Battle between Chinese and Japanese Armoured Trains

[sjchan]

The use of armoured trains is rare in the Pacific War or even the Sino Japanese War. But apparently they were used by both the Chinese and the Japanese in Manchuria, and there were actually at least a couple of recorded combats between opposing armoured planes: one occuring on Nov 27, 1931 and another in late December, 1931.

Just curious as to whether there are other recorded incidents where armoured trains fought each other directly in other theatres of war as well?

Picture of a Japanese armoured train destroyed by resistance forces in Manchuria

[Leonard]

Armored Trains were used by the Chinese in the Northern Expedition and the Civil War of the 30's. There are records of armored trains battle in the civil war. I think it had largely been phased out from then on. Railroads can easily be destroyed (there are not many railroad in China except in Manchuria anyway), and motorized transport is more common.

I don't have any record of battles between Japanese and Chinese armored trains. Can you elaborate on the battles?

[Akira Takizawa]

Just curious as to whether there are other recorded incidents where armoured trains fought each other directly in other theatres of war as well?

The battles between armoured trains only occured in Manchurian Incident. Nothing in Sino-Japanese War.

Taki

[sjchan]

I don't have any record of battles between Japanese and Chinese armored trains. Can you elaborate on the battles?

My information comes from Sasu's blog: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_476745f60100abbl.html

The Chinese and Japanese versions of the combat on Nov 27 differ considerably. The Japanese version is that the Japanese armored train encountered an 8-car Chinese armored train which opened fire first at a distance of 500m, killing a Japanese lieutenant. The Japanese called for air support and after a battle lasting more than 2 hours, the Chinese armored train retreated, destroying bridges and the railway along the way. There are two Chinese versions in the above blog, one claiming that the Japanse armored train demanded that the Chinese train move back from a train station it has occupied; the Chinese refused and fired on the Japanese train killing its commander. Two more Japanese trains arrived and the Chinese train retreated to another station. The other Chinese version had the Japanse train ambushed by resistance fighters, which then 'mobilized' the Chinese armored train in a nearby station to join in the attack. They eventually retreated after inflicting considerable losses.