Teishin Shudan

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Teishin Shudan ("Raiding Group") was a Japanese special forces/airborne unit during World War II. The word teishin may be literally translated as "dash forward", and is usually translated as "raiding". It may also be regarded as similar to the "commando" designation in the terminology of other armies. The unit was a division-level force, and was part of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS). The Teishin units were therefore distinct from the marine parachute units of the Special Naval Landing Forces.

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[edit] History of Teishin units

The first IJAAS Teishin units were formed in 1941. These consisted of raiding brigades (Teishin Dan), raiding aviation brigades (Teishin Hikodan), raiding regiments (Teishin Sentai), and raiding aviation regiments (Teishin Hikosentai). Japanese Army paratroopers wore badges depicting a golden kite, similar to pilot wings, as well as a roundel emblem depicting an opened parachute and star.

Teishin troops were highly effective at the Battle of Palembang, on Sumatra in the Netherlands East Indies, in 1942. That particular operation was well-planned, the paratroopers were well-prepared, and they were well-supported by ground forces.

In July 1943, the 1st Glider Tank Troop was also formed, with four Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks. This unit was eventually expanded to battalion size, with a tank company using 14 Type 2 Ke-to light tanks, an infantry company, and a motorized transport company.

Teishin Shudan itself was formed in late 1944 as the first division-level raiding unit, at the main Japanese airborne base, Karasehara Airfield, Kyūshū, Japan. It was commanded by a major general, and was comprised of a headquarters company (220 personnel), an aviation brigade, a raiding brigade, two glider infantry regiments, a raiding artillery company (120 personnel), a raiding signals company (140 personnel), and a raiding engineer company (250 personnel). The unit had an estimated 5,575 personnel.

Soon after its formation, Teishin Shudan was transferred to the control of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group, to take part in the Philippines campaign. On 6 December 1944, a 750-strong detachment from the group, mainly from the 2nd Raiding Brigade, attacked U.S. airbases in the Burauen area on Leyte. The force destroyed some planes and inflicted casualties, but was wiped out. The remainder of Teishin Shudan remained in the Philippines until the end of the war.

[edit] Equipment used by Teishin units

[edit] Army Paratrooper Uniform

The uniforms of Japanese Army Tenshin groups was in first period as similar to German Luftwaffe paratroops during Palembang Campaign times in 1941-42 period. Such uniform was based on the German model. The padded leather helmet was later replaced by a steel one, although photographs suggest that the German helmet was actually issued to Japanese parachute troops. He wore standard infantry equipment with additional ammunition bandoleers (1 or 2), but later in 1942-43 in Philippines operation period changed to the standard Army Khaki colour uniform with brown belts and harness. In both cases they used their own symbol on the right arm, a little Hinomaru flag on the left hand and the army badge, the yellow star in the cap and kepi plus dark or light brown boots and gloves.

Such units used one or two cartridge belts or hand grenade belts over a brown vest in the first stages of conflict, along with their standard Nambu pistol in the belt. Later certain units used only the brown vest for cartridges or hand grenades.

[edit] Aircraft

[edit] Small arms

  • Bayonet
  • Type 94 8mm pistol
  • Type 26 9 mm revolver
  • Type 14 8 mm Nambu pistol
  • TERA rifles
  • Arisaka Type 00 rifles
  • Type 2 parachutist's rifle
  • Bergmmann/Type 100 submachinegun (Model 1940)
  • Type 96 light machine gun
  • Type 99 light machine gun
  • Type 97 20 mm anti-tank rifle
  • Type 91 hand grenade
  • Type 89 grenade launcher
  • Type 91 grenade launcher
  • Taisho Type 11 70mm infantry mortar
  • Type 99 81mm infantry mortar
  • Type 11 37mm field gun

Some heavy weapons were dropped in special parachute containers.

In the later stages of the war, it was planned that the Teishin units be equipped with some advanced weapons, including experimental anti-tank weapons like the Type 4 70mm rocket launcher and Type 5 45mm recoilless gun, but this never occurred.

Armoured support was to be provided by Type 95 Ha-Go light tank among other types. It was also intended that the Teishin units use the Special No. 3 Flying Tank So-Ra or Ku-Ro,amongst the Maeda Ku-6 Flying Tank an experimental winged tank which never went into production.

[edit] Prominent Teishin Shudan officers

  • Col. Seiichi Kume: 1st Raiding Regiment (425 paratroopers) in Palembang operation
  • Maj. ? Niihara: 2nd Raiding Regiment (270 paratroopers) in Palembang campaign
  • Maj. H.Shinbara: commanded air supply unit in Palembang operation
  • Lt. Hirose Nobutaka: led 60 paratroopers during Palembang campaign
  • Lt. Ryo Morisawa: led 94 paratroopers in Pladjoe, during Palembang operation
  • Lt.Gen Kumaichi Teramoto: led 1st Raiding Regiment in New Guinea operations
  • Lt.Gen Rikichi Tsukada: led 1st Raiding Regiment in Philippines campaign
  • Brigade Commander Tokunaga: Commander of 4th Raiding Regiment in Philippines Campaign
  • Captain Kaieda: commander of the transports in Philippines campaign
  • Captain Fumio Ohmura: the commander of the Heavy Weapon Company (Ohmura unit) of 4th Raiding Regiment on Leyte during Philippines campaign
  • HQ staff Doi: served in Philippines campaign
  • Staff Officer Setoguchi: acted in Philippines campaign
  • Major Shirai: the commander of 3rd Raiding Regiment in Philippines campaign
  • Sergeant Yoshida: platoon leader in Philippines campaign
  • Sergent Major Shimura: led the platoon in Philippines campaign
  • 1st Lt. Ohuchi: acted in Philippines campaign
  • Adjutant 1st Lt. Matsumoto: participated in Philippines campaign
  • Major Ueda: acted in Philippines campaign
  • Warrant Officer Mima: served in Philippines campaign
  • Warrant Officer Usui: acted in Philippines campaign
  • Commander Officer Kaoru led the Kaoru unit in Philippines Campaign

[edit] See also

[edit] References

U.S. Army, 1945, Japanese Parachute Troops (Army Military Intelligence Special Series).

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