NQM Imperial Japanese Orbats

Chris Kemp’s Not Quite Mechanised

Imperial Japanese Infantry Division “Type B”

Div HQ	1 Commander (in Toyota Car, on foot or horse), 1 Signals Staff Car(@Strength 3), 1 AA stand (in truck, or towed or horse drawn)
Div Recce Regt or see Cav Regt Below	3  recce stands (@Str 2), 2 Veh mounted, 1 horse mounted, 1 A/C (S2)
Inf Regt (or Bde)HQ x 3	RHQ:Comd, 82mmMor, HMG or Kempei (all stands@Strength 3), 45mm or 70mm Regt Gun + limber (@str 2)
Inf Bn x up to 9	Comd, 3 Rifle Stands, MMG  (all stands@Strength 2 or 3)
Arty Regt	RHQ comd, up to 3 FOO(@Strength 1-3), 2 75mm Gun + limber, 75mm Mtn Howitzer + limber (all stands@Strength 3-4)
Cavalry  Regt or see Div recce above	RHQ:Comd, HMG stand (S3), ATR stand (S 2 or 3),37-47mm AT Gun, 3 Cav Stands (S2 or 3)
Transport Regt	Up to 10 1/4 ton Carts, Up to 2 1/2 ton Trucks
Engineer Bn	3 Engineer Stands (@2-3 figures), 2-3 Wagons with optional Bridging Trailer

  A “Type A” Infantry Division was essentially better equipped than a “Type B”. We add a Mortar stand to each Infantry Regiment, and add 105mm Howitzers to the Artillery Regiment. A Tankette could be added to the Divisional Recce.

Divisional HQ : A model railway car, converted Airfix 20mm Oerlikon and diecast van.

Japanese Infantry Battalion from Graham Evans' collection

Japanese Artillery Regiment : Peter Pig figures

Imperial Japanese Special (Garrison) Division 

Japanese Infantry Regimental HQ, less its HMGs and Mortars

Garrison HQ	1 Commander (in Toyota Car, on foot or horse), 1 Signals Staff Car(@Strength 3)
Signals Unit	3  wire repair parties (@Str 1-2), Vehicle, Horse, or Bicycle mounted,
Inf Regt (or Bde)HQ	RHQ:Comd, LightMor, HMG or Kempei (all stands@Strength 3), 45mm or 70mm Regt Gun + limber (@str 2)
Inf Bn x up to 3	Comd, 3 Rifle Stands, MMG  (all stands@Strength 2 or 3)
Engineer Unit	3 Engineer Stands (@2-3 figures), 2-3 Wagons with optional Bridging Trailer
Transport Unit	Up to 10 1/4 ton Carts, Up to 2 1/2 ton Trucks

Imperial Japanese Independent Brigade 

Bde HQ	1 Commander (in Toyota Car, on foot or horse), 1 Signals Staff Car(@Strength 3)
Inf Regt (or Bde)HQ x up to 2	RHQ:Comd, LightMor, HMG or Kempei (all stands@Strength 3), 45mm or 70mm Regt Gun + limber (@str 2)
Inf Bn x up to 5	Comd, 3 Rifle Stands, MMG  (all stands@Strength 2 or 3)
Arty Regt	RHQ comd,  FOO( s1-3),  75mm Gun + limber, or 75mm Mtn Howitzer + limber, or 105mm How, or 105mm Mor (all stands  s3-4)
Engineer Unit	3 Engineer Stands (@2-3 figures), 2-3 Wagons with optional Bridging Trailer
Transport Unit	Up to 10 1/4 ton Carts, Up to 2 1/2 ton Trucks

  Independent brigades looked rather like small  divisions.

Imperial Japanese Tank Regiment 

The Regiment's tank companies - Type 97s

RHQ	Commander (in Toyota Car, or Tank, or Tankette) (s2 or 3)
Tank Coy x 3	Medium or Light Tank or Tankette (all stands@Strength 2 or 3)
Combat Train	Fuel Bowser,  1/2 ton Truck, Reserve Tank or Tankette

  

The Regiment's logistic tail

Tank regiments varied wildly. Keeping loosely to the structure above you could justify additions or subtractions to suit the situation. The Japanese excelled at building defences, and when tanks became non-runners, they often ended their life as a pillbox. The Japanese were as fond as the French of splitting companies off to support infantry formations, so it would be more usual to find a single tank model supporting a division of infantry, than to find a couple of regiments grouped together. Note that if you field a full strength regiment, you are fielding a maximum of  8 points of tank strength. The ability to make your tanks strength 2 or 3 gives you the ability to tailor the amount of armour to the situation.

The Regimental HQ with a conversion that started life as an Italian M14 and got pressganged!

Imperial Japanese Special Naval Landing Force 

Force HQ	Commander (s3)
Inf Coy x 2	Rifle Stand (s 3)
Hvy Wpn Coy	75mm Gun or 70mmHowitzer (s3)

Naval Landing Forces storm ashore through the early morning mists

Early in the war the Special Naval Landing Forces were lightly equipped battalion sized units used in an offensive role. They relied on the supporting fleet to provide Naval Gunfire. Later in the war they became defensive garrisons, and added AA and guns to their TOEs.

Japanese Naval Garrison HQ with Anti-aircraft and Anti-tank support

Force HQ	Commander (s3)
AA Coy	Mg on AA mount (s3)
AA Coy	75mm AA gun (s3)
Coast Def Coy	120mm gun (s4)
Coast Def Coy	2 x 80mm gun (s4)
Inf Coy x 2	Rifle Stand (s 3)
Hvy Wpn Coy	37mm Gun or 70mmHowitzer (s3)