Battle of Shanghai order of battle

The following is the order of battle of the forces involved in the Battle of Shanghai, during the opening stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Order of battle prior to August 13, 1937

China

National Revolutionary Army

Wusung – Shanghai Siege Area (Aug. 7 1937)
Nanking Shanghai Garrison – Zhang Zhizhong (50,000 men).

36th Division – Song Xilian [g]

87th Division – Wang Chingchin [g]

88th Division – Sun Yuanliang [g]

55th Division – Li Sungchan

56th Division – Liu Hoting (later Liu Shangchih)

57th Division – Yuan Chaochang [R]

20th Sep. Bde – Gen. Chen Mienwu

[g] German trained Reorganized Divisions

[R] Reorganized Divisions

Shanghai City demilitarised on Chinese side according to Shanghai Ceasefire Agreement (1932)

Wusong-Shanghai Garrison Units (Peace Preservation Corps)

Centralized Chinese Air Force Units (includes former aviators of various warlord air forces and Chinese-American Volunteers)

Zhoujiakou Airbase, Zhoukou, Henan – 4th Pursuit Group - Col. Gao Zhihang (21st, 22nd, 23rd Pursuit Squadrons).
Jurong Airbase, Nanjing, Jiangsu - 3rd Pursuit Group - Capt. Wong Pan-Yang (8th, 17th Pursuit Squadrons and 34th Provisional PS) - 5th Pursuit Group - Capt. Chan Kee-Wong (28th PS)

Japan

Imperial Japanese Navy

3rd Fleet : Admiral Hasegawa Kiyoshi

Flagship: Izumo (Izumo class armoured cruiser)
Notoro (seaplane tender)
- 8 Nakajima E8N Reconnaissance float aircraft
11th (Gunboat) Sentai - Rear Admiral Tanimoto Umataro
- Flagship: Yaeyama (minelayer)
- Ataka (Gunboat)
- Katada (Gunboat)
- Sumida (Gunboat)
- Kuri (Momi class destroyer)
- Hozu (Gunboat)
- Futami (Gunboat)
- Kotaka (Gunboat)
- Tsuga (Momi class destroyer)
- Hasu (Momi class destroyer)
- Atami (Gunboat)
- Seta (Gunboat
- Toba (Gunboat)
- Hira (Gunboat)
8th (Cruiser) Sentai - Rear Admiral Nagumo
- Flagship: Kinu
- Natori
- Yura
1st (Destroyer) Sentai - Rear Admiral Yoshida
- Sendai
Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force - Rear Admiral Denshichi Okawachi

1st Battalion - Lt. Cdr. Uroku Hashimoto
2nd Battalion - Lt. Shigeshi Sano
3rd Battalion - Lt. Shegeru Ito
4th Battalion - Artillery unit, Disbanded at the outbreak of war, guns were dispersed to the infantry units.
9th Battalion - Lt. Cdr. Torashige Tsukioka

10th Battalion - Lt. Cdr Haji Kitaro

Prior to hostilities: Total force (2,500 men)

Special Naval Landing Force reinforcements as of 8/1/37 from 3rd Fleet

8th Sentai NLF
1st Destroyer Sentai NLF
3rd Destroyer Sentai NLF
Izumo NLF

Reservists and volunteers (5000 men)

1st Reserve Infantry Regiment
2nd Reserve Infantry Regiment

(Armed reservists were men in civilian clothes distinguished by a brassard)

Notes:

Third Fleet operated in Central and South China waters.

11th Squadron evacuated Japanese civilians from the interior to Shanghai during July and early August.

Order of battle soon after August 13, 1937

China

National Revolutionary Army

3rd Military Region - Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (20 Aug 1937)

Wusung – Shanghai Siege Area

9th Group Army - Gen. Zhang Zhizhong

36th Division - Gen. Song Xilian [g]
56th Division - Gen. Liu Hoting
87th Division - Gen. Wang Chingchin [g]
88th Division - Gen. Sun Yuanliang [g]
20th Separate Brigade - Gen. Chen Mienwu
Training Division (part) - Gen Huei Yungching
Wusong-Shanghai Garrison Units (Peace Preservation Corps)
10th Heavy Artillery Regiment [sFH 18 L/32 150mm Howitzer]
3rd Artillery Regiment
8th Artillery Regiment
2 Heavy Mortar Units
2 Anti-tank batteries
1 Light Tank Battalion

Yangtze River Right Bank Garrison Sector

54th Army – Gen. Huo Kweichang

11th Division – Gen. Peng Shan [R]
14th Division - Gen. Chen Lie [g]
67th Division - Gen. Huang Wei [R]
16th Artillery Regiment (under command of Siege Area)

Yangtze River Left Bank Garrison Sector

57th Army – Miao Chengliu

111th Division – Gen. Chen Ento
112th Division – Gen. Huo Shuoyi

Hangzhou Bay Left Bank Garrison Sector

8th Group Army – Gen. Zhang Fakui

61st Division – Gen. Chung Sung
62nd Division – Gen. Tao Liu
55th Division – Gen. Li Sungshan
57th Division – Gen. Yuan Shaochang [R]
45th Separate Brigade – Gen. Chan Luanchi
2nd Artillery Regt.

East Zhejiang Garrison Sector

10th Group Army – Gen. Liu Jianxu

16th Division – Gen. Peng Shungling
63rd Division – Gen. Chen Kuangchung
19th Division – Gen. Li Chue
52nd Division – Gen. Lu Xinjung
New 34th Division (128th Division) - Gen. Gu Chiachi
37th Separate Brigade – Gen. Chen The-fa
11th Provisional Brigade – Gen Chou Xiching
12th Provisional Brigade – Gen. Li Kuochun
13th Provisional Brigade – Gen. Yang Yungching

[g] German trained Reorganized Divisions

[R] Reorganized Divisions

Chinese Air Force Units - includes former aviators of various warlord air forces plus Chinese-American Volunteers

Jianqiao Airbase, Hangzhou, Zhejiang – 4th Pursuit Group - Col. Gao Zhihang (21st, 22nd, 23rd Pursuit Squadrons); Capt. Li Guidan assumed command of the 4th PG following Col. Gao's combat injuries sustained on 15 August, that put him out of action for two months.
Jurong Airbase, Nanjing, Jiangsu - 3rd Pursuit Group - Capt. Wong Pan-Yang (8th, 17th Pursuit Squadrons and 34th Provisional PS) - 5th Pursuit Group - Capt. Chan Kee-Wong (28th PS)

Japan

Imperial Japanese Navy

Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force - Rear Admiral Denshichi Okawachi

1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
3rd Battalion
4th Battalion
9th Battalion

Special Naval Landing Force reinforcements as of 1 Aug from 3rd Fleet

8th Sentai NLF
1st Destroyer Sentai NLF
3rd Destroyer Sentai NLF
Izumo NLF

Special Naval Landing Force reinforcements 18 - 19 Aug

5th Battalion (Sasebo 1st SNLF, 16th Destroyer Division)
6th Battalion (Kure 2nd SNLF)
7th Battalion (Kure 1st SNLF)
8th Battalion (Yokosuka 1st SNLF, 11th Sentai)

Total Naval personnel 8/19/37 (5000 men)

Reservists and volunteers (5000 men)

1st Reserve Infantry Regiment
2nd Reserve Infantry Regiment

(Armed reservists were men in civilian clothes distinguished by a brassard)

Total force defending the settlement 10,000 men

Imperial Japanese Army

Shanghai Expeditionary Force – Gen. Iwane Matsui (16 Aug 1937)

5th Tank Battalion - Colonel Hosomi

32 Type 89 Medium Tanks, 15 Type 94 Tankettes

7th Independent Machine Gun Battalion
8th Independent Light Armor Company
9th Independent Light Armor Company
Independent Light Armor Company
10th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment

24 Type 4 150mm Howitzers

4th Army Mortar Battalion

150mm mortars (1887) [Taki/PWf]

Field Operations Anti-aircraft Artillery 3 platoons
Field Air Defense Team 3rd Battery
8th Independent Army Engineer Regiment
6th Independent Air Squadron
Shanghai Dispatch Signal Unit
5th Independent Heavy Artillery Brigade

48 150mm Howitzers

6th Independent heavy artillery Brigade

13th Field Heavy Artillery Regiments, 24 Type 4 15cm Howitzers
14th Field Heavy Artillery Regiments, 24 Type 4 15cm Howitzers

Army Logistics Depot

3rd Division - Lt. Gen. Fujita (Landed on Aug. 23rd)

5th Infantry Brigade

6th Infantry Regiment
68th Infantry Regiment

29th Infantry Brigade

18th Infantry Regiment
34th Infantry Regiment

3rd Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Cavalry Regiment
3rd Engineer Regiment
3rd Transport Regiment

11th Division - Lt. Gen. Yamamuro (Landed on Aug. 23rd)

10th Infantry Brigade

12th Infantry Regiment
22nd Infantry Regiment

22nd Infantry Brigade

43rd Infantry Regiment
44th Infantry Regiment

11th Mountain Artillery Regiment
11th Cavalry Regiment
11th Engineer Regiment
11th Transport Regiment

101st Division - Lt. Gen. Ito (Arrived Sept 7-16, Landed on Sep. 22nd)

101st Infantry Brigade

101st Infantry Regiment
149th Infantry Regiment

102nd Infantry Brigade

103rd Infantry Regiment
157th Infantry Regiment

101st Field Artillery Regiment
101st Cavalry Regiment
101st Engineer Regiment
101st Transport Regiment

9th Division - Lt. Gen. Yoshizumi (Landed on Sep. 27th)

6th Infantry Brigade

7th Infantry Regiment
35th Infantry Regiment

18th Infantry Brigade

19th Infantry Regiment
36th Infantry Regiment

9th Mountain Artillery Regiment
9th Cavalry Regiment
9th Engineer Regiment
9th Transport Regiment

13th Division - Lt. Gen. Ogisu (reinforcements late Aug., Landed on Oct. 1st)

26th Infantry Brigade

58th Infantry Regiment
116th Infantry Regiment

103rd Infantry Brigade

65th Infantry Regiment
104th Infantry Regiment

19th Mountain Artillery Regiment
17th Cavalry Regiment
13th Engineer Regiment
13th Transport Regiment

Later forces

Chinese forces after late September, 1937

National Revolutionary Army 3rd War Area - Generalisimo Chiang Kai-skek (after late Sept. 1937)

Right Wing Force - General Zhang Fakui

8th Group Army - General Zhang Fakui

28th Army - Tao Kuang

62nd Division – Tao Kuang
63rd Division – Chen Kuangchung

55th Division – Li Sungchan
45th Separate Brigade – Chang Luanchi
Artillery Btn., Training Div.

10th Group Army - Liu Jianxu

11th Reserve Division – Hu –Ta
128th Division – Ku Chiachi
45th Division – Tai Minchuan
52nd Division – Lu Xinjung
11th Temporary Brigade – Chou Xiching
12th Temporary Brigade – Li Kuochun
37th Separate Brigade - Chen Thefa
Guard Regiment – ?
Ningpo Defense Commander – Wan Kaolan

Central Force Gen. Zhu Shaoliang

9th Group Army - Zhu Shaoliang

72nd Army – Sun Yuanliang

88th Division – Sun Yuanliang[g]
Peace Preservation Group
1st Regiment, 20th Separate Brigade

78th Army – Song Xilian

36th Division – Song Xilian[g]

71st Army – Wang Chingchin

87th Division – Wang Chingchin[g]

8th Army – Huang Chie

61st Division – Chung Sung
Salt Gabelle Division – Huang Chie

3rd Division – Li Yutang[g]
18th Division – Chu Yao-hua
Shanghai Garrison Command - Yang Hu
1st Battalion 3rd Regiment, 2nd Artillery Brigade
2 Heavy Mortar Units
2 Anti-tank batteries
1 Light tank Battalion

21st Group Army - Liao Lei

1st Army – Hu Zongnan

1st Division - Li Tiechun
32nd Division - Wang Xiushen
78th Division - Li Wen

48th Army – Wei Yunsung

173rd Division - Huo Weichen
174th Division - Wang Tsanpin
176th Division - Ou Shounien

171st Division – Yang Cunchang
19th Division – Li Chue
16th Division - Peng Sungling

Left Wing Force - General Chen Cheng

19th Group Army – Xue Yue

66th Army – Ye Zhao

159th Division – Tan Sui
160th Division – Ye Zhao

75th Army – Chao Ai

6th Division – Chao Ai[g]

2nd Army – Li Yannian

9th Division – Li Yannian[g]

25th Army – Wan Yaohuang

13th Division – Wan Yaohuang

20th Army – Yang Sen

133rd Division – Yang Hanyu
134th Division – Yang Hanchung

69th Army – Yuan Chaochang

57th Division – Yuan Chaochang[R]

15th Group Army – Luo Zhuoying

44th Division – Chen Yung
16th Artillery Regiment
16th Corps – Luo Zhuoying

18th Army - Luo Zhuoying

60th Division - Chen Pei
11th Division - Peng Shan[R]
67th Division - Huag Wei[R]

54th Army - Huo Kueichang

14th Division - Chen Lie[g]
98th Division - Hisa Chuchung

74th Army - Yu Chishi

51st Division - Wang Yaowu
58th Division - Yu Chishih

39th Army – Liu Ho-ting

34th Separate Brigade. – Lo Chichiang
56th Division - Liu Shangchih

4th Army – Wu Chi-wei

90th Division – Ou Chen

73rd Army – Wang Tungyuan

15th Division – Wang Chihpin

15th Corps – Liu Xing

102 Division - Po Huichang
103 Division - Ho Chihchung
53 Division - Li Yunheng
23 Division - Li Pifan

57th Army – Miao Chengliu

111th Division - Chang Entuo
112th Division - Huo Shouyi

River Defence Forces - Gen. Liu Xing

Chiangyin Fortress Command - Xu Kang
Chenchiang Fortress Command - Lin Xienyang
2nd Regiment Kiangsu Peace Preservation Force
1st Battalion 8th Artillery Regiment
11th Corps - Shangguan Yunxiang

40th Division - Liu Peixu
33rd Division - Ma Xingxien

12th Corps - Chang Fang

76th Division - Wang Lingyun
43rd Army - Kuo Jutung

26th Div. - Liu Yuching

1st Battalion 3rd Artillery Regiment
4th Artillery Regiment
1st Battalion 10th Heavy Artillery Regiment [sFH 18 L/32 150mm How]

Notes:

[g] German trained Reorganized Divisions:

[R] Reorganized Divisions

Japanese forces from October 29, 1937

Imperial Japanese Army

Central China Front Army – Gen. Iwane Matsui

(was formed on Oct. 29th 1937 to coordinate the Shanghai Expeditionary Army and

the 10th Army.)

Shanghai Expeditionary Force - Gen. Iwane Matsui,

See previous order of battle

16th Division – Gen. Kesao Nakashima (from N. China Nov 12/37, landed at Pai mao kou)

19th Infantry Brigade

9th Infantry Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment

30th Infantry Brigade

33rd Infantry Regiment
38th Infantry Regiment

22nd Field Artillery Regiment
20th Cavalry Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
16th Transport Regiment

Shigeto Detachment - Major Gen. Shigeto (arrived Sept 7-16 from Formosa)

Regiment sized, was later expanded into the Formosa Mixed Brigade. Nov 12/37, landed at Pai mao kou)

? Manchukuoan Brigade - Li Chung-shan (arrived Sept. 7-16)
? Manchukuoan Brigade - Yu Chih-shan (arrived Sept. 7-16)

10th Army – Major Gen. Heisuke Yamagawa (Nov. 5th landing at Chin shan wei)

9th Independent Light Armor Company [Taki/ PWf]
2nd Independent Mountain Gun Regiment[Taki/ PWf]
6th Independent Heavy Artillery Brigade [CDF] [Taki/ PWf]

13th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, 24 Type 4 15cm Howitzers
14th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, 24 Type 4 15cm Howitzers

6th Division - Lt. Gen. Tani

11th Infantry Brigade

13th Infantry Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment

36th Infantry Brigade

23rd Infantry Regiment
45th Infantry Regiment

6th Field Artillery Regiment
6th Cavalry Regiment
6th Engineer Regiment
6th Transport Regiment

18th Division - Lt. Gen. Ushijima

23rd Infantry Brigade

55th Infantry Regiment
56th Infantry Regiment

35th Infantry Brigade

114th Infantry Regiment
124th Infantry Regiment

18th Mountain Artillery Regiment
22nd Cavalry Battalion
12th Engineer Regiment
12th Transport Regiment

114th Division - Lt. Gen. Suematsu

127th Infantry Brigade

66th Infantry Regiment
115th Infantry Regiment

128th Infantry Brigade

102nd Infantry Regiment
150th Infantry Regiment

120th Field Artillery Regt
118th Cavalry Regiment
114th Engineer Regiment
114th Transport Regiment

Kunizaki Detachment - Gen. Kunisaki (from North China)

9th Infantry Brigade/5th Division

11th Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment

with elements of:

5th Mountain Artillery Regiment

5th Cavalry Regiment

5th Engineer Regiment

5th Transport Regiment

Sources

Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) 2nd Ed., 1971. Translated by Wen Ha-hsiung, Chung Wu Publishing; 33, 140th Lane, Tung-hwa Street, Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China. Pg. 200 - 214, Map 7.
Jowett, Phillip S., Rays of The Rising Sun, Armed Forces of Japan’s Asian Allies 1931-45, Volume I: China & Manchuria, 2004. Helion & Co. Ltd., 26 Willow Rd., Solihull, West Midlands, England.
Sino-Japanese Air War 1937-45
History of the Frontal War Zone in the Sino-Japanese War, published by Nanjing University Press.
- [g] German trained Reorganized Divisions:

3rd, 6th, 9th, 14th, 36th, 87th, 88th, and the Training Division of the Central Military Academy.

Also the "Tax Police" regiment (equivalent of a division) under T.V. Soong's Ministry of Finance, later converted to the New 38th Division during the war, were German armed and trained by German officers.

- [R] Reorganized Divisions were the other 12 other Divisions with Chinese arms on the reorganized model with 2 German advisors:

2nd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 25th, 27th, 57th, 67th, 80th, 83rd, 89th Division

Madej, W. Victor, Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols], Allentown, PA: 1981.

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