Order of battle of Battle of Wuhan

Japanese tankettes with pioneer troops marching towards Wu-han

Chinese troops crossing the Yellow River in June 1938, the river was deliberately flooded by Chinese forces to buy time to defend Wuhan.

Below are the units and commanders that participated in the Battle of Wuhan, also called the Wuchang–Hankou campaign, fought from early June through November 12, 1938, a phase of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Japan

Ground forces

Imperial Japanese Army (mid-July 1938) ^[1][2]

Naval forces

One hundred vessels, including over 30 naval craft armed with medium-caliber artillery, were gathered. The landing force for Anqing was composed of one infantry brigade, a marine landing battalion, artillery, engineers and chemical elements, totaling about 12,000 men and 80 to 90 guns. The squadron comprised 40 units, including destroyers, minesweepers, naval and river gunboats and blockade boats. Twenty steamboats transported the troops designated to make the landing.^[4]

3rd Fleet and China Area Fleet - Adm. Oiakwa Koshiro

China Area fleet: - Vice Adm. Kiyoshi Hasegawa

Izumo (F) (Izumo class armoured cruiser)

4-20.3 cm gun (2x2), 14-15.2 cm QF gun (1x14), 12-12pdr QF gun (1x12),8-2.5pdr QF gun (1x8), 4–45 cm TT

Iwate (Izumo class armoured cruiser)

4-20.3 cm gun (2x2), 14-15.2 cm QF gun (1x14), 12-12pdr QF gun (1x12),8-2.5pdr QF gun (1x8), 4–45 cm TT

One of these cruisers was detached to Yosuko Force to bombard Matang, both to bombard Matou.

11th Sentai (gunboat flotilla) - Rear Adm. Eijiro Kondo 12/37-12/38

flagship Ataka (Gunboat)

2–12 cm/45cal gun, 2–8 cm/40cal gun, 6 MGs. (1933 May 20, Ataka was incorporated into the 11th squadron as its flagship.)

Kuri (2nd Class Destroyer) 3 x 12 cm/45cal gun, 2 x 7.7 mm MGs, 4 x 53 cm TT (2x2)

Tsuga (2nd Class Destroyer) 3–12 cm/45cal gun, 2-7.7 mm MGs, 4–53 cm TT (2x2)

Hasu (2nd Class Destroyer) 3–12 cm/45cal gun, 2-7.7 mm MGs, 4–53 cm TT (2x2

Yaeyama (minelayer) 2–12 cm/45cal gun, 2 MGs, 185 mines (maybe with 12th Sentai?)

Hozu (Gunboat) 2–8 cm/40cal gun, 3 or 6–13 mm MG

Katada (Gunboat) 2–8 cm/40cal gun, 3 or 6–13 mm MG

Atami (Gunboat) 1–8 cm/28cal gun, 6 MGs

Seta (Gunboat) 2–8 cm/40cal gun, 3 or 6–13 mm MG

Toba (Gunboat) 2–8 cm/28cal gun, 6 MGs

Hira (Gunboat) 2–8 cm/40cal gun, 3 or 6–13 mm MG

Futami (Gunboat) 1–8 cm/28cal gun, 6 MGs

Sumida (Gunboat) 2–47 mm/40cal gun, 4 MGs

Kotaka (Gunboat) 5 MGs

Saga (Gunboat) 1–12 cm/45cal gun, 3–8 cm/40cal gun, 3 MGs. (Saga was incorporated into the 3rd fleet 11th squadron on 1937 October 20.)

1st Sentai

1st Destroyer Torpedoboat Unit - ?

Kasasagi, (Otori class torpedo boat) 3–12 cm/45cal gun (1x3), 1–40 mm AA, 3–53 cm TT (1x3)

Hiyodori, (Otori class torpedo boat) 3–12 cm/45cal gun (1x3), 1–40 mm AA, 3–53 cm TT (1x3)

Otori, (Otori class torpedo boat) 3–12 cm/45cal gun (1x3), 1–40 mm AA, 3–53 cm TT (1x3)

Hayabusa) (Otori class torpedo boat) 3–12 cm/45cal gun (1x3), 1–40 mm AA, 3–53 cm TT (1x3)

11th Torpedoboat Unit

Kari (Otori class torpedo boat) 3–12 cm/45cal gun (1x3), 1–40 mm AA, 3–53 cm TT (1x3)

Sagi (Otori class torpedo boat) 3–12 cm/45cal gun (1x3), 1–40 mm AA, 3–53 cm TT (1x3)

Hato (Otori class torpedo boat) 3–12 cm/45cal gun (1x3), 1–40 mm AA, 3–53 cm TT (1x3)

? Kiji (Otori class torpedo boat) 3–12 cm/45cal gun (1x3), 1–40 mm AA, 3–53 cm TT (1x3)

21st Torpedoboat Unit

Chidori (Chidori class torpedo boat) 3–12 cm/45cal gun (1x3), 1-7.7 mm AA, 2–53 cm TT (2x1)

Manazuru (Chidori class torpedo boat) 3–12 cm/45cal gun (1x3), 1-7.7 mm AA, 2–53 cm TT (2x1)

Tomozuru (Chidori class torpedo boat) 3–12 cm/45cal gun (1x3), 1-7.7 mm AA, 2–53 cm TT (2x1)

Hatsukari (Chidori class torpedo boat) 3–12 cm/45cal gun (1x3), 1-7.7 mm AA, 2–53 cm TT (2x1)

12th Sentai (minelayer) ?

1st Minesweeper Unit 1awg = Tsubame - Kamone - Sugi maru - Kashiwa maru

Tsubame (Tsubame class minelayer) 1–8 cm/40cal AA gun, 1-13.2 mm AA, 120 mines

Kamone (Tsubame class minelayer) 1–8 cm/40cal AA gun, 1-13.2 mm AA, 120 mines

Yamasemi (torpedo boat) 2–8 cm QF gun, 2–47 mm QF gun, 2–45 cm TT (detached from Torpedoboat Sentai?)

Sugi maru (Military used merchantmen minesweeper ?)

Kashiwa maru (Military used merchantmen minesweeper ?)

2nd Minesweeper Unit 2 awg = Kotaka and Minor/Smaller craft

Kotaka (Gunboat) 5 MGs (detached from 11th Sentai)

Daihatsu, Shohatsu and other small craft

#3 Flying Group (Kosen or Koku Sentai), 3rd Fleet.

Kamikawa Maru (Mobilized Merchantman seaplane tender) 2–15 cm gun, 2–8 cm AA gun, 4–25 mm AA, 2 catapults, 12 or 8 aircraft (E8N)+

Notoro (seaplane tender) 2–8 cm/40cal AA gun, 8 aircraft (E8N)+

Kiji (Otori class torpedo boat) 3–12 cm/45cal gun (1x3), 1–40 mm AA, 3–53 cm TT (1x3) (from 11th Torpedoboat Sentai)

Transport Unit ?

20 steamboat transports

Daihatsu, Shohatsu and other small craft

Special Unit

Formosa Brigade (see 11th Army above)

NLF "Okamoto unit"

Kure 4th SNLF (after Aug. 1938)

Kure 5th SNLF

Special Working Unit

2nd Combined Air Group, 3rd Fleet.

Sōryū detachment +

Fighter daitai - 9 Nakajima A4N1s or Mitsubishi A5M

Bomber daitai - 18 Aichi D1A1

Attack daitai - 9 Yokosuka B3Y1

Based at Wuhu 6/38, Anqing 6/38 - 11/38) In June the Sōryū detachment moved from Nanking to Wuhu in early June and by mid-June to the Anqing base. At this time they flew air defence and ground support sorties.

Land-based Naval Air Force

12th Kōkūtai +

Fighter daitai - 27 Mitsubishi A5M

Bomber daitai - Aichi D1A1

Attack daitai - Yokosuka B3Y1

A predominantly carrier fighter unit. Based at Anqing (06/38 – autumn/38)

13th Kōkūtai +

Fighter daitai - 24 Mitsubishi A5M

Attack daitai - 18 Mitsubishi G3M

Reorganized on 22 March 1938 to a predominantly land attack unit. The fighter daitai was disbanded on 15 November 1938. Based at Shanghai

15th Kōkūtai +

Fighter daitai - 9 Nakajima A4N1 (to 09/38), 9 Mitsubishi A5M (after 09/38)

Bomber daitai -12 Aichi D1A1

Attack daitai - 9 Yokosuka B3Y1

Based at Anqing (10/07/38 – 09/38), Kowkong (09/38 – 01/12/38)

Notes on naval forces:

15th Kōkūtai entered combat on 10 July from Anqing, and they included A5Ms from the aircraft carrier Sōryū, stationed off the coast since April. The several A5Ms located at Anqing had been unable to provide adequate air protection for Japanese forces until the arrival of the 15th Kōkūtai. At this time the 15th Kōkūtai had a nominal strength of one unit of carrier fighters (12 aircraft), one unit of carrier bombers (12 aircraft) and a half unit carrier attack aircraft (six aircraft). Actual strength was nine A4Ns, nine A5Ms, 18 carrier bombers and nine carrier attack aircraft. Primary duties were to cooperate in the army’s Hankou operations and in particular air defense in the areas along the Yangtze River.

Pictures and drawings of Japanese gunboats (mostly used on Yangtze River) [1]

Armament and ship id from http://admiral31.world.coocan.jp/e/index.htm

There is a listing for a Yamasemi torpedo boat formerly the Chinese torpedo boat

Chi Fu Po renamed Chien Kang was sunk 9/37 and raised by Japan and recommissioned as the Yamasemi the same year armed with 2–8 cm QF gun, 2–47 mm QF gun, 2–45 cm TT See: http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/sino-japanese-1938.htm

Army Air Force

Over 300 planes were part of the Wuhan operation.^[1]

Central China Aviation Army Corps(before Aug.2) - Yoshi Tokugawa,^[1][2][5]

Hiko Dai 2 Daitai of Hiko Dai 16 Hiko Rentai

IJAAF Type 88 reconnaissance aircraft

Hiko Dai 8 Rinji Daitai - Colonel Sojiro Takeda  :

Hiko Dai 1 Chutai - Kawasaki Ki-10

Hiko Dai 2 Chutai - Kawasaki Ki-10

(8th Hiko Daitai was split on 31 July to form the 77th Flying Sentai and the 41st Airfield Daitai. Based at Shanghai (06/38 – 07/38), Nanking (July 1938)

10th Dokuritsu Hiko Chutai

Kawasaki Ki-10 ( – 07/38)

Nakajima Ki-27 (07/38 –)

Based at Nanking, Anqing, Jiujiang (03/38 – 10/38), Hankou (10/38 – 12/38)

17th Dokuritsu Hiko Chutai

Reconnaissance squadron

2nd Hiko Daitai - Maj. Tamiya Teranishi  ::

1st chutai - Kawasaki Ki-10

2nd chutai - Kawasaki Ki-10

2nd Hiko Daitai Was amalgamated on 1 August 1938 with the 9th I F Chutai to form the 64th Sentai.

9th Dokuritsu Hiko Chutai

Capt. Goro Suzuki (06/38 – 01/08/38) - Kawasaki Ki-10

Was amalgamated on 1 August 1938 with the 2nd Hiko Daitai to form the 64th Sentai. Based at Changte

18th Dokuritsu Hiko Chutai - Reconnaissance squadron.

Based at Nanching (08/38 – )

41st Airfield Daitai (08/38 – ?)

On August 2, the supreme headquarters issued an order to reorganize the Central China aviation army corps establishment. In to bring it in line with the North China Front Army Aviation Corps. Headquarters Nanjing.^[2]

Central China Aviation Army Corps(after Aug.2) - Yoshi Tokugawa[1,2,^[5]

77th Hiko Sentai - Col. Sojiro Takeda

1st chutai - Kawasaki Ki-10

2nd chutai - Kawasaki Ki-10

Based in Anqing (08/38 – 11/38). Was formed from the 8th Daitai on 31 July 1938.

3rd Air Regiment - Gen. ?

10th Dokuritsu Hiko Chutai - senior captain

Kawasaki Ki-10 ( – 07/38)

Nakajima Ki-27 (07/38 – 06/42)

Based on Nanking, Anqing, Jiujiang (08/38 – 10/38), Hankou (10/38 – 12/38)

17th Dokuritsu Hiko Chutai - senior captain - Reconnaissance squadron

Based in Central China ?,^[2] North China? ^[5]

45th Hiko Sentai - Colonel - light bomber unit

Based: Central China ?,^[2] North China? ^[5]

75th Hiko Sentai - Colonel - Light bomber unit

Based: Central China ?,^[2] North China? ^[5]

4th Air Regiment -

64th Hiko Sentai - Maj. Tamiya Teranishi :::

1st chutai - Nakajima Ki-27

2nd chutai - Kawasaki Ki-10, Nakajima Ki-27

3rd chutai - Kawasaki Ki-10, Nakajima Ki-27

Based: Changte (August 1938), Ertaokou (08/38 – 11/38), Tianhe (09/11/38 – 26/07/39) Was formed on 1 August 1938 from the 2nd Hiko Daitai and the 9th I F Chutai.

60th Hiko Sentai

Mitsubishi Ki-21

Based: Central China ?,^[2] North China? ^[5]

98th Hiko Sentai - colonel - Fiat BR.20 Heavy bomber

Based: Central China ?,^[2] North China? ^[5]

18th Dokuritsu Hiko Chutai

Reconnaissance squadron

Based: Nanching (08/38 – )

41st Airfield Daitai (08/38 – ?)

Was formed from the 8th Daitai on 31 July 1938

59th Hiko Sentai ^[5]

1st chutai - Nakajima Ki-27

2nd chutai - Nakajima Ki-27

Based: Anqing (09/38 – 03/11/38), Hankou (03/11/38 – 08/39)

China (early July 1938) ^[1]

Army

[G] = German Trained Division

Air Forces ^[5]

4th Pursuit Group (PG) - Mao Ying-Chu

21st Pursuit Squadron (PS) - Lo Ying-Teh (Polikarpov I-16)

22nd PS - Zhang Wei-Hua(to 04/07/38), Wang Yuan-Po ( after 04/07/38) (Curtiss Hawk III, Polikarpov I-15bis, Polikarpov I-16)

23rd PS - Liu Chung-Wu (Polikarpov I-15bis, Curtiss Hawk III)

24th PS (Independent) - Liang Yi-Guan (Polikarpov I-16s)

1st Bomber Group (BG) (Just became operational in spring of 1938)

2nd Bomber Squadron (BS) - Sun Tungan (Tupolev SB)

6th BG(Reorganizing from a bomber to a fighter group)

34th PS (Henschel Hs-123)

Voluntary Soviet units (Soviet fighter groups varied from two to eight, though for the largest period of time there were five.)

Machin group - Machin (Tupolev SB)

Titov group - G. V. Titov (Tupolev SB), Arrived in China in June 1938.

Nikolaenko group - E. M. Nikolaenko (Polikarpov I-16)

Naval Forces ^[1][6]

June 1938 between Mantang and Hukou

9 Gunboats: Yi Sheng, Hsien Ning, Chung Ning, Sui Ning, Chung Shan (Capt Sa Shih Chun), Chu Tung, Yung Sheng, Chu Chien, Hu Fu(?)

Unknown number of “high-speed” boats and PT-boats, among them No. 93, Shin No. 223, Yueh No. 253, Wen No. 42, Wen No. 88. These boats were assigned to the Chinese Navy GHQ after the Torpedo School was deactivated on July 9, 1938.

Minelayer(s): One known; Huying

Naval Gun units at Yangtze Fortress Matang, Hukou, Tienchia and Kotien; see above under Army and below in Notes.

After July 1938 additional craft appear in references at Hankow to await possible evacuation of the National Military Council.

Gunboats: Chu Kuan, Yung Chi, Chiang yuan.

Unknown boat types: Chung Shan, Chaing Chen, Min Sheng.

In PoYang Lake

9 Gun boats: Yin Ning (Capt Yen Chuan Ching), Hai Ning, and seven others.

Notes

The Battle of Antsin (Anqing today) Chinese side includes 27th Group Army, commanded by general Yang Sen, and 20th Army (Sichuan provincial army). Defense of Antsin had been entrusted to the Chinese 146th and 147th Divisions.^[4] These were from the Sichuan provincial army, 27th Group Army. They are omitted from the July oob above because they were defeated in June, probably pulled from the line for refitting.

27th Group Army - Yang Sen, Defended Anqing, Wu-wei, Takuanin in June 1938

20th Army - Yang Sen (concurrent)

133rd Division - Yang Han-yu

134th Division - Yang Han-chung

146th Division - ?

147th Division - ?

Matan Fortress Garrison consisted of Naval Fortress troops with twelve 12-cm (4.7 inch) guns, 53rd and 167th Divisions. (53rd Division omitted from the July oob above because they were defeated in June, probably pulled from the line for refitting.)^[1]

Other Fortress Units consisted of Naval Fortress troops six 10.5-cm (4 inch) guns at Hukou, sixteen 10.5-cm (4 inch) guns at Tienchiachen, ten 7.5-cm (3 inch) guns at Huang.

20 German trained divisions were trained and organized according to plans of the German advisors. They belonged to the first 2 phases of the reorganization of KMT forces. Another 10 divisions (3rd phase) were in training when war broke out. 60 were planned.

Fully trained: 2nd, 4th, 11th, 10th, 25th, 27th, 57th, 67th, 80th, 83rd, 89th Divisions trained on the German pattern by Chinese officers with 2 German advisors.

Partially trained: 3rd, 6th, 9th, 14th, 36th, 87th, 88th Divisions, and the Tax Police (die Salz Division) Division had German advisors directly involved in their training.

Footnotes

References