Independent Mixed Brigades (Imperial Japanese Army) Explained

Unit Name:Independent Mixed Brigades
独立混成旅団
Dates:1937–1945
Country: Empire of Japan
Branch:Japanese Imperial Army
Type:Mixed Brigade
Role:Occupation forces
Size:5,000 to 11,000 troops
Battles:Second Sino-Japanese War
World War II

Between 1937 and 1945 the Japanese Imperial Army formed 126 Independent Mixed Brigades (numbered 1–136 with some gaps), typically composed of various units detached from other formations. Some were composed of separate, independent assets (usually Independent Infantry Battalions). These brigades were task organized under unified command and were normally used in support roles, as security, force protection, POW and internment camp guards and labor in occupied territories. An Independent Mixed Brigade had between 5,000 and 11,000 troops.

History

The first two of these Independent Mixed Brigades formed by the Kwantung Army in the 1930s were the IJA 1st Independent Mixed Brigade and the IJA 11th Independent Mixed Brigade. Each of these brigades was organized in a unique manner; the 1st was disbanded in 1937 while the 11th was formed into the IJA 26th Division in 1938.

Later a series of Independent Mixed Brigades were formed for the purpose of garrisoning the large territories of China captured in the early phase of the Second Sino-Japanese War.[1] This variety for China was usually organized with five infantry battalions, an artillery unit, and labor troops. In the Pacific theater they had different and more varied configurations of subordinate units.

The Hong Kong Defence Force, which was established in 1942 to occupy Hong Kong, was equivalent to an Independent Mixed Brigade.[2]

List of Independent Mixed Brigades

Kwantung Army

Brigades formed for the Second Sino-Japanese War and Pacific War

Number Timeline Notes
Taiyuan, 1937 – Iwo Jima, 1944-
Iwo Jima, 1944split from 109th division
North China, 1941–1945, 1st Army-
Taiyuan, 1943became 62nd division
Shandong, 1939–1941, 12th Army-
Taiyuan, 1941–1943, 12th Armybecame 62nd division
1941, 12th army – 1944, Henanbecame 115th division
North China, 1941 – Chengde, 1945-
North China, 1941-
Jinan, 1941, 12th Army-
Taiyuan, 1937; Battle of West Henan–North Hubei, 19452 separate units, formed in 1937 and 1939
Taiyuan, 1937,[3] Chuzhou, 1939-
Lu'an, 1943became 65th Division
Jiangxi, 1942became 68th Division
Taiyuan, 1937-
Linfen, 1942became 69th Division
1941, 13th Army – 1945, 6th Area Army-
Dangyang, 1940-
Guangzhou, 1941, 23rd Armybecame 129th and 130th Divisions
Ningbo, 1942became 70th Division
French Indochina, 1941detached from 104th Division
Guangzhou, 1941, 23rd Army-
1945, 23rd Army-
Myitkyina, 1944-
Sumatra, January 1944, 25th Army[4] -
south Sumatra, January 1944, 25th Army – Singapore, May 1945[5] -
Jakarta, 1944, 16th ArmyTaiwan mixed brigade
eastern Java, 1944, 16th Army[6] -
Bangkok, December 1943 – Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, August 1944[7] -
Shanghai, 1943 – Mindanao, 1944[8] became 100th Division
Bohol, June 1944[9] became 102nd Division
Baguio, July 1943[10] became 103rd Division
Luzon, 1944[11] became 105th Division
Nanjing, 1943 – Saigon, 1944[12] -
do not confuse with Kawaguchi Detachment
Tokyo, 1944 – Nicobar Islands, 1945, 29th Army-
Osaka, 1944 – Malaysia, 1945, 29th Army-
Bouganville, 1944-
Solomon Islands, 1944 – 1945, 41st Army-
Solomon Islands, 1944-
Iturup, 1945became 89th Division
Okinawa, 1945-
Okinawa, 1945-
Taipei, 1944became 66th Division
Saipan, 1944-
Guam, As Sombreru Pillboxes, 1944-
Palau minor islands, Yap and Fais Island, May 1944-
Woleai-
Chuuk Lagoon, Mortlock Islands-
Ponape Island, May 1944-
Palau Islands-
Leyte, 1944, 14th Area Army-
Leyte, 1944, 14th Area Army-
Borneo, 1944-
Jolo, 1944[13] -
Luzon, 1944, 14th area armysplit from 47th Division
Okinawa, 1945-
Mudanjiang, August 1944 – Miyako-jima, September 1944[14] -
China, 1944 – Taiwan, August 1944[15]Luzon, 1944, 14th Area Army – July 1945, Babuyan Islands, 10th Area Army[16] -
Fuzhou, 1944[17] -
Yamaguchi, 1944 – Amami Ōshima, 1945[18] -
Hiroshima, 1941 – Guadalcanal, 1942 – Rabaul, 1944[19] -
1945, 6th army – August 1945, Nii-jima, 12th Area Army-
August 1945, Hachijō-jima, 12th Area Army-
Keelung, July 1944 – Leyte, December 1944[20] -
Hokkaido, 1945became 89th Division
Saigon, December 1944 – Malaysia, 1945, 29th Army[21]
Kota Kinabalu, May 1944 – Kuching, February 1945[22] -
Thanbyuzayat, 1944[23] -
Sunwu County, October 1944became 123rd Division
Hengchun, 26 October 1944[24] [25]Penghu, January 1945, 40th armyHsinchu, June 1945[26] forced beaching at Hengchun
Keelung, January 1945, 10th Area Army[27] -
Taiwan, 1944became 135th Division
Jiamusi, July 1945became 134th Division
Mudanjiang, March 1945, 3rd Area Army[28] -
Hailar, April 1945 – Jalainur, August 1945, 4th Army[29] -
Xiangtan, March 1945, 20th Army[30] -
Zhuzhou, March 1945, 20th Army[31] -
Hankou, March 1945, 6th Area Army[32] -
Jiujiang, March 1945, 6th Area Army[33] -
Yingcheng, March 1945, 6th Area Army[34] -
Xiangxi, April 1945, 20th Army[35] -
Hengyang, April 1945, 20th Army[36] -
Guangxi, April 1945, 11th Army[37] -
Jinhua, August 1944 – Fenghua, August 1945, 6th Armysplit from 60th Division[38]
Yangzhou, February 1945, 10th army[39] or 13th Army[40] contradictory data
Ningbo, February 1944, 6th Army[41] -
Datong, February 1945, 13th ArmyXuzhou, August 1945[42] -
Hachinohe, 1945, 50th Army-
6 February 1945, Tokyo – August 1945, Tateyama, Army of Tokyo Bay-
Fujieda, Shizuoka, 1945, 54th Army-
Koyama, 1945, 57th Army-
Kaohsiung, 1945, 10th Area Army[43] -
Shibetsu, February 1945 – Hayakita, Hokkaido, 7 May 1945, 5th Area Army[44] assigned to 77th Division, 11 February 1945[45]
Hualien, February 1945, 10th Area Army[46] split from 66th Division
Kaohsiung, February 1945, 10th Area ArmyTaipei, May 1945[47] -
Yangon, February 1945[48] -
Gotō, Nagasaki, 1945, 16th Area Army-
Jejudo, April 1945, 58th Army[49] -
Tanegashima, 1945, 57th Army[50] -
Yilan, April 1945, 10th Area Army[51] -
Iwaki, 1945, 11th Area Army-
23 May 1945, Nagano- August 1945, Yokosuka, Army of Tokyo Bay-
Shibasaki, 1945, 51st Army-
Hokota, 1945, 51st Army-
Numazu, Shizuoka, 1945, 53rd Army-
Saiki, Ōita, 1945, 16th Area Army-
Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 1945, 54th Army-
Shimizu, Shizuoka, 1945, 54th Army-
Gobō, Wakayama, 1945, 15th Area ArmyTokushima, August 1945, 55th Armyreplaced by 123rd Independent Mixed Brigade in Gobō
Nagasaki, 1945, 16th Area Army-
Gobō, Wakayama, 23 May 1945, 15th Area Army[52] -
Shimonoseki, 1945, 59th Army-
Ibusuki, Kagoshima, May 1945, 40th Army-
Amakusa, 1945, 16th Area Army-
Busan, May 1945 – Ulsan, August 1945[53] -
north-east Halmahera, May 1945[54] -
Urup, 1945[55] split from 42nd Division
Liaoning, July 1945, 3rd Area Army[56] -
Harbin, July 1945, 4th army[57] -
Dongning, July 1945, 3rd Army[58] assigned to 128th division, August 1945
Siping, July 1945, 34th Army[59] -
Jinzhou, July 1945, 3rd Area Army[60]Linjiang, August 1945assigned to 125th Division[61]
Aihui, July 1945, 4th Army[62] -
Nencheng, July 1945 – Qiqihar, August 1945, 4th Army[63] -

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Rottman Japanese Army in World War II, The South Pacific and New Guinea, p. 18
  2. Book: Ness, Leland . 2015 . Rikugun: Guide to Japanese Ground Forces 1937–1945: Volume 1: Tactical Organization of Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Ground Forces . Helion . 9781912174577. 178.
  3. Web site: Japanese Forces Battle of Taiyan September through November 1937 . 14 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053905/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/937JIAB.PDF . 4 March 2016 . dead .
  4. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0130-0010-0020-0020-0020-0020.html 25th Independent Mixed Brigade (Ban)
  5. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0190-0010-0010-0010-0030.html 26th Independent Mixed Brigade (Gaku)
  6. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0130-0010-0020-0020-0010-0030.html 28th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kei)
  7. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0160-0010-0010-0010-0030.html 29th Independent Mixed Brigade (Tai)
  8. http://www.combinedfleet.com/Shinshu_t.htm IJA Landing Craft Depot Ship SHINSHU MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
  9. http://www.combinedfleet.com/T.101_t.htm IJN LST T.101: Tabular Record of Movement
  10. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0140-0010-0010-0010-0060.html 103rd Division (Shun)
  11. http://www.combinedfleet.com/Teia_t.htm IJN TEIA MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
  12. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0150-0010-0010-0010-0050.html 34th Independent Mixed Brigade (Iku)
  13. http://www.combinedfleet.com/Mexico_t.htm IJA Transport MEXICO MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
  14. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0050-0010-0010-0070.html 60th Independent Mixed Brigade (Koma)
  15. http://www.combinedfleet.com/Kenjo_t.htm KENJO MARU Tabular Record of Movement
  16. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0090-0010-0010-0060.html 61st Independent Mixed Brigade (Yoroi)
  17. http://www.combinedfleet.com/Fuchow_t.htm RISING STORM – THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY AND CHINA 1931–1941
  18. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0040-0010-0010-0010.html 64th Independent Mixed Brigade (Tama)
  19. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0120-0010-0010-0050.html 65th Independent Mixed Brigade (Natsu)
  20. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0140-0010-0010-0010-0100.html 68th Independent Mixed Brigade (Hoshi)
  21. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0190-0010-0010-0010-0010-0050.html 70th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kakan)
  22. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0130-0010-0020-0010-0020.html 71st Independent Mixed Brigade (Kanto)
  23. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0170-0010-0010-0010-0060.html 72nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Kantetsu)
  24. http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/945PAAJ.pdf Japanese Forces Formosa 1 January 1945
  25. http://www.combinedfleet.com/CH-38_t.htm IJN Subchaser CH-38:Tabular Record of Movement
  26. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0090-0010-0010-0070.html 75th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kyo)
  27. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0090-0010-0010-0080.html 76th Independent Mixed Brigade (Tsu)
  28. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0070-0010-0010-0020-0030.html 79th Independent Mixed Brigade (Jobu)
  29. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0070-0010-0010-0030-0040.html 80th Independent Mixed Brigade (Eihou/Hikari)
  30. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0080-0010-0010-0020-0110-0040.html 81st Independent Mixed Brigade (Shikyo)
  31. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0080-0010-0010-0020-0110-0050.html 82nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Shiretsu)
  32. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0080-0010-0010-0020-0030.html 83rd Independent Mixed Brigade (Shimou)
  33. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0080-0010-0010-0020-0040.html 84th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shiyu)
  34. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0080-0010-0010-0020-0050.html 85th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shiketsu)
  35. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0080-0010-0010-0020-0110-0060.html 86th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shusou)
  36. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0080-0010-0010-0020-0110-0070.html 87th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shindo)
  37. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0080-0010-0010-0020-0100-0030.html 88th Independent Mixed Brigade (Chuten)
  38. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0080-0010-0010-0040-0040.html 89th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shijun)
  39. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0080-0010-0010-0030-0070.html 90th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shinrai)
  40. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923203631/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/945JDAF.PDF Japanese China Expeditionary Army Forces in China Late April 1945
  41. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0080-0010-0010-0040-0050.html 91st Independent Mixed Brigade (Chiku)
  42. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0080-0010-0010-0030-0080.html 92nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Shiken)
  43. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0090-0010-0010-0090.html 100th Independent Mixed Brigade (Banjaku)
  44. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0010-0010-0010-0030.html 101st Independent Mixed Brigade (Tatsu)
  45. Web site: 勇払平野の防御陣地 . 13 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160914004952/http://www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/fortress/yufutsu/yufutsu.htm . 14 September 2016 . dead .
  46. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0090-0010-0010-0100.html 102nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Hachiman)
  47. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0090-0010-0010-0110.html 103rd Independent Mixed Brigade (Hachiku)
  48. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0170-0010-0010-0010-0070.html 105th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kan'i)
  49. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0060-0010-0020-0040.html 108th Independent Mixed Brigade (Sui)
  50. http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/945PFAF.pdf Japanese 16th Army Homeland Defense June–August 1945
  51. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0090-0010-0010-0120.html 112th Independent Mixed Brigade (Raijin)
  52. Web site: 独立混成第123旅団 . 22 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170510122124/http://homepage1.nifty.com/kitabatake/rikugunryodan4.html . 10 May 2017 . dead .
  53. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0060-0010-0010-0050.html 127th Independent Mixed Brigade (Sodan)
  54. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0130-0010-0010-0060.html 128th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kai)
  55. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0020-0010-0010-0040.html 129th Independent Mixed Brigade (Takane)
  56. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0070-0010-0010-0020-0040.html 130th Independent Mixed Brigade (Fun'yaku)
  57. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0070-0010-0010-0030-0050.html 131st Independent Mixed Brigade (Funshin)
  58. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0070-0010-0010-0010-0040-0050.html 132nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Funsen)
  59. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0070-0010-0010-0040-0030.html 133rd Independent Mixed Brigade (Fukuju)
  60. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0070-0010-0010-0020-0050.html 134th Independent Mixed Brigade (Funrei)
  61. http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Japan/Monos/pdfs/JM-155/JM-155.pdf Record of Operations Against Soviet Russia Northern and Western Fronts (August–September 1945), p. 69
  62. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0070-0010-0010-0030-0060.html 135th Independent Mixed Brigade (Fukyu)
  63. http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/glossary_en/term/0100-0040-0070-0010-0010-0030-0070.html 136th Independent Mixed Brigade (Fun'yaku)