List of Japanese armored divisions
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List of Japanese armored divisions of the Imperial Japanese Army. During World War Two, the IJA only organized four divisions, these were:
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[edit] First Tank Division
- 1st. Tank Group (Division), nicknamed "Taku" (meaning Development in the Japanese language), was formed in December 1941 in Manchukuo as a tank group. Renamed a Division in June 1942. This unit operated in Manchukuo until the final days of the war in which it was transferred to mainland Japan.
[edit] Second Tank Division
- 2nd. Tank Group (Division), nicknamed "Geki" (撃, Hit), formed in December 1941 in Manchukuo; its Commander was Tasuku Okada. Renamed a Division in June 1942 and transferred to the Philippines in 1944 and was destroyed as an effective unit in March 1945 by the Americans.
[edit] Third Tank Division
- 3rd. Tank Division, nicknamed "Taki" (滝, Waterfall), was formed in June 1942 in Mengjiang, and ended the war in China.
[edit] Fourth Tank Division
- 4th. Tank Division, nicknamed: "Hagane" (鋼, Steel), was formed in July 1943 in Japan directly from the IJA tank school and operated much like the German Panzer Lehr Division. It ended the war in Japan - never saw combat.
