CAN ANYONE HELP?

[David Brown]

Hello All

I'm having a bit of a problem and I'm hoping someone can help me out. I've just been introduced to the subject of the Japanese Air Force and I'm having difficulty in understanding certain terminology and I'm hopelessly lost on the rest.

The following is what I'm struggling with.

SENTAI (I think this could mean Squadron)
CHUTAIS (I think this could mean Group)
DAITAI
RENTAI.

I get the impression that any of the words before the letters "T, A, and I" have some connection with numbers, and where the letter "S" appears after the "AI" is simply plural, in which case my squadron and group translations are woefully wrong.

Can anyone put me right on this please?

Many thanks.

Dave

[Peter H]

Japanese glossary from various sources:

Air Force

shotai [air force] (hikou shotai)
Two or three aircrafts formed shotai. In the context of army issues, shotai refers to a platoon.

squadron [air force] (hikou chutai)
Four to nine aircrafts formed a squadron. In the context of army issues, Chutai means an Air Company.

Air Regiment [air force] (sentai)
In Japanese 'sentai' is a broad word, such as 'battlegroup'.Individual Sentais were usually made up of three Chutais,the equivalent of an Allied Group.Fighter Sentais consisted of 45-48 planes;bomber and reconnaissance Sentais,anywhere from 27-36.


Navy Air Force

Land Based Air Corps [navy] (Kokutai)
Land based Naval Air Group,ranging anywhere from a handful up to 80 planes with various Chutais.

Carrier Based Air Group [navy] (Koku Sentai)
Carrier Naval Air Group.


Based on this link,the unit terms Daitai and Rentai were being phased out from 1938 onwards:

http://www.marksindex.com/japaneseaviat ... cture.html

[daveh]

Thanks Moulded for the very interesting link.

[Andy H]

I still haven't been able to get that book back-as soon as I do I'll PM you

Andy

[David Brown]

Thanks Moulded. Much appreciated.

Dave

[hohenstaufen]

This book might be worth looking at if you have just started to take an intrest in the JAAF

http://www.hikokiwarplanes.com/risingsun.htm

[Robert Hurst]

Hi

Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Structure

Up to 1937 the basic air units of the Imperial Japanese Army had been the Hiko Rentais (Air Regiments) made up of fighter, bomber, reconnaissance and/or transport Chutais (Squadrons or Companies). However, early combat experience in China dictated a complete reorganisation, and the Hiko Rentais gave place to smaller, more flexible, specialised units: the Sentais (Groups). The unit structure then implemented formed the basic organisation used during the Pacific War.

Under this system the basic unit was the Sentai (Group) which normally comprised three Chutais (Squadrons or Companies) of nine to twelve aircraft, and a Sentai Hombu (HQ Section) and was commanded by a Lieutenant-Colonel or a Major. The next units in the command chain were the Hikodans (Wings or Air Brigades), normally commanded by a Major-General or Colonel. They consisted of a Shireibu Hikodan (Command Section), a reconnaissance unit varying in size up to full Sentai level and usually any combination of three Sentoki (Fighter) Sentais, Keibaku (Light Bomber) Sentais and/or Jubaku (Heavy Bomber) Sentais. Two or three Hikodans formed a Hikoshidan (Air Division) and a Kokugun (Air Army) grouped two or three Hikoshidans. In addition, idependent units smaller than a Sentai were formed whenever the tactical situation required it, eg Dokuritsu Dai Shijugo Chutais (Independent Squadrons or Companies) and Dokuritsu Hikotais (Independent Wings).

Supreme command of the Imperial Japanese Army was lodged in the Daihonei (Imperial General Headquarters) to which reported the Sanbo Shocho (Chief of Army General Staff). Reporting directly to the Chief of Army General Staff were the Koku Sokambu (Inspectorate General of Aviation), which planned and supervised the training of flying and maintenance personnel, and the Koku Hombu (Air Headquarters), which among other duties was responsible for aircraft, aero-engine and aircraft-equipment design and research.

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force Structure

During the second Sino-Japanese conflict the Imperial Japanese Navy were able to perfect their tactics and to strengthen their air unit organisation. Like the Japanese Army this Service was placed under the supreme command of the Daihonei (Imperial General Headquarters) to which reported the Gunreibu Socho (Chief of Navy General Staff). One of the sections reporting to this officer was the Kaigun Koku Hombu (Navy Air Headquarters) which were responsible for aircraft, engines and equipment selection and testing as well as for supervision of training flight and manitenance personnel. Operational control of air units was vested with the individual Kantais (Fleets), Koku Kantais (Air Fleets) and Homen Kantais (Area Fleets). Carrier-based aircraft were assigned to specific Koku Sentais (Carrier Divisions), usually comprising two aircraft carriers, and a varying number of Koku Sentais were assigned to Koku Kantais. Later during the Pacific War the carrier-based aircraft were reorganised into Kokutais (Naval Air Corps) with one or more Kokutais being assigned either to land bases or to carrier units grouped into Koku Kantais. Land-based aircraft were normally assigned to Koku Kantais which included one or more Koku Sentais (Air Flotillas), these units being in turn subdivided into Kokutais (Naval Air Corps). The Kokutais were the basic air units of the Imperial Japanese Navy and they had a strength of up to 150 aircraft of one or more types, although smaller aircraft complements were the rule rather than the exception. Other land-based units, often smaller than Kokutais, were directly assigned to local Homen Kantais (Area Fleets) as the tactical situation required.

The above text was taken from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War, by Rene J Francillon.

Regards

Bob

[gabriel pagliarani]

Japanese glossary from various sources:

ARMY Air Force

shotai [air force] (hikou shotai)
Two or three aircrafts formed shotai. In the context of army issues, shotai refers to a platoon. (PATROL SUB-SUB-UNIT)

squadron [air force] (hikou chutai)
Four to nine aircrafts formed a squadron. In the context of army issues, Chutai means an Air Company. (WING SUB-UNIT)

Air Regiment [air force] (sentai) (MAIN UNIT=SQUADRON)
In Japanese 'sentai' is a broad word, such as 'battlegroup'.Individual Sentais were usually made up of three Chutais,the equivalent of an Allied Group.Fighter Sentais consisted of 45-48 planes;bomber and reconnaissance Sentais,anywhere from 27-36.


Navy Air Force

Land Based Air Corps [navy] (Kokutai)
Land based Naval Air Group,ranging anywhere from a handful up to 80 planes with various Chutais.

Carrier Based Air Group [navy] (Koku Sentai)
Carrier Naval Air Group.


Based on this link,the unit terms Daitai and Rentai were being phased out from 1938 onwards:

http://www.marksindex.com/japaneseaviat ... cture.html

This seems to be the tipical Axis arrangement tested during Spain war. Evidently Japs copied that efficient echelon array. Obviously the wider Navy groups were tailored on suitable carrier on board hangars...this could be the proper distiction between KOKUTAI (abroad) and KOKU SENTAI (the same when shored)