The Japanese 15th Army (第15軍, Dai-jyūgo gun) was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. It was involved in the invasion of Burma in December 1941 and served in that country for most of its war service.
The Japanese 15th Army was formed on November 9, 1941, as a component of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group for the specific task of invading the British colony of Burma. To do this the army, then based in Indo-China, needed to transit through Thailand. On December 8, 1941, the 33rd and 55th Divisions of the army spearheaded by the Imperial Guard invaded Thailand overland from what is now Cambodia. The invasion was supported by landings on the coast to the south of Bangkok by the army's 143rd Infantry Regiment. Fighting lasted only a few hours before the Thai government ceded access.
Under Lieutenant General Shōjirō Iida, the IJA 15th Army invaded the southern Burmese province of Tenasserim. The Fifteenth Army consisted initially of the highly regarded 33rd Infantry Division and the 55th Infantry Division. The latter attacked from northern Thailand, which had signed a treaty of friendship with Japan on December 21, 1941. The 15th Army quickly advanced through southern Burma, defeating the British and Indian Burma Army in several engagements, and capturing the capital of Rangoon by March 7, 1942. The Army was reinforced by troops released by the Fall of Singapore and drove northwards into central Burma, defeating the British Burma Corps and the Chinese forces, ultimately driving the Allies from Burma.
During the following year, the Army remained as a garrison force in Burma, defeating an Allied offensive in Arakan and inflicting heavy casualties on a long-range penetration raid under Orde Wingate.
In 1944, the Fifteenth Army became part of the Burma Area Army. Lieutenant General Iida was posted back to Japan and Lieutenant General Renya Mutaguchi took command. He forcefully advocated an offensive against British India. The offensive, Operation U-Go, was launched in March. As a result of poor logistics and Mutaguchi's underestimation of the difficulties, the Fifteenth Army was almost destroyed in the Battle of Imphal and the Battle of Kohima.
Mutaguchi, his chief of staff, and several other officers were removed in the aftermath, and Lieutenant General Shihachi Katamura was assigned to command. As the monsoon season ended, the remnants of the Fifteenth Army attempted to forestall an Allied offensive into Burma by withdrawing behind the Irrawaddy River. They were unable to prevent British and Indian troops from securing bridgeheads across the river, and the army was weakened by losses and detachments to other parts of the front. Once Mandalay was captured, the Fifteenth Army could only retreat southwards, badly disorganised and was further depleted in the failed Japanese breakout of the Pegu Yomas in July and August 1945.
Madej, Victor (1981). Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937–1945. Game Publishing Company. ASIN: B000L4CYWW.
External links
Wendel, Marcus. "Axis History Factbook". Japanese Fifteenth Army.
Notes
January 13, 2023
fifteenth, army, japan, japanese, 15th, army, 第15軍, jyūgo, army, imperial, japanese, army, during, world, involved, invasion, burma, december, 1941, served, that, country, most, service, japanese, fifteenth, armyjapanese, troops, border, burmaactive9, november. The Japanese 15th Army 第15軍 Dai jyugo gun was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II It was involved in the invasion of Burma in December 1941 and served in that country for most of its war service Japanese Fifteenth ArmyJapanese troops on border of BurmaActive9 November 1941 15 August 1945Country Empire of JapanBranch Imperial Japanese ArmyTypeInfantryRoleCorpsGarrison HQRangoonNickname s Hayashi Shudan 林集団 Grove EngagementsBurma Campaign Contents 1 History 2 List of Commanders 2 1 Commanding officers 2 2 Chief of staff 3 References 4 External links 5 NotesHistory EditThe Japanese 15th Army was formed on November 9 1941 as a component of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group for the specific task of invading the British colony of Burma To do this the army then based in Indo China needed to transit through Thailand On December 8 1941 the 33rd and 55th Divisions of the army spearheaded by the Imperial Guard invaded Thailand overland from what is now Cambodia The invasion was supported by landings on the coast to the south of Bangkok by the army s 143rd Infantry Regiment Fighting lasted only a few hours before the Thai government ceded access Under Lieutenant General Shōjirō Iida the IJA 15th Army invaded the southern Burmese province of Tenasserim The Fifteenth Army consisted initially of the highly regarded 33rd Infantry Division and the 55th Infantry Division The latter attacked from northern Thailand which had signed a treaty of friendship with Japan on December 21 1941 The 15th Army quickly advanced through southern Burma defeating the British and Indian Burma Army in several engagements and capturing the capital of Rangoon by March 7 1942 The Army was reinforced by troops released by the Fall of Singapore and drove northwards into central Burma defeating the British Burma Corps and the Chinese forces ultimately driving the Allies from Burma During the following year the Army remained as a garrison force in Burma defeating an Allied offensive in Arakan and inflicting heavy casualties on a long range penetration raid under Orde Wingate In 1944 the Fifteenth Army became part of the Burma Area Army Lieutenant General Iida was posted back to Japan and Lieutenant General Renya Mutaguchi took command He forcefully advocated an offensive against British India The offensive Operation U Go was launched in March As a result of poor logistics and Mutaguchi s underestimation of the difficulties the Fifteenth Army was almost destroyed in the Battle of Imphal and the Battle of Kohima Mutaguchi his chief of staff and several other officers were removed in the aftermath and Lieutenant General Shihachi Katamura was assigned to command As the monsoon season ended the remnants of the Fifteenth Army attempted to forestall an Allied offensive into Burma by withdrawing behind the Irrawaddy River They were unable to prevent British and Indian troops from securing bridgeheads across the river and the army was weakened by losses and detachments to other parts of the front Once Mandalay was captured the Fifteenth Army could only retreat southwards badly disorganised and was further depleted in the failed Japanese breakout of the Pegu Yomas in July and August 1945 The remnants of the Fifteenth Army were later absorbed as a subsidiary unit of the 18th Area Army The 15th Army was demobilized at Lampang Province in Thailand on the surrender of Japan in 1945 List of Commanders EditCommanding officers Edit Name From To1 Lieutenant General Shōjirō Iida 5 November 1941 18 March 19432 Lieutenant General Renya Mutaguchi 18 March 1943 30 August 19443 Lieutenant General Shihachi Katamura 30 August 1944 15 August 1945Chief of staff Edit Name From To1 Lieutenant General Haruki Isayama 14 November 1941 1 December 19422 Lieutenant General Eitaro Naka 1 December 1942 18 March 19433 General Hideyoshi Obata 18 March 1943 26 May 19434 Lieutenant General Todai Kunomura 26 May 1943 22 September 19445 Major General Gonpachi Yoshida 22 September 1944 September 1945References EditLatimer Jon 2004 Burma The Forgotten War London John Murray ISBN 978 0 7195 6576 2 Madej Victor 1981 Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle 1937 1945 Game Publishing Company ASIN B000L4CYWW External links EditWendel Marcus Axis History Factbook Japanese Fifteenth Army Notes Edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fifteenth Army Japan amp oldid 1003688556, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
