Kwantung field machine cannon companies

[Joan Pinyol]

Dear friends,

The trace of the field machine cannon companies mobilized in the summer of 1941 (in Manchuria and Japan) in the so called "Kwantung Army Special Exercises" soon disappears in 1942-1943. As a matter of fact, according with Fontessa web page, not anyone field MC cos were in Kwantung Army in December 1942.

-16th Field MC Company: Formed in Japan (Kwantung Army Special Mobilization Order) on 7 July 1941, assigned to Kwantung Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 506 on 11 July 1941, and assigned to 1st Mechanized Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 655 on 4 July 1942. Here finished its history. Was it employed to form Armoured division Air Defence units? It is just a theory.
-17th Field MC Company: I haven’t found reliable data on its formation date. It appears under 8th Area Army in 1944-1945.
-18th Field MC Company: Formed in Japan by Kwantung Army Special Mobilization Order on 7 July 1941, Assigned to 6th Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 506 on 11 July 1941, and assigned to 1st Mechanized Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 655 on 4 July 1942. The same theory as 14th Field MC Co.
-19th Field MC Company: Formed by Kwantung Army Special Mobilization Order (Unit 7463) on 16 July 1941, assigned to 19th Division in Korea by IGHQ Army Order no. 520 on 1 August 1941. Assigned to 8th Area Army in late 1942 (unknown Order), Departed Moji on 1 December 1942, Arrived at Lae on 26 April 1943. CO Captain Namio Kawamura in July 1941.
-20th Field MC Company: Formed in Manchuria by Kwantung Army Special Mobilization Order (Unit 7464) on 16 July 1941, Assigned to 5th Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 520 on 1 August 1941,completed its formation at Masan, Korea, on 26 August 1941. Assigned to 8th Area Army in late 1942 (unknown date), departed Pusan on 30 November 1942, arrived at Lae on 25 July 1943, CO 1st Lieutenant Eitarō Umeyama in August 1941.
-21st Field MC Company: I haven`t found reliable data on its formation date. It appears under 8th Area Army in 1944-1945.
-22nd Field MC Company: Formed in Manchuria by Kwantung Army Special Mobilization Order (Unit 3627) on 16 July 1941 from elements of 13th AAA Regiment. Assigned to 3rd Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 520 on 1 August 1941. Assigned to 17th Army in unknown date. Disbanded by Army Regulation “A” no 67 issued on 24 June 1944. CO 1st Lieutenant Mori Ishikawa in 1941.
-23rd Field MC Company: Formed in Manchuria by Kwantung Army Special Mobilization Order (Unit 3617) on 16 July 1941 from elements of 10th AAA Regiment. Assigned to 3rd Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 520 on 1 August 1941. Assigned to 17th Army in unknown date. Ended the war in Bougainville.
-24th Field MC Company: Formed in Manchuria by Kwantung Army Special Mobilization Order (Unit 5067) on 16 July 1941 from elements of 9th AAA Regiment, assigned to 5th Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 520 on 1 August 1941. Assigned to 2nd Army in 1943 (unknown date, and its trace is lost from 1941). Assigned to 18th Army in 1945 (unknown data, and its trace is lost from 1943). CO Captain Shigetoshi Yasunaga in 1941.
-25th Field MC Company: Formed in Manchuria by Kwantung Army Special Mobilization Order (Unit 1225) on 16 July 1941 from elements of 12th AAA Regiment, Assigned to Kwantung Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 520 on 1 August 1941. Assigned to 17th Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 705 on 20 October 1942. Departed Pusan on 12 November 1942. Assigned to 8th Area Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 714 (while at sea) on 16 November 1942. Arrived at New Britain on 30 November 1942. Assigned to 18th Army (13 April 1943?). CO Captain Hideichi Tachibana (who was promoted to major while in the office).
- 26th Field MC Company: formed in Manchuria by Kwantung Army Special Mobilization Order on 16 July 1941, from elements of 11th AAA Regiment. Assigned to 4th Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 520 on 1 August 1941. Here is trace is lost and reappers in 1945 moving from 2nd Area Army to 2nd Army. Assigned to 2nd Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 1346 on 13 June 1945.
-27th Field MC Company. It seems a clear history. Formed in Manchuria by Kwantung Army Special Mobilization Order (Unit 5069) on 16 July 1941, from 18th AAA Regiment elements. Assigned to 5th Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 520 on 1 Aug 1941. Assigned to 17th Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 718 on 22 Nov 1942. Disbanded by Army Regulation “A” no 67 on 24 June 1944.
-28th Field MC Company: another clear history. Formed by Kwantung Army Special Mobilization Order on 16 July 1941 from elements of 17th AAA Regiment. Assigned to 3rd Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 520 on 1 Aug 1941. Assigned to 17th Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 705 on 20 Oct 1942. Assigned to 8th Area Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 714 on 16 Nov 1942. Disbanded by Army Regulation “A” no 67 on 24 June 1944.
-29th Field MC Company: Formed in Manchuria by Kwantung Army Special Mobilization Order (Unit 4332) on 16 July 1941 from 18th AAA Regiment elements. Assigned to Kwantung Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 520 on 1 Aug 1941. Assigned to 18th Army in unknown date. Departed Pusan on 5 Dec 1942. Arrived at Lae on 15 Jan 1943. Disbanded by Army Regulation “A” no 67 on 24 June 1944.
-30th Field MC Company and 31st Field MC Company: Disbanded by Army Regulation “A” no 67 on 24 June 1944, under 17th Army. No more.

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions. Kind regards.

[fontessa]

Hello Joan,

-16th Field MC Company:
and assigned to 1st Mechanized Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 655 on 4 July 1942. Here finished its history. Was it employed to form Armored Division Air Defense Units? It is just a theory.
-18th Field MC Company:
The same theory as 14th (16th?) Field MC Co.

The Air Defense Units of the 1st and the 2nd Tank Divisions were organized by Army Regulation “A” No.42 dated 24 June 1942. The date of organization completion was 20 September 1942. Unfortunately this regulation does not remain. These Air Defense Units consisted of HQ, 2 AAA Companies and 4 MC companies. So above 2 Field MC companies were probably absorbed into Tank Division Air Defense Units.

-19th Field MC Company:
-20th Field MC Company:
Assigned to 8th Area Army in late 1942 (unknown Order),

By IGHQ Army Order No.718 dated 22 November 1942, the above 2 Companies were transferred from Korea Army to the 8th Area Army. 20th Field MC had been transferred from the 5th Army to Korea Army by unknown IGHQ Army Order.

-22nd Field MC Company:
Assigned to 17th Army in unknown date.
-23rd Field MC Company:
Assigned to 17th Army in unknown date.

By IGHQ Army Order No.718 dated 22 November 1942, the above 2 Companies were transferred from the 3rd Army to the 8th Area Army. Later transferred to the 17th Army by unknown IGHQ Army Order.

-24th Field MC Company:
Assigned to 18th Army in 1945 (unknown data, and its trace is lost from 1943).

By IGHQ Army Order No.718 dated 22 November 1942, the above Company was transferred from the 5th Army to the 8th Area Army. Later transferred to the 18th Army by unknown IGHQ Army Order.

-29th Field MC Company:
Assigned to 18th Army in unknown date.

By IGHQ Army Order No.718 dated 22 November 1942, the above Company was transferred from Kwantung Army to the 18th Army.

-30th Field MC Company

By IGHQ Army Order No.718 dated 22 November 1942, the above Company was transferred from the 3rd Army to the 18th Army.

31st Field MC Company:

By IGHQ Army Order No.718 dated 22 November 1942, the above Company was transferred from Tobu Army to the 8th Area Army.

fontessa

[Joan Pinyol]

Thanks a lot, dear friend. Your comments are very appreciated. Always accurated and well documented.

[Joan Pinyol]

Dear Fontessa,
There is a gap in my source from Order no 712, dated 5 Nov 1942, to no. 739, dated 12 January 1943. You have helped my to fil this gap. In another post you gave the Order no. 714. No. 718 seems very important. Is it limited to the movements you describe above or were more units involved? Do you know other orders in my gap of certain importance?

Thanks a lot in advance

[fontessa]

Hello Joan,

No. 718 seems very important. Is it limited to the movements you describe above or were more units involved?

IGHQ Army Order No.718 was the order about AAA unis. The below is its detail.
(1) From the 3rd Army to the 8th Area Army:
- The 22nd Field Machine Cannon Company
- The 23rd Field Machine Cannon Company
(2) From the 4th Army to the 8th Area Army:
- The 3rd Searchlight Battalion
(3) From 5rh Army to the 8th Area Army:
- The 24th Field Machine Cannon Company
(4) From Kwantung Defense Army to the 8th Area Army:
- The 15th Field Air Defense Command
(5) From the 5th Army to the 17th Army:
- The 27th Field Machine Cannon Company
(6) From Kwantung Army to the 18th Army:
- The 29th Field Machine Cannon Company
(7) From the 3rd Army to the 18th Army:
- The 50th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
- The 30th Field Machine Cannon Company
(8) From Korea Army to eh 8th Area Army
- The 19th Field Machine Cannon Company
- The 20th Field Machine Cannon Company
(9) From Tobu Army to the 8th Area Army
- The 31st Field Machine Cannon Company
(10) From 編成管理官 Organization Supervising Officers to the 8th Area Army
- The 58th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
- The 59th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
- The 60th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
- The 6th Field Searchlight Battalion
(11) From Organization Supervising Officers to the 17th Army
- The 15th Field Machine Cannon Company
- The 5th Field Searchlight Battalion
- The 19th Field Air Defense Command
(11) From Organization Supervising Officers to the 18th Army
- The 31nd Field Air Defense Command

Do you know other orders in my gap of certain importance?

There is another order about AAA units. The below is the detail of IGHQ Army Order No. 730 dated 24 December 1942.
(1) From Organization Supervising Officers to the 8th Area Army
- The 36th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- The 37th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
(2) From Organization Supervising Officers to the 18th Army
- The 38th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- The 39th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- The 40th Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- The 41st Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company
- The 1st Independent Field Searchlight Company
- The 2nd Independent Field Searchlight Company
- The 3rd Independent Field Searchlight Company
- The 4th Independent Field Searchlight Company
(3) From Kwantung Army to the 18th Army
- The 56th Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
(4) From 5th Army to the 18th Army
- The 2nd Company, the 4th Field Searchlight Battalion

fontessa

[Joan Pinyol]

Dear Fontessa,

Thanks a lot for your help!

[fontessa]

Hello Joan,

There were mistakes in my previous post.

(9) From Tobu Army to the 8th Area Army
- The 31st Field Machine Cannon Company

I would like to correct as follows.
- The 31st Independent Field Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company

(11) From Organization Supervising Officers to the 18th Army
- The 31nd Field Air Defense Command

I would like to correct as follows.
- The 31st Field Machine Cannon Company

fontessa

[Joan Pinyol]

Thanks, dear friend.

[Joan Pinyol]

Dear Fontessa,

With regards to 31st Independent Field AAA Company I have a doubt. I have fiund that it was assigned to 17th Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 1039 issued on 26 June 1944, but you posted that it was disbanded by Army Regulation “A” no 67 issued two days earlier, on 24 June 1944 (http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 7#p1953324). Must I assume that in my source there are a mistake in the date or in the unit?

Thanks in advance for clarifying.

[Wellgunde]

Thank you Fontessa and Joan. You are filling many holes in my OOB understanding.

[fontessa]

Hello Joan,

With regards to 31st Independent Field AAA Company I have a doubt. I have fiund that it was assigned to 17th Army by IGHQ Army Order no. 1039 issued on 26 June 1944, but you posted that it was disbanded by Army Regulation “A” no 67 issued two days earlier, on 24 June 1944 (http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 7#p1953324). Must I assume that in my source there are a mistake in the date or in the unit?

I checked IGHQ Army Order No. 1039. The 39th Independent Field AAA Company was transferred from the 17th Army to the 8th Area Army.
The issue dates were:
Army Regulation “A” No.67: 24 June 1944
IGHQ Army Order No.1039: 26 June 1944
You pointed out that the 39th Independent Field AAA Company which was disbanded by Army Regulation “A” No.67 was transferred by IGHQ Army Order No.1039.

I checked 部隊史 (unit history) of the 39th Independent Field AAA Company. (Fortunately, it exists.) According to it, the company was absorbed into the 35th Independent Mixed Regiment as the 3rd Company, the 1st Battalion on 15 April 1945. In other words, the company had not been disbanded until that time.

So I checked the 35th Independent Mixed Regiment. It was organized by Army Regulation “A” No.67. According to 部隊略歴 (Unit Brief History) of it, it was organized from the units below on 15 April 1945.
- The 39th Field AAA Battalion
- The 58th Field AAA Battalion
- The 31th Independent Field AAA Company
- The 37th Independent Field AAACompany
- The 27th Field Machine Cannon Company
- The 28th Field Machine Cannon Company
- The 3rd Searchlight Battalion
- 1 company, the 5th Searchlight Battalion
The above units were also demobilized by Army Regulation “A” No.67.

From mentioned above, I guess the execution of Army Regulation “A” No.67 was postponed by some kind of reasons.

fontessa

[Joan Pinyol]

Dear Fontessa,

Now it is clear. Thanks a lot.

Kind reards