IJN Anti Aircraft Artillery Units

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Wellgunde
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IJN Anti Aircraft Artillery Units

#1

Post by Wellgunde » 12 Feb 2016, 21:53

The following is a preliminary list of IJN Anti Aircraft Artillery Units {防空隊 Bōkū-tai]:
1st Bismarck Area
2nd Solomons
3rd Shortlands – New Guinea
4th Solomons - Buin
5th Bismarcks
6th Truk
7th Shortlands - Buin
8th Balikpapan under 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet
9th Shimushu
10th Kuriles
11th Bismarcks
12th Bougainville - Bougainville
13th Solomons - Buin
14th Bismarcks
15th New Guinea - Solomons
16th Shortlands - Solomons
17th unlocated - Solomons
18th Solomons
19th Buin - Bismarcks
20th Solomons
21st Bismarcks
22nd Bismarcks
23rd East new Guinea - Bismarcks
24th Buin - Solomons
25th Ambon - Kai
26th Paramushiru
27th Paramushiru
28th Buka - Solomons
29th Under 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet
30th Ambon
31st East new Guinea - Wewak
32nd Soemba Island
33rd Biak Island
34th Mergui
35th Kai
36th Bismarcks
37th – 40th Unassigned
41st Balikapan - Under 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet
42nd Truk
43rd Truk
44th Bismarcks
45th Bismarcks
46th Truk
47th Marianas
48th Carolines
49th Woleai
50th Waingapoe
51st Nicobar
52nd Kavieng
53rd Under 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet
54th Ambon - Kai
55th Port Blair
56th Kokas
57th New Guinea
58th Andaman Islands
59th Woleai
60th Guam
61st Shimushu – Under 4th Fleet
62nd Balikpapan – Under 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet
63rd Bismarcks
64th Truk – Bismarcks
65th Bismarcks
66th Under 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet
67th Bismarcks
68th Kusaie
69th Bismarcks
70th Kotaradja
81st Truk
82nd Marianas
83rd Marianas
84th Marianas/Truk
85th Truk
86th Truk
87th Under 4th Southern Expeditionary Fleet
88th Nancowry
89th Tateyama
90th Palau
91st Palau
92nd Tateyama
93rd Tateyama
94th Tateyama
95th Philippines
96th Under 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet
97th Tawi Tawi
98th Unlocated
99th Unlocated
100th Unlocated
101st Kendari
102nd Sabang
103rd Surabaya
104th Mergui
105th Under 4th Southern Expeditionary Fleet
106th Babo
107th Ambon
108th Surabaya
109th Surabaya
110th Ambon
111th Tateyama
112th Under 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet
113th Surabaya
114th Davao
115th Kaimana
116th Unlocated
117th Unlocated
118th Unlocated
119th Unlocated
120th Unlocated
121st Tateyama
122nd Palau
123rd Tateyama
124th Unlocated
125th Unlocated
126th Unlocated
127th Unlocated
128th Unlocated
129th Unlocated
130th Formosa
131st Unlocated
132nd Unlocated
133rd Unlocated
134th Formosa
135th Unlocated
136th Unlocated
137th Unlocated
138th Unlocated
139th Formosa
169th Honshu
170th Honshu
171st – 180th Unassigned
181st Unlocated
182nd Unlocated
183rd Honshu
184th Honshu
185th Honshu
186th Honshu
187th Honshu
188th Honshu
189th – 200th Unassigned
201st Honshu
202nd Honshu
203rd Honshu
294th -214th status unknown
215th Unlocated
----------------------
I believe that this list is reasonably complete. Locations are less so. The list does not represent all IJN AAA units since many were unnamed, were named by location, or were undesignated components of guard units and defense units. This is particularly true of AAA units in the four main islands of Japan. Known locations include Sasebo (extensive), Ainoura, Hario, Nagasaki, and Kagoshima (all in Kyushu). Locations in Honshu included Kure (extensive), Yokosuka (extensive), Yosami, and Maizuru. There is little information on the AAA defense of IJN airfields in the four home islands. My next step is to troll through the IJN Postal Administration Handbook to get a better sense of "overseas" locations. U.S. intelligence reported extensively on IJN AAA, however, while the emplacements themselves are well described, there is seldom a unit identification.
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fontessa
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Re: IJN Anti Aircraft Artillery Units

#2

Post by fontessa » 26 Feb 2016, 12:29

Hello Wellgunde,

During the war, total 156 防空隊 Anti-Aircraft Defense Units were organized. After August of 1943, all these units were absorbed into Base Units, Guard Units and Naval Air Units until the end of the war.


“海軍陸戦隊 Naval Land Force” written by 鹿山誉 Kayama Homare summarized the units dispatched to Solomon and New Guinea.
I have attached it
IJN_AA_Defense_Units.pdf
(12.02 KiB) Downloaded 150 times
The information about others is fragmentary.
■ 43rd AA Defense Unit
Organized at Yokosuka on 20 September 1943.
Dispatched to Truk Island.
■ 46th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Yokosuka on 15 October 1943.
Dispatched to Truk Island.
■ 47th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Yokosuka on 15 October 1943.
Dispatched to Tinian Island.
210 men
■ 48th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Yokosuka on 15 October 1943.
Dispatched to Ponape Island.
■ 49th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Yokosuka on 1 January 1944.
Dispatched to Mereyon Island.
LTJG Chiba Kumataro
231 men
Absorbed into 44th Guard Force on 1 March 1944.
■ 53rd AA Defense Unit
Organized at Maizuru on 15 October 1943.
Dispatched to Biak Island.
LTJG Murakawa Jiro
304 men
■ 57th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Kure on 15 October 1943.
Dispatched to Manokwari.
LTJG Yamichi Masao
280 men
■ 62nd AA Defense Unit
Organized at Sasebo on 20 August 1943.
Dispatched to Balikpapan..
Disbanded on 31 December 1943.
■ 66th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Sasebo on 5 September 1943.
Dispatched to Balikpapan..
■ 68th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Sasebo on 15 October 1943.
Dispatched to Qusay Island.
■ 81st AA Defense Unit
Organized at Sasebo on 20 January 1944.
Dispatched to Truk Island.
243 men
■ 82nd AA Defense Unit
Organized at Sasebo on 10 November 1943.
Dispatched to Tinian Island.
243 men
■ 83rd AA Defense Unit
Organized at Sasebo on 20 January 1944.
Dispatched to Truk Island.
188 men
■ 84th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Sasebo on 20 January 1944.
Dispatched to Truk Island.
188 men
■ 85th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Yokosuka on 10 December 1943.
Dispatched to Truk Island.
243 men
■ 86th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Yokosuka on 10 December 1943.
Dispatched to Truk Island.
■ 95th AA Defense Unit
Dispatched to Tacloban, Leythe.
LTJG Mizuta Yukio
263 men
■ 98th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Kure on 25 April 1944.
Dispatched to Cebu..
LTJG Yanahara Hiroshi
119 men
■ 100th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Kure on 15 March 1944.
Dispatched to Cebu..
LTJG Oyuka Koichi
188 men
■ 105th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Sasebo on 20 January 1944.
Dispatched to Biak Island.
LTJG Hirano Kazuichi
239 men
■ 127th AA Defense Unit
Organized at Kure on 15 March 1944.
Dispatched to Cebu..
LTJG Sano Eiichi
188 men


Most of their commanding officers were 特務士官 (Tokumu Shikan) Special Duty Officers. They were promoted to officers from sailors.
The assignments of the commanding officers were announced through 鎮守府辞令公報 (Chinjufu Jirei Koho) Naval Distinct Transfer and Promotion Lists, instead of 海軍辞令公報 (Kaigun Jirei Koho) Naval Transfer and Promotion Lists. The former was issued by Naval Distinct and the latter was by the Department of the Navy. The former announced the appointments of special duty officers and non-commissioned officers. On the other hand, the latter was used for the announcement of regular officers’ appointments.

As for Yokosuka Naval Distinct Transfer and Promotion Lists, only sheets dated from 5 January 1944 to 29 December 1944 and from 1 January 1945 to 25 May 1945 are left, unfortunately. As shown the below, many AA Defense Units were absorbed into Base Units, Guard Units and Naval Air Units until May 1945.


2nd Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 40 of JACAR C12070754600, LT KOBAYASHI Yotaro was relieved and was attached to 83rd Guard Unit on 5 August 1944.

45th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 40 of JACAR C12070754600, LT FUJITA Mitsugoro was relieved and was attached to 81st Guard Unit on 5 August 1944.

48th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 40 of JACAR C12070754600, LT KONNO Senzo was relieved and was attached to 41st Guard Unit on 5 August 1944.

50th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 40 of JACAR C12070754600, LT SUMIYA Hikaru was relieved and was attached to 6th Guard Unit on 5 August 1944.

87th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 40 of JACAR C12070754600, LTJG TODA Denji was relieved and was attached to 26th Special Base Unit on 5 August 1944.

88th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 40 of JACAR C12070754600, LT SOKURA Kasuke was relieved and was attached to 11th Special Base Unit on 5 August 1944.

89th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 48 of JACAR C12070752900, LT MIYAZAKI Soji was appointed on 20 February 1944.
According to page 40 of JACAR C12070754600, LT MIYAZAKI Soji was relieved and was attached to 51st Guard Unit on 5 August 1944.

90th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 48 of JACAR C12070752900, LTJG TAKAHASHI Yasutaro was appointed on 20 February 1944.

101st Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 12 of JACAR C12070755700, ENS ARAI Takaharu was relieved and was attached to Kanto Naval Air Group on 20 September 1944.

121st Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 48 of JACAR C12070752900, LTJG HASHIMOTO Toyo’o was appointed on 20 February 1944.
According to page 40 of JACAR C12070754600, LTJG HASHIMOTO Toyo’o was relieved and was attached to 53rd Guard Unit on 5 August 1944.

122nd Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 48 of JACAR C12070752900, LTJG TOMOTSUNE Toya was appointed on 20 February 1944.

123rd Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 48 of JACAR C12070752900, LTJG SUGIYAMA Ryuichi was appointed on 20 February 1944.
According to page 40 of JACAR C12070754600, LTJG SUGIYAMA Ryuichi was relieved and was attached to 20th Guard Unit on 5 August 1944.

124th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 37 of JACAR C12070753300, LTJG SHISHIDO Hisao was appointed on 20 March 1944.

125th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 37 of JACAR C12070753300, LTJG TAMURA Masaichi was appointed on 20 March 1944.

126th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 38 of JACAR C12070753300, LTJG KASAI Tomojiro was appointed on 20 March 1944.

127th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 38 of JACAR C12070753300, LTJG SANO Eiichi was appointed on 20 March 1944.
According to page 40 of JACAR C12070754600, LTJG SANO Eiichi was relieved and was attached to 36th Guard Unit on 5 August 1944.

128th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 37 of JACAR C12070753300, LTJG MASHO Hasumatsu was appointed on 20 March 1944.
According to page 40 of JACAR C12070754600, LTJG MASHO Hasumatsu was relieved and was attached to 36th Guard Unit on 5 August 1944.

129th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 38 of JACAR C12070753300, LTJG SAITO Kihachiro was appointed on 20 March 1944.
According to page 40 of JACAR C12070754600, LTJG SAITO Kihachiro was relieved and was attached to 32nd Special Base Unit on 5 August 1944.

130th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 7 of JACAR C12070754100, LT ASAKURA Kageharu was appointed on 1 June 1944.
According to page 23 of JACAR C12070754900, LT ASAKURA Kageharu was relieved and was attached to 14th Combined Air Group HQ on 15 September 1944.

161st Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 7 of JACAR C12070754100, LT SAKAI Yoshio was appointed on 1 June 1944.
According to page 30 of JACAR C12070754800, LT SAKAI Yoshio was relieved and was attached to Taiwan Naval Air Group on 15 September 1944.

162nd Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 7 of JACAR C12070754100, ENS INOUE Gentaro was appointed on 1 June 1944.
According to page 30 of JACAR C12070754800, LT INOUE Gentaro was relieved and was attached to Taiwan Naval Air Unit on 15 September 1944.

163rd Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 7 of JACAR C12070754100, ENS YAMAMOTO Taroichi was appointed on 1 June 1944.
According to page 30 of JACAR C12070754800, ENS YAMAMOTO Taroichi was relieved and was attached to Taiwan Naval Air Unit on 15 September 1944.

164th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 7 of JACAR C12070754100, LT ISHII Momotaro was appointed on 1 June 1944.
According to page 30 of JACAR C12070754800, LT ISHII Momotaro was relieved and was attached to Oshima Defense Unit on 15 September 1944.

165th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 7 of JACAR C12070754100, LT SASAKI Sutejiro was appointed on 1 June 1944.
According to page 30 of JACAR C12070754800, LT ASAKI Sutejiro was relieved and was attached to Okinawa Area Special Base Unit on 15 September 1944.

166th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 29 of JACAR C12070754400, LT SATO Kikuo was appointed on 5 July 1944.

167th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 29 of JACAR C12070754400, LT ONODA Sutematsu was appointed on 5 July 1944.

168th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 29 of JACAR C12070754400, LT KURODA Saburo was appointed on 5 July 1944.

169th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 29 of JACAR C12070754400, LT NISHIDA Koichi was appointed on 5 July 1944.
According to page 36 of JACAR C12070754800, LT NISHIDA Koichi was relieved and was attached to Taiwan Naval Air Unit on 20 September 1944.

170th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 29 of JACAR C12070754400, LTJG ENDO Chikao was appointed on 5 July 1944.
According to page 36 of JACAR C12070754800, LTJG ENDO Chikao was relieved and was attached to Hito (?) Naval Air Unit on 20 September 1944.

201st Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 29 of JACAR C12070754400, ENS ARAI Takaharu was appointed on 5 July 1944.

202nd Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 39 of JACAR C12070754500, LT HAMANO Toshikata was appointed on 27 July 1944.
According to page 11 of JACAR C12070755300, LTJG SATO Toraji was relieved and was attached to Kanto Naval Air Group on 20 November 1944.

203rd Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 39 of JACAR C12070754500, LTJG ITO Shigoichi was appointed on 27 July 1944.
According to page 11 of JACAR C12070755300, LTJG ITO Shigoichi was relieved and was attached to Iwo Jima Guard Unit on 20 November 1944.

204th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 39 of JACAR C12070754500, LTJG SAKAMOTO Katsuyoshi was appointed on 27 July 1944.

205th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 39 of JACAR C12070754500, LTJG MIZUKI Sanjiro was appointed on 27 July 1944.

206th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 39 of JACAR C12070754500, LTJG TAKAHASHI Takeo was appointed on 27 July 1944.

207th Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit
CO
According to page 39 of JACAR C12070754500, LTJG KOBAYASHI Yoshio was appointed on 27 July 1944.

fontessa


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Wellgunde
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Re: IJN Anti Aircraft Artillery Units

#3

Post by Wellgunde » 26 Feb 2016, 20:29

Thank you, Fontessa. This is much more than I had any hope of finding!
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Re: IJN Anti Aircraft Artillery Units

#4

Post by ijnfleetadmiral » 27 Feb 2016, 19:54

Some questions about Special Duty Officers:

1) Were all officers commissioned from the ranks were referred to as such?
2) Does this include pilots like Sakai Saburo, who was commissioned an ENS in August 1944?
3) Was their rank insignia any different from those who graduated from Eta Jima?
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fontessa
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Re: IJN Anti Aircraft Artillery Units

#5

Post by fontessa » 28 Feb 2016, 05:39

Hello ijnfleetadmiral,
ijnfleetadmiral wrote: 1) Were all officers commissioned from the ranks were referred to as such?
For example, in the case of lieutenant, before 1 November 1942, he was called 特務大尉 Special Duty Lieutenant.
But 1 November 1942, Special Duty Officers and Engineer Branch Officers were integrated into Line Officers.
So Special Duty Lieutenant and Engineer Branch officer became to be called merely Lieutenant.
ijnfleetadmiral wrote: 2) Does this include pilots like Sakai Saburo, who was commissioned an ENS in August 1944?
Yes, aircrew was included, too.
ijnfleetadmiral wrote: 3) Was their rank insignia any different from those who graduated from Eta Jima?
The line of insignia for regular officer was more wider.
I think they were unified into the upper insignia after 1 November 1942.
Insignia_Regular_Officer.jpg
Insignia_Regular_Officer.jpg (45.64 KiB) Viewed 706 times
Insignia_Special_Duty_Officer.jpg
Insignia_Special_Duty_Officer.jpg (49.17 KiB) Viewed 706 times
fontessa

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Re: IJN Anti Aircraft Artillery Units

#6

Post by ijnfleetadmiral » 28 Feb 2016, 06:36

Thanks for showing that...I saw something similar on the IJN page on uniforminsignia.org, but they didn't call them Special Duty Officers.
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