Japanese 15th Army Jan-42

15th Army Headquarters (Lieut.-General S. lida)

33 Division (Lieut.-General S. Sakurai)

33rd Infantry Group Headquarters (Major-General M. Araki)

214th Infantry Regiment (Colonel T. Sakuma)

215th Infantry Regiment (Colonel M. Harada)

33rd Mountain Artillery Regiment (less two battalions – nine guns)

11th Anti-Tank Gun Company (four 37mm guns)

one tank platoon (four Type 95 light tanks/tankettes detached from the light tank company of 2nd Tank Regiment)

33rd Engineer Regiment (one company only)

33rd Transport Regiment (two horse companies only)

Divisional medical unit

Two field hospitals

Veterinary and ordnance sections

55 Division (Lieut.-General Y. Takeuchi)

112th Infantry Regiment (Colonel K. Obarazawa, later Colonel S. Tanahashi)

143rd Infantry Regiment (Colonel M. Uno)

55th Cavalry Regiment (less one mounted infantry squadron and less part MMG and anti-tank gun companies)

55th Mountain Artillery Regiment (less one battalion – 12 guns)

55th Engineer Regiment (less one company)

55th Transport Regiment (less two companies)

Divisional medical unit

One field hospital

Veterinary and ordnance sections

Army Troops

4th Independent Engineer Battalion

20th Independent Engineer Battalion

Two bridging companies

One railway battalion

Two wire communication companies

Two fixed radio units

One line of communication sector unit

Two independent transport companies (motor transport)

Two independent transport companies (horsed)

One line of communication hospital

One base hospital

Notes:

The anti-tank guns and the light tank platoon came into action at Pegu on 6 March. The guns were captured by a company of the 1st West Yorks, supported by tanks. The three tanks were quickly knocked out at long range by Stuarts of 7th Hussars. A fourth tank had been lost earlier whilst crossing the Sittang River. The parent light tank company had been left in Thailand, these four tanks had been driven on their tracks all the way from Thailand.

2. 55 Division.
55th Infantry Group Headquarters had been sent to Guam, with the Division’s third regiment, 144th Regiment, and other sub-units under command. When the main invasion began the second battalion of 143rd Regiment (2/143 Battalion) was at Victoria Point and 3/112 Battalion was at Tavoy. Both battalions rejoined at Moulmein.

55th Cavalry Regiment’s normal composition was three mounted infantry companies, one armoured vehicle company, one MMG company and an anti-tank gun company. The missing elements had also been sent to Guam.