Teishin Shudan Totally Explained

Everything about Teishin Shudan totally explained

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.

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 a 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.

Organization

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 organized as follows:

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.

Deployment

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.

Equipment used by Teishin units

Army Paratrooper Uniform

The uniforms of Japanese Army Tenshin groups was in first period as similar to German Luftwaffe paratroops during Palembang Campaign 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 bandoleers (1 or 2), but later in 1942-43 in Philippines operation period changed to the standard Army Khaki colour uniform with brown belts and harness. In both cases they used their own symbol on the right arm, a little Hinomaru flag on the left hand and the army badge, the yellow star in the cap and kepi plus dark or light brown boots and gloves.
Such units used one or two cartridge belts or hand grenade belts over a brown vest in the first stages of conflict, along with their standard Nambu pistol in the belt. Later certain units used only the brown vest for cartridges or hand grenades.

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": light transports

Tachikawa Type LO "Thelma": light 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

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, including 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.

Prominent Teishin Shudan officers

Col. Seiichi Kume: 1st Raiding Regiment (425 paratroopers) in Palembang operation

Maj. ? Niihara: 2nd Raiding Regiment (270 paratroopers) in Palembang campaign

Maj. H.Shinbara: commanded air supply unit in Palembang operation

Lt. Hirose Nobutaka: led 60 paratroopers during Palembang campaign

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 Campaign

Captain Kaieda: commander of the transports in Philippines campaign

Captain Fumio Ohmura: the commander of the Heavy Weapon Company (Ohmura unit) of 4th Raiding Regiment on Leyte during Philippines campaign

HQ staff Doi: served in Philippines campaign

Staff Officer Setoguchi: acted in Philippines campaign

Major Shirai: the commander of 3rd Raiding Regiment in Philippines campaign

Sergeant Yoshida: platoon leader in Philippines campaign

Sergent Major Shimura: led the platoon in Philippines campaign

1st Lt. Ohuchi: acted in Philippines campaign

Adjutant 1st Lt. Matsumoto: participated in Philippines campaign

Major Ueda: acted in Philippines campaign

Warrant Officer Mima: served in Philippines campaign

Warrant Officer Usui: acted in Philippines campaign

Commander Officer Kaoru led the Kaoru unit in Philippines CampaignFurther Information

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