Revisions of Imperial Naval Wartime Organization

[adachi]

Does anyone have a copy of this document? It is called "Revisions of Imperial Naval Wartime Organization" and is on roll 19 of record group 242 at the US National Archives. I have been searching for it for the better part of a year but due to the current global pandemic the National Archives has been unable to provide it to me. There also appears to be a copy in Japan at the National Diet Library but I was not able to access it from there either. I am hoping to use it to finish up some loose ends on my research on IJN units. Thank you.

[ijnfleetadmiral]

What IJN units are you looking for? I might be able to help in regards to personnel info.

[adachi]

Thank you ijnfleetadmiral. I am mostly trying to figure out the activation dates and classification (Type A, B, C, etc) of individual Air Defense Units (防空隊), particularly the early ones ranging from 1-120. I'm also searching for transfer dates of Guard Units under the administration of (Special) Base Forces with a focus on the Base Forces 21 through 28 as they were subject to the most changes it seems.

[Akira Takizawa]

Have you ever seen this post?

viewtopic.php?f=65&t=220514#p2000144

Taki

[fontessa]

Hello adachi,

Thank you ijnfleetadmiral. I am mostly trying to figure out the activation dates and classification (Type A, B, C, etc) of individual Air Defense Units (防空隊), particularly the early ones ranging from 1-120.

See SHT3 - SHT7 of the below JACAR page.
編制種類 = Type A1/A2, B, C1
https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/met ... S_KEY_S12=&

fontessa

[adachi]

Have you ever seen this post?

viewtopic.php?f=65&t=220514#p2000144

Taki

Thank You Takizawa-san, I have seen it, it is very good information.

Hello adachi,

Thank you ijnfleetadmiral. I am mostly trying to figure out the activation dates and classification (Type A, B, C, etc) of individual Air Defense Units (防空隊), particularly the early ones ranging from 1-120.

See SHT3 - SHT7 of the below JACAR page.
編制種類 = Type A1/A2, B, C1
https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/met ... S_KEY_S12=&

fontessa

Thank You Fontessa, this document was a major part of my research. As you can see the information on many unit types is still incomplete. In some Senshi Sosho volumes such as #17 there is more specific information on particular units not covered by the above document, and one source listed for it is "Revisions of Imperial Naval Wartime Organization". Based on the standard personnel chart (JACAR C12070174000 Frames 7-8) which was passed on the same day of the Air Defense Unit decree, all Air Defense Units should be categorized as A, B, or C. Later on A1, A2, and C2 were added, I have tracked changes to the Tokusetsu Kansen Butai Teiin Rei which shows modifications to A, B and C but could not find the date for the introduction of A1, A2, and C2 strangely.

[fontessa]

Hello adachi,

Based on the standard personnel chart (JACAR C12070174000 Frames 7-8) which was passed on the same day of the Air Defense Unit decree, all Air Defense Units should be categorized as A, B, or C. Later on A1, A2, and C2 were added,

Thanks for the interesting info.
I think you have already seen NaiRei C12070187600 Frm38 created in July 1943. 鹿山 says naval air defense units after that were organized according to it.

Do you know the blog below? It says about a little different unit composition.
http://navgunschl.sblo.jp/article/30465622.html

I asked the author some questions and got the following answers. I hope it helps.
http://navgunschl.sblo.jp/article/18836 ... 5T09:25:37

fontessa

[adachi]

Hello adachi,

Based on the standard personnel chart (JACAR C12070174000 Frames 7-8) which was passed on the same day of the Air Defense Unit decree, all Air Defense Units should be categorized as A, B, or C. Later on A1, A2, and C2 were added,

Thanks for the interesting info.
I think you have already seen NaiRei C12070187600 Frm38 created in July 1943. 鹿山 says naval air defense units after that were organized according to it.

Do you know the blog below? It says about a little different unit composition.
http://navgunschl.sblo.jp/article/30465622.html

I asked the author some questions and got the following answers. I hope it helps.
http://navgunschl.sblo.jp/article/18836 ... 5T09:25:37

fontessa

Thank you for doing so much research for me Fontessa. Regarding the A1, A2, and C1 types that are missing from the 特設艦船定員令, I apologize for neglecting to mention of their existence elsewhere. It is just very strange to me that the change is absent from the decree, as it seems this introduction of new formation types occurred within the date ranges of order documents held by JACAR. Anyways there are two other places that seem to have the formation types archived, on is the NIDS with a document called "中央-編成-74 Ｓ１９～２０　防空隊・ロケット編制標準関係綴 海軍省軍務局　海軍軍令部" which is practically inaccessible currently, but is referenced in Senshi Sosho Vol. 17 and actually includes the formation types in that volume. The other is held by the National Diet Library and is a US Intelligence document examining a captured Air Defense Manual. It can be viewed here https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/4009505/36
Given their absence from the 特設艦船定員令 I am guessing that they may have never been officially added to the decree, but evidently existed in some capacity.
That blog is very useful, thank you for linking it. I have visited it a bit but have yet to fully explore all of the great resources on it. The wartime organization charts on it are an excellent reference.
Overall Air Defense Units are very interesting to me. 161 of them in only about two years, of which the majority served in the Pacific, it's quite an impressive chunk of the Naval Landing Forces. I believe they are the closest unit to SNLF, as they were the only other unit permitted to serve under Combined SNLF according to the decree. In wartime logs it seems those in forward areas had ample infantry weapons, not just rifles, but some light machine guns and heavy grenade dischargers too. Coupled with their air defense weapons which depending on the size may be repurposed for ground use, they could pose significant infantry power.
On another note I was just thinking about 鹿山誉少佐 today. I found him in a Maizuru 1st SNLF album during his time as an adjutant. I have not seen pictures of him anywhere else before. Are there more photos of him in any of his books?

[ijnfleetadmiral]

What I have for him:

KAYAMA Takeshi
Naval Academy 65 (63/187)
BORN - ??? in Tokushima Prefecture
MID - 16 March 1938
ENS - 15 September 1939
LTJG - 01 November 1940
1st Maizuru Naval District SNLF Adjutant - 15 November 1940 - 25 September 1941
YUGUMO Equipping Officer - 25 September 1941 - 05 December 1941
LT - 15 October 1941
YUGUMO Gunnery Officer - 05 December 1941 - 29 December 1941
MURASAME Gunnery Officer - 29 December 1941 - 05 March 1943

[adachi]

What I have for him:

KAYAMA Takeshi
Naval Academy 65 (63/187)
BORN - ??? in Tokushima Prefecture
MID - 16 March 1938
ENS - 15 September 1939
LTJG - 01 November 1940
1st Maizuru Naval District SNLF Adjutant - 15 November 1940 - 25 September 1941
YUGUMO Equipping Officer - 25 September 1941 - 05 December 1941
LT - 15 October 1941
YUGUMO Gunnery Officer - 05 December 1941 - 29 December 1941
MURASAME Gunnery Officer - 29 December 1941 - 05 March 1943

Thank you for the information. I believe his first name is read as "Homare". According to JACAR ref.C13072090700 Frame 25 he was appointed commander of the 16th Air Defense Unit on April 20th, 1943. According to the chart copied from his writings that Takizawa-san linked a thread to above his unit was absorbed into the 1st Base Force on November 15th, 1943 like many others. However I could not find his position change in the Kaigun Jirei Koho. I assume he was appointed as a divisional/section chief (分隊長) to the 1st Base Force when this change occurred.
On a sidenote I have quite a few pictures from the Maizuru 1st SNLF that he was in. I can make another thread with some info about the officers and the unit if anyone is interested.

[fontessa]

Hello adachi,

oen? is the NIDS with a document called "中央-編成-74 Ｓ１９～２０　防空隊・ロケット編制標準関係綴 海軍省軍務局　海軍軍令部" which is practically inaccessible currently,

Have you seen this?

but is referenced in Senshi Sosho Vol. 17 and actually includes the formation types in that volume.

Isn't it Senshi Sosho Vol. 88, page 458?

The other is held by the National Diet Library and is a US Intelligence document examining a captured Air Defense Manual. It can be viewed here https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/4009505/36

Thanks for this info.
I see the above is the source for the blog. Can you identify which IJN document the above is part of?

According to the chart copied from his writings that Takizawa-san linked a thread to above his unit was absorbed into the 1st Base Force on November 15th, 1943 like many others. However I could not find his position change in the Kaigun Jirei Koho.

"as absorbed into the 1st Base Force on November 15th" is the info in 鹿山誉's "海軍陸戦隊". I also can't find any description in Jirei Koho 15 November 1943. 鹿山's book also says 16th, 7th, 18th, 19th and 20th Air Defense Units were transferred to 1st Base Force. It is strange.

In 鹿山's book, some units are mentioned.
81st 243men
83rd 188men
84th 188men
85th 243men
88th 188men
95th 263men
98th 119men
100th 188men
127th 188men

from 115th memoir
115th 118men
from 119th memoir
119th 118men Twin 25mm Kiju x 12

The composision of 16th Air Defense Unit is shown in his book, for reference.
隊長 Commander 1
軍医長 Medical Officer 1
本部小隊 HQ Platoon
- Leader 1
- 医務 Medical 5
- 主計 Account 12
- 通信 4
- 他 others 8
指揮小隊 Commanding Platoon 33
第1胞小隊 1st Gunnery Platoon 46
第2胞小隊 2nd Gunnery Platoon 46
弾薬小隊 Ammunition Platoon 63
照空小隊 Searchlight Platoon 40
見張小隊 Lookout Platoon 41
Total 301

Type88 7cm Field AA Gun x 6 Loaned from Army
Type88 Tractor x 6 Loaned from Army?
Twn? 25mm Kiju x 6
Siemens Searchlight x 2
聴音機 Sound collector? x 2

In wartime logs it seems those in forward areas had ample infantry weapons, not just rifles, but some light machine guns and heavy grenade dischargers too. Coupled with their air defense weapons which depending on the size may be repurposed for ground use, they could pose significant infantry power.

It may be so. According to War Diary of 20th Air Defense Unit transferred to 1st Base Unit, the composition looks like to be changed as forrows.
本部 Headquartwes
指揮小隊 Commanding Platoon
見張小隊 Lookout Platoon
第1小隊 (射撃隊) 1st Platoon (Rifle Unit)
第2小隊 (射撃隊) 2nd Platoon (Rifle Unit)
第3小隊 (射撃隊) 3rd Platoon (Rifle Unit)
https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/met ... 5%E8%AA%8C&

fontessa

[adachi]

Have you seen this?

I have not seen it unfortunately, just pieces of it referenced in various Senshi Sosho volumes.

Isn't it Senshi Sosho Vol. 88, page 458?

You are correct that volume has a more detailed section on Air Defense Units but its information on formations is incomplete. In Senshi Sosho Vol. 17 on pages 190-191 there is a table for the standard formations of A1, A2, and C type units. However I think the C type on that page is an error and it is actually C1.

Thanks for this info.
I see the above is the source for the blog. Can you identify which IJN document the above is part of?

Unfortunately I have not been able to find the original document so far. According to US intelligence it was a derived from a training document issued at Tateyama Naval Gunnery School in December 1944, but at that point almost all Air Defense Units except for some in the Philippines or destroyed ones had already been deactivated, so it is quite a mystery.

Thank you for all the good information on the Air Defense units. I find it very interesting how the 1st Base Force absorbed so many and took a direct approach to defense. I believe it provided a more logical command structure for an Air Defense unit to be subordinate to a Base Force rather than a Fleet.

[adachi]

Some great news. Last month the NIDS made a ton of Army and Navy documents public. In this includes the above documents I was looking for. If anyone else is interested please check out http://www.nids.mod.go.jp/military_hist ... rossSearch

[fontessa]

Hello Adachi,

Some great news. Last month the NIDS made a ton of Army and Navy documents public. In this includes the above documents I was looking for. If anyone else is interested please check out http://www.nids.mod.go.jp/military_hist ... rossSearch

Thanks for great information! This is awesome news.　
Again thanks!

fontessa

[PTO Researcher]

I'm researching IJN Air Defense Units as well and have Adachi's Rikusentai book. I'm interested in the units raised during 1944 that went to the Philippines and Formosa (94th Bōkū-tai up through 207th Bōkū-tai with gaps in between). I'm specifically interested in the TO&E subcategories (A, A1, A2, B, C, C1) for these units as there are gaps in the information presented in the Air Defense Unit listing in Rikusentai (specifically for the 94th, 95th, 100th, 114th, 116th, 117th, 120th, 131st, 133rd, 134th, 135th, 136th, 143rd, 145th, 183rd, 184th, 185th and 187th Bōkū-tai). I'm also looking to confirm transit time information from Japan for all of the Bōkū-tai that went to the Philippines/Formosa. Has anyone come across this information?

In addition, Leland Ness in Rikugun Volume 1, page 369-370 mentions IJN emergency mobilization of anti-aircraft and coastal batteries that do not appear to be numbered and are separate from the Bōkū-tai units. TO&E information for these units is also listed in the Japanese Land Based Gunnery Manual (May, 1945) mentioned above. Does anyone have anything on these units (particularly the AAA and CD batteries that wound up in the Philippines/Formosa?

Full disclosure, I do not speak or read Japanese but have limited ability to translate machine generated text.