4th Tank Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

4th Tank Division
Type 3 Chi-Nu tanks of the 4th Tank Division, with Type 3 Ho-Ni III self-propelled guns among them
Active1944–1945
Country Empire of Japan
BranchImperial Japanese Army
TypeArmored division
Garrison/HQChiba, Chiba
Nickname(s)鋼=Hagane (Steel)
EngagementsWorld War II

The 4th Tank Division (戦車第4師団, Sensha Dai-yon Shidan), was one of four armored divisions of the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II.

History

The 4th Tank Division was raised on July 6, 1944 in Chiba, near Tokyo.[2] It lacked both infantry and self-propelled gun regiments.[2] Similar to the German Panzer-Lehr-Division, it was created out of the training departments of the Armor School, Cavalry School, Field Artillery School and Military Engineering School of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy, its remaining students and staff. Assigned to the IJA 36th Army Corps, it was designated for the defense of the Japanese home islands against the projected Allied invasion.[1][2]

The 4th Tank Division was based in Fukuoka on Kyushu. It was equipped with the finest and most advanced armaments, including a "significant" number of Type 3 Chi-Nu medium tanks and Type 3 Ho-Ni III tank destroyers; these being available at its depot before the end of the war.[3] Following Japan's surrender on Sept 3, 1945, the 4th Tank Division was officially demobilized with the rest of the Imperial Japanese Army, without having seen combat.

Commanding officer

Name From To
1 Lieutenant General Shiori Nagura 8 July 1944 12 August 1945
2 Major General Prince Kan'in Haruhito 12 August 1945 16 August 1945
3 Lieutenant General Shiori Nagura 16 August 1945 30 September 1945

Structure (1945)

4th Tank Division (IJA) organization, 1945[4]

The 4th Tank Division, after being relocated to Japan in 1945, consisted of a division headquarters, three tank regiments (roughly battalion-sized), one machine gun cannon battalion (anti-aircraft), one motor transport battalion, and one signal company.[5]

  • Division Headquarters
  • 28th Tank Regiment
  • 29th Tank Regiment
  • 30th Tank Regiment
  • Machine Gun Cannon Battalion (20mm AA)
  • Motor Transport Battalion
  • Signal Company

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Zaloga 2007, p. 20.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Rottman & Takizawa 2008, p. 12.
  3. ^ Tomczyk 2005, p. 15.
  4. ^ Ness, Leland (2015). Rikugun: Guide to Japanese Ground Forces 1937-1945: Volume 1. Helion and Company.
  5. ^ Ness, Leland (2015). Rikugun: Guide to Japanese Ground Forces 1937-1945: Volume 1. Helion and Company.

References

  • Frank, Richard B (1999). Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-41424-X.
  • Jowett, Bernard (1999). The Japanese Army 1931-45 (Volume 2, 1942-45). Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-354-3.
  • Madej, Victor (1981). Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937–1945. Game Publishing Company. ASIN: B000L4CYWW.
  • Ness, Leland (2015). Rikugun: Guide to Japanese Ground Forces 1937-1945: Volume 1. Helion and Company. ISBN 9781912174577.
  • Rottman, Gordon L.; Takizawa, Akira (2008). World War II Japanese Tank Tactics. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1846032349.
  • Tomczyk, Andrzej (2005). Japanese Armor Vol. 4. AJ Press. ISBN 978-8372371676.
  • Zaloga, Steven J. (2007). Japanese Tanks 1939–45. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-8460-3091-8.