Twenty-Eighth Army (Japan)

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Japanese Twenty-Eighth Army

Japanese troops on elephant in Burma
Active 1944-01-06-1945-08-15　
Country Empire of Japan
Branch Imperial Japanese Army
Type Infantry
Role Corps
Garrison/HQ Moulmein, Burma
Nickname Saku (策 Scheme?)
Japanese 28th Army (1945)
Parent unit Burma Area Army
Components
  • 54th Infantry Division
  • IJA 14th Field Artillery HQ

The Japanese 28th Army (第28軍 Dai-nijyūhachi gun?) was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during the final days of World War II.

Contents

[edit] History

The Japanese 28th Army was raised on 6 January 1944 in Rangoon, Japanese-occupied Burma as a garrison force, and in anticipation of Allied attempts to invade and retake southern Burma. It was under the overall command of the Burma Area Army, and was garrisoned in Moulmein. It was assigned to defend the coastal region ofArakan and lower Irrawaddy valley and consisted at first of the 55th Division in Arakan, and the 54th Division in reserve in Southern Burma, and various garrison units including the 24th Independent Mixed Brigade in Moulmein.

The Allies had started a cautious offensive in the Arakan. The Japanese had scored a decisive success here in early 1943 striking at the flanks and rear of badly-trained and exhausted Allied units. The main body of 55th Division now attempted to repeat this success by infiltrating the Allied lines to attack an Indian Division from the rear, overrunning the Divisional HQ. Unlike the previous occasion, the Allied troops were better-trained and did not panic. The Japanese had also not anticipated that the Allies would parachute supplies to the cut-off forward units, while the Japanese themselves were unable to obtain supplies and starved.

Although battle casualties in the resulting Battle of Ngakyedauk were approximately equal, the 55th Division failed in its mission and was forced to withdraw in disorder. The Allies did not immediately exploit their success, as formations were withdrawn to face a major Japanese invasion of India at Imphal. They even withdrew from some of their gains, which were found to be malarial and unhealthy in the monsoon season.

Twenty-Eighth army used the monsoon to complete the An track across the hills between Central Burma and Arakan, making it easier to supply their troops there. Aided by locally-recruited Arakanese irregulars (the Arakan Defence Force) and small units of the Indian National Army, they launched an attack against a West African Division in the Kaladan River valley, forcing it to withdraw.

When the rains ended, the Allies resumed their offensive. Intelligence of impending amphibious operations forced the Army to weaken the forces in Arakan and disperse many of its troops to Southern Burma. At the end of the year, they abandoned the Mayu Peninsula and the island of Akyab, with its vital airfield. The retreating troops were intercepted by Allied forces which had landed from the sea on the Myebon peninsula, and suffered heavy casualties. Although they subsequently held the An track and the port of Taungup, a regiment was destroyed on Ramree Island. The forces from Twenty-Eighth Army in the lower Irrawaddy Valley (72nd Independent Mixed Brigade) were defeated around Yenangyaung.

With the Allies overrunning Central Burma, Twenty-Eighth Army tried to retreat across the Irrawaddy, fighting several battles. They were eventually trapped in the Pegu Yomas, reduced to approximately 20,000 men. Joined by the former garrison of Rangoon they tried to break out to join the Japanese in Southern Burma. The breakout was a disaster. The Allies had captured the plans for the operation and ambushed almost every track the Japanese used. Hundreds of men drowned trying to cross the swollen Sittang River, and east of the river, stragglers were attacked by guerrillas and bandits. The breakout cost the Army 10,000 men, half its strength.

The Army was demobilized after the surrender of Japan.

[edit] List of Commanders

Name From To
Commanding Officer Lieutenant General Shozo Sakurai 7 January 1945 September 1945
Chief of Staff Major General Hideo Iwakuro 7 January 1944 September 1945

[edit] References

  • Frank, Richard B (1999). Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-41424-X. 
  • Jowett, Bernard (1999). The Japanese Army 1931-45 (Volume 2, 1942-45). Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1841763543. 
  • Louis, Allen (1984). Burma: The Longest War. DentPublishing. ISBN 0-460-02474-4. 
  • Madej, Victor (1981). Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945. Game Publishing Company. ASIN: B000L4CYWW. 
  • Marston, Daniel (2005). The Pacific War Companion: From Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1841768820. 

[edit] External links

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