Order of battle of the Battle of Shanghai explained

The following is the order of battle of the forces involved in the Battle of Shanghai, during the opening stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Order of battle prior to August 13, 1937

China

National Revolutionary Army

• Wusung – Shanghai Siege Area (Aug. 7 1937)
• Nanking Shanghai Garrison – Zhang Zhizhong (50,000 men).

36th Division – Song Xilian [g]

87th Division – Wang Chingchin [g]

88th Division – Sun Yuanliang [g]

55th Division – Li Sungchan

56th Division – Liu Hoting (later Liu Shangchih)

57th Division – Yuan Chaochang [R]

20th Sep. Bde – Gen. Chen Mienwu

[g] German trained Reorganized Divisions

[R] Reorganized Divisions

• Shanghai City demilitarised on Chinese side according to Shanghai Ceasefire Agreement (1932)

• Wusong-Shanghai Garrison Units (Peace Preservation Corps)

Centralized Chinese Air Force Units (includes former aviators of various warlord air forces and Chinese-American Volunteers)

• Zhoujiakou Airbase, Zhoukou, Henan – 4th Pursuit Group - Col. Gao Zhihang (21st, 22nd, 23rd Pursuit Squadrons).
• Jurong Airbase, Nanjing, Jiangsu - 3rd Pursuit Group - Capt. Wong Pan-Yang (8th, 17th Pursuit Squadrons and 34th Provisional PS) - 5th Pursuit Group - Capt. Chan Kee-Wong (28th PS)

Japan

Imperial Japanese Navy

3rd Fleet : Admiral Hasegawa Kiyoshi

• Flagship: Izumo (Izumo class armoured cruiser)
• Notoro (seaplane tender)
  • 8 Nakajima E8N Reconnaissance float aircraft
• 11th (Gunboat) Sentai - Rear Admiral Tanimoto Umataro
  • Flagship: Yaeyama (minelayer)
  • Ataka (Gunboat)
  • Katada (Gunboat)
  • Sumida (Gunboat)
  • Kuri (Momi class destroyer)
  • Hozu (Gunboat)
  • Futami (Gunboat)
  • Kotaka (Gunboat)
  • Tsuga (Momi class destroyer)
  • Hasu (Momi class destroyer)
  • Atami (Gunboat)
  • Seta (Gunboat
  • Toba (Gunboat)
  • Hira (Gunboat)
• 8th (Cruiser) Sentai - Rear Admiral Nagumo
  • • • • • Flagship: Kinu Natori Yura
• 1st (Destroyer) Sentai - Rear Admiral Yoshida
  • Sendai
• Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force - Rear Admiral Denshichi Okawachi

• 1st Battalion - Lt. Cdr. Uroku Hashimoto

• 2nd Battalion - Lt. Shigeshi Sano

• 3rd Battalion - Lt. Shegeru Ito

• 4th Battalion - Artillery unit, Disbanded at the outbreak of war, guns were dispersed to the infantry units.

• 9th Battalion - Lt. Cdr. Torashige Tsukioka

10th Battalion - Lt. Cdr Haji Kitaro

Prior to hostilities: Total force (2,500 men)

• Special Naval Landing Force reinforcements as of 8/1/37 from 3rd Fleet

• 8th Sentai NLF

• 1st Destroyer Sentai NLF

• 3rd Destroyer Sentai NLF

• Izumo NLF

• Reservists and volunteers (5000 men)

• 1st Reserve Infantry Regiment

• 2nd Reserve Infantry Regiment

(Armed reservists were men in civilian clothes distinguished by a brassard)

• Notes:

Third Fleet operated in Central and South China waters.

11th Squadron evacuated Japanese civilians from the interior to Shanghai during July and early August.

Order of battle soon after August 13, 1937

China

National Revolutionary Army

3rd Military Region - Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (20 Aug 1937)

Wusung – Shanghai Siege Area

• 9th Group Army - Gen. Zhang Zhizhong

• 36th Division - Gen. Song Xilian [g]

• 56th Division - Gen. Liu Hoting

• 87th Division - Gen. Wang Chingchin [g]

• 88th Division - Gen. Sun Yuanliang [g]

• 20th Separate Brigade - Gen. Chen Mienwu

• Training Division (part) - Gen Huei Yungching

• Wusong-Shanghai Garrison Units (Peace Preservation Corps)

• 10th Heavy Artillery Regiment [sFH 18 L/32 150mm Howitzer]

• 3rd Artillery Regiment

• 8th Artillery Regiment

• 2 Heavy Mortar Units

• 2 Anti-tank batteries

• 1 Light Tank Battalion

Yangtze River Right Bank Garrison Sector

• 54th Army – Gen. Huo Kweichang

• 11th Division – Gen. Peng Shan [R]

• 14th Division - Gen. Chen Lie [g]

• 67th Division - Gen. Huang Wei [R]

• 16th Artillery Regiment (under command of Siege Area)

Yangtze River Left Bank Garrison Sector

• 57th Army – Miao Chengliu

• 111th Division – Gen. Chen Ento

• 112th Division – Gen. Huo Shuoyi

Hangzhou Bay Left Bank Garrison Sector

• 8th Group Army – Gen. Zhang Fakui

• 61st Division – Gen. Chung Sung

• 62nd Division – Gen. Tao Liu

• 55th Division – Gen. Li Sungshan

• 57th Division – Gen. Yuan Shaochang [R]

• 45th Separate Brigade – Gen. Chan Luanchi

• 2nd Artillery Regt.

East Zhejiang Garrison Sector

• 10th Group Army – Gen. Liu Jianxu

• 16th Division – Gen. Peng Shungling

• 63rd Division – Gen. Chen Kuangchung

• 19th Division – Gen. Li Chue

• 52nd Division – Gen. Lu Xinjung

• New 34th Division (128th Division) - Gen. Gu Chiachi

• 37th Separate Brigade – Gen. Chen The-fa

• 11th Provisional Brigade – Gen Chou Xiching

• 12th Provisional Brigade – Gen. Li Kuochun

• 13th Provisional Brigade – Gen. Yang Yungching

[g] German trained Reorganized Divisions

[R] Reorganized Divisions

Chinese Air Force Units - includes former aviators of various warlord air forces plus Chinese-American Volunteers

• Jianqiao Airbase, Hangzhou, Zhejiang – 4th Pursuit Group - Col. Gao Zhihang (21st, 22nd, 23rd Pursuit Squadrons); Capt. Li Guidan assumed command of the 4th PG following Col. Gao's combat injuries sustained on 15 August, that put him out of action for two months.
• Jurong Airbase, Nanjing, Jiangsu - 3rd Pursuit Group - Capt. Wong Pan-Yang (8th, 17th Pursuit Squadrons and 34th Provisional PS) - 5th Pursuit Group - Capt. Chan Kee-Wong (28th PS)

Japan

Imperial Japanese Navy

• Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force - Rear Admiral Denshichi Okawachi

• 1st Battalion

• 2nd Battalion

• 3rd Battalion

• 4th Battalion

• 9th Battalion
• Special Naval Landing Force reinforcements as of 1 Aug from 3rd Fleet

• 8th Sentai NLF

• 1st Destroyer Sentai NLF

• 3rd Destroyer Sentai NLF

• Izumo NLF
• Special Naval Landing Force reinforcements 18 - 19 Aug

• 5th Battalion (Sasebo 1st SNLF, 16th Destroyer Division)

• 6th Battalion (Kure 2nd SNLF)

• 7th Battalion (Kure 1st SNLF)

• 8th Battalion (Yokosuka 1st SNLF, 11th Sentai)

• Total Naval personnel 8/19/37 (5000 men)

• Reservists and volunteers (5000 men)

• 1st Reserve Infantry Regiment

• 2nd Reserve Infantry Regiment

(Armed reservists were men in civilian clothes distinguished by a brassard)

• Total force defending the settlement 10,000 men

Imperial Japanese Army

• Shanghai Expeditionary Force – Gen. Iwane Matsui (16 Aug 1937)

• 5th Tank Battalion - Colonel Hosomi

32 Type 89 Medium Tanks, 15 Type 94 Tankettes

• 7th Independent Machine Gun Battalion

• 8th Independent Light Armor Company

• 9th Independent Light Armor Company

• Independent Light Armor Company

• 10th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment

• 24 Type 4 150mm Howitzers

• 4th Army Mortar Battalion

• 150mm mortars (1887) [Taki/PWf]

• Field Operations Anti-aircraft Artillery 3 platoons

• Field Air Defense Team 3rd Battery

• 8th Independent Army Engineer Regiment

• 6th Independent Air Squadron

• Shanghai Dispatch Signal Unit

• 5th Independent Heavy Artillery Brigade

• 48 150mm Howitzers

• 6th Independent heavy artillery Brigade

• 13th Field Heavy Artillery Regiments, 24 Type 4 15cm Howitzers

• 14th Field Heavy Artillery Regiments, 24 Type 4 15cm Howitzers

• Army Logistics Depot

• 3rd Division - Lt. Gen. Fujita (Landed on Aug. 23rd)

• 5th Infantry Brigade

• 6th Infantry Regiment

• 68th Infantry Regiment

• 29th Infantry Brigade

• 18th Infantry Regiment

• 34th Infantry Regiment

• 3rd Field Artillery Regiment

• 3rd Cavalry Regiment

• 3rd Engineer Regiment

• 3rd Transport Regiment

• 11th Division - Lt. Gen. Yamamuro (Landed on Aug. 23rd)

• 10th Infantry Brigade

• 12th Infantry Regiment

• 22nd Infantry Regiment

• 22nd Infantry Brigade

• 43rd Infantry Regiment

• 44th Infantry Regiment

• 11th Mountain Artillery Regiment

• 11th Cavalry Regiment

• 11th Engineer Regiment

• 11th Transport Regiment

• 101st Division - Lt. Gen. Ito (Arrived Sept 7-16, Landed on Sep. 22nd)

• 101st Infantry Brigade

• 101st Infantry Regiment

• 149th Infantry Regiment

• 102nd Infantry Brigade

• 103rd Infantry Regiment

• 157th Infantry Regiment

• 101st Field Artillery Regiment

• 101st Cavalry Regiment

• 101st Engineer Regiment

• 101st Transport Regiment

• 9th Division - Lt. Gen. Yoshizumi (Landed on Sep. 27th)

• 6th Infantry Brigade

• 7th Infantry Regiment

• 35th Infantry Regiment

• 18th Infantry Brigade

• 19th Infantry Regiment

• 36th Infantry Regiment

• 9th Mountain Artillery Regiment

• 9th Cavalry Regiment

• 9th Engineer Regiment

• 9th Transport Regiment

• 13th Division - Lt. Gen. Ogisu (reinforcements late Aug., Landed on Oct. 1st)

• 26th Infantry Brigade

• 58th Infantry Regiment

• 116th Infantry Regiment

• 103rd Infantry Brigade

• 65th Infantry Regiment

• 104th Infantry Regiment

• 19th Mountain Artillery Regiment

• 17th Cavalry Regiment

• 13th Engineer Regiment

• 13th Transport Regiment

Later forces

Chinese forces after late September, 1937

National Revolutionary Army3rd War Area - Generalisimo Chiang Kai-skek (after late Sept. 1937)

• 8th Group Army - General Zhang Fakui

• 28th Army - Tao Kuang

• 62nd Division – Tao Kuang

• 63rd Division – Chen Kuangchung

• 55th Division – Li Sungchan

• 45th Separate Brigade – Chang Luanchi

• Artillery Btn., Training Div.

• 10th Group Army - Liu Jianxu

• 11th Reserve Division – Hu –Ta

• 128th Division – Ku Chiachi

• 45th Division – Tai Minchuan

• 52nd Division – Lu Xinjung

• 11th Temporary Brigade – Chou Xiching

• 12th Temporary Brigade – Li Kuochun

• 37th Separate Brigade - Chen Thefa

• Guard Regiment – ?

• Ningpo Defense Commander – Wan Kaolan

• 9th Group Army - Zhu Shaoliang

• 88th Division – Sun Yuanliang[g]

• Peace Preservation Group

• 1st Regiment, 20th Separate Brigade

• 78th Army – Song Xilian

• 36th Division – Song Xilian[g]

• 71st Army – Wang Chingchin

• 87th Division – Wang Chingchin[g]

• 8th Army – Huang Chie

• 61st Division – Chung Sung

• Salt Gabelle Division – Huang Chie

• 3rd Division – Li Yutang[g]

• 18th Division – Chu Yao-hua

• Shanghai Garrison Command - Yang Hu

• 1st Battalion 3rd Regiment, 2nd Artillery Brigade

• 2 Heavy Mortar Units

• 2 Anti-tank batteries

• 1 Light tank Battalion
• 21st Group Army - Liao Lei

• 1st Army – Hu Zongnan

• 1st Division - Li Tiechun

• 32nd Division - Wang Xiushen

• 78th Division - Li Wen

• 48th Army – Wei Yunsung

• 173rd Division - Huo Weichen

• 174th Division - Wang Tsanpin

• 176th Division - Ou Shounien

• 171st Division – Yang Cunchang

• 19th Division – Li Chue

• 16th Division - Peng Sungling

• Left Wing Force - General Chen Cheng

• 19th Group Army – Xue Yue

• 66th Army – Ye Zhao

• 159th Division – Tan Sui

• 160th Division – Ye Zhao

• 75th Army – Chao Ai

• 6th Division – Chao Ai[g]

• 2nd Army – Li Yannian

• 9th Division – Li Yannian[g]

• 25th Army – Wan Yaohuang

• 13th Division – Wan Yaohuang

• 20th Army – Yang Sen

• 133rd Division – Yang Hanyu

• 134th Division – Yang Hanchung

• 69th Army – Yuan Chaochang

• 57th Division – Yuan Chaochang[R]

• 15th Group Army – Luo Zhuoying

• 44th Division – Chen Yung

• 16th Artillery Regiment

• 16th Corps – Luo Zhuoying

• 18th Army - Luo Zhuoying

• 60th Division - Chen Pei

• 11th Division - Peng Shan[R]

• 67th Division - Huag Wei[R]

• 54th Army - Huo Kueichang

• 14th Division - Chen Lie[g]

• 98th Division - Hisa Chuchung

• 74th Army - Yu Chishi

• 51st Division - Wang Yaowu

• 58th Division - Yu Chishih

• 39th Army – Liu Ho-ting

• 34th Separate Brigade. – Lo Chichiang

• 56th Division - Liu Shangchih

• 4th Army – Wu Chi-wei

• 90th Division – Ou Chen

• 73rd Army – Wang Tungyuan

• 15th Division – Wang Chihpin

• 15th Corps – Liu Xing

• 102 Division - Po Huichang

• 103 Division - Ho Chihchung

• 53 Division - Li Yunheng

• 23 Division - Li Pifan

• 57th Army – Miao Chengliu

• 111th Division - Chang Entuo

• 112th Division - Huo Shouyi
• River Defence Forces - Gen. Liu Xing

• Chiangyin Fortress Command - Xu Kang

• Chenchiang Fortress Command - Lin Xienyang

• 2nd Regiment Kiangsu Peace Preservation Force

• 1st Battalion 8th Artillery Regiment

• 11th Corps - Shangguan Yunxiang

• 40th Division - Liu Peixu

• 33rd Division - Ma Xingxien

• 12th Corps - Chang Fang

• 76th Division - Wang Lingyun

• 43rd Army - Kuo Jutung

• 26th Div. - Liu Yuching

• 1st Battalion 3rd Artillery Regiment

• 4th Artillery Regiment

• 1st Battalion 10th Heavy Artillery Regiment [sFH 18 L/32 150mm How]

Notes:

[g] German trained Reorganized Divisions:

[R] Reorganized Divisions

Japanese forces from October 29, 1937

Imperial Japanese Army

Central China Front Army – Gen. Iwane Matsui

(was formed on Oct. 29th 1937 to coordinate the Shanghai Expeditionary Army and

the 10th Army.)

• Shanghai Expeditionary Force - Gen. Iwane Matsui,

• See previous order of battle

• 16th Division – Gen. Kesao Nakashima (from N. China Nov 12/37, landed at Pai mao kou)

• 19th Infantry Brigade

• 9th Infantry Regiment

• 20th Infantry Regiment

• 30th Infantry Brigade

• 33rd Infantry Regiment

• 38th Infantry Regiment

• 22nd Field Artillery Regiment

• 20th Cavalry Regiment

• 16th Engineer Regiment

• 16th Transport Regiment

• Shigeto Detachment - Major Gen. Shigeto (arrived Sept 7-16 from Formosa)

• Regiment sized, was later expanded into the Formosa Mixed Brigade. Nov 12/37, landed at Pai mao kou)

• ? Manchukuoan Brigade - Li Chung-shan (arrived Sept. 7-16)

• ? Manchukuoan Brigade - Yu Chih-shan (arrived Sept. 7-16)

• 10th Army – Major Gen. Heisuke Yamagawa (Nov. 5th landing at Chin shan wei)

• 9th Independent Light Armor Company [Taki/ PWf]

• 2nd Independent Mountain Gun Regiment[Taki/ PWf]

• 6th Independent Heavy Artillery Brigade [CDF] [Taki/ PWf]

• 13th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, 24 Type 4 15cm Howitzers

• 14th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, 24 Type 4 15cm Howitzers

• 6th Division - Lt. Gen. Tani

• 11th Infantry Brigade

• 13th Infantry Regiment

• 47th Infantry Regiment

• 36th Infantry Brigade

• 23rd Infantry Regiment

• 45th Infantry Regiment

• 6th Field Artillery Regiment

• 6th Cavalry Regiment

• 6th Engineer Regiment

• 6th Transport Regiment

• 18th Division - Lt. Gen. Ushijima

• 23rd Infantry Brigade

• 55th Infantry Regiment

• 56th Infantry Regiment

• 35th Infantry Brigade

• 114th Infantry Regiment

• 124th Infantry Regiment

• 18th Mountain Artillery Regiment

• 22nd Cavalry Battalion

• 12th Engineer Regiment

• 12th Transport Regiment

• 114th Division - Lt. Gen. Suematsu

• 127th Infantry Brigade

• 66th Infantry Regiment

• 115th Infantry Regiment

• 128th Infantry Brigade

• 102nd Infantry Regiment

• 150th Infantry Regiment

• 120th Field Artillery Regt

• 118th Cavalry Regiment

• 114th Engineer Regiment

• 114th Transport Regiment

• Kunizaki Detachment - Gen. Kunisaki (from North China)

• 9th Infantry Brigade/5th Division

• 11th Infantry Regiment

• 41st Infantry Regiment

• with elements of:

5th Mountain Artillery Regiment

5th Cavalry Regiment

5th Engineer Regiment

5th Transport Regiment

Sources

• 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. Pg. 200 - 214, Map 7.
• Jowett, Phillip S., Rays of The Rising Sun, Armed Forces of Japan’s Asian Allies 1931-45, Volume I: China & Manchuria, 2004. Helion & Co. Ltd., 26 Willow Rd., Solihull, West Midlands, England.
• Sino-Japanese Air War 1937-45
• History of the Frontal War Zone in the Sino-Japanese War, published by Nanjing University Press.
  • [g] German trained Reorganized Divisions:

3rd, 6th, 9th, 14th, 36th, 87th, 88th, and the Training Division of the Central Military Academy.

Also the "Tax Police" regiment (equivalent of a division) under T.V. Soong's Ministry of Finance, later converted to the New 38th Division during the war, were German armed and trained by German officers.

• • [R] Reorganized Divisions were the other 12 other Divisions with Chinese arms on the reorganized model with 2 German advisors:

2nd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 25th, 27th, 57th, 67th, 80th, 83rd, 89th Division

• Madej, W. Victor, Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols], Allentown, PA: 1981.

External links

• Monograph 144 Chapter II
• Chinese_Tank_Forces_and_Battles_before_1945
• Taki’s IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY PAGE
• Forum: Pacific War 1941-1945, discussion about Shanghai Defense force Aug. 11 1937
• Photos of the Shanghai fighting 1937