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Organization and armament of the IJA type “A” infantry regiment for the Mobilization plan for 1937 (1936)

by Eugen Pinak

TO&E drawing of the Type “A” infantry regiment of the Imperial Japanese Army, based on the original TO&E from Mobilization plan for 1937, approved in 1936. This is the organization in which cadre IJA infantry regiments went to war with China in 1937 and it is the forerunner of the IJA standard infantry organization of the 2nd Sino-Japanese and Pacific wars.

For comparison, the Type “B” infantry regiment of 1936 (to be formed for reserve divisions on mobilization) retained old organization and armament. It had neither battalion gun platoons nor anti-tank company, its battalion machine-gun companies had only 4 machine-guns, while regimental gun company had only 4 obsolete mortars and 2 37-mm infantry guns. Thus the amount of heavy weapons in the Type “B” infantry regiments was extremely small.

TO&E drawing of the infantry company of the Type “A” infantry regiment can be seen at the bottom of the page.

Type “A” infantry regiment - TO&E drawing

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Infantry company of the Type “A” infantry regiment - TO&E drawings

TO&E drawing of the infantry company of the Type “A” infantry regiment of the Imperial Japanese Army, based on the original TO&E from Mobilization plan for 1937, approved in 1936.

Organization of the infantry company of the Type “B” infantry regiments, which were formed on mobilization (they didn’t existed in peace-time), was essentially the same, but with only 4 grenade dischargers: which means two of three grenade discharger squads had only 1 grenade discharger each.

For purists: grenade discharger squads were not considered squads in IJA manuals (only “groups” or “units”). Probably that was the reason they were not led by non-commissioned officers.

Note, that IJA TO&Es does not provide detailed organization below company level – only general guidance and overall number of specialist personnel. That’s why some guesstimation was involved in making this TO&E.

I’ve made three versions of the TO&E drawing: one, based on well-known NATO symbols, another, based on symbols of my own design, which shows details on individual armament and special assignments, and a mixed version.

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