Teishin Shudan

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Teishin Shudan ("Raiding Group") was a Japanese special forces/airborne unit during World War II. The word teishin may be literally translated as "dash forward", and is usually translated as "raiding". It may also be regarded as similar to the "commando" designation in the terminology of other armies. The unit was a division-level force, and was part of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS). The Teishin units were therefore distinct from the marine parachute units of the Special Naval Landing Forces.

1 History of Teishin units
2 Equipment used by Tenshin units
3 Prominent Teishin Shudan officers
4 See also
5 References

[edit] History of Teishin units

The first IJAAS Teishin units were formed in 1941. These consisted of raiding brigades (Teishin Dan), raiding aviation brigades (Teishin Hikodan), raiding regiments (Teishin Sentai), and raiding aviation regiments (Teishin Hikosentai). Japanese Army paratroopers wore badges depicting a golden kite, similar to pilot wings, as well as an roundel emblem depicting an opened parachute and star.

Teishin troops were highly effective at the Battle of Palembang, on Sumatra in the Netherlands East Indies, in 1942. That particular operation was well-planned, the paratroopers were well-prepared, and they were well-supported by ground forces.

In July 1943, the 1st Glider Tank Troop was also formed, with four Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks. This unit was eventually expanded to battalion size, with a tank company using 14 Type 2 Ke-to light tanks, an infantry company, and a motorized transport company.

Teishin Shudan itself was formed in late 1944 as the first division-level raiding unit, at the main Japanese airborne base, Karasehara Airfield, Kyūshū, Japan. It was commanded by a major general, and was comprised of a headquarters company (220 personnel), an aviation brigade, a raiding brigade, two glider infantry regiments, a raiding artillery company (120 personnel), a raiding signals company (140 personnel), and a raiding engineer company (250 personnel). The unit had an estimated 5,575 personnel.

Soon after its formation, Teishin Shudan was transferred to the control of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group, to take part in the Philippines campaign. On 6 December 1944, a 750-strong detachment from the group, mainly from the 2nd Raiding Brigade, attacked U.S. airbases in the Burauen area on Leyte. The force destroyed some planes and inflicted casualties, but was wiped out. The remainder of Teishin Shudan remained in the Philippines until the end of the war.

[edit] Equipment used by Tenshin units

[edit] Army Paratrooper Uniform

The uniforms of Japanese Army Tenshin groups was in first period as similar to German Lutfwaffe paratroops during Palembang Campaing times in 1941-42 period.such uniform was based on the German model.the padded leather helmet was later replaced by a steel one,although photographs suggest that the German helmet was actually issued to Japanese parachute troops.He wore standard infantry equipment with additional ammunition bandoliers(1 or 2),but later in 42-43 in Philippines operation period changed at standart Army Khaki colour uniform with brown belts and arness.in both cases used your own symbol in rigth arm,little Hinomaru flag in left hand and the army badge,the yellow star in the cap and khepi amongst your dark or clear brown boots and gloves.

Such units used one or two cartridge belts or handgrenade belt over brown vest in first stages of conflict,amongst your standart Nambu pistol in belt.later certain units used only the brown vest for carried cartridges or handgrenades also.

[edit] Parachute and Harness

The first specifically designed Japanese military parachute was the Type 01 of 1941, similar to the German RZ version, which has more in common with the Italian D-30 series chute, having a canopy diameter of 28feet (8.5metre) in a pronounced hemispherical shape with skirting and vent hole for stable flight.

The harness was modified in the later Type 03 leaving out the lift webs, and the rigging lines were brought to a single point connected to a large steel ‘D’ ring behind the paratroopers neck for a more upright controlled landing

the particular Japanese method of opening of the folded and packed chute by static line was for safety sake dangerous and liable to failure.Each paratrooper also carried a 24feet (7.3metres) reserve chest-pack.,Japanese Army paratrooper training also required a jump from as low as 100ft, and were taught by the German instruction teams who were probably horrified by the sight of their teachings being taken to extreme

[edit] Aircraft

Mitsubishi Ki-57 "Topsy": transports
Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally": heavy bombers and transport (MC-21 variant)
Mitsubishi Ki-67 "Peggy": glider tug/personnel transports
Nakajima Ki-49 "Helen": heavy bombers/transports
Kawasaki Ki-56 "Thalia": personnel transport
Kokusai Ki-59 "Theresa": ligth transports
Tachikawa Type LO "Thelma": ligth transport
Lockheed Lodestar: personnel transports
Lockheed Super Electra: personnel transport
Douglas DC-2: personnel transports
Kokusai Ku-1 heavy glider (similar to German Gotha Go 242)
Kokusai Ku-8 "Gander" heavy glider (similar to German DFS 230)
Kokusai Ku-7 "Buzzard" tank transport glider, similar to British General Aircraft Hamilcar. Towed by Ki-49 or Ki-57.
Nakajima Ki-34 "Thora": training aircraft
Tachikawa Ki-54 "Hickory": training aircraft

[edit] Small arms

Bayonet
Type 94 8mm pistol
Type 26 9 mm revolver
Type 14 8 mm Nambu pistol
TERA rifles
Arisaka Type 00 rifles
Type 2 parachutist's rifle
Bergmmann/Type 100 submachinegun (Model 1940)
Type 96 light machine gun
Type 99 light machine gun
Type 97 20 mm anti-tank rifle
Type 91 hand grenade
Type 89 grenade launcher
Type 91 grenade launcher
Taisho Type 11 70mm infantry mortar
Type 99 81mm infantry mortar
Type 11 37mm field gun

Some heavy weapons were dropped in special parachute containers.

In the later stages of the war, it was planned that the Teishin units be equipped with some advanced weapons, incluidng experimental anti-tank weapons like the Type 4 70mm rocket launcher and Type 5 45mm recoilless gun, but this never occurred.

Armoured support was to be provided by Type 95 Ha-Go light tank among other types. It was also intended that the Teishin units use the Special No. 3 Flying Tank So-Ra or Ku-Ro,amongst the Maeda Ku-6 Flying Tank an experimental winged tank which never went into production.

[edit] Prominent Teishin Shudan officers

Col. Seiichi Kume: 1st Raiding Regiment (425 paratroopers) in Palembang operation
Maj. ? Niihara: 2nd Raiding Regiment (270 paratroopers) in Palembang campaing
Maj. H.Shinbara: commanded air supply unit in Palembang operation
Lt. Hirose Nobutaka: led 60 paratroopers during Palembang campaing
Lt. Ryo Morisawa : led 94 paratroopers in Pladjoe,during Palembang operation
Lt.Gen Kumaichi Teramoto: led 1st Raiding Regiment in New Guinea operations
Lt.Gen Rikichi Tsukada: led 1st Raiding Regiment in Philippines campaign
Brigade Commander Tokunaga :Commander of 4th Raiding Regiment in Philippines Campaing
Captain Kaieda: commander of the transports in Philippines campaing
Captain Fumio Ohmura: the commander of the Heavy Weapon Company (Ohmura unit) of 4th Raiding Regiment on Leyte during Philippines campaing
HQ staff Doi: served in Philippines campaing
Staff Officer Setoguchi: acted in Philippines campaing
Major Shirai: the comander of 3rd Raiding Regiment in Philippines campaing
Sergeant Yoshida: platoon leader in Philippines campaing
Sergent Major Shimura: led the platoon in Philippines campaing
1st Lt. Ohuchi: acted in Philippines campaing
Adjutant 1st Lt. Matsumoto: participied in Philippines campaing
Major Ueda: acted in Philippines campaing
Warrant Officer Mima: served in Philippines campaing
Warrant Officer Usui:acted in Philippines campaing
Commander Officer Kaoru led the Kaoru unit in Philippines Campaing