The was an
infantry
Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
division of the
Imperial Japanese Army
The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA; , ''Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun'', "Army of the Greater Japanese Empire") was the principal ground force of the Empire of Japan from 1871 to 1945. It played a central role in Japan’s rapid modernization during th ...
. Its
call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally as ...
was the .
Origins
The ''46th Division'' was formed in
Kumamoto
is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. , the city has an estimated population of 738,907 and a population density of 1,893 people per km2. The total area is 390.32 km2.
had a populat ...
, simultaneously with the
42nd,
43rd and
47th divisions. The formation nucleus was the 66th Independent Infantry Brigade and headquarters of the
6th division. Troops were drawn from the Kumamoto Divisional District (''Shikanku''), which consisted of the
Kumamoto
is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. , the city has an estimated population of 738,907 and a population density of 1,893 people per km2. The total area is 390.32 km2.
had a populat ...
,
Oita,
Miyazaki, and
Kagoshima
, is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 583,966 in 285,992 households, and a population density of 1100 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Etymology
While the ...
prefectures.
Deployment
The ''46th division'' was initially assigned to the
Western District Army to strengthen the mainland defenses.
The ''46th division'' was temporarily assigned to the
16th Army and ordered to move south in October 1943. The 46th artillery regiment was detached and left behind that time.
The Division's 123rd Regiment landed in
Sumba
Sumba (; ), natively also spelt as Humba, Hubba, Suba, or Zuba (in Sumba languages) is an Indonesian island (part of the Lesser Sunda Archipelago group) located in the Eastern Indonesia and administratively part of the East Nusa Tenggara pro ...
of the
Lesser Sunda Islands
The Lesser Sunda Islands (, , ), now known as Nusa Tenggara Islands (, or "Southeast Islands"), are an archipelago in the Indonesian archipelago. Most of the Lesser Sunda Islands are located within the Wallacea region, except for the Bali pro ...
in late November 1943. Soon the ''46th division'' was reassigned to the
19th army. In February 1944, the 147th Regiment landed in nearby
Sumbawa
Sumbawa, is an Indonesian island, located in the middle of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain, with Lombok to the west, Flores to the east, and Sumba further to the southeast. Along with Lombok, it forms the province of West Nusa Tenggara, but th ...
island. The divisional headquarters were established on the
Sumbawa
Sumbawa, is an Indonesian island, located in the middle of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain, with Lombok to the west, Flores to the east, and Sumba further to the southeast. Along with Lombok, it forms the province of West Nusa Tenggara, but th ...
island. The remaining 145th Regiment was unable to be transported and instead was diverted from
Saipan
Saipan () is the largest island and capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, an unincorporated Territories of the United States, territory of the United States in the western Pacific Ocean. According to 2020 estimates by the United States Cens ...
in June 1944 to
Iwo Jima
is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands, which lie south of the Bonin Islands and together with them make up the Ogasawara Subprefecture, Ogasawara Archipelago. Together with the Izu Islands, they make up Japan's Nanpō Islands. Although sout ...
under the Lieutenant General
Tadamichi Kuribayashi
Tadamichi Kuribayashi was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, diplomat, and commanding officer of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff. He is best known for having been the commander of the Japanese garrison at the battle of Iwo Jima ...
's Ogasawara Corps, where it was wiped out in the
Battle of Iwo Jima
The was a major battle in which the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and United States Navy (USN) landed on and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) during World War II. The American invasion, desi ...
in February - March 1945.
The 19th Army was disbanded on 1 March 1945 and the ''46th division'' was transferred to the
7th Area Army. Consequently, the 123rd and 147th infantry regiments were removed from
Sumba
Sumba (; ), natively also spelt as Humba, Hubba, Suba, or Zuba (in Sumba languages) is an Indonesian island (part of the Lesser Sunda Archipelago group) located in the Eastern Indonesia and administratively part of the East Nusa Tenggara pro ...
and
Sumbawa
Sumbawa, is an Indonesian island, located in the middle of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain, with Lombok to the west, Flores to the east, and Sumba further to the southeast. Along with Lombok, it forms the province of West Nusa Tenggara, but th ...
islands, respectively, and sent to
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula is located in Mainland Southeast Asia. The landmass runs approximately north–south, and at its terminus, it is the southernmost point of the Asian continental mainland. The area contains Peninsular Malaysia, Southern Tha ...
in April 1945, landing in
Singapore
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
. These were disbanded at
Kluang
Kluang, formerly Keluang, is a town in Kluang District, Johor, Malaysia. Kluang was founded in 1915 as the administrative capital of central Johor by the British. It is located in the centre of the state and is within 90 minutes of all major ...
,
Johor
Johor, also spelled Johore,'' is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia in the south of the Malay Peninsula. It borders with Pahang, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan to the north. Johor has maritime borders with Singapore ...
province after the
surrender of Japan
The surrender of the Empire of Japan in World War II was Hirohito surrender broadcast, announced by Emperor Hirohito on 15 August and formally Japanese Instrument of Surrender, signed on 2 September 1945, End of World War II in Asia, ending ...
.
Commanders
* Lieutenant General Takashi Kayashima - 10 June 1943 - 15 October 1943
* Lieutenant General Wakamatsu Tadaichi 15 October 1943 - 14 November 1944
* Lieutenant General Kokubushin Shichiro 14 November 1944 - till disbanded
Headquarters and senior staff at disbandment
* Chiefs of Staff: Colonel Nizeki Eisaku, Lieutenant Colonel Masugi Kazuo, Major Yamamoto Tatsuo, and Major Emi Hideaki
* Adjutant: Lieutenant Colonel Tsuchiya Masanori
* 123 Infantry regiment: Colonel Chujo Toyo-ba
* 145 Infantry regiment: annihilated at Iwo Jima
* 147 Infantry regiment: Colonel Sairenji
* 46th Division tank company: Major Matsunaga YoshiSho
* 46th Division signals company: Captain Harada Magokai
* 46th Division transport company: Captain Arima Yasunari
* 46th Division ordnance company: Major Omoneman Tetsuo
* 46th Division labour company: Accountant Lieutenant Santsumori Bun'ichi
* 46th Division field hospital: Surgeon Colonel Tanaka Heikichi
See also
*
List of Japanese Infantry Divisions
Reference and further reading
* Madej, W. Victor. ''Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945''
volsAllentown, PA: 1981
* HataYu 彦編 "Japanese army and navy comprehensive encyclopedia," second edition, University of Tokyo Press, 2005
* Toyama Misao-Morimatsu Toshio eds "Imperial Army curriculum overview" Furong Shobo Publishing, 1987
* Separate volume history reader Senki series No.32 - Pacific Division military history, Shinjinbutsuoraisha, 1996
{{DEFAULTSORT:46th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
Japanese World War II divisions
Infantry divisions of Japan
Military units and formations established in 1943
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
1943 establishments in Japan
1945 disestablishments in Japan