116th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

November 2019 116th Division Ichigo plan.jpg A map of the Japanese Plan for Operation Ichi-Go 1938 - 1945 Empire of Japan Empire of Japan Imperial Japanese Army Infantry 25000 Kyoto Yoshishige Shimizu Storm Division Battle of WuhanBattle of NanchangZhejiang-Jiangxi campaignBattle of ChangdeBattle of Changsha (1944)Operation Ichi-GoDefense of HengyangBattle of West Henan–North Hubei 116th Division 1941 Thirteenth Army *109. Infantry regiment (Kyoto) 120. Infantry Regiment (Fukuchiyama) 133. Infantry Regiment (Tsu) 138. Infantry Regiment 120. Cavalry Battalion 122. Field Artillery Regiment (36x75 mm) 116. Engineer Regiment 116. Transport Regiment 116. Signals Company 116th Division 1945 20th army *109. Infantry regiment (Kyoto) 120. Infantry Regiment (Fukuchiyama) 133. Infantry Regiment (Tsu) 122. Field Artillery Regiment 116. Engineer Regiment 116. Transport Regiment 116. Signals Company 116. Sanitation Company 116/1. Field Hospital 116/2. Field Hospital 116/4. Field Hospital The 116th Division 第116師団 Dai-hyakujūroku Shidan was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was Storm Division 嵐兵団 Arashi Heidan. It was formed on 15 May 1938 in Kyoto as a B-class square division, simultaneously with the 106th Division. The nucleus for the formation was the 16th Division headquarters. The division was originally subordinated to the Central China Expeditionary Army.http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/938JGAE.PDF Japanese Central China Expeditionary Army 2nd & 11th Army 4 July 1938 2016-06-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20111208084639/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/938JGAE.PDF 2011-12-08 dead Action The division landed in Shanghai on 24 June 1938, and was immediately sent to the Dabie Mountains and Battle of Wuhan through Anqing.http://www.ac.auone-net.jp/~tigre/gwife2670/butai/109_120_133.htm 歩兵第109/120/133連隊/116D 17 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160807012942/http://www.ac.auone-net.jp/~tigre/gwife2670/butai/109_120_133.htm 7 August 2016 dead From March 1939, a small part of the division participated in the Battle of Nanchang.http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/939JBAA.PDF Japanese Forces Battle of Nanchang Mid-February to Early May 1939 2016-06-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20111208064146/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/939JBAA.PDF 2011-12-08 dead After the Central China Expeditionary Army was abolished, the division was reassigned to Thirteenth Army. In the aftermath of the Doolittle Raid 18 April 1942, the unit participated in the Zhejiang-Jiangxi campaign.http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/942JDAA.PDF Japanese Forces Battle of Chekiang-Kiangsi Late April 1942 2016-06-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20160812062210/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/942JDAA.PDF 2016-08-12 dead In December 1942, the 138th Infantry Regiment was transferred to the 31st Division, therefore the 116th division became a triangular division. In November 1943, the division fought in the Battle of Changde,http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/943JJAB.PDF Japanese Forces Battle of Chang-te End of October 1943 2016-06-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20160812055635/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/943JJAB.PDF 2016-08-12 dead and from May 1944 - in the Battle of Changsha (1944).http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/944JEAA.PDF Japanese Forces Battle of Changsha-Hengyang Mid-May 1944 2016-06-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20160812060249/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/944JEAA.PDF 2016-08-12 dead In October 1944, it was transferred to Twentieth Army and take a part in the Defense of Hengyang as a part of Operation Ichi-Go. During the intensive 40-day assault of Chinese positions, the division has suffered major losses but was able to capture the city. From March 1945, it also participated in the Battle of West Henan–North Hubei with the help of the newly created 86th Independent Mixed Brigade.86th Independent Mixed Brigade (Shusou) By the day of the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945, the division was still in Hengyang. See also List of Japanese Infantry Divisions Notes This article incorporates material from Japanese Wikipedia page 第116師団 (日本軍), accessed 17 June 2016 References Madej, W. Victor, Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols], Allentown, PA: 1981. Category:Japanese World War II divisions Category:Infantry divisions of Japan Category:Military units and formations established in 1938 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 Category:1938 establishments in Japan Category:1945 disestablishments in Japan