79th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
| 79th Division | |
|---|---|
| 第79師団 | |
| Active | 1945 - 1945 |
| Country | Empire of Japan |
| Allegiance | 3rd army |
| Branch | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | 15633[1][2] |
| Garrison/HQ | Ranam-guyok |
| Nickname(s) | Play Division |
| Engagements | Soviet invasion of Manchuria |
The 79th Division (第79師団, Dai-nanajūkyū Shidan) was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Play Division (奏兵団, So Heidan).It was created 6 February 1945 in Ranam-guyok and disbanded at Tumen, Jilin in September 1945. It was a triangular division. The men of the division were drafted through Ranam-guyok Korean mobilization district, although the divisional backbone was the men from 19th and 20th divisions.
Action
[edit]The 79th division was assigned to the Kwantung Army 30 May 1945[3] and then to 3rd army and given a defensive sector at Tumen, Jilin in July 1945. At the end of July 1945, 1000 men were transferred to the newly formed 139th division.[4]
The 79th division was estimated to be 55% combat affective by August 1945, making it the best unit available to the 3rd army.[5] During the Soviet invasion of Manchuria, the 3rd battalion of the 291st infantry regiment have suffered a severe losses, but the hostilities ceased before the 79th division was seriously hit.
References and further reading
[edit]- ^ "Japanese Kwantung Army 9 August 1945 (Facing Russian Invasion of Manchuria)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ "Records of operations against Soviet Russia, Eastern Front (August 1945)", p. 92
- ^ "Japanese Kwantung Army Ground Units Gained & Lost March 1941 to August 1945" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ "Records of operations against Soviet Russia, Eastern Front (August 1945)", p. 122
- ^ "Records of operations against Soviet Russia, Eastern Front (August 1945)", p. 57
- List of Japanese Infantry Divisions
- Madej, W. Victor. Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols] Allentown, PA: 1981
This article incorporates material from the article 第79師団 (日本軍) in the Japanese Wikipedia, retrieved on 20 June 2015.
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