200th Division (National Revolutionary Army)

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The badge of the 200th Division

The 200th Division (Traditional Chinese: 第200師; Simplified Chinese: 第200师; pinyin: Dì 200 Shī) was the first mechanised division in the National Revolutionary Army. It was created in 1938 by General Du Yuming, who was also its first commander. The division secured a devastating victory against the Japanese in the Battle of Kunlun Pass, wiping out an entire Japanese brigade. Later in the war however, it suffered a disastrous defeat in the Burma campaign, under General Joseph Stilwell. Its commanding officer, Dai Anlan was killed in battle.

[edit] Order of Battle (Kunlun Pass)

200th Division

1 armour regiment
1 armoured car regiment
1 motorised infantry regiment
1 artillery regiment

[edit] Equipment

The armoured regiment had 70 T-26, 4 BT-5, 18 or 20 CV-33 tanks. The armoured car regiment had around 50 BA armoured cars. The motorised infantry regiment used Soviet trucks and rifles, and the artillery regiment had 12 122 mm howitzers, also 45 mm anti-aircraft artillery and 75 mm field guns.

This Division suffered heavy losses in the battle at Kunlun Pass, and a later Japanese counteroffensive and in a losing most of its equipment in battle or breakdown due to lack of spare parts once Soviet aid declined. It was reorganized as an infantry division for the Burma campaign in early 1942.