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Only basic and usual examples are shown, without many variations, prescribed by TOEs. For example, according to the TOE both lieutenant colonel and major could command IJA infantry battalion, while in IJN every fleet could be commanded by admiral or vice-admiral.
In general IJN was less rigid regarding rank of commanding officer for given unit: for example, IJN TOEs prescribed, that Special naval landing force could be commanded by rear-admiral, captain, commander or lieutenant-commander, depending on its size and importance.
Another thing worth mention is that IJA and IJN used same terms for very different units: IJA “shotai” was platoon, while IJN “shotai” was brigade of couple of battleships or cruisers.
Note, that IJN large “warships” formally were also part of “ships and crafts” category, but organizationally they differed. On smaller ships chiefs of ship departments usually concurrently served as commanders of ship’s divisions.
|
Imperial Japanese Army |
Imperial Japanese Navy |
||||
|
Unit name in English |
Unit name in Japanese |
Commanded usually by: |
Unit name in English |
Unit name in Japanese |
Commanded usually by: |
|
General army |
総軍 (old writing: 總軍) |
General |
Navy General Command
Combined fleet |
海軍総隊 (old writing: 海軍總隊)
連合艦隊
|
Admiral |
|
Area army
Air army
Training air army |
方面軍
航空軍
教導航空軍 |
General |
Area fleet
Maritime Escort General Headquarters
Naval Base (land) |
面艦隊
海上護衛総司令部
鎮守府 |
Vice-Admiral |
|
Army
Corps
Corps
Air corps |
軍
軍団 (foreign armies)
兵団 (IJA)
航空兵団 |
Lieutenant General |
Fleet
Air fleet
Escort fleet
Guard base (land) |
艦隊
航空艦隊
護衛艦隊
警備府 |
Vice-Admiral |
|
Division
Air group (divisional-sized)
Air division
Training air division |
師団
飛行集団 (till 4-6.1942)
飛行師団 (from 4-6.1942)
航空師団 |
Lieutenant General |
Division
Squadron (submarines, destroyers)
Carrier division or Air squadron
Maritime Escort Squadron
Guard Squadron
Defense Squadron
Base force (land) |
戦隊
戦隊
航空戦隊
海上護衛隊
警備戦隊
防備戦隊
根拠地隊 |
Real-Admiral |
|
Brigade
Brigade
Infantry Group
Independent Mixed Brigade
Garrison unit
Border garrison unit
Guard unit
Air brigade
Training Air brigade
Sea Mobile Brigade
Field Heavy Artillery Brigade
Artillery Headquarters Tank brigade
Tank brigade
Air Defense Brigade
Air Defense Command |
旅団
団
歩兵団
独立混成旅団
守備隊
国境守備隊
警備隊
飛行団
教育飛行団
海上機動旅団
野戦重砲兵旅団
砲兵司令部
戦車団
戦車旅団
防空旅団
防衛司令部
|
Major General |
Brigade (warships)
Combined air group (air)
Combined SNLF (Special naval landing force)
Maritime Escort Unit
Convoy Escort HQ |
小隊
連合航空隊
連合特別陸戦隊
海上護衛部隊
護衛船団司令部 |
Real-Admiral |
|
Regiment |
連隊 (old writing: 聯隊) |
Colonel |
Warship (BB, CV, CVS, CA, CL, ML, etc.)
Division of ships
Air group
SNLF
Guard unit (land)
Defense unit (land) |
軍艦**
隊
航空隊
特別陸戦隊
警備隊
防備隊 |
Captain |
|
Battalion
Air group |
大隊
飛行戦隊 |
Lieutenant colonel |
Ship (DD, SS, AP, etc.)
Division of small ships
Small Air group
SNLF
Guard unit |
艦
隊
航空隊
特別陸戦隊
警備隊 |
Commander |
|
Unit
Air unit |
隊
飛行隊 |
Major |
Small ship (CD, LST, MS, etc.) Warship department
Air unit (large) |
艦
科
飛行隊
|
Lieutenant-Commander |
|
Company
Air squadron |
中隊
飛行中隊 |
Captain |
Ship department***
Ship’s (air group’s, SNLF’s, etc.) division
Air unit |
科
分隊
飛行隊 |
Lieutenant |
|
Platoon |
小隊 |
Lieutenant |
Small craft (including suicide craft) |
艇
|
Sub-Lieutenant |
|
Squad |
分隊 |
Non-Commissioned Officer |
Small craft (including suicide craft)
Squad of the ship’s division |
艇
班 |
Petty Officer |
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