Battle of Henan-Hunan-Guangxi
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The Battle of Henan-Hunan-Guangxi (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: }}}; pinyin: ) also known as Operation Ichigo or Tairiku Datsū Sakusen (Japanese:一号作戦 or 大陸打通作戦) was a series of major battles between the Imperial Japanese Army forces and the National Revolutionary Army, fought from April to December 1944. It consists of 3 separate battles in Henan, Hunan and Guangxi, in the Battle of Central Henan, Battle of Changheng, and the Battle of Guilin-Liuzhou respectively.
The aim of the offensive was to secure the railway route across occupied China and connect Manchuria with East-South Asia.
This operation consisted of two phases. The first phase was to secure the railway between Beijing and Wuhan and the second phase to eliminate US air forces stationed in Hunan and to reach at Liuzhou. 17 divisions, i.e. 400,000 men, 12,000 cars and 70,000 horses participated in this operation.
In Henan, 390,000 Chinese soldiers, led by General Tang Enbo (汤恩伯), were deployed and its strategic position was Luoyang. The 3rd Tank Division crossed Huang River around Zhengzhou late of April and defeated Chinese forces near Xuchang. Then the 3rd Tank Division swung around clockwise and besieged Luoyang. Luoyang was defended by three Chinese divisions. The 3rd Tank Division began to attack Luoyang on May 13 and took it on May 25.
The second phase of Ichigo began in May, following the success of the first phase. Japanese forces went down south and occupied Changsha, Hengyang, Guilin and Liuzhou. In December 1944, Japanese forces reached at French Indochina and achieved the purpose of the operation.
Though the purpose was achieved, there was little practical gains from this offensive. US air forces moved to the inland of the China continent. The U.S. Fourteenth Air Force often interdicted the railway between Beijing and Liuzhou. Japan continued the attack to the airfields where US air forces stationed up to the spring of 1945.
The XX Bomber Command operating Strategic B29 bombers of the Twentieth Air Force which were attacking the Japan in Operation Matterhorn, were forced to move as well, but although this effected their efficiency for a short time, in early in 1945 the B-29 of the Twentieth Air Force moved to newly established bases in the Marianas under the command of the newly established XXI Bomber Command. This nullified the limited protection that the Japanese home islands had received from Operation Ichi-Go.
The failure to hold onto the coastal airfields led to a loss of confidence in the American General Joseph Stilwell by Chiang Kai-Shek and Stilwell was recalled to the United States in October 1944 by President Roosevelt. He was replaced as Chief of Staff to Chiang Kai-Shek and commander of the U.S. Forces, China Theater (USFCT) by Major General Albert Wedemeyer. His other command responsibilities in the China Burma India Theater were divided up and allocated to other officers.
- Tank Unit:3rd Tank Division
- Commander:Lieut. General Yamaji
- Tanks:255 Tanks (Type 97 Medium Tanks, Type 97-Improved Medium Tanks, Type 95 Light Tanks)
The Organization of 3rd Tank Division
- 3rd Tank Division
- 5th Tank Brigade
- 8th Tank Regiment
- -1 Light Tank Company, 3 Medium Tank Companies, 1 Gun Tank Company
- 12th Tank Regiment
- -1 Light Tank Company, 3 Medium Tank Companies, 1 Gun Tank Company
- 6th Tank Brigade
- 13th Tank Regiment
- -1 Light Tank Company, 3 Medium Tank Companies, 1 Gun Tank Company
- 17th Tank Regiment
- -1 Light Tank Company, 3 Medium Tank Companies, 1 Gun Tank Company
- Recon Unit
- -2 Light Tank Companies, 1 Gun Tank Company, 1 Motorized Infantry Company
- -Notes:
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