List of Japanese military detachments in World War II

Detachments (支隊, shitai) were particular military formations of the Japanese Imperial Army. Detachments were a force of infantry, artillery, armor, and other support units which were temporarily assigned for independent action and had a special mission. Generally such units were named after a leader, for example the was named after Kiyonao Ichiki, and the Yasuoka Detachment was named after Masaomi Yasuoka. Some were named after a location, such as the Aoba Detachment. These designations also often referred to the core or main force under personal command of its operative chief within a division or another Army unit.

The Japanese Imperial Navy also used such formations in special assignments.

Infantry detachments[]

These units grouped not only infantry units, but usually included artillery, cavalry or armor, engineer and other support units as well.

South Seas Detachment - a brigade-size force formed in 1941 to be the army unit used in the Japanese seizure of the South Pacific island groups of Wake, Guam and the Gilberts. As part of the South Seas Force, it fell under Imperial Japanese Navy command and control. It was drawn from the 55th Division and was commanded by Major General Horii.
Matsumoto Force (led by LtCol. Matsumoto)
Yamamoto Unit (124th Infantry Regiment) (led by Colonel Yamamoto)
Kaneuji Unit (Commanded by Major Kaneuji)
Bodjonegoro Raiding Unit (also designated as Kitamura Force) (Led by LtCol. )
Tjepoe Raiding Unit (also designated as Tanaka Unit) (Guided by Colonel ) (see Tjepoe)
Abe Unit (Led for MjrGen. Koichi Abe)
Imai Unit (Commanded by Colonel )
(Led by Colonel Toshishige Shoji)^[1]
(Guided by MajGen Yumio Nasu)
(Command for Colonel )
(Led by Major )
(also Yamamoto Force) (led by MajGen )
(Commanded by MajGen Kiyonao Ichiki)
Kawaguchi Detachment (also Kawaguchi Force) (led by MajGen Kiyotake Kawaguchi)
(Commanded by MajGen Masutaro Nakai)
(led by MajGen )^[2]
(Commanded by MajGen Haruyoshi Hyakutate)
(Led by MajGen Tomitaro Horii)
Aoba Detachment (built around 4th Infantry Regiment, named after Mt. Aoba)
(sometimes Itoh Detachment) (Commanded by MajGen Takeo Itoh)
(also 2nd Nanyo Detachment Unit) (led by MajGen Yoshikazu Harada)
(Commanded by MajGen Rikao Yamagata)
(Hokkai Garrison Unit) (led by Mjr.Matsutoshi Hozumi and MajGen Juichiro Mineki)
Attu Garrison Unit (Commanded by Col. Yasuyo Yamazaki)
(led by MajGen Minoru Sasaki)
(commanded by LtGen. Tadayoshi Sano)
(led by LtCol. Kume)
(conformed by elements of 2nd Division, under Commander Sendai)

Armored detachments[]

These could be armored sections of infantry detachments or completely independent armor units.

Yasuoka Detachment
(Army Gr.)
1st Special Tank Company
Anai Tankette Unit
Iwashita Independent Tank Company
Special Tank Company of China Detachment Tank Unit
48th Recon Regiment
56th Infantry Group Tankette Unit
(Navy Gr.)
Makin Detachment of 3rd Naval Special Base Force
Kwajalein Armor Detachment of Sasebo 7th SNLF

Airborne detachments[]

Refers to Army airborne/paratroop detachments and units.

(Led by Captain Fumio Ohmura)
(Commanded by Commander Officer Kaoru)

References[]

^ Klemen, L (1999–2000). "Colonel Toshishige Shoji". Dutch East Indies Campaign website.
^ Klemen, L (1999–2000). "Major-General Shizuo Sakaguchi". Dutch East Indies Campaign website.

[1] Klemen, L (1999–2000). "Colonel Toshishige Shoji". Dutch East Indies Campaign website.

[2] Klemen, L (1999–2000). "Major-General Shizuo Sakaguchi". Dutch East Indies Campaign website.

[1]

[2]