Japanese Landing Operations - Yangtze, summer of 1938

Discussions on all aspects of the Japanese Empire, from the capture of Taiwan until the end of the Second World War.
User avatar
asiaticus
Member
Posts: 923
Joined: 03 Mar 2004, 05:53
Location: Lake Elsinore CA USA

between the Fall of Matan and the attack on Tsiangtsin

#16

Post by asiaticus » 09 Dec 2005, 23:07

Operations on the Yangtze between the Fall of Matan and the attack on Tsiangtsin June 29 -July 22[1]

Peng-tze June 29
Japanese motorboats with 800 marines crossed the Matang blockade line and landed at Generals temple in the vicinity of Peng-tze and took it.

Hu-kou July 3 - 8. [current name: Shuangzhong]
Japanese continued to move west engaging Chinese forces at Liu-sze-chiao. Meanwhile a force in motorboats landed in the vicinity of Hukou(in the rear of the Chinese forces. Heavy fighting lasted for 2 days, resulting in the distruction of many gun sites and many casualties to the defenders. The KMT 26th Division put up resistance in Hukou with counterattacks. On July 5th the Japanese captured Ho-kou with the help of their superiour firepower. Later the 11th and 16th Divisions arrived as reinforcements and counterattacked, inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese and driving them back toward the river but lack of heavy weapons prevented the Chinese from removing the Japanese from the area and they were forced to retire.

Through mid July the Japanese swept mines in Lake Datong and conducted air attacks against Chinese torpeadoboats and minelayers in the Yangtze river and Lake Datong that had been causing losses to their shiping in prepartion for their operation against Tsiangtsin. Several minelayers, and torpeado boats were sunk and their berth location in Lake Datong at Chi chun was bombed July 21st.

The Chinese 9th War Area sent 1st Army Corps to defend the western shore of Lake Datong and 2nd Army Corps to garrison the south shore of the Yangtze River west of Kui-kiang and the fortresses along the river.

9th War Area - Chen Cheng
- 1st Army Corps - Hsueh Yueh
-- 20th Army Group - Shang Chen
--- 32nd Corps - Shang Chen (concurrent)
----139th Division - Li Chao-ying
----141st Division - Tang Yung-liang
----142nd Division - Fu Li-ping
----Salt Gabelle Brigade - Chiang Yung-ke
---18th Corps - Huang Wei
----11th Division - Peng Shan **
----16th Division - Ho Ping
----60th Division - Chen Pei

-2nd Army Corps - Chang Fe-kuei
--30th Army Group - Wang Ling-chi
---72nd Corps - Yu Chi-shih
----New 13th Division - Liu Juo-pi
----New 14th Division - Fan Nan-hsuen
---78th Corps - Chang Tsai
----New 15th Division - Teng Kuo-chang
----New 16th Division - Chen Liang-chi
--3rd Army Group - Sun Tun-hsuen
---12th Corps - Sun Tun-hsuen
----20th Division - Chang Tse-min
----22nd Division - Shih Tung-jan
----81st Division - Chan Shu-tang
--31st Army Group - Tang En-po
---13th Corps - Chang Chen
----23rd Division - Ouyang Fen
----89th Division - Chang Hsueh-chung**
----35th Division - Wang Ching tsai
---98th Corps - Chang Kang
----82nd Division - Lo Chi-chiang
----193rd Division - Li Tsung-chien
----195th Division - Liang Kai
--32nd Army Group - Kuan Lin-cheng
---52nd Corps - Kuan Lin-cheng
----2nd Division - Chao Kung-wu**
----25th Division - Chang Yao-ming**
---92nd Corps - Li Hsien-chou
----21st Division - Hou Ching-ju
----95th Division - Lo Chi
-- Tienpei Fortress Command - Li Yen-nien
---2nd Corps - Li yen-nien
----9th Division - Cheng Tso-min *
----57th Division - Shih Chung-cheng**
----Tienchiachen Fortress Units
-- Tiennan Fortress Command - Kuei-chang
---54th Corps - Hou Kuei-chang
----14th Division - Chen Leih *
----18th Division - Li Fang-pin

* Was one of the formerly German trained Reorganized Divisions.
** Was one of the Reorganized Divisions without German training.

[1] pg. 240-242. Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) 2nd Ed. ,1971. Translated by Wen Ha-hsiung , Chung Wu Publishing; 33, 140th Lane, Tung-hwa Street, Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China.

User avatar
asiaticus
Member
Posts: 923
Joined: 03 Mar 2004, 05:53
Location: Lake Elsinore CA USA

releif Map of modern Matang - Tsiangtsin area

#17

Post by asiaticus » 10 Dec 2005, 00:31

Here is a releif Map of modern Matang - Tsiangtsin area

Note Peng-tze is now Pengse, Liu-sze-chiao is now Liusiqiao, Hu-kou is now Shuangzhong, Tsiangtsin is now Xingang, Kiu-kiang is now Jiujiang, Kutang is now Gutang.
Attachments
Peng tze  Hu-kou area.JPG
Peng tze Hu-kou area.JPG (171.38 KiB) Viewed 2650 times


User avatar
asiaticus
Member
Posts: 923
Joined: 03 Mar 2004, 05:53
Location: Lake Elsinore CA USA

Further Actions of the Campaign on the Yangtze Aug. - Oct. 1

#18

Post by asiaticus » 15 Dec 2005, 11:03

Further Actions in the Campaign on the Yangtze Aug. - Oct. 1938[1]

After the fall of Hu-kou the approaches to Wuhan were increasingly threatened. The Chinese responded by installing a naval gun detachment in the Tien-chia Chen Fortress some miles up river from Hukow and at Kotien Fortress 25miles west of Wuhan. Navigational signs between Kiu-kiang[Jiujiang] and Hankow were destroyed or removed. Mine areas containing 1500 mines were designated between Tien-chia Chen and Pan-pi Shan, Chi-chun [Qizhou] and Lan-tou-chi, Huang-shi-kang[Huangshigang] and Shih-hui-yao, Huang-kang[Huangzhou] and Ou-cheng [Ezhou]. 10 steamboats and a number of mine storing gunboats were lost to Japanese air attacks in these mine-laying missions.

5th War Area had assigned 4th Army Corps defend the north shore of the Yangtze River on the line Tai-hu - Wangchiang [Wangjiang] and to garrison defenses at Hsiao-chih-kou across the river from Kiu-kiang and the north bank of the Yangtze River west of Huang-mei to prevent a Japanese landing.

While the Japanese were making the landing at Kutang and fighting to capture Tsiangtsin [Xingang] and Kiu-kiang[Jiujiang] on July 25th more than 20 ships and scores of aircraft bombarded Hsiao-chih-kou across the river. At the same time 6th Division launched attacks against Tai-hu, Su-sung[Susong], and Huang-mei against units of 31st and 68th Corps. The fighting lasted until August 5 when the Japanese captured Huang-mei forcing the Chinese to withdraw west to a line running through the hills east of Wu-hsueh[Guangji] and Kuang-chi [Meichuan ].


After the fall of Hu-kou the approaches to Wuhan were increasingly threatened. The Chinese responded by installing a naval gun detachment in the Tien-chia Chen Fortress on the north bank of the Yantze. The Tien-chia Chen fortress was garrisoned by:
-- Tienpei Fortress Command - Li Yen-nien
---2nd Corps - Li yen-nien
----9th Division - Cheng Tso-min *
----57th Division - Shih Chung-cheng **
----Tienchiachen Fortress Units (Naval guns and marines)
* Reorganized Divisions
The fortress was aslo defended by 400 fixed and 120 floating mines across the river.
The fortress itself was on the bend of the river at the western most end of a ridge of hills running for several kilometers to the east along the northern river bank that were part of the defenses.

Across the Yangtze the south bank fortresses of Matou Chen and Fu-chin-kou were held by:
-- Tiennan Fortress Command - Kuei-chang
---54th Corps - Hou Kuei-chang
----14th Division - Chen Leih *
----18th Division - Li Fang-pin
* Reorganized Division
The Matou Chen fortress controled a minefeild running across the Yangtze to Wu-hsueh [Wuxue] on the north bank. .

Offensive against Wuhan Aug. 22-Oct. 25th
Beginning August 22nd the Japanese began their advance up the Yangtze River. To support this advance a naval force of 2 cruisers and over 40 destroyers and gunboats supported the landing force of the Formosa Infantry Brigade and marines landing at the harbor of Kankou on the south bank of the Yangtze, north of Jui-chang[Pencheng] and a few miles east of Matou Chen. The landing was in support the advance of the 9th Division to the west to envelop Wuhan from the south. This advance was held by the stubborn Chinese defense along the Jui-yang Highway in the rugged terrain west of Jui-chang at Wu-shih-chieh[Wushijie]. The 27th Division moving westward futher south fared no better and was also forced to divert some of its forces to help 106th Division. The fighting here was protracted and bloody lasting for two months.

Nan-hsun Railway operation. Aug.25- Oct.28
As part of the general offensive the 101st Division attacked south along the Nan-hsun railway toward Tehan to secure the flank of the offensive. To support this advance a naval force of 2 cruisers and over 40 destroyers and gunboats supported the landing force of the 106th Division on Lake Datong at Hsing-tze[Nankang] on the . There was protracted fighthing on this front lasting until late October when Tehan was taken. During July the Japanese lost the use of one of their auxillary aircraft carriers and some other craft due to Chinese air attacks.

In concert with the Yangtze operations, on the north bank the 6th Division began its offensive toward the Tien-chia Chen fortress against the Chinese 11th Army Group:
--11th Army Group - Li Pin-hsien
---84th Corps - Chin Lien-fang
----188th Division - Liu Jen
----189th Division - Lin Ya-hsi
---48th Corps - Chang Yi-shun
----172rd Division - Huo Wei-chen
----174th Division - Chang Kuang-Wei
----176th Division - Ou Shou-mien
--68th Corps - Liu Ju-ming
---119th Division - Li Chin-tien
---143rd Division - Li Tseng-chih
--86th Corps - Ho Chih-chung
---103rd Division - Ho Shao-chou
---121nd Division - Mo Ting-fang

The Japanese object of their offensive was to encircle the fortress. In heavy fighting they broke thru the Chinese line capturing Kui-cheng on the 9th of September and then drove west toward Ch'i-ch'un [Qizhou] on the Yangtse, cutting off the fortress from the 11th Army Group operating with it. The 26th, 48th and 86th Corps of the 11th Army Group maintained attacks on the Japanese forces during the rest of the battle for the Tien-chia Chen fortress, permitting the garrison to withdraw at the end of the battle.

Matou Chen Sept.8-14th[Matou]
At 2300 hours on September 8 a Chinese partisan unit laying floating mines spotted Japanese ships moving between Ta-long-ping [Longping] and Wu-hsueh[Guangji] both on the on the north shore of the Yangtze, that subsequently shelled Matou Chen. The unit pulled their mines into mid stream and returned to shore. Subsequently, two returning Japanese ships hit their floating mines and sank. After a weeks fighting on the 14th troops of the Formosa Brigade landed east of Matou Chen and took the fortress. The loss of this fortress compomised the mine barrier between it and Wu-hsueh [Wuxue] in the river here allowing the Japanese navy to advance up river to bombard the other fortresses.

Fu-chih-kou fortress, Sept.18th-23rd
A few days after the fall of Manou Chen the Japanese began operating against Fu-chih-kou fortress. On Sept. 18th fortress guns hit two Japanese ships damaging one. Two days later an exchange of fire with 2 cruisers and 2 destroyers resulted in their withdrawal.
On Sept. 21st fourteen mineclearing motorcraft advancing up river were shelled sinking eight of them. On Sept. 22nd a shallow water ship lead 10 motorboats up within 6000 yards of the fortress but fire of their light howitzers blew up one of the boats and forced the witdrawal of the rest. Finally on 23rd Japanese troops made crossed Shang-chao Lake in 10 boats, losing two boats in the process, but this forced the evacuation of Fu-chih-kou fortress.

Tien-chia Chen fortress, Sept. 9-28th[Tianjiazhen]
Following the encirclement by the Japanese 6th Divison, the Chinese 57th Division and a portion of the 9th Division of the 2nd Corps and the fortress units fought a bloody 20 day long battle against the Japanese. The Japanese first captured Wu-hsueh[Wuxue] on the 16th of September. However little headway was made until the loss of the Matou Chen and Fu-chi-kou fortresses on the south bank of the Yangtze allowed the Japanese fleet to clear minefeilds and move up river. Navel support made possible the major effort to storm Tien-chia Chen on the 25th of September. Under land, naval and air bombardment army troops broke into the defenses of the fortress along the river in fighting that lasted all day. Naval bombardment continued all day, but the fortress guns sank several enemy motorboats. Japanese forces on the other bank of the Yangtze secured the bank west of the fortress next day completeing the isolation of the fortress but two enemy ships moving up river were sunk by the fortress guns. That night a landing was attempted on the fortress by 10 motorcraft, but heavy mashinegun fire killed many of the landing troops. On the 28th the Japanese again made a landing near Sheng-tang with 20 boats but this time with heavy naval and air support. The landing force was able to reach Feng-chia Shan and were within several hundred yards of the fortress itself, The naval fortifications and artillery was destroyed and the garrison evacuated to the north that night. After the fall of Tien-chia Chen it took 10 days to clear the mines and obsacles in the Yangtze to permit the Japanese fleet to move up river to Wuhan's last river defenses.

Ko-tien Fortress Oct. 12-25th [Gedian]
The Huang Ngo fortress at Kotien [Gedian] was 25 miles west of Wuhan, located on a neck of land between the Yangtze to the north and Liangtze Lake to the south about 13 miles up riiver from the Huang-kang[Huangzhou] and Ou-cheng [Ezhou] mine barrier on the Yangtze. It was part of the defenses of the Wuhan area:
-- Yangtse River South Region - Chou Ai
---75th Corps - Chao Ai
----6th Division - Chang Ying **
----13th Division - Fang Ching
----Huang Ngo Fortress Units (Naval artillery and marines)
* Reorganized Division

The Japanese decided to avoid a direct attack on the fortress and aimed at a turning movement surrounding it on three sides. After the Japanese lost some ships to mines and some boats to fortress artillery, on the 25th of October the Japanese advanced in two columns up the highway from the south and east. Baloons directed artillery fire on the fortress. Aircraft bombed the fortress in a contunuous rotation. At 1700 hours the orders came to evacuate the fortress, the garrison removed the fortress artillery breachblocks and evacuated. Wuhan had fallen that day redering any further defense futile.


Notes:
* Was one of the formerly German trained Reorganized Divisions.
** Was one of the Reorganized Divisions without German training.
***AA batteries of each of 75mm, 37mm, and 20mm guns were deployed to defend the fortifications of Tienchiachen, Matang and Hokou. Pg.274 [1]

[1] pg. 240-242. Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) 2nd Ed. ,1971. Translated by Wen Ha-hsiung , Chung Wu Publishing; 33, 140th Lane, Tung-hwa Street, Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China.

[2] Wilson, Dick, When Tigers Fight, The Story of the Sino-Japanese War, 1937-45. Penguin Books, New York, 1983.
Attachments
Tien-chia-chen Matou Fuchikou area.JPG
Tien-chia-chen Matou Fuchikou area
Tien-chia-chen Matou Fuchikou area.JPG (220.02 KiB) Viewed 2637 times

User avatar
asiaticus
Member
Posts: 923
Joined: 03 Mar 2004, 05:53
Location: Lake Elsinore CA USA

#19

Post by asiaticus » 13 Feb 2007, 07:02

Photos of the Japanese fleet in action against Madang

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 1&start=40

User avatar
Peter H
Member
Posts: 28628
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 14:18
Location: Australia

#20

Post by Peter H » 13 Feb 2007, 14:15

I think this 1938 Japanese map also covers the Yangtze area.
Attachments
1938_map.jpg
1938_map.jpg (135.55 KiB) Viewed 2350 times

User avatar
Peter H
Member
Posts: 28628
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 14:18
Location: Australia

#21

Post by Peter H » 13 Feb 2007, 14:21

Closer up.
Attachments
1938_map_2.jpg
1938_map_2.jpg (89.02 KiB) Viewed 2348 times

Jerry Asher
Member
Posts: 719
Joined: 06 Aug 2006, 03:48
Location: California

#22

Post by Jerry Asher » 14 Feb 2007, 23:40

Peter;

Well done. These are exactly that and more.

First map includes Japanese thrust along Liangyungang railroad in the north as well as Yangzi-- numbers are dates/ mo/day.

Excellent maps of the rail lines which were the major axis of Japanese advance. Note that rail service north of Yangzi is only possible opposite Nanjing and Wuhu. To the west the three circles are Wuhan ( the three cities of Hankow to the east, Wuchang and one other I can't think of just now.

Second map of Yangzi.

This is however a map at a very large scale. Well over a hundred miles is covered.

User avatar
iceagle
Member
Posts: 25
Joined: 13 Aug 2004, 09:20
Location: Nantong-Zhenjiang-Beijing

#23

Post by iceagle » 28 Feb 2007, 14:39

my hometown is along the Yangtze River,north of Shanghai.She was also invaded by Japanese army..Where I live in the city once existed the blockhouse left by Japanese invaders.But it disappeared now

Jerry Asher
Member
Posts: 719
Joined: 06 Aug 2006, 03:48
Location: California

Japanese landings--Shanghai area

#24

Post by Jerry Asher » 28 Feb 2007, 16:42

Hi Iceagle--welcome
I can share some stuff on the landings of Aug 22/23 1937 and after. Have some data also for landing of Nov 13th, 1937 of the 16th Division. Want to compare?

I think I'm glad that the pill box is gone.

User avatar
asiaticus
Member
Posts: 923
Joined: 03 Mar 2004, 05:53
Location: Lake Elsinore CA USA

Japanese Yangtze Campaign pdf

#25

Post by asiaticus » 10 Apr 2007, 23:58

http://www.republicanchina.org/Japanese ... mpaign.pdf Japanese Yangtze Campaign pdf by Ah Xiang

Jerry Asher
Member
Posts: 719
Joined: 06 Aug 2006, 03:48
Location: California

#26

Post by Jerry Asher » 11 Apr 2007, 15:39

Many thanks Asiaticus.

The post by Ah Xiang fills in some details. Amament of Yangzi postiions and some dates in particular come to mind.

This posting seems so different than the other stuff from the site though. The other stuff is shrill to me; almost as if he wants a political argument.

Is there more work like this available. What I find at republicanchina.org/war.html is not in the same caliber as yesterdays. Look how far removed it is from the material Tigre first rought to our attention.

Warmest regards and again Many thanks.

Jerry Asher

User avatar
asiaticus
Member
Posts: 923
Joined: 03 Mar 2004, 05:53
Location: Lake Elsinore CA USA

#27

Post by asiaticus » 11 Apr 2007, 21:04

Yes I thought you might like that list of fortress artillery.:^) A little clearer on the details of the actions against them. I beleive he will be doing more on this campaign so it will be good to look in there now and then. I think he is going thru his site and upgrading it here and there. I find his section on the 1933 Japanese Invasion of Jehol has been filled in with a great deal more detail now.

As to the pdf files, he has a number of links to more detailed pdf files on various topics throughout his site.

You are right he does have a point of veiw which he has up front in his site. After reading it I a have to say I cant fault him for his attitude. :^)

He also has a lot of pretty good information on Chinese history. I have communicated with him recently. You might want to do the same.

User avatar
tigre
Member
Posts: 10550
Joined: 20 Mar 2005, 12:48
Location: Argentina

Re: Japanese Landing Operations - Yangtze, summer of 1938

#28

Post by tigre » 05 May 2014, 15:06

Hello to all :D; a little complement.................

Landing at Yangtze River!

Source: CHINA JAPAN WAR PHOTO CARD SHANGHAI FRONT LANDING AT YANGTZE RIVER SOLDIER. eBay Auction.
Battle of Hankow. LIFE 17 Oct 1938.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image009.jpg
image009.jpg (33.33 KiB) Viewed 983 times
image011.jpg
image011.jpg (45.23 KiB) Viewed 983 times

User avatar
tigre
Member
Posts: 10550
Joined: 20 Mar 2005, 12:48
Location: Argentina

Re: Japanese Landing Operations - Yangtze, summer of 1938

#29

Post by tigre » 30 Jan 2015, 17:10

Hello to all :D; a little more.................

Landing at Yangtze River!

Source: Battle of Hankow. LIFE 17 Oct 1938.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image037.jpg
image037.jpg (51.55 KiB) Viewed 877 times
image039.jpg
image039.jpg (35.74 KiB) Viewed 877 times

Post Reply

Return to “Japan at War 1895-1945”