Shanghai SNLF Battalions in 1932.

[marek O.]

Hello,

I have a question about commanding officers of Shanghai SNLF subunits in 1932. I know the name of only one officer - cpt. Samejima Tomoshige, co Shanghai SNLF. My question is - who was commanding 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th Batalions? And another one. Was 6th Battalion formed or not?

Regards,
Marek

[fontessa]

Hello Marek,

Capt Baron Samejima Tomoshige 鮫島具重 (37) was Commanding Officer of Shanghai Naval Landing Force (NLF) from 1 December 1931 to 4 February 1932. It was his additional post. His regular post was the member of 1 Dispatch Fleet HQ. Shanghai NLF was a temporally established unit, not a permanent unit. It consisted of sailors of ships deployed China and Kure / Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) personnel reinforced from Japan mainland. Unfortunately the number of battalions of this time is not clear.

The post of Commanding Officer was changed to Radm Uematsu Toma 植松練磨 (33) on 4 February 1932. According to Japanese WIKI, Capt Samejima became Staff Officer.
Below is the composition on 12 April 1931.
- HQ
- 1st Battalion: Lcdr Tsuchiyama Ken’ichi 土山健一 (40)
- 2nd Battalion: Lcdr Furuki Momozo 古木百蔵 (41)
- 3rd Battalion: Lcdr Chiba Keizo 千葉慶蔵 (38)
- 4th Battalion: Lcdr Takeuchi Takenao 竹内武直 (38)
- 5th Battalion: Lt Takeda Isamu 武田勇 (43)
- 6th Battalion: Lcdr Nishioka Shigeyasu 西岡茂泰 (40)
- 7th Battalion: Lcdr Umesaki Unosuke 梅崎卯之助 (40)
- 8th Battalion: Lcdr Mizuno Tomohiko 水野知彦 (40)

As permanent unit, Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) was activated on 1 October 1932.
- Commanding Officer: Capt Sugisaka Teijiro 杉坂悌二郎 (33)
- Staff Officer: Cdr Higuchi Hiroshi 樋口曠 (40)
- Staff Officer: Lcdr Sakai Keizo 酒井慶三 (45)
- Adjutant: Lcdr Kamata Shoichi 鎌田正一 (43)
- Battalion Commander: Lcdr Furuta Yoshio 古田良夫 (46)
- Battalion Commander: Ikeda Hiromitsu 池田広光 (46)
- Medical Officer: Cdr Imaida Ibuo 今田以武生 (1916)
- Supply Officer: Lcdr Maeda Nisaburo 前田仁三郎 (Pay.7)

fontessa

[marek O.]

Thank You fontessa,
very much.

Regards,
Marek

[Akira Takizawa]

Battalion commanders in 1932

1st Battalion - Lt. Cdr. Mitsunobu Suzuki
2nd Battalion - Lt. Sahichiro Tadano
3rd Battalion - Lt. Cdr. Ichimatsu Takahashi
4th Battalion - Lt. Cdr. Yoshihisa Mori
5th Battalion - Lt. Cdr. Minoru Ota
6th Battalion - Lt. Masanari Shiga
7th Battalion - Lt. Cdr. Minoru Katsuno

Taki

[fontessa]

Hello gens,

I would like to correct the years, I have mistaken converting Showa era to the Christian era.

Capt Baron Samejima Tomoshige 鮫島具重 (37) was Commanding Officer of Shanghai Naval Landing Force (NLF) from 1 December 1931 to 4 February 1932. It was his additional post. His regular post was the member of 1 Dispatch Fleet HQ. Shanghai NLF was a temporally established unit, not a permanent unit. It consisted of sailors of ships deployed China and Kure / Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) personnel reinforced from Japan mainland. Unfortunately the number of battalions of this time is not clear.

The post of Commanding Officer was changed to Radm Uematsu Toma 植松練磨 (33) on 4 February 1932. According to Japanese WIKI, Capt Samejima became Staff Officer.
Below is the composition on 12 April 1931.
- HQ
- 1st Battalion: Lcdr Tsuchiyama Ken’ichi 土山健一 (40)
- 2nd Battalion: Lcdr Furuki Momozo 古木百蔵 (41)
- 3rd Battalion: Lcdr Chiba Keizo 千葉慶蔵 (38)
- 4th Battalion: Lcdr Takeuchi Takenao 竹内武直 (38)
- 5th Battalion: Lt Takeda Isamu 武田勇 (43)
- 6th Battalion: Lcdr Nishioka Shigeyasu 西岡茂泰 (40)
- 7th Battalion: Lcdr Umesaki Unosuke 梅崎卯之助 (40)
- 8th Battalion: Lcdr Mizuno Tomohiko 水野知彦 (40)

As permanent unit, Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) was activated on 1 October 1932.
- Commanding Officer: Capt Sugisaka Teijiro 杉坂悌二郎 (33)
- Staff Officer: Cdr Higuchi Hiroshi 樋口曠 (40)
- Staff Officer: Lcdr Sakai Keizo 酒井慶三 (45)
- Adjutant: Lcdr Kamata Shoichi 鎌田正一 (43)
- Battalion Commander: Lcdr Furuta Yoshio 古田良夫 (46)
- Battalion Commander: Ikeda Hiromitsu 池田広光 (46)
- Medical Officer: Cdr Imaida Ibuo 今田以武生 (1916)
- Supply Officer: Lcdr Maeda Nisaburo 前田仁三郎 (Pay.7)

fontessa

Capt Baron Samejima Tomoshige 鮫島具重 (37) was Commanding Officer of Shanghai Naval Landing Force (NLF) from 1 December 1926 to 4 February 1927. It was his additional post. His regular post was the member of 1 Dispatch Fleet HQ. Shanghai NLF was a temporally established unit, not a permanent unit. It consisted of sailors of ships deployed China and Kure / Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) personnel reinforced from Japan mainland. Unfortunately the number of battalions of this time is not clear.

The post of Commanding Officer was changed to Radm Uematsu Toma 植松練磨 (33) on 4 February 1927. According to Japanese WIKI, Capt Samejima became Staff Officer.
Below is the composition on 12 April 1927.
- HQ
- 1st Battalion: Lcdr Tsuchiyama Ken’ichi 土山健一 (40)
- 2nd Battalion: Lcdr Furuki Momozo 古木百蔵 (41)
- 3rd Battalion: Lcdr Chiba Keizo 千葉慶蔵 (38)
- 4th Battalion: Lcdr Takeuchi Takenao 竹内武直 (38)
- 5th Battalion: Lt Takeda Isamu 武田勇 (43)
- 6th Battalion: Lcdr Nishioka Shigeyasu 西岡茂泰 (40)
- 7th Battalion: Lcdr Umesaki Unosuke 梅崎卯之助 (40)
- 8th Battalion: Lcdr Mizuno Tomohiko 水野知彦 (40)

As permanent unit, Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) was activated on 1 October 1927.
- Commanding Officer: Capt Sugisaka Teijiro 杉坂悌二郎 (33)
- Staff Officer: Cdr Higuchi Hiroshi 樋口曠 (40)
- Staff Officer: Lcdr Sakai Keizo 酒井慶三 (45)
- Adjutant: Lcdr Kamata Shoichi 鎌田正一 (43)
- Battalion Commander: Lcdr Furuta Yoshio 古田良夫 (46)
- Battalion Commander: Ikeda Hiromitsu 池田広光 (46)
- Medical Officer: Cdr Imaida Ibuo 今田以武生 (1916)
- Supply Officer: Lcdr Maeda Nisaburo 前田仁三郎 (Pay.7)


https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/met ... 6%E9%9A%8A& Click[表示]

fontessa

[Akira Takizawa]

> Capt Baron Samejima Tomoshige 鮫島具重 (37) was Commanding Officer of Shanghai Naval Landing Force (NLF) from 1 December 1926 to 4 February 1927

No, it was from 1 December 1931 to 4 February 1932.

> The post of Commanding Officer was changed to Radm Uematsu Toma 植松練磨 (33) on 4 February 1927.

It was 1932.

Taki

[fontessa]

Hello Taki,
Thanks for the correction. I was even more confused.
Only the 1927 Shanghai NLF list is correct.

Hello marek,
Sorry for my confusion.

fontessa

[marek O.]

Thank You very much for Your help gentlemen, both of You.

Fontessa, You've given the name of rearadm. Toma Uematsu, in kanji also. I started looking for more info on him, and I've found a picture. Picture that I enclose lower. I think it is an interesting picture. Highest rank officer, mentioned rearadm. Toma, isn't in the front row, but in the middle of the second one. And then after some consideration I think I've recognized in the front row, second from right, cmdr. Ota Minoru [co 5th Battalion, what I know now, thanks Taki]. So I think on the pic there are 7 officers in front or next to rearadm. Toma - commanders of seven Battalions under his command? Any thoughts about my hipothesis?

Regards,
Marek

[Akira Takizawa]

Four officers around Admiral Uematsu are wearing 参謀飾緒 (staff aiguillette). So, they are staff officers of Shanghai SNLF. Probably, one to the left of Uematsu is Samejima. Battalion commanders will be outside them. But, it is unknown where they are.

Taki

[fontessa]

Hello gens,

Four officers around Admiral Uematsu are wearing 参謀飾緒 (staff aiguillette). So, they are staff officers of Shanghai SNLF. Probably, one to the left of Uematsu is Samejima.

Taki

Shanghai Naval Landing Force (not Shanghai SNLF), commanded by Radm. Uematsu, was a temporary formation unit and therefore did not have a staff post. Samejima has also served as staff of the 3rd Fleet since February 4, 1932. His staff aiguillette were about this task. Other officers with staff aiguillette were also believed to be staffs of the 3rd Fleet.

http://admiral31.world.coocan.jp/px37.htm#v014

fontessa

[Akira Takizawa]

「日本海軍将官総覧」and「１億人の昭和史」stated that Samejima became the chief of staff of Shanghai NLF. In the book below, the list of staffs of the 3rd Fleet is shown at frame 88, but there is no Samejima. So, I believe that he was the staff of Shanghai NLF.

https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1905875

This book also has the photo in question (frame 7). The photo is titled as "陸戦隊の幹部"(The cadre of NLF). So, I believe that officers with staff aiguillette are not staffs of the 3rd Fleet, but staffs of Shanghai NLF.

Taki

[fontessa]

Hello Taki,

In the book below, the list of staffs of the 3rd Fleet is shown at frame 88, but there is no Samejima.
https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1905875

3rd Fleet (4th Gen.) was activated 2 February 1932. The officers in frame 88 were appointed on the same day. Samejima was appointed staff as additional post on 4 February. On the same day Cdr.Ito Kenzo 伊藤賢三 (41) and Lcdr. Tomosada Soichi 友貞操一 (42) were also appointed staff as additional post. They were omitted from frame 88, because, I guess, their staff position was additional post.
Samejima:
Regular Post: General Duty Officer of 3rd Fleet HQ
Additional Post: Staff

Staff_Aditional.jpg (32.15 KiB) Viewed 2343 times

「日本海軍将官総覧」and「１億人の昭和史」stated that Samejima became the chief of staff of Shanghai NLF.

I guess Samejima was sent to Shanghai NLF for (chief of) staffing duties.
As for 5th Battalion Commander Ota Minoru 太田実 (41), he was not appointed Battalion Commander of Shanghai NLF. He was appointed General Duty Officer of 3rd Fleet HQ and was sent to Shanghai NLF.,

OtaMinoru.jpg (15.28 KiB) Viewed 2343 times

fontessa

[fontessa]

Hello gens,

It might have been something like this:
The Shanghai NLF was a temporary unit, so the officers assigned to it were, for convenience, appointed as General Duty Officer of 3rd Fleet HQ. Even the case of unit commander Uematsu, he was appointed as General Duty Officer of 3rd Fleet HQ.

UematsuRemma.jpg (16.12 KiB) Viewed 2341 times

fontessa

[Akira Takizawa]

I don't care about such procedural details. It is not bad to say that, because they are known as the chief of staff or commander of the Shanghai NLF in the world.

Taki

[Eugen Pinak]

Indeed, those officers were known as the chief of staff or commander of the Shanghai NLF in the world. However, those details of appointments brought out entirely new (at least to me) details of organizations and appointments of IJN land units.

That's why I'm really grateful to you, Fontessa and Taki, for bringing this details to our attention. Thanks to your knowledge my knowledge of IJN organization has improved.