Fifteenth Army (Japan)

Japanese Fifteenth Army
Japanese troops on border of Burma
Active	9 November 1941 – 15 August 1945
Country	Empire of Japan
Branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Corps
Garrison/HQ	Rangoon
Nickname(s)	Hayashi Shūdan(Lâm tập đoàn,Grove)
Engagements	World War II Invasion of Thailand Burma Campaign

TheJapanese 15th Army(Đệ 15 quân,Dai-jyūgo gun)was anarmyof theImperial Japanese ArmyduringWorld War II.It was involved in theinvasion of Burmain December 1941 and served in that country for most of its war service.

History

The Japanese 15th Army was formed on November 9, 1941, as a component of theSouthern Expeditionary ArmyGroup for the specific task ofinvading the British colony of Burma.To do this the army, then based inIndo-China,needed to transit throughThailand.On December 8, 1941, the 33rd and 55th Divisions of the army spearheaded by the Imperial Guardinvaded Thailandoverland from what is now Cambodia. The invasion was supported by landings on the coast to the south ofBangkokby the army's 143rd Infantry Regiment. Fighting lasted only a few hours before the Thai government ceded access.

Under Lieutenant GeneralShōjirō Iida,the IJA 15th Army invaded the southern Burmese province ofTenasserim.The Fifteenth Army consisted initially of the highly regarded33rd Infantry Divisionand the55th Infantry Division.The latter attacked from northern Thailand, which had signed a treaty of friendship with Japan on December 21, 1941. The 15th Army quickly advanced through southern Burma, defeating the British and IndianBurma Armyin several engagements, and capturing the capital ofRangoonby March 7, 1942. The Army was reinforced by troops released by theFall of Singaporeand drove northwards into central Burma, defeating the BritishBurma Corpsand theChinese forces,ultimately driving theAlliesfrom Burma.

During thefollowing year,the Army remained as agarrisonforce in Burma, defeating an Allied offensive inArakanand inflicting heavy casualties on a long-range penetration raid underOrde Wingate.

In 1944, the Fifteenth Army became part of theBurma Area Army.Lieutenant General Iida was posted back to Japan and Lieutenant GeneralRenya Mutaguchitook command. He forcefully advocated an offensive against British India. The offensive,Operation U-Go,was launched in March. As a result of poor logistics and Mutaguchi's underestimation of the difficulties, the Fifteenth Army was almost destroyed in theBattle of Imphaland theBattle of Kohima.

Mutaguchi, his chief of staff, and several other officers were removed in the aftermath, and Lieutenant GeneralShihachi Katamurawas assigned to command. As themonsoonseason ended, the remnants of the Fifteenth Army attempted to forestall an Allied offensive into Burma bywithdrawingbehind theIrrawaddy River.They were unable to prevent British and Indian troops from securing bridgeheads across the river, and the army was weakened by losses and detachments to other parts of the front. OnceMandalaywas captured, the Fifteenth Army could only retreat southwards, badly disorganised and was further depleted in thefailed Japanese breakoutof thePegu Yomasin July and August 1945.

The remnants of the Fifteenth Army were later absorbed as a subsidiary unit of the18th Area Army.The 15th Army wasdemobilizedatLampang Provincein Thailand, on thesurrender of Japanin 1945.

List of Commanders

Commanding officers

	Name	From	To
1	Lieutenant GeneralShōjirō Iida	5 November 1941	18 March 1943
2	Lieutenant GeneralRenya Mutaguchi	18 March 1943	30 August 1944
3	Lieutenant GeneralShihachi Katamura	30 August 1944	15 August 1945

Chief of staff

	Name	From	To
1	Lieutenant GeneralHaruki Isayama	14 November 1941	1 December 1942
2	Lieutenant GeneralEitaro Naka	1 December 1942	18 March 1943
3	GeneralHideyoshi Obata	18 March 1943	26 May 1943
4	Lieutenant GeneralTodai Kunomura	26 May 1943	22 September 1944
5	Major GeneralGonpachi Yoshida	22 September 1944	September 1945

References

• Latimer, Jon(2004).Burma: The Forgotten War.London: John Murray.ISBN978-0-7195-6576-2.
• Madej, Victor (1981).Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937–1945.Game Publishing Company. ASIN: B000L4CYWW.

External links

• Wendel, Marcus."Axis History Factbook".Japanese Fifteenth Army.