IIB's and company numbers and one other

[shidan]

How many companies comprise an independent infantry battalion?

also,

when counting companies overall within a "standard" regiment, how were they numbered within the regiment, something like 1-16? For example, 1st Battalion, 3rd Company, 2nd battalion, 7th company, something like that?

Many thanks for your time and help!

Tom

[fontessa]

Hello shidan,

How many companies comprise an independent infantry battalion?

4 companies

when counting companies overall within a "standard" regiment, how were they numbered within the regiment, something like 1-16? For example, 1st Battalion, 3rd Company, 2nd battalion, 7th company, something like that?

1st Battalion: 1st Company - 4th Company
2nd Battalion: 5th Company - 8th Company
3rd Battalion: 9th Company - 12th Company

fontessa

[shidan]

Many thanks, Fontessa, it is very much appreciated!

A further question if you don't mind. When looking at the overall numbering sequence for companies across all regiments within a division, is each regiment separately numbered 1-12 for their companies, or is one regiment 1-12, the next regiment's companies numbered 13 - 24, etc.? The reason I ask is when looking at some IJA ID tags, the middle company column can be high numbered, well beyond 12th company.

Thanks!

Tom

[fontessa]

Hello shidan,

When looking at the overall numbering sequence for companies across all regiments within a division, is each regiment separately numbered 1-12 for their companies, or is one regiment 1-12, the next regiment's companies numbered 13 - 24, etc.?

The billow was the numbering system I know;
*th Division
- **th Infantry Regiment
--- 1st Battalion: 1st Company - 4th Company
--- 2nd Battalion: 5th Company - 8th Company
--- 3rd Battalion: 9th Company - 12th Company
- ***th Infantry Regiment
--- 1st Battalion: 1st Company - 4th Company
--- 2nd Battalion: 5th Company - 8th Company
--- 3rd Battalion: 9th Company - 12th Company
- ****th Infantry Regiment
--- 1st Battalion: 1st Company - 4th Company
--- 2nd Battalion: 5th Company - 8th Company
--- 3rd Battalion: 9th Company - 12th Company

The reason I ask is when looking at some IJA ID tags, the middle company column can be high numbered, well beyond 12th company.

I don’t know such a case, but maybe wrong. Can you show such a case?

fontessa

[shidan]

Thank you, Fontessa. Let me see if I can find a picture and when I do, I will post here.

Tom

[shidan]

As purely an example online, here is a 16th Div tag with 25 down the middle. Possibly home designation number?

[fontessa]

Hello Shidan,

I think the numbering for a Tag was conducted through the regiment. I think with the numbering system I mentioned, we can't tell where the soldier belonged just by looking at the TAG. For example, there were 3 battalion candidates for "1st company". So I think the marking on the TAG may have been done with another numbering system. I found the picture which shows “another numbering system.” See the attached figure. HQ / Company Number had maybe tactical meaning.

Unit Number 垣六五五五 Kaki 6555 means the unit was 20th Infantry Regiment.
The below is the composition of a general regiment. It may be a coincidence, total number of HQ / companies was 25 (Including 3 Infantry Gun Platoons).
Regiment Composition
Regiment HQ
1st Battalion HQ
1st - 4th Companies
1st Machinegun Company
1st Infantry Gun Platoon
2nd Battalion HQ
5th - 8th Companies
2nd Machinegun Company
2nd Infantry Gun Platoon
9th - 12th Companies
3rd Machinegun Company
3rd Infantry Gun Platoon
Infantry Gun Company HQ
Rapid-firing Gun (AT - gun) Company HQ
Communications Company HQ

認識票_TAG.jpg (41.37 KiB) Viewed 2497 times

fontessa

[shidan]

Thank you for that, Fontessa, that is very good info.


Tom