Hrafnagud -> RE: IJA 26th Tank Regiment (12/21/2018 11:10:11 AM)
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The 26th and 27th Tank "Regiments" were simply the reconnaissance battalions of the 1st and 2nd Tank Divisions, renamed. These reconnaissance battalions had two light tank companies (20 Type 95 lights), a gun tank company (10 Type 97 mediums), a rifle company and a maintenance company. These units were raised, along with the rest of the 1st and 2nd Tank Divisions, in June 1942. When IGHQ formally disbanded the Mechanized Army in November 1943, these reconnaissance battalions were made independent and renamed as 26th (1st Tank Division recce) and 27th (2nd Division recce) Tank Regiments, and added to the Army's order of battle. In other words, in November 1943 the recce battalions of the two Kwantung-based tank divisions were spun out into independent tank regiments. The 26th Tank Regiment was based at Ning'an, near Botenkou (which is of course where its parent, 1st Tank Division, was based). In April 1944, both ex-recce battalions were reorganized with tank company personnel reduced to offset the addition of an artillery company and engineer company to both. As a result of the reorganization, the 26th and 27th Tank Regiments had an authorized strength of 709 men organized in one light tank company, two medium tank companies, a rifle company, an artillery company and an engineer company. These reorganized regiments had a total of 12 Type 95 light tanks, 25 Type 97 medium tanks, and four 75mm field guns drawn by 6-ton tractors (the artillery ended up bring used in the anti-armor role). The engineers were specially trained in mine warfare, demolition, and road repair and maintenance. The 26th Tank Regiment was sent to Saipan from Ning'an, Manchukuo by ship transport in June 1944 but was rerouted to Iwo Jima after Saipan fell. The 27th Tank Regiment was shipped to Okinawa in July 1944. Both were destroyed during the fighting on those islands.
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