I don't have a complete order of Battle and have pieced the following together from four books on Burma plus wikpaedia. Broadbrush statement is that the JIA 55th Division was replaced by the 54th in Nov 1944. Wikpaedia has a breakdown of the 55th by Regiment but the 54th - so here is what I have managed to dig up. 55th Division 55th Infantry Brigade Group 112th Infantry Regiment 143rd Infantry Regiment 144th Infantry Regiment [*]55th Cavalry Regiment [*]55th Mountain Artillery Regiment 3 battalions of 9 X 75mm Mountain guns each [*]55th Engineer Regiment [*]55th Transport Regiment March 1943 Possible OoB 55th Infantry Brigade Group 112th Infantry Regiment 143rd Infantry Regiment [/list][/list][/list][/list][/list][/list][/list][/LIST] 213rd Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion of 214th Infantry Regiment 55th Mountain Artillery Regiment 2nd Battery 33rd Mountain Artillery Regiment November 1944 (55th Division relieved by 54thDivision) 54th Division 54th Infantry Brigade Group 111th Infantry Regiment 121th Infantry Regiment 154th Infantry Regiment less one battalion Mixed Group under Colonel Sugumoto 55th Cavalry Regiment one Coy 143rd Regiment Battalion of Indian National Army Obliged to anyone who can improve on this. More importantly I don't understand organisation of the JIA and in particular the equivalence between the Japanese Regiment and (say) the British Battalion. Grateful for an explanation.
Japanese infantry regiment was equivalent of British infantry brigade. It compose of 3 battalions and supporting arms like artillery The standard infantry regiment consisted of a; HQ, three rifle battalions, a signal company, a regimental gun company, and an anti-tank company. With in this regiment there were 2128 rifles, 114 light machine guns (LMG)[6.5mm], 108 50mm mortars (LMRT) (also known as grenade dischargers. Allied experience indicated that the Japanese were very adept and keen on this weapon), 24 heavy machine gun (HMG)[7.7mm], 6 37mm or 47mm anti-tank guns (ATG), 6 70mm battalion guns, 4 75mm regimental guns, 673 horses, and 3845 men. http://www.1jma.dk/articles/1jmaIJAc2.htm
213rd Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion of 214th Infantry Regiment These units were sent from 33rd Japanese Division to the Arakan during the First Arakan Campaign. After that they returned to its parent division.
Sol -Thanks for the info. Seems the Japs were heavily outnumbered. Since you have not disagreed with my guess concerning the JIA units involved, I am going to assume that I have got it more or less right.
Sol -Thanks for the info. Seems the Japs were heavily outnumbered. Generally, yes they were but in reality this wasn't always the case. Terrain of Arakan was one of the worst for fighting and more often than not it permitted employment of only fraction of the forces in the attacks, usually one or two companies. Using this difficult terrain Japanese were able to gain local superiority for some of their attacks. Also during the Third Arakan Campaign, because of needs of operations in the Central Burma, XV Corps could use only part of its force at the time, due to logistic problems, usually two divisions, rarely more. Since you have not disagreed with my guess concerning the JIA units involved, I am going to assume that I have got it more or less right. Yes. Only one (possible) correction. Seems that 55th Mountain Artillery Regiment had additional 105 mm guns battery beside 3 batteries of 75 mm mountain guns while 54th had two batteries of 75 mm and one of 105 mm guns.
Again - Thanks for your help. So last question (for now). I have various British Army map references from the War Diaries. In the European Theatre it is possible to convert these to Long\Lat using the invaluable "Co-ordinates Translator" but this does not cover Burma. Do you know of any way of achieving this?
Again - Thanks for your help. So last question (for now). I have various British Army map references from the War Diaries. In the European Theatre it is possible to convert these to Long\Lat using the invaluable "Co-ordinates Translator" but this does not cover Burma. Do you know of any way of achieving this? I'm sorry but I can't help you with that, because I don't know. Hope some other member will be able to give you a answer.
Bit of a shame about the Coordinates Translator - often wondered who these magnificent people are to provide such useful info free of charge. I am afraid I am as usual drifting off subject but, whilst I have your attention, I would like to ask you if you know the location of Nahkaungdo where the West African Recce had their base - somewhere north of Alethangyaw, Arakan. Had a look at the various maps you have posted but can't find it and Google and my maps are hopeless. Also what would 55th Observation Squadron do? They were attached to 44 RM Commando but seem to have the task of leaving decoys (what sort of decoys?) behind.
Sorry just noticed Nahkaungdo. It is above Lambagung on (Sol's) map below. This is way further South than what I had expected. I had thought the British Line 13th March 1944 was still at approximately the Tunnels ie Maungdaw. Am I wrong? Were the West Africans behind Jap lines?
