Soviet and Manchukuoan naval forces: Ussuri and Lake Khanka?

[Sawpatin]

What sort of naval forces did these two states maintain in the Ussuri river region and Lake Khanka? Any details about their activities between 1932-45?

[Akira Takizawa]

Manchukou Navy

- History

Feb. 15, 1932
Chinese East-North Navy passed 5 gun boats to the Japanese at Harbin.

March 1, 1932
With these 5 gun boats, Kobou Kantai (River Defense Fleet) was established under the control of the IJN Manchukuo stationed department.

Aug. 25, 1933
Two gun boats, Daido and Rimin were joined to the fleet.

Sep. 1934
Junten and Yomin were joined.

Sep. 9, 1935
Teipen and Shinnin were joined.

June 19-20, 1937
Kanchazu Incident *

May 24, 1939
Toanchin Incident *

Nov. 1939
The IJN Manchukuo stationed department was abolished. Kobou Kantai was renamed as Kojo Gun (River Surface Army) and assigned to the Manchukuo Army. The total strenghts of Kojo Gun were about 2,000 men and 800 of them were sailors.

May 26, 1941
Xingkai Incident *

Aug. 20, 1945
Kojo Gun was disarmed by the Soviets.

* Conflicts with the Soviets in which the Manchukou Fleet participated


- Vessels

Rien, Kohei, Koshin, Kotsu
350 tons, 6 knots, 8cm Gun x 2, 8cm Mortar x 1

Junten, Yomin
279 ton, 12cm AA Gun x 2, 13mm Triple AA Machine Cannon, 15cm Mortar x 1

Teipen, Shinnin
290 ton, 12.5 knots. 12cm twin AA Gun x 1, 12cm AA Gun x 1, 13mm Twin AA Machine Cannon x 3

Daido, Rimin
65 ton, 13 knots, 15cm Mortar x 1, HMG x 3


Taki

[Sawpatin]

Thank you for that overview. Do you know which vessels were involved in the patrols along the Ussuri? Or did they all rotate between each other?

[Akira Takizawa]

Vessels were not fixed at one river. They moved to a river where they were necessary.

Taki

[Sawpatin]

Vessels were not fixed at one river. They moved to a river where they were necessary.

Taki

I see. I wasn't sure if Manchukuo had specific 'squadrons' that were responsible for different regions or not. Do you know if they had any naval bases or maintenance facilities along the Ussuri? I only know about their headquarters base in Harbin, on the Sungari river, which I believe is also where the fleet anchored during the months of the year when the rivers were frozen.

[Akira Takizawa]

> Do you know if they had any naval bases or maintenance facilities along the Ussuri?

No. Harbin was the only base of Manchukuo Fleet. In winter, vessels were fixed in frozen river and sailors fought on land.

Taki