On the eve of war, the British garrison consisted of 13,981 all ranks, including nursing staff and St John Ambulance personnel. Of the soldiers 8,919 were British and Canadian and 4,402 were Indian and Chinese. The actual number of regular infantrymen was 5,422 with approximately 6,000 more serving in the artillery, engineers, the navy and HKVDC (Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps). The Royal Navy in 1941 was a pale shadow of the once-powerful China Squadron; of the three World War I destroyers that were in Hong Kong on 8 December, two had been sent away to Singapore (while the third was under repair) by 1930. This was partly to save them from what was a futile defence and partly because of a promise (made by senior US Navy officers) of the assistance in Singapore of four US Navy destroyers in return for Britain reinforcing Singapore with its Hong Kong fleet – a promise that was not to be realized.
The British Empire ‘standard’ coastal artillery of the day was the 9.2in. naval gun. Hong Kong was no exception. This gun has a range of 25.6km and is capable of two to three shots a minute. This example can be seen in the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. (Author’s collection)
The fixed defences were primarily designed to counter an attack from the sea: 29 coastal guns of 9.2in., 6in., 4.7in. and 4in. calibres; ten 18- and 2-pdr beach defence guns; 28 field guns consisting of 60-pdr, 6in., 4.5in. and 3.7in. calibres.
The Hong Kong Garrison infantry force comprised four regular army battalions, two British and two Indian, supported by the HKVDC’s five infantry companies averaging 100 men apiece. The 1st Middlesex Regiment (which arrived in August 1937) was a machinegun battalion with 48 Vickers medium machine guns. The regiment, having been overseas since 1931, had grown stale from ‘soft’ garrison duties, Hong Kong being one of the softest. From September 1939, all of the regiments, including the 5/7 Rajputs (arriving June 1937) and the 2/14 Punjab, suffered the ‘milking’ of experienced officers and NCOs to some degree. The loss of leadership was especially noticeable with the Royal Scots, which had problems with discipline and an unusually high number of courts martial. These regiments, especially the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery (HKSRA), lost many experienced officers and NCOs that were not immediately replaced. By the time the Japanese attacked, many of the units were filled with half-trained replacement recruits, which certainly influenced combat effectiveness. The Punjabis were a particularly sad case, having been in Hong Kong since November 1940, but not receiving vehicles and mortars until August 1941. Additionally, 40 per cent of their ranks were raw recruits that had arrived only in October 1941. When the war began, many of the RA regiments had to make do with junior officers taking on senior roles, and British officers, not fluent in Urdu, were forced to command Indian troops, seriously hampering combat effectiveness.
British Power Boat 60ft MTBs of the Royal Navy on patrol around Hong Kong waters in 1940. These boats were armed with two twin-mounted Lewis guns, one forward- and one aft-facing, depth charges, and, unusually, two rearward-firing torpedoes. (IWM)
Poor equipment was another problem – shells dating from 1918 that exploded on leaving the muzzle and insufficient ammunition hindered operational efficiency (on 8 December all field guns were deployed with only 100 rounds, with 200 rounds in reserve for the entire campaign, and 25 rounds per gun for the large-calibre coastal guns). Lack of cross-training meant many of the infantry did not understand the artillery ‘clock face’ target indication method, causing them to miss their target.
Major-General Maltby (in shorts) receiving a salute from the Canadian forces as they arrive in Hong Kong. This picture was taken on the corner of the Peninsula Hotel (in the background) at the junction of Nathan Road and Salisbury Avenue, in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. (IWM)
A rare picture of ARP workers in Hong Kong. Note the uniforms and the black berets, which are probably Army surplus stock. By November 1941, it was reported that ARP had 1,155 members, not including 300 untrained recruits. Many ARP members were drawn from the scouting movement. (IWM)
European troops, in particular the Royal Scots, were seriously affected by malaria, as the regions around Shing Mun Redoubt were notoriously badly affected. Of the 770 or so men of the Royal Scots it was reported that at least 180 had recurring malaria attacks. The lack of suitable command staff was a serious problem and almost every unit in Hong Kong had to put junior officers in senior positions.
Although the arrival of the Canadians was a welcome boost to the Hong Kong Garrison, there were handicaps that reduced the combat effectiveness of this force. Both units were classified as C-class, deemed as unfit for foreign service. Years of garrison duties and lack of training compounded the problem. To illustrate this deficiency: the Canadians only fired 35 rounds each in rifle practice. The two battalions received 115 men who had less than 16 weeks’ training as reinforcements and, of the 75 raw recruits who joined the Winnipeg Grenadiers in June, 62 joined the Royal Rifles of Canada from a training depot where there was not even a single rifle. Twelve per cent of the Canadians were untrained recruits!
HMS Robin in more peaceful times in Wuzhou, China. Commissioned in 1934 and deployed as a boom ship from January 1941, it participated in the evacuation of HKIB, deployed against the Japanese landing on Hong Kong, was disabled by air attack on the 25th and scuttled after the destruction of classified documents. (Author’s collection)
Even worse was the lack of equipment. In 1941 a standard Canadian infantry battalion should have had 102 motor vehicles, including 22 Universal Carriers, 37 ¾-ton trucks, 13 1-ton trucks, 31 bicycles and 22 Boys anti-tank rifles. Logistic incompetence meant that when the Canadians arrived in Hong Kong, they had with them only six Bren carriers, two water tankers, 12 ¾-ton trucks and one Boys anti-tank rifle. There were 3in. mortars but no bombs or radios. Such was the level of preparation for war by Canada in 1941, there were only 300 rounds of 3in. mortar bombs in the whole of Canada at the time, and it was not surprising that none could be spared for the Hong Kong expedition.
A second ship, the SS Don Jose, was dispatched with the missing vehicles and equipment but it did not make it to Hong Kong before 8 December and was diverted to Manila where it was promptly seized by the Japanese! Despite these shortcomings the force set sail on 27 October with a total of 1,975 men and arrived in Hong Kong on 16 November.
Intelligence estimates vary, giving anything from two to four divisions of Japanese available for the attack on Hong Kong. On the evening of 6 December Chinese reports showed the arrival the previous day of three Japanese divisions at Buji township, located in the suburb of what is today’s Shenzhen City, some 8 miles from the frontier. On 1 November 1941 or thereabouts, a Japanese deserter crossed the border and revealed that there was definitely a build-up of troops north of the frontier and the presence of large-calibre artillery, indicating at least divisional strength.
HMS Thracian was an S-class destroyer, laid down in 1918 at Hawthorn Leslie in Newcastle upon Tyne, and entered service in 1922. On 25 December 1941, it was grounded and later scuttled but afterwards raised to become IJN Patrol Boat No. 101. On October 1945, it was returned to the Royal Navy but scrapped in 1946. (IWM)
The Hong Kong invasion force consisted of three elements; the IJA committed the 38th Infantry Division, while the IJN committed the Second China Fleet and the 1st Air Group represented the IJAF (Imperial Japanese Air Force).
The main strike force consisted of three infantry regiments of the 38th Division, the 228th, 229th and 230th under Col. Doi Teihichi, Col. Tanaka Ryosaburo and Col. Shoji Toshishige respectively. The 38th Division was commanded by Lt. Gen. Sano Tadayoshi with Maj. Gen. Ito Takeo as head of the infantry group, with the remaining supporting arms such as artillery, engineers, armour, transport, hospital etc. controlled by Sano. The 38th Division was a 1940s standard B infantry division, consisting of some 20,000 troops (this could vary from 18,000–21,000 depending on the task in hand) with three infantry regiments, each with three battalions. The Japanese army in the 1940s relied heavily on animal and human transport. Each regiment had approximately 3,800 troops with some 700 horses, with the battalions each consisting of about 1,071 and the companies of 180. A rifle platoon consisted of four sections, three equipped with rifles and light machine guns and the fourth with light mortars and rifles. Japanese infantry battalions of this era had an additional heavy machine-gun company (12 x Type 92 heavy machine guns) on top of the infantry companies, as well as a troop of light artillery, probably Type 92 70mm infantry guns. The divisional field artillery regiment was equipped with 75mm (Type 41) mountain guns, organized into three 688-man battalions. Each battery had two troops, each with two guns. The mountain artillery was similarly organized, consisting of 36 75mm guns but, on account of the complexity of mountain operations, these units usually had more soldiers (3,400) and animals (1,400). Realizing the need to shell Hong Kong into submission, the IJA boosted the invasion force with additional artillery – 15cm and 24cm howitzers under Maj. Gen. Kitashima Kineo.
A Japanese soldier stands guard overlooking the Lo Wu Railway Bridge that spans the Shenzhen River. The Shenzhen River marks the border between Hong Kong and mainland China. Note the desolate scene around the Lo Wu crossing in 1941. (Author’s collection)
News of the Canadians arriving in Hong Kong caused the Japanese to revise their plan. Lieutenant-General Sakai Takashi, commander of the 23rd Army, was forced to inform his superiors that the ten-day timescale was not realistic and requested reinforcements. This caused something of a problem as most formations had already been allocated to other impending operations, but eventually the Imperial HQ sanctioned two infantry regiments, 5th and 6th depot regiments in Japan, to support the invasion of Hong Kong. These units were not intended for front-line service, but instead were expected to take on second-line duties freeing up more experienced men for the Hong Kong force. They were sent to the 23rd and 13th armies in Shanghai with a clear message for them to return the units as soon as possible. This allowed the 19th and 20th mixed brigades of about 6,000 men in five infantry battalions, a field artillery battalion as well as an engineer battalion to be released to support the invasion of Hong Kong. Sakai learned that his request for troops was not viewed favourably by Imperial HQ and he was given the impression that a swift and effective campaign was essential. It was furthermore embarrassing for him to have to return to Imperial HQ for help after the Japanese agents in Hong Kong mistook the Bren carriers for tanks. Only by raiding the 1st Reserve Tank Battalion and the tankette units attached to the infantry depot divisions was Sakai able to scrape together enough tanks. Sakai also tried to obtain more armour by hijacking the 9th Reconnaissance Regiment from the 11th Army but was thwarted by sustained complaints from Gen. Hata Shunroku of the 11th Army to friends in high places. Sakai was given a sharp reprimand that any more requests would not be entertained and that he would be replaced if necessary! Having lost much face, Sakai dropped all requests for additional troops and was now even more determined to succeed.
Japanese Type 92 medium machine-gun team in action at the Gap. The Type 92 was a 7.7mm copy of the Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun. It had a maximum range of 4,500m, but a practical range of 800m. (IWM)
The naval element was divided into two parts: the bombardment group and the attacking group. Both were commanded by Vice-Admiral Niimi Masaichi, head of the 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet. Niimi’s flagship was the light cruiser Isuzu with Ura Koichi as captain, who was also the head of the bombardment group. This naval group was made up of ships scraped together from various units of the China Expeditionary Fleet, particularly from Canton (Guangzhou) Special Base Force, 15 Squadron and 11 Torpedo Boat Division from Guangzhou.
A seaplane tender, IJN Kamikawa Maru, was on attachment after strenuous representation by Niimi of the 2nd China Fleet, who did not trust the army to provide air cover and wanted organic naval air protection on account of the threat from British Wildebeests! Attached to the IJN were the Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF), which were intended to conduct diversionary attacks to the south of Hong Kong Island, drawing British attention away from the real thrust of the land invasion. Niimi also asked for the destroyers IJN Wakaba and Yugure on account of the threat from the three British destroyers, but his request was not granted.
The IJAF contributed the 1st Air Brigade under Col. Habu Hideharu with the 45th Air Regiment at its core consisting of 34 x Ki-32 Kawasaki (Type 98) ‘Mary’ light bombers1. This force was made up of a combination of units and planes amassed from airfields as far afield as Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan and Qiqihar (Manchuria) that were all assembled in Baiyun Aerodrome in Guangzhou on 7 December 1941. Attached to the 1st Air Brigade was the 10th Independent Sqn., led by Captain Takatsuki Akira, 13 x Ki-27 Nakajima (Type 97) ‘Nate’ fighters, 3 x Ki-15 Mitsubishi (Type 97) ‘Babs’ command reconnaissance planes from the 18th Independent Reconnaissance Sqn. and the 44th Independent Sqn. with 6 x Ki-36 Tachikawa (Type-98) ‘Ida’ observation planes.
Years before the actual invasion, the Japanese planted moles and sleeper agents in Hong Kong, laboriously collecting information and mapping key military installations. Such was the efficiency of these intelligence networks that the invasion maps carried by IJA officers were actually Hong Kong Government or British military maps, overprinted with Japanese notes and interpretations! Senior British officers arriving at the POW camp were surprised to see that their regular barber at the Peninsula Hotel, the premier hotel in Hong Kong, was in fact a lieutenant-commander in the IJN, who had been taking advantage of the informal atmosphere at the barber’s to gather valuable information about the status of British forces. The Japanese planted spies everywhere – the garrison tailor and barber were also both spies! The Japanese were able to be extremely accurate with their artillery and bombing as a direct result of this groundwork. They also made use of gangsters in both Hong Kong and Guangdong,2 buying their loyalty and supplying them with weapons, so that they acted as auxiliaries to support the invasion.
Garrison Commander: Maj. Gen. C. M. Maltby CB MC
2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots: Lt. Col. S. E. H. E. White MC (left flank of Gin Drinkers Line including Shing Mun Redoubt and Golden Hill, later WIB)
2nd Battalion, 14th Punjab Regiment: Lt. Col. G. R. Kidd (centre of Gin Drinkers Line around Shatin area, less C Coy under Maj. C. E. Gray as Covering Force, New Territories)
5th Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment: Lt. Col. J. Cadogan-Rawlinson (right flank of Gin Drinkers Line)
1 Coy HKVDC: Capt. A. H. Penn (Kai-Tak Airport Guard, in reserve for Gin Drinkers Line, one platoon with Bren carriers patrolling Castle Peak Road, withdrawal to Taitam Valley)
Engineer Coy HKVDC: Maj. J. H. Bottomley (Covering Force New Territories, Demolition, later withdrawal to Taihang area (near today’s HK Stadium), Hong Kong)
Armoured Car Platoon HKVDC: Lt. M. G. Caruthers (Covering Force New Territories, later withdrawal to HQ West Brigade, Hong Kong)
Recce Platoon HKVDC: Lt. R. D. Edwards (Covering Force New Territories)
1 Mountain Battery, 1st Hong Kong Regiment HKSRA: Capt. (Temp. Maj.) E. W. De-Hunt (3.7in.) (Custom Pass, Kowloon – today the start of Clear Water Bay Road, Fei Ngo Shan)
2 Mountain Battery, 1st Hong Kong Regiment HKSRA: Maj. J. P. Crowe (3.7in. and 4in.) (Initially at Filters, New Territories, today just south of Kowloon Reservoir by Taipo Road, later withdrawn to Hong Kong: Stanley Gap)
25 Medium Battery, 1st Hong Kong Regiment HKSRA: Maj. W. Temple (6in.) (Polo Ground, Kowloon, today known as Tai Hang Tung Sports Ground)
1st Battalion, The Middlesex (machine-gun) Regiment: Lt. Col. H. W. M. Stewart OBE MC (located in 72 bunkers dotted around Hong Kong Island, operationally under the command of local units in the area where they were stationed)
The Royal Rifles of Canada: Lt. Col. W. J. Home (eastern section of the northern shores of Hong Kong, from Lyemun in the north-east to D’Aguilier Point on the east to Taitam and ending at Stanley village in the south-east of Hong Kong) (under command of C Coy Royal Rifles of Canada were HKVDC’s No. 2 (Scottish) Machine Gun Coy, located Sheko to Cape Collinson, Hong Kong)
The Winnipeg Grenadiers: Lt. Col. J. L. R. Sutcliffe (western section of the northern shores of Hong Kong, stretching to Pokfulam in the west to Aberdeen in the south-west of the island and ending on the eastern side of Repulse Bay, south of Hong Kong) (D Coy: Wongneichong Gap under command of Brigade HQ as Brigade Reserve and Brigade Protection)
HKVDC: Col. H. B. Rose MC
3 (Eurasian) Machine Gun Coy: Maj. E. G. Stewart DSO (Stonecutter Island, later withdrawn to Jardine’s Lookout Hong Kong)
4 (Chinese) Coy: Capt. R. K. Valentine (Hong Kong: Victoria Gap and Mt Kellett)
5 (Portuguese) Machine Gun Coy: Capt. C. A. D’Almada e Castro (Hong Kong: Mt Davis)
6 (Portuguese) Anti-aircraft Coy: Capt. H. A. de B. Botelho (Lewis guns – north shores of Hong Kong)
7 Coy: Maj. J. G. B. Dewar (Hong Kong: Magazine Gap Wanchai, Middle Gap)
Motor Machine Gun Platoon: Capt. J. Way
1st Independent Platoon: Lt. C. J. Norman (Hong Kong: Stanley)
2nd Home Guard Platoon (Hughsiliers): Maj. J. J. Patterson (Hong Kong Island North Shore, North Point power station)
Field Ambulance: Lt. Col. L. T. Ride (distributed around Hong Kong Island)
Garrison RA – Commander: Brigadier T. McCleod
8th Coastal Regiment, RA: Lt. Col. S. Shaw MC (Coastal Defences: Eastern Command)
12th Coastal Battery: Maj. W. M. Stevenson (3 x 9.2in.) (Hong Kong: Stanley)
30th Coastal Battery: Maj. C. R. Templer (2 x 9.2in.) (Hong Kong: Bokhara Fort)
36th Coastal Battery: Capt. (Temp. Maj.) W. N. J. Pitt (2 x 6in. at each location) (Hong Kong: Collinson Fort, Chung Hom Kok Fort)
12th Coastal Regiment, RA: Maj. (Temp. Col.) R. L. J. Penfold (Coastal Defences: Western Command)
24th Coastal Battery: Capt. (Temp. Maj.) E. W. S. Anderson (3 x 9.2in.) (Hong Kong: Mt Davis)
26th Coastal Battery: Lt. (Temp. Maj.) A. O. G. Mills (3 x 6in.) (Stonecutters Island, Hong Kong: Jubilee Fort)
5th Heavy Anti-aircraft Regiment RA: Lt. Col. F. D. Field
7th Anti-aircraft Battery: Maj. W. A. C. H. Morgan (Hong Kong: West Bay, Wongneichong, Saiwan Fort)
17th Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery: Capt. (Temp. Maj.) A. R. Colquhoun (Hong Kong: Pinewood, Mt Davis, Brick Hill, Waterfall Bay)
18th Light Anti-aircraft Battery: Capt. (Temp. Maj.) J. C. Rochfort-Boyd (Lewis guns and Bofors) (Hong Kong: Stanley, Cape D’Aguilar Fort, Albany Road)
HKVDC (under command of Fortress RA)
1st Battery: Capt. G. F. Rees (2 x 4in.) (Coastal Defences: Eastern Command) (Hong Kong: Cape D’Aguilar Fort)
2nd Battery: Lt. (Temp. Capt.) D. J. S. Crozier (2 x 6in.) (Coastal Defences: Eastern Command) (Hong Kong: Bluff Head Fort, Stanley)
3rd Battery: Capt. C. W. L. Cole (2 x 4in.) (Coastal Defences: Eastern Command, Hong Kong: Belcher’s Fort)
4th Battery: Lt. K. M. A. Barnett (2 x 6in.) (Hong Kong: Pakshawan Fort, Lyemun)
5th Anti-aircraft Battery: Capt. L. Goldman (3in.) (Hong Kong: Saiwan Hill Fort)
1st Hong Kong Regiment, HKSRA: Maj. (Temp. Lt. Col.) J. C. Yale
3 Medium Battery: Capt. (Temp. Maj.) H. L. Duncan (6in.) (Hong Kong: Mt Parker, Siu Wan Hill Fort)
4 Medium Battery: Maj. G. E. S. Proes (6in.) (Hong Kong: Mt Gough, Mt Austin)
25 Medium Battery: Maj. W. T. Temple (6in.) (Hong Kong Island: Stanley Gap, Jockey Club Stables)
965 Battery RA: Maj. B. T. C. Forrester (4.7in. and 6in., 2- and 18-pdr) (Hong Kong: Belchers Upper, Belchers Lower, Repulse Bay, Taitam Bay, Stanley, Promontory, Island Bay, Deep Water, Tai Ho Wan)
Garrison RE: Lt. Col. R. G. Lamb
22nd Fortress Company RE: Maj. D. C. E. Grose (elements detached to Covering Force New Territories, the rest in Fortress HQ Hong Kong)
40th Fortress Company RE: Maj. D. I. M. Murray (Harbour)
Others miscellaneous
Hong Kong Chinese Regiment: Maj. H. W. A. Mayer
Z Force: F. W. Kendal (SOE/Force 163)
2nd MTB flotilla, Commander: Lt. Cdr. G. H. Gandy RN (Aberdeen)
MTB 7: Lt. R. R. W. Ashby DSC HKRNVR
MTB 8: Lt. L. D. Kilbee HKRNVR
MTB 9: Lt. A. Kennedy RNVR
MTB 10: Lt. Cdr. G. H. Gandy RN
MTB 11: Lt. C. J. Collingwood DSO RN
MTB 12: Sub-Lt. J. B. Colls HKRNVR
MTB 26: Lt. D. W. Wagstaff HKRNVR
MTB 27: Lt. T. M. Parsons HKRNVR
Shallow-draught river gunboats
HMS Cicala: Lt. Cdr. J. C. Boldero RN (sunk by air strikes and combined gunnery of IJN Isuzu, Ikazuchi and Inazuma)
HMS Tern: Lt. J. Douglas RN (scuttled)
HMS Moth: Lt. Cdr. R. C. Creer (refitting 8 December 1941, fought as infantry)
HMS Robin: Cdr. H. M. Montague OBE RN (damaged by IJN Isuzu, Ikazuchi and Inazuma, then scuttled)
S-class destroyers
HMS Thracian: Lt. Cdr. A. L. Pears RN (crew fought as infantry)
HMS Thanet, Scout: left for Singapore 2130hrs 8 December 1941
Arabis-class sloop HKRNVR drill ship: HMS Cornflower: Lt. Cdr. R. J. D. Vernall HKRNVR
Fleet Air Arm, Commander: Lt. P. J. Milner-Barry RN
2 x Supermarine Walrus seaplanes (1 x Walrus escaped 8 December 1941)
Assortment of tugs, boom defence vessels and minelayers, among which were:
HMS Redstart: minelayer (scuttled)
HMS Barlight: minelayer (scuttled, but raised by Japanese as Netlayer 101, sunk in Saipan 1944)
APV Algate: barrage/gate vessels (scuttled)
APV Frosty
APV Han Wo (scuttled)
APV Indira
APV Margaret
APV Minnie
APV Perla
APV Poseidon
APV Shun Wo
APV St. Aubin
APV St. Sampson
APV Watergate barrage/gate vessels (scuttled)
RFA Ebonol oiler (scuttled)
Hong Kong Dockyard Defence Corps: Maj. D. Campbell RM
Royal Marine Troop HMS Tamar: Col. R. G. Giles RM (47 all ranks)
2 x Vickers Wildebeest torpedo/light bombers (1 x Wildebeest escaped 8 December 1941)
HKVDC flight
1 x Avro 621 Tutor, 2 x Hornet Moths, 2 x Cadet biplanes.
38th Division (NE of Shenzhen City, Shawan Town): Lt. Gen. Sano Tadayoshi. Total divisional strength is 23,228. Commander of Divisional Infantry (East of Shenzhen City, Huangbei Ling): Maj. Gen. Ito Takeo.
228th Infantry Regiment (Eastern shores Pearl River, Shajing, Xi Xiang): Col. Doi Teihichi
1/228th: Maj. Hayakawa Kikuo
2/228th: Maj. Takeyoshi Inagaki
3/228th: Maj. Nishiyama Haruja
229th Infantry Regiment (NE of Shenzhen City, Heng Gang Market): Col. Tanaka Ryosaburo
1/229th: Maj. Orita Sugura
2/229th: Maj. Sato Giichi
3/229th (Sha Tau Kok): Capt. Kojima
230th Infantry Regiment (North of Shenzhen City, Buji Town): Col. Shoji Toshishige
1/230th (West of Shenzhen City, Nantou District): Maj. Seki Eiji
2/230th: Maj. Takizawa Kanpei
3/230th: Maj. Ooneda Anpei
Divisional artillery
38th Mountain Artillery Regiment: Col. Kanki Takeyoshi (28 x Type 41 75mm mountain gun)
21st Mortar Battalion
10th Independent Mountain Artillery Regiment: Col. Sawamoto Rikichiro (24 x Type 41 75mm mountain gun)
20th Independent Mountain Artillery Battalion: Lt. Col. Kajimatsu Jiro (9 x Type 34 (Bofors) 75mm mountain guns)
2nd Independent Rapid Fire Artillery Battalion: Lt. Col. Ohno Takeo (18 x 37mm QF/anti-tank gun)
5th Independent Rapid Fire Artillery Battalion: Maj. Aoki Jiro (2 x 37mm QF/anti-tank gun)
Divisional engineers and Logistics
38th Logistic Regiment: Lt. Col. Yabuta Shuichi
38th Engineers Regiment: Lt. Col. Iwabuchi Tsuneo
19th Independent Engineer Regiment: Lt. Col. Inukai Shojiro
20th Independent Engineer Regiment: Col. Suzukawa Kiyoshi
2nd Coy of 14th Independent Engineering Regiment: Maj. Kusagi Eiichi
1st & 2nd River Crossing Material Company of 9th Division
Other divisional support
Armour Squadron: Capt. Atami Juro3 (16 x tankettes?)
3rd Transport Regiment: Lt. Col. Kobayashi Otokazu (8-ton tractors x 18, 13-ton tractors x 14)
Three companies of 3rd Transport Regiment
Attached are 19th, 20th and 21st Independent Transport Company
One-third of the medical unit from 51st Division: Col. Hattori Otokazu
Two radio signal platoons and one wire signal platoon
Ordnance team: Capt. Koide Sadaharu
5th Field Chemical Company: Capt. Suzuki Magosaburo
18th Field Chemical Company: Lt. Morimoto Isao
Veterinary: Vet. Maj. Hayashi Jiro
1st Field Hospital: Dr. Maj. Suzuki Toshimi
2nd Field Hospital: Dr. Maj. Ito Takuzo
Field Pigeon Carrier Company (68 Pigeons)
South China MP Platoon: Maj. Noma Kennosuke
66th Infantry Regiment (less 1 Coy): Col. Araki, Katsutoshi.
Attached from 51st Div., 23rd Army. All ranks: 5,892 with
Additional artillery support:
1st Heavy Artillery Regiment: Maj. Gen. Kitashima Kineo
1st Battalion: Col. Hayakawa Yoshimasa (8 x Type-45 240mm/9in. howitzer)
2nd Battalion Independent Heavy Artillery: Maj. Kanemaru Kiyotoshi (8 x Type-89, 150mm howitzer)
3rd Battalion Independent Heavy Artillery: Lt. Col. Nukina Hitomi (8 x Type-89, 150mm howitzer)
14th Heavy Field Artillery Regiment: Col. Sato Takeaki (6 x Type-4, 150mm howitzer)
2nd Independent Mortar Battalion: Maj. Namimatsu Teiichi (12 or 15 x Type-89 or Type-97 15cm mortar)
23rd Army Air Unit, 1st Air Group: Col. Habu Hideharu (all ranks 1,300)
45th Air Regiment: Col. H. Tsuchio, (344 x Ki-32) Kawasaki (Type-98) ‘Mary’ light bombers (Guangzhou)
10th Independent Air Squadron: Maj. Takatsuki Akira, (135 x Ki-27) Nakajima (Type-97) ‘Nate’ fighters
18th Independent Air Squadron: Capt. Kobayashi Minoru, (3 x Ki-15) Mitsubishi (Type 97) ‘Babs’ command recce plane
44th Independent Squadron: Capt. Naito Yoshio, (6 x Ki-36) Tachikawa (Type-98) ‘Ida’ army cooperation plane, (Guangzhou)
47th Air-Field Battalion: Maj. Uemura Sadayu
67th Air-Field Company of 67th Air Field Battalion: Capt. Kodama Nobunaga
Element of 57th Air-Field Company: 2nd Lt. Makita Mitsuhiro
Bombardment Group
IJN Isuzu light cruiser (Flagship): 15 Squadron, Guangzhou
IJN Tsuga: destroyer
IJN Ikazuchi: destroyer: 6 Division, 1st Fleet, Magong/Makung (Mako) Taiwan
IJN Inazuma: destroyer: 6 Division, 1st Fleet, Magong/Makung (Mako) Taiwan
IJN Wakaba: destroyer
IJN Yugure: destroyer
IJN Kasasagi: MTB, 15 Squadron, Guangzhou
IJN Hiyodori: MTB, China Theatre Fleet, Shanghai
IJN Kari: MTB, Torpedo Boat Squadron, Guangzhou
IJN Kiji: MTB, Torpedo Boat Squadron, Guangzhou
IJA Tosho Maru: armed cargo ship
IJN Kamikawa Maru: seaplane tender with 2 x Kawanishi
E7K (Type 94) ‘Alf’ Seaplanes and 3 x Yokosuka B3Y (Type 92) torpedo attack planes (IJN Naval aviation 200 all ranks)
Attack Group
IJN Uiji: gunboat (Force Flagship) Shanghai, detached to Guangzhou
IJN Hashidate: gunboat, 15 Squadron, Guangzhou
IJN Saga: gunboat, 15 Squadron, Guangzhou
IJA Arashiyama Maru: armed cargo ship
IJA Tsukushi Maru: armed cargo ship
IJA Asashi Maru: armed cargo ship
IJA Momo Maru: armed cargo ship
IJN Ryujin Maru: armed cargo ship
IJN Choun Maru No. 7: auxiliary patrol boat / minesweeper
IJA Shinsei Maru: transporter
IJN Sozan Maru: auxiliary minelayer, Guangzhou
IJN Azuchi Maru: ammunition transport ship
San Luis Maru: auxiliary oiler
IJN Shinko Maru: minelayer, 14 Gunboat Division, Shanghai
IJN Toen Maru: fleet oiler, China Theatre Fleet Supply Unit, Sasebo Japan
_______________________
1 On 8 December they were carrying 6 x 50kg bombs each.
2 ‘Chinese People’s Self-Administration National Group Army’, approximately 12,000 strong with 200 junks.
3 Type 94 (sometimes known as Type 92, 1932) tankettes were used in the battle of Hong Kong
4 Only 29 participated in the battle of Hong Kong. The regiment was originally based in Manchuria, NE China, and flew down especially to Guangzhou.
5 Only nine participated in the operation; one crashed en route from Manchuria where it was stationed.