units of the 2nd Area Army.

◇ 3rd Area Army
- 3rd Area Army HQ
- 4th Army
- 6th Army
- 14th Division
- Aershan Garrison Unit
- 7th Independent Mixed Regiment
- 18th Signal Regiment
- 13th Field Transport Unit: See Attachment
- Qiqihar Army Hospital
- Fularji Army Hospital
- Aershan Army Hospital
- 3rd Area Army Tentative Court-Material
- 7th Kwantung Army Detainment Camp
Attachment: 13th Field Transport Unit Composition
- 13th Field Transport Unit HQ
- 82nd Independent Motor Transport Battalion
- 265th Independent Motor Transport Company
- 266th Independent Motor Transport Company
The following units under Mechanized Army were transferred to 1st Area Army.
- 1st and 2nd Tank Division
- And Tank Instruction Brigade was directly assigned to Kwantung Army.
The units under 2nd Army were transferred to 3rd and 20th Armies.
Units transferred to 3rd Army
- 71st Division
- 9th Border Garrison Unit
- 79th Line of Communications Guard Unit
- 79th Line of Communications Duty Unit
- 73rd Independent Transport Company
- 88th Land Duty Company
Units transferred to 20th Army
- 7th Independent Heavy Artillery Battalion (Type “D”)
- 11th Tractor Company

Included this Order the OOB of these units for New Guinea?

No it didn't. The 2nd Area Army was reorganized by Dairikumei No.882 dated 30 October 1943 and moved to 豪北 Gohoku. IJA called the area covered from eastern Dutch Indonesia to western New Guinea Gohoku. The OOBs in the end of 1943 for 2nd Area Army and Armies which were subordinate to it were as follows.
◇ 2nd Area Army
- 2nd Area Army HQ
- 2nd Army
- 19th Army
- 20th Field Air Defense Unit Command
- 72nd Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion
- 73rd Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion
- 43rd Independent Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Company
- 44th Independent Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Company
- 45th Independent Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Company
- 46th Independent Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Company
- 47th Independent Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Company
- 48th Independent Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Company
- 49th Independent Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Company
- 50th Independent Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Company
- 51st Independent Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Company
- 9th Independent Searchlight Company
- 10th Independent Searchlight Company
- 11th Independent Searchlight Company
- 12th Independent Searchlight Company
- 45th Field Machine Cannon Company
- 46th Field Machine Cannon Company
- 47th Field Machine Cannon Company
- 8th Field Military Police Unit
- 2nd Area Army Signal Units: The detailed composition is omitted.
- 2nd Area Army Directly Assigned Line of Communications Units: The detailed composition is omitted.
■ 2nd Army
- 2nd Army HQ
- 36th Division
- 49th Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion (Type “A”)
- 53rd Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion (Type “A”)
- 54th Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion (Type “A”)
- 57th Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion (Type “A”)
- 68th Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion
- 69th Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion
- 4th Field Searchlight Battalion (Minus 2nd Company)
- 41st Field Machine Cannon Company
- 42nd Field Machine Cannon Company
- 4th Engineer Unit HQ
- 15th Independent Engineer Regiment (Type ”A”)
- 10th Field Military Police Unit
- 2nd Army Directly Assigned Line of Communications Units: The detailed composition is omitted.
■ 19th Army
- 19th Army HQ
- 5th Division
- 46th Division
- 48th Division
- 4th Tank Regiment
- 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field heavy artillery Regiment (Type “A”)
- Half of Ammunition Train, 3rd Field heavy artillery Regiment
- 32nd Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion (Type “B”)
- 44th Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion (Type “B”)
- 5th Trench Mortar Battalion
- 19th Army Signal Units: The detailed composition is omitted.
- 19th Army Directly Assigned Line of Communications Units: The detailed composition is omitted.

fontessa

[Joan Pinyol]

Thank you very much, Fontessa. Much obliged.

Kind regards

[Joan Pinyol]

Dear Fontessa,

43rd-51st Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Companies were formed according with my notes on 15 November 1943. I don't have the Army Regulation that created them. If my notes are correct (probably not), then hardly could be assigned to 2nd Area Army on 30 October 1943. Do you know the Army Regulation that formed these units?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Kind regards

[fontessa]

Hello Joan,

The 43rd - 51st Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Companies were raised by Army Regulation "A" No. 111 dated 25 November 1943. It created the units below.
- 20th Field Air Defense Unit Command
- 72nd Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion
- 73rd Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion
- 43rd Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 44th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 45th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 46th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 47th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 48th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 49th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 50th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 51st Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 9th Independent Searchlight Company
- 10th Independent Searchlight Company
- 11th Independent Searchlight Company
- 12th Independent Searchlight Company
- 45th Field Machine Cannon Company
- 46th Field Machine Cannon Company
- 47th Field Machine Cannon Company

The OOB I have posted was that at the end of 1943.
The units above were assigned to the 2nd Army by Dairikumei No.898 dated 25 November 1943.

fontessa

[Joan Pinyol]

Dear Fontessa,
Superb post, as usual. Now it is perfectly clear. And you are right, you said "at the end of 1943".

Thanks a lot for your clariying and well documented answer.

Kind regards,

Joan

[Joan Pinyol]

I assumed that IGHQ Army Order no. 898 assigned the units of your list to 2nd Area Army, not to 2nd Army. Is that correct?

[fontessa]

Hello Joan,

Oh, it is correct. The OOB was for the 2nd Area Army.

fontessa

[Wellgunde]

Hello Fontessa,

When does the numbering system for Daihonei directives and orders begin?

[Joan Pinyol]

Thanks, Fontessa. The history of these units ended in a lot of cases in the 2nd Army in 1945, when the 2nd Area Army was disbanded (or earlier?).

-20th Field Air Defence HQ: converted to 20th Field AAA HQ on 1 June 1944. Transferred to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 72nd Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion: to 16th Army on 10 April 1944
- 73rd Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 43rd Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 44th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 45th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company: to 31st Army on 28 February 1944 (disbanded May 1944)
- 46th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 47th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 48th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 49th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 50th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company: to 19th Army (unknown date) later to 2nd Army (28 Feb 1945)
- 51st Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 9th Independent Searchlight Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 10th Independent Searchlight Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 11th Independent Searchlight Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 12th Independent Searchlight Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 45th Field Machine Cannon Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 46th Field Machine Cannon Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)
- 47th Field Machine Cannon Company: to 2nd Army on 13 June 1945 (or earlier?)

Kind regards

[fontessa]

Hello Wellgunde and Joan,

When does the numbering system for Daihonei directives and orders begin?

Daihon’ei (Imperial General Headquarters) was established on 20 November 1937. Before IGHQ was established, the Emperor’s orders were issued as Rinsammei and the Chief of the General Staff’s directives were as Sammei. IGHQ Army Orders and Directives were the successor of them. Because this “switching” was a mechanical one, Dairikumei No.1 didn’t have any symbolic meaning. Dairikumei No.1 dated 22 November 1937 merely ordered the assignment of 3rd Field Airfield Construction Unit to 3rd Air Brigade.

The history of these units ended in a lot of cases in the 2nd Army in 1945, when the 2nd Area Army was disbanded (or earlier?).

Transferred to 2nd Army by Dairikumei No.1215 dated 4 January 1945
- 20th Field AAA HQ
- 73rd Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion
- 45th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 9th Independent Searchlight Company
Transferred to 2nd Army by Dairikumei No.1346 dated 13 June 1945
- 72nd Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion
- 43rd Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 44th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 46th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 48th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 49th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 50th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 51st Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 10th Independent Searchlight Company
- 12th Independent Searchlight Company
- 45th Field Machine Cannon Company
- 46th Field Machine Cannon Company
- 47th Field Machine Cannon Company
Disbanded by Army Regulation “A” No.49 dated 24 March 1945
- 46th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- 47th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
Disbanded by Army Regulation “A” No.89 dated 29 May 1945
- 11th Independent Searchlight Company

fontessa

[Joan Pinyol]

Dear Fontessa,
You are really throwing a lot of light over formerly very shadowed things. In your last post you mentioned the Army Regulation “A” no. 49. By means of this Regulation were disbanded several AAA units in the Southern area. There are an earlier Regulation (67 issued on 24 June 1944) that abolished a lot of AAA units in the Southern area too. Below I dare to point out tentative lists of the units concerned by these regulations. Sure there are omissions. Two questions: Are these lists complete? Were these disbanded units employed to create new ones or to reinforce other units, or simply they had lost their capabilities and these Regulations translated to legal reality what was a former actual reality?

Army Regulation "A" no. 67 issued on 24 June 1944:
-15th Field AAA HQ
-19th Field AAA HQ
-41st Field AAA Battalion
-45th Field AAA Battalion
-56th Field AAA Battalion
-60th Field AAA Battalion
-23rd Field Machine Cannon Company
-31st Field Machine Cannon Company
-6th Independent Field Searchlight Company

Army Regulation "A" no. 49 issued on 24 March 1945:
-39th Field AAA Battalion
-40th Field AAA Battalion
-47th Field AAA Battalion
-50th Field AAA Battalion
-58th Field AAA Battalion
-69th Field AAA Battalion
-89th Field AAA Battalion
-31st Independent Field AAA Company
-36th Independent Field AAA Company
-37th Independent Field AAA Company
-46th Independent Field AAA Company
-47th Independent Field AAA Company
-25th Independent AAA Company
-22nd Field Machine Cannon Company
-27th Field Machine Cannon Company
-2nd Field Searchlight Battalion
-3rd Field Searchlight Battalion
-5th Field Searchlight Battalion

Thanks a lot in advance.

Kind regards,

Joan

[fontessa]

Hello Joan

Are these lists complete?

The below is the list of disbanded AAA units. The Italics shows the units you didn't list.

Disbanded on 10 June 1944 by unkown Army Regulation “A”
- 41st Field AAA Battalion
- 45th Field AAA Battalion
Disbanded by Army Regulation “A” No.67 dated 24 June 1944
- 31st Field Machine Cannon Company
- 36th Independent Field AAA Company
- 37th Independent Field AAA Company
Disbanded by Army Regulation “A” No.122 dated 6 September 1944
- 87th Field AAA Battalion
Disbanded by Army Regulation No.135 dated 11 October 1944
- 55th Independent Field AAA Company
- 56th Independent Field AAA Company
- 57th Independent Field AAA Company
Disbanded by Army Regulation “A” No.161 dated 11 December 1944
- 48th Field AAA Battalion
Disbanded by Army Regulation “A” No.49 dated 24 March 1945
- 69th Field AAA Battalion
- 46th Independent Field AAA Company
- 47th Independent Field AAA Company
Disbanded by Army Regulation “A” No.89 dated 29 May 1945
- 89th Field AAA Battalion
- 11th Independent Field Searchlight Company
Disbanded by Army Regulation “A” No.67 dated 24 June 1945
- 15th Field AAA HQ
- 19th Field AAA HQ
- 39th Field AAA Battalion
- 47th Field AAA Battalion
- 50th Field AAA Battalion
- 58th Field AAA Battalion
- 60th Field AAA Battalion
- 64th Field AAA Battalion
- 31st Independent Field AAA Company
- 36th Independent Field AAA Company
- 37th Independent Field AAA Company
- 22nd Field Machine Cannon Company
- 23rd Field Machine Cannon Company
- 27th Field Machine Cannon Company
- 28th Field Machine Cannon Company
- 29th Field Machine Cannon Company
- 30th Field Machine Cannon Company
- 31st Field Machine Cannon Company
Not Disbanded during the war
- 56th Field AAA Battalion
- 23rd Field Machine Cannon Company
- 2nd Field Searchlight Battalion
- 3rd Field Searchlight Battalion
Unclear when disbanded
- 40th Field AAA Battalion
- 6th Independent Field Searchlight Company
- 25th Independent AAA Company
- 5th Field Searchlight Battalion

fontessa

[Joan Pinyol]

Thanks a lot, Fontessa.
When you write " Army Regulation “A” No.67 dated 24 June 1945" you really mean "Army Regulation “A” No.67 dated 24 June 1944"? The Army Regulation "A" no 67 / 1945 was issued on 25 April 1945.

Kind regards

[fontessa]

Hello Joan,

When you write " Army Regulation “A” No.67 dated 24 June 1945" you really mean "Army Regulation “A” No.67 dated 24 June 1944"?

Oh yes. The Regulation No.67 was issued on 24 June 1944 as you say.

fontessa