Organization of Kita and Minami Fortresses
Encyclopedia
The Kita and Minami Fortresses (Japanese
kita, "north" and minami, "south") were defensive structures of the Imperial Japanese Army
and Imperial Japanese Navy
in the Kuril Archipelago.
The most northerly points were on the Kokutan and Kurabu Zaki capes, and its coastal front on the Shumushu Strait near Lopatka Cape in the Soviet Union
's Kamchatka peninsula.
This military organization was under the Twenty-seventh Army (Chishima Area Base Unit or Kuril Area Army), led by Shozo Terakura. The Twenty-seventh Army was under the leadership of the Fifth Area Army, under the command of Kiichiro Higuchi
whose headquarters was in Sapporo, Hokkaidō
. The Twenty-seventh Army was composed of the 42nd and 91st Divisions.
There are also some similar military buildings in other islands in the Northern Kuriles (Shimushiro, Onnekotan, Uruppu, Matsuwa) and Southern Kuriles (Etorofu
, Kunashiri, Shikotan
and Habomai archipelago).
Commanded by Colonel Zueo Ikeda, the regiment was equipped with 20 Type 97 Shinhoto Chi-Ha
tanks, 19 Type 97 Chi-Ha
medium tanks, and 25 Type 95 Ha-Go
light tanks.
Such units were sometimes reinforced by seaplane tender Kimikawa Maru
(with the 452nd Air Fleet aboard, equipped with Nakajima A6M2-N "Rufe" Hydro fighters).
There was also a Japanese air early warning radar of unspecified type on the southern cape of Paramushiro, Kurabu Zaki, but its view of Shumushu was likely blocked by the 5958-foot volcano (apparently named Suribachi
, like the one on Iwo Jima
) in the center of Paramushiro.
Etorofu District:
, Akiyuri, Yuri
, Shibotsu and Taraku island).
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
kita, "north" and minami, "south") were defensive structures of the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
and Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
in the Kuril Archipelago.
The most northerly points were on the Kokutan and Kurabu Zaki capes, and its coastal front on the Shumushu Strait near Lopatka Cape in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's Kamchatka peninsula.
This military organization was under the Twenty-seventh Army (Chishima Area Base Unit or Kuril Area Army), led by Shozo Terakura. The Twenty-seventh Army was under the leadership of the Fifth Area Army, under the command of Kiichiro Higuchi
Kiichiro Higuchi
-Notes:...
whose headquarters was in Sapporo, Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. The Twenty-seventh Army was composed of the 42nd and 91st Divisions.
Kurile fortresses
These defensive structures in the Kurile Islands was somewhat similar to the Karafuto fortifications. The key Japanese position was on Shumushu Island, whose defense consisted of permanent emplacements protected by field and AA artillery. A garrison of over 8,000 men reinforced by 60 tanks defended the islands of Shumushu and Paramushiro. All the coastal sections convenient for landings were covered with permanent emplacements and bunkers, interconnected with underground passages and trenches. All the warehouses, power stations and hospitals were underground, up to 50 m deep.There are also some similar military buildings in other islands in the Northern Kuriles (Shimushiro, Onnekotan, Uruppu, Matsuwa) and Southern Kuriles (Etorofu
Etorofu
Etorofu was an escort ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II....
, Kunashiri, Shikotan
Shikotan
Shikotan, in Russian , Japanese , or シコタㇴ), is one of the bigger islands of the Kuril Islands, which are controlled by Russia. It is one of the four southernmost islands which Japan maintains a claim for...
and Habomai archipelago).
Shumushu fortification system
There were nine fortified installations and 20 coastal defence positions commanded from Kataoka Fortress.Japanese Army units
- 73rd Infantry Brigade (Maj. Gen. Iwao Zugino)
- 282nd Battalion
- 283rd Battalion
- 284th Battalion
- 285th Battalion
- 286th Battalion
- 287th Battalion
- 11th Tank Regiment
Commanded by Colonel Zueo Ikeda, the regiment was equipped with 20 Type 97 Shinhoto Chi-Ha
Type 97 Chi-Ha
The was a medium tank used by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War, at Nomonhan against the Soviet Union, and in the Second World War. It was the most widely produced Japanese medium tank of World War II, although the armor protection was considered as average in the 1930s...
tanks, 19 Type 97 Chi-Ha
Type 97 Chi-Ha
The was a medium tank used by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War, at Nomonhan against the Soviet Union, and in the Second World War. It was the most widely produced Japanese medium tank of World War II, although the armor protection was considered as average in the 1930s...
medium tanks, and 25 Type 95 Ha-Go
Type 95 Ha-Go
The was a light tank used by the Imperial Japanese Army in combat operations of the Second Sino-Japanese War, at Nomonhan against the Soviet Union, and in the Second World War. It proved sufficient against infantry, however, like the American M3 Stuart, it was not designed to fight other tanks...
light tanks.
- 12th or 2nd Tank Company
- 91st Division
- 1st Artillery Unit
- 2nd Artillery Unit
- I/54th Air Regiment (4 Nakajima Ki-43Nakajima Ki-43The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa was a single-engine land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II...
Hayabusa "Oscar", some Nakajima Ki-44Nakajima Ki-44The Nakajima Ki-44 Shōki was a single-engine fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II. The type first flew in August 1940 and entered service in 1942...
Shoki "Tojo" and possibly Nakajima Ki-84Nakajima Ki-84The Nakajima Ki-84 was a single-seat fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II. The Allied reporting name was "Frank"; the Japanese Army designation was . Featuring excellent performance and high maneuverability, the Ki-84 was considered to be the best Japanese fighter...
Hayate "Frank"), based in Miyoshino Airfield, Shumushu.
- Shumushu Alert Radar: located at Minami Cape and cannery on the Naka River
Paramushiro fortification system
There are less than two or possibly more fortifications and 6 or more coastal defensive positions commanded from Kashibawara Fortress.Japanese Army units
- 91st Division HQ (Lt. Gen. Fuzai Tsutsumi)
- 74th Infantry Brigade (Major Zeiji Zato)
- 4th Tank Company (detachment of 11th Tank Regiment)
- II/54th Sentai (Ki-43 Oscars and Ki-44 Tojos)
- Kitanodai Airfield: airfield located on the north-east tip of the island with a single 4,000' x 180º runway. The base had 40 ravetments and over 50 hardstands.
- Kashiwabara Airfield: located at the north-eastern tip of the island, closest to Shumshu Island. Japanese Army Staging area in the north.heavily defended by 20 anti-aircraft positiions
- Kakumabetsu Airfield: airfield located in the south-west side of the isand with a 3,800' x 150' runway.Ki-44 Tojo operated from this strip.
- Suribachi Airbase: annex airfield located at the center of the south coast of the island, with two runways.
Japanese Navy units on Shumushu and Paramushiro
- 51st Guard Unit (942 men)
- 52nd Guard Unit (333 men)
- Shumushu Signal Unit (42 men)
- 32nd AA Defense Unit (18 men)
- Kita Chishima Naval HQ
- North East Fleet (Kashibawara and Kataoka Bases)
- North East Unit (189 men/4 Nakajima B5N2Nakajima B5N|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bridgwater, H.C. and Peter Scott. Combat Colours Number 4: Pearl Harbor and Beyond, December 1941 to May 1942. Luton, Bedfordshire, UK: Guideline Publications, 2001. ISBN 0-9539040-6-7....
"Kate" and probably Aichi D3A2Aichi D3AThe , Allied reporting name "Val") was a World War II carrier-borne dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy . It was the primary dive bomber in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and participated in almost all actions, including Pearl Harbor....
"Val" or Yokosuka D4Y2Yokosuka D4YThe D4Y Navy Type 2 Carrier Dive bomber was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Its Allied reporting name was "Judy". The D4Y was one of the fastest dive-bombers of the war, and only the delays in its development hindered its service, while its predecessor, the slower fixed gear Aichi D3A...
"Judy" dive bombers) - 12th Air Fleet Unit (equipped with Kawanishi H6K2Kawanishi H6K|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Doubilet, David. "The Flying Boat". Sport Diver Magazine. Volume 15, Number 8, September 2007.* Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. Annapolis, Maryland, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1995.* Green, William. Warplanes of the Second...
"Mavis" and Mitsubishi G4M2Mitsubishi G4MThe Mitsubishi G4M 一式陸上攻撃機, 一式陸攻 Isshiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikkō was the main twin-engine, land-based bomber used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allies gave the G4M the reporting name Betty...
"Betty") - Shimushu Detachment, Naval Air Group 203 (with Mitsubishi A6M5 "Zeke" and Nakajima J1N1-S "Irving" night fighter)
- Hokuto Kokutai (553rd Kokutai) - B5N Kate & B6N JillNakajima B6NThe Nakajima B6N Tenzan was the Imperial Japanese Navy's standard carrier-borne torpedo bomber during the final years of World War II and the successor to the B5N "Kate"...
- 203rd Kokutai (A6M, J1N1)
- Musashi Naval Base (Musashi Airfield): Located on the south-western tip of Paramushiro island was this naval base and airfield located at Karabu Zaki. The runways were 4,300' x 260' and 4,200' x 375'. Anti-aircraft guns were added at the nearby cape with 8 guns, 20 pillboxes and many gun pits.
- Miyoshino Airfield Japanese Army-Navy airfield, located near the center of the Shumushu island.This airfield based several units including a B5N2 Kate, G3M NellMitsubishi G3MThe Mitsubishi G3M was a Japanese bomber used during World War II.-Design and development:...
and Ki-43 OscarNakajima Ki-43The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa was a single-engine land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II...
based there.
- Kataoka Naval Base (Imaizaki Airfield):This base had two runways 5,000' x 250' and 4,000' x 250'. The base had a large 130' x 165' hangar with 13 covered revetments and 34 uncovered revetments, three 60' oil storage tanks, and other barracks and supply buildings.The base also had a seaplane facility on the harbor, allowing H6K2 Mavis flying boats to operate at the base as headquarters of the 5th Fleet.
Such units were sometimes reinforced by seaplane tender Kimikawa Maru
Japanese seaplane tender Kimikawa Maru
Kimikawa Maru was a seaplane tender of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The ship was built by the Kawasaki Dockyard Co. at Kobe as a cargo ship for a civilian ship company. In July 1941 the ship was taken-over by the IJN and converted into an auxiliary seaplane tender. She was able to operate 6 Aichi...
(with the 452nd Air Fleet aboard, equipped with Nakajima A6M2-N "Rufe" Hydro fighters).
There was also a Japanese air early warning radar of unspecified type on the southern cape of Paramushiro, Kurabu Zaki, but its view of Shumushu was likely blocked by the 5958-foot volcano (apparently named Suribachi
Suribachi
Suribachi and surikogi are a Japanese mortar and pestle. These mortars are used in Japanese cooking to crush different ingredients such as sesame seeds....
, like the one on Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
) in the center of Paramushiro.
Shimushiro fortification system
There are less than 2 or possibly more fortifications and 6 or more coastal defensive positions commanded from Itarkioi and Ketoebone Fortresses.Matsuwa Island
- 41st Independent Mixed Regimen (Colonel UedaUedaUeda may refer to:*Siege of Ueda, in 1600*Ueda Electric Railway Bessho Line-Places:*Ueda, Nagano, a city in Japan*Ueda Castle in Japan*Ueda Domain of Japan*Ueda Glacier in Antarctica...
) - 6th Independent Tank Company
- Matsuwa Army Field Battalion
- Matsuwa Air Intelligence Unit
Uruppu Island
6000 troops were based on Uruppu, including:- 129th Independent Mixed Brigade (Maj. Niho)
- 53rd Anchorange Unit
- 6th Disembarcation Unit (800 men)
- 80th Airfield Battalion
- Uruppu Air Intelligence Unit (800 men)
- 5th Independent Tank Company
- 23rd Independent AA Gun Company
Other North Kuriles units
Some units possibly existed in Shashukotan (Ootome Base) and Onnekotan (Torushiri Base).Etorofu fortification system
Defensive organization commanded from Rubetsu Fortress, was divided into:Etorofu District:
- Shibetoro County
- Shibetoro Fortress
- Shana County
-
- Shana Fortress
- Bettobu Fortress
- Rubetsu or Etorofu County
-
- Toshimoe Fortress
- Rubetsu Fortress
- Tennel Fortress
- Naibo Fortress
- Riyaushi Fortress
- Tanemoe Fortress
Japanese Army units
- 89th Division (Lt. Gen. OgawaOgawaOgawa is a Japanese surname and the name of several places in Japan.-Persons with the surname Ogawa:* Frank H. Ogawa , the first Japanese American to serve on the Oakland, CA City Council...
) - 3rd Mixed Brigade
- 15th Independent Mortar Battalion
- 6th Independent Machine Gun Battalion
- 67th Independent Field Machine Cannon Company
- 23rd Independent Field AA Gun Company
- 13th Independent Antitank Gun Company
- 6th Shipping Engineer Regiment
- Etorofu Air Intelligence Unit
Shikotan Island
- 4th Mixed Brigade
- 23rd Independent Machine Gun Battalion
- 1st Mortar Company/15th Independent Mortar Battalion
Other South Kuril units
There were probably other detached units in Habomai Archipelago (Kaigara Group, SuishoSuishō
was a king of Wa . He is the first Japanese whose name appeared in the Chinese history.- Historical references :The only historical record about Suishō is a brief sentence on Volume 85 of the Book of the Later Han....
, Akiyuri, Yuri
Yuri
Yuri is a common first name in several languages, with alternately masculine and feminine denotations depending on the specific culture. In Russia, for example, Юрий is a common male given name meaning 'George', while in Japan it is a traditional female name meaning 'lily', and in Korea, it is also...
, Shibotsu and Taraku island).