This 1937 expeditionary expedient combination of indvidual battalions and companies drawn from the regiments and specialist battalions of the military districts proved popular and became ubiquitous formations used alongside divisions in Japanese Asian Armies through the war.
The initial fundamental structure was 5 infantry bns, 1 arty bn, engineer, transport (logistics?), signal, and medical elements (later more inf bns for occupation purposes could be added, or I believe a mounted recon element). (Source: Rikugun vol 1)
This battlegroup is stronger than a brigade but weaker than a normal division. It seems well suited for its initial habitat of the war in China.
In the Division Template, it looks like 5 infantry bns could be shoehorned into one brigade column, though this simple org would seem to require unlocking of the last 2 slots. Or would the inf and arty bns be split into two brigade columns? Or would the arty bn have to be treated as a support element (justtified with a more limited effectiveness due to the poor quality of Japanese arty fire support in the field through the war).
The initial fundamental structure was 5 infantry bns, 1 arty bn, engineer, transport (logistics?), signal, and medical elements (later more inf bns for occupation purposes could be added, or I believe a mounted recon element). (Source: Rikugun vol 1)
This battlegroup is stronger than a brigade but weaker than a normal division. It seems well suited for its initial habitat of the war in China.
In the Division Template, it looks like 5 infantry bns could be shoehorned into one brigade column, though this simple org would seem to require unlocking of the last 2 slots. Or would the inf and arty bns be split into two brigade columns? Or would the arty bn have to be treated as a support element (justtified with a more limited effectiveness due to the poor quality of Japanese arty fire support in the field through the war).
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