Independent Mixed Brigades (Imperial Japanese Army)

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.[1]

Independent Mixed Brigades
独立混成旅団
Active1937–1945
Country Empire of Japan
BranchJapanese Imperial Army
TypeMixed Brigade
RoleOccupation forces
Size5,000 to 11,000 troops
EngagementsSecond Sino-Japanese War
World War II

History

The first two of these Independent Mixed Brigades formed by the Kwangtung 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

Kwangtung Army

Brigades formed for the Second Sino-Japanese War and Pacific War
NumberTimelineNotes
1Taiyuan, 1937 – Iwo Jima, 1944-
2Iwo Jima, 1944split from 109th division
3North China, 1941–1945, 1st army-
4Taiyuan, 1943became 62nd division
5Shandong, 1939–1941, 12th army-
6Taiyuan, 1941–1943, 12th armybecame 62nd division
71941, 12th army – 1944, Henanbecame 115th division
8North China, 1941 – Chengde, 1945-
9North China, 1941-
10Jinan, 1941, 12th army-
11Taiyuan, 1937; Battle of West Henan–North Hubei, 19452 separate units, formed in 1937 and 1939
12Taiyuan, 1937,[3] Chuzhou, 1939-
13Lu'an, 1943became 65th division
14Jiangxi, 1942became 68th division
15Taiyuan, 1937[3]-
16Linfen, 1942became 69th division
171941, 13th army – 1945, 6th area army-
18Dangyang, 1940-
19Guangzhou, 1941, 23rd armybecame 129th and 130th divisions
20Ningbo, 1942became 70th division
21French Indochina, 1941detached from 104th division
22Guangzhou, 1941, 23rd army-
231945, 23rd army-
24Myitkyina, 1944-
25Sumatra, January 1944, 25th army[4]-
26south Sumatra, January 1944, 25th army – Singapore, May 1945[5]-
27Jakarta, 1944, 16th armyTaiwan mixed brigade
28eastern Java, 1944, 16th army[6]-
29Bangkok, December 1943 – Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, August 1944[7]-
30Shanghai, 1943 – Mindanao, 1944[8]became 100th division
31Bohol, June 1944[9]became 102nd division
32Baguio, July 1943[10]became 103rd division
33Luzon, 1944[11]became 105th division
34Nanjing, 1943 – Saigon, 1944[12]-
35Tokyo, 1944 – Andaman Islands, 1945, 29th armydo not confuse with Kawaguchi Detachment
36Tokyo, 1944 – Nicobar Islands, 1945, 29th army-
37Osaka, 1944 – Malaysia, 1945, 29th army-
38Bouganville, 1944-
39Solomon Islands, 1944 – 1945, 41st Army-
40Solomon Islands, 1944-
43Iturup, 1945became 89th division
44Okinawa, 1945-
45Okinawa, 1945-
46Taipei, 1944became 66th division
47Saipan, 1944-
48Guam, As Sombreru Pillboxes, 1944-
49Palau minor islands, Yap and Fais Island, May 1944-
50Woleai-
51Chuuk Lagoon, Mortlock Islands-
52Ponape Island, May 1944-
53Palau Islands-
54Leyte, 1944, 14th area army-
55Leyte, 1944, 14th area army-
56Borneo, 1944-
57Jolo, 1944[13]-
58Luzon, 1944, 14th area armysplit from 47th division
59Okinawa, 1945-
60Mudanjiang, August 1944 – Miyako-jima, September 1944[14]-
61China, 1944 – Taiwan, August 1944[15] – Luzon, 1944, 14th area army – July 1945, Babuyan Islands, 10th area army[16]-
62Fuzhou, 1944[17]-
64Yamaguchi, 1944 – Amami Ōshima, 1945[18]-
65Hiroshima, 1941 – Guadalcanal, 1942 – Rabaul, 1944[19]-
661945, 6th army – August 1945, Nii-jima, 12th area army-
67August 1945, Hachijō-jima, 12th area army-
68Keelung, July 1944 – Leyte, December 1944[20]-
69Hokkaido, 1945became 89th division
70Saigon, December 1944 – Malaysia, 1945, 29th army[21]
71Kota Kinabalu, May 1944 – Kuching, February 1945[22]-
72Thanbyuzayat, 1944[23]-
73Sunwu County, October 1944became 123rd division
75Hengchun, 26 October 1944[24][25] – Penghu, January 1945, 40th army – Hsinchu, June 1945[26]forced beaching at Hengchun
76Keelung, January 1945, 10th area army[27]-
77Taiwan, 1944[24]became 135th division
78Jiamusi, July 1945became 134th division
79Mudanjiang, March 1945, 3rd area army[28]-
80Hailar, April 1945 – Jalainur, August 1945, 4th army[29]-
81Xiangtan, March 1945, 20th army[30]-
82Zhuzhou, March 1945, 20th army[31]-
83Hankou, March 1945, 6th area army[32]-
84Jiujiang, March 1945, 6th area army[33]-
85Yingcheng, March 1945, 6th area army[34]-
86Xiangxi, April 1945, 20th army[35]-
87Hengyang, April 1945, 20th army[36]-
88Guangxi, April 1945, 11th army[37]-
89Jinhua, August 1944 – Fenghua, August 1945, 6th armysplit from 60th division[38]
90Yangzhou, February 1945, 10th army[39] or 13th army[40]contradictory data
91Ningbo, February 1944, 6th army[41]-
92Datong, February 1945, 13th army – Xuzhou, August 1945[42]-
95Hachinohe, 1945, 50th army-
966 February 1945, Tokyo – August 1945, Tateyama, Army of Tokyo Bay-
97Fujieda, Shizuoka, 1945, 54th army-
98Koyama, 1945, 57th army-
100Kaohsiung, 1945, 10th area army[43]-
101Shibetsu, February 1945 – Hayakita, Hokkaido, 7 May 1945, 5th area army[44]assigned to 77th division, 11 February 1945[45]
102Hualien, February 1945, 10th area army[46]split from 66th division
103Kaohsiung, February 1945, 10th area army – Taipei, May 1945[47]-
105Yangon, February 1945[48]-
107Gotō, Nagasaki, 1945, 16th area army-
108Jejudo, April 1945, 58th army[49]-
109Tanegashima, 1945, 57th army[50]-
112Yilan, April 1945, 10th area army[51]-
113Iwaki, 1945, 11th area army-
11423 May 1945, Nagano- August 1945, Yokosuka, Army of Tokyo Bay-
115Shibasaki, 1945, 51st army-
116Hokota, 1945, 51st army-
117Numazu, Shizuoka, 1945, 53rd army-
118Saiki, Ōita, 1945, 16th area army-
119Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 1945, 54th army-
120Shimizu, Shizuoka, 1945, 54th army-
121Gobō, Wakayama, 1945, 15th area army – Tokushima, August 1945, 55th Armyreplaced by 123rd Independent Mixed Brigade in Gobō
122Nagasaki, 1945, 16th area army-
123Gobō, Wakayama, 23 May 1945, 15th area army[52]-
124Shimonoseki, 1945, 59th army-
125Ibusuki, Kagoshima, May 1945, 40th army-
126Amakusa, 1945, 16th area army-
127Busan, May 1945 – Ulsan, August 1945[53]-
128north-east Halmahera, May 1945[54]-
129Urup, 1945[55]split from 42nd division
130Liaoning, July 1945, 3rd area army[56]-
131Harbin, July 1945, 4th army[57]-
132Dongning, July 1945, 3rd army[58]assigned to 128th division, August 1945
133Siping, July 1945, 34th army[59]-
134Jinzhou, July 1945, 3rd area army[60] – Linjiang, August 1945assigned to 125th division[61]
135Aihui, July 1945, 4th army[62]-
136Nencheng, July 1945 – Qiqihar, August 1945, 4th army[63]-
  • (list is believed to be complete)
8
7
5
6
4
3
2
1
4
1GD
2GD
3GD
354
344
322
321
316
312
308
303
234
231
230
229
225
355
224
222
221
216
214
212
209
206
202
201
157
156
155
154
153
152
151
150
147
146
145
144
143
142
140
93
89
86
84
81
77
73
72
57
351
44
42
28
25
11
205
7
64
66
67
95
96
97
98
101
107
109
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
Independent Mixed Brigade
Infantry Division (including guard divisions)
Independent Armored Brigade
Armored division
Japanese infantry and armored units in Home Islands, 15 August 1945

See also

Bibliography
  • Victor Madej: Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937–1945. Game Publishing, 1981, OCLC 833591372, OCLC 833591376.
  • Philip Jowett: The Japanese Army 1931–45 (1) Osprey Publishing, 2002, ISBN 978-1-8417-6353-8
  • Gordon Rottman: Japanese Army in World War II, Conquest of the Pacific Osprey Publishing, 2005, ISBN 978-1-8417-6789-5
  • Gordon Rottman: Japanese Army in World War II, The South Pacific and New Guinea, 1942–43 Osprey Publishing, 2005, ISBN 978-1-8417-6870-0

References
  1. Rottman Japanese Army in World War II, The South Pacific and New Guinea, p. 18
  2. Ness, Leland (2015). Rikugun: Guide to Japanese Ground Forces 1937–1945: Volume 1: Tactical Organization of Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Ground Forces. Helion. p. 178. ISBN 9781912174577.
  3. "Japanese Forces Battle of Taiyan September through November 1937" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  4. 25th Independent Mixed Brigade (Ban)
  5. 26th Independent Mixed Brigade (Gaku)
  6. 28th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kei)
  7. 29th Independent Mixed Brigade (Tai)
  8. IJA Landing Craft Depot Ship SHINSHU MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
  9. IJN LST T.101: Tabular Record of Movement
  10. 103rd Division (Shun)
  11. IJN TEIA MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
  12. 34th Independent Mixed Brigade (Iku)
  13. IJA Transport MEXICO MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
  14. 60th Independent Mixed Brigade (Koma)
  15. KENJO MARU Tabular Record of Movement
  16. 61st Independent Mixed Brigade (Yoroi)
  17. RISING STORM – THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY AND CHINA 1931–1941
  18. 64th Independent Mixed Brigade (Tama)
  19. 65th Independent Mixed Brigade (Natsu)
  20. 68th Independent Mixed Brigade (Hoshi)
  21. 70th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kakan)
  22. 71st Independent Mixed Brigade (Kanto)
  23. 72nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Kantetsu)
  24. Japanese Forces Formosa 1 January 1945
  25. IJN Subchaser CH-38:Tabular Record of Movement
  26. 75th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kyo)
  27. 76th Independent Mixed Brigade (Tsu)
  28. 79th Independent Mixed Brigade (Jobu)
  29. 80th Independent Mixed Brigade (Eihou/Hikari)
  30. 81st Independent Mixed Brigade (Shikyo)
  31. 82nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Shiretsu)
  32. 83rd Independent Mixed Brigade (Shimou)
  33. 84th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shiyu)
  34. 85th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shiketsu)
  35. 86th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shusou)
  36. 87th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shindo)
  37. 88th Independent Mixed Brigade (Chuten)
  38. 89th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shijun)
  39. 90th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shinrai)
  40. Japanese China Expeditionary Army Forces in China Late April 1945
  41. 91st Independent Mixed Brigade (Chiku)
  42. 92nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Shiken)
  43. 100th Independent Mixed Brigade (Banjaku)
  44. 101st Independent Mixed Brigade (Tatsu)
  45. "勇払平野の防御陣地". Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  46. 102nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Hachiman)
  47. 103rd Independent Mixed Brigade (Hachiku)
  48. 105th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kan'i)
  49. 108th Independent Mixed Brigade (Sui)
  50. Japanese 16th Army Homeland Defense June–August 1945
  51. 112th Independent Mixed Brigade (Raijin)
  52. "独立混成第１２３旅団". Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  53. 127th Independent Mixed Brigade (Sodan)
  54. 128th Independent Mixed Brigade (Kai)
  55. 129th Independent Mixed Brigade (Takane)
  56. 130th Independent Mixed Brigade (Fun'yaku)
  57. 131st Independent Mixed Brigade (Funshin)
  58. 132nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Funsen)
  59. 133rd Independent Mixed Brigade (Fukuju)
  60. 134th Independent Mixed Brigade (Funrei)
  61. Record of Operations Against Soviet Russia Northern and Western Fronts (August–September 1945), p. 69
  62. 135th Independent Mixed Brigade (Fukyu)
  63. 136th Independent Mixed Brigade (Fun'yaku)

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