# Battle of Wuhan order of battle

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)

### 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.
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)
    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.
Central China Aviation Army Corps(before Aug.2) - Yoshi Tokugawa,
    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.
Central China Aviation Army Corps(after Aug.2) - Yoshi Tokugawa[1,2,
    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 ?, North China?
       45th Hiko Sentai - Colonel - light bomber unit
Based: Central China ?, North China?
       75th Hiko Sentai - Colonel - Light bomber unit
Based: Central China ?, North China?
    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 ?, North China?
       98th Hiko Sentai - colonel - Fiat BR.20 Heavy bomber
Based: Central China ?, North China?
    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
       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)

Source:

### Army

[G] = German Trained Division

### Air Forces

Source:
    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

Sources:
    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.