77 years ago,China 1937

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 08 Feb 2007 11:15

Jung Chang on Shanghai:

..73 of China's 180 divisions--and the best one-third--over 400,000 men,were thrown in,and all but wiped out.The conflict here consumed virtually all of China's nascent air force(which Chiang so treasured that he had not sent a single plane to the northern front),and the main warships.It significantly weakened the military force Chiang had been painstakingly building up since the early 1930s...

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 08 Feb 2007 11:23

Herbert Bix on Shanghai:

..Chiang decided to abandon the north and by shifting the war to the lower Yangtze River region,starting at Shanghai,possibly involve the foreign powers in defense of their citizens living in China's largest and most international city...

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 08 Feb 2007 12:46

The army reinforces

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 08 Feb 2007 12:51

Coming ashore

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 08 Feb 2007 12:56

Bugler

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 08 Feb 2007 13:02

Still flying

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 09 Feb 2007 04:15

Mortar in action

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 09 Feb 2007 04:21

Drink

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 09 Feb 2007 13:50

Tanks outside Shanghai

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 09 Feb 2007 13:55

Cleaning tracks

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 09 Feb 2007 14:01

Infantry

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 09 Feb 2007 14:06

Back in the city--armoured car

pitman · Post by **pitman** » 09 Feb 2007 16:12

That's not a mortar identified above. It looks like an infantry gun, probably 37mm.

Ardee · Post by **Ardee** » 09 Feb 2007 17:57

Thank you for the earlier close-up of the Nambu on a tripod!

Regarding pitman's comment, I believe the weapon is a Type 92 70mm infantry gun, also called a Battalion gun.It is said to have been the most common Japanese artillery piece of the war. According to a site concerned with the Aussie 42nd Battalions (http://au.geocities.com/thefortysecondi ... upport.htm), the Type 92 was issued at the usual rate of two per Infantry Battalion, though this could be doubled for specific units... It benefited from a relatively long range, though it was also deployed at much closer ranges. By firing at a higher elevation, it was possible to engage targets just 100 metres distant. This also meant the shells impacted at a much steeper angle, more akin to a mortar than a gun. Another view of the gun in action may be seen here:
http://www.galleries.hkvca.ca/photogall ... fantry.JPG

P.S. -- I also recall reading the Japanese also had an AP round for this gun...

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 10 Feb 2007 00:51

Thanks guys.

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