Structure of the Imperial Japanese forces in Nanyo

This article covers the Japanese garrisons on the by-passed Pacific islands from 1944 to 1945, including the Japanese mandated territory of Nanyo.

South Pacific Detachment

Commander-in-Chief of the South Pacific Detachment

Kwajalein Atoll detachment

Japanese positions at Kwajalein, Wotje, and Eniwetok (Enewetak) and Roi-Namur Atolls (3,600 Japanese defenders)

Kwajalein Atoll Fortress

Japanese Army units

Eniwetok Atoll Fortress

Japanese Army units

Mili Atoll Fortress

Mili

Japanese Navy units

Japanese Army units

Wotje Atoll Fortress

Wotje

Japanese Navy units

Equipment

Japanese Army units

Maleolap Atoll Fortress

Maloelap Atoll

Japanese Navy units

Equipment

Japanese Army units

Jaluit Island Fortress

Japanese Navy

Japanese Army units

Mereyon Island Fortress

Japanese Army units

Japanese Navy units

Caroline Islands Detachment

Ponape Island Fortress

Japanese Navy units

Total: 2,000 men

Equipment

Japanese Army units

Kusaie Island Force

Kusaie Island Fortress

Japanese Army units

Japanese Navy units

Mortlock Island Detachment

Mortlock Island Fortress

Japanese Army units

Japanese Navy units

Enderby Island Unit

Enderby Island Fortress

Japanese Army units

Japanese Navy units

Truk Island Unit

Japanese base at Truk, the pivot of the Japanese position in Nanyo. Truk was a huge naval complex, the "Pearl Harbor of the Japanese". It had been under construction since 1937.

Japanese aviation facilities was Dublon (Tonoas), Moen (Weno),and Eten Atolls.

Truk District Group

Truk Atoll Fortress

Japanese Navy units

Equipment (1942)

Japanese Army units

Japanese Yap Island Detachment

Yap Island Fortress

Japanese Army units

Japanese Navy units

Palau Island Detachment

Palau District Group

Palau islands (Peleliu) unit

There were 10,700 Japanese defenders under Colonel Kunio Nakagawa

Babelthuap Island Fortress (Palau Islands)

Japanese Army units

Japanese Navy units

Mariana Islands Unit

Commanders in Mariana Islands Units

Saipan was defended by 29,662 Japanese army and navy troops under Lt. General Yoshitsuga Saito and Admiral Chuichi Nagumo

Northern Mariana District Group

Saipan and Tinian Island area

Japanese Navy units

Pagan Island Fortress

Japanese Army units

Japanese Navy units

Rota Island Fortress

Japanese Army units

Japanese Navy unit

Southern Marianas District Group

The Japanese defenders of this largest Marianas group island numbered some 19,000 troops under Lt. General Hyo Takashima

Guam Island area

Japanese detachment in Makin Atoll (1943)

Butaritari Fortress

Japanese Navy units

Total: 276 men

All units complete the total of: 798 men under command of Lieutenant j.g. Seizo Ishikawa. Most of aviation or labor units had no combat training and were not assigned weapons or a battle station, also the number of actual armed combat troops on Makin was no more than 300 men.

A surface vessel and submarine port, with naval coastal defenses, possessed capacity to receive some Kawanishi H8K "Emily" flying boat bombers, Nakajima A6M2-N "Rufe" hydrofighters and Aichi E13A1 "Jake" recon-hydroplanes.

Nauru Island detachment

Nauru Island Fortress

Japanese Navy units

Equipment

Ocean island Unit

Ocean Island Fortress

Japanese Navy unit

Gilberts islands detachment

Tarawa Atoll Fortress

Japanese Navy units

Makin, Apamama, Betio, and Tarawa Atolls

Wake Island Detachment

Wake Island Fortress

Japanese Navy units

Equipment

Japanese Army units

Equipment

Marcus island Detachment

Marcus Island Fortress

Japanese Navy units

Japanese Army units

Ogasawara island Detachment

Ogasawara (Bonins) District Group

Japanese Army units

Japanese Navy units

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Takizawa, Akira; Alsleben, Allan (1999–2000). "Japanese garrisons on the by-passed Pacific Islands 1944-1945". Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942.

References

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