User:Coldstreamer20/Structure of the Japanese Self Defence Force

Notes

Note: all tank and infantry regiments are battalion sized.

Abbreviations:

• ARV: Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle
• MBT: Main Battle Tank
• IFV: Infantry Fighting Vehicle
• LAV: Light Armoured Vehicle/Armoured Car
• APC: Armoured Personnel Carrier
• SPG: Self-propelled gun
• MLRS: Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems
• SAM: Surface-to-Air Missiles

Ground Component Command

The Ground Component Command is headquartered in Tokyo and was raised on 27th March 2018 following the re-designation of the Central Readiness Force (Japanese: 中央即応集団, romanized: Chūō Sokuō Shūdan). If mobilised, the command would take control direct control of two to five field armies which would be raised from the regional armies.

• Ground Component Command (Japanese: 陸上総隊, romanized: Rikujōsōtai)
  • Headquarters, Ground Component Command, in Nerima, Tokyo
    • Commander, Ground Component Command, Lieutenant General Tadao Maeda

Director Directly Controlled Units

The Director, Directly Controlled Units oversees all units and formations which report directly to the command of the Ground Component Command.

• Director Directly Controlled Units (Japanese: ディレクター直接制御ユニット, romanized: Direkutā Chokusetsu Seigyo Yunitto), in Nerima, Tokyo
  • Central Rapid Deployment Readiness Regiment, in Utsunomiya (with Type 96 Wheeled APCs)
  • International Peace Cooperation Activities Training Unit, in Gotemba
  • Somali Offshore Piracy Countermeasures, HQ in Djibouti City
  • Special Forces Group, in Funabashi – commanded by a Colonel
  • Central Special Weapons Protection Team, in Saitama – NBRC-defense unit, commanded by a Colonel
    • Central Special Weapons Protection Team
    • Headquarters Squadron
    • 102nd Special Weapons Protection Team
    • 103rd Special Weapons Protection Team
  • Counter-Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Medical Unit, in Setagayu – commanded by a Colonel
    • Headquarters Corps
    • 101st Special Weapons Treatment Corps
    • 102nd Special Weapons Treatment Corps
  • System Communications Team (), in Shinjuku, Tokyo
    • Central Base System Communications Corps
    • Central Field Communications Group, in Kurihama
    • Communication Maintenance Inspection Team
    • Cyber Protection Unit
    • Combat Information Systems Development Team
    • 301st Video and Photographic Company
  • Military Intelligence Command (), in Nerima, Tokyo
    • Basic Information Services Corps, in Ichigaya
    • Geographic Information Corps, in Higashi
    • Intelligence Analysis Forces
    • Local Information and Intelligence Corps
  • 1st Airborne Brigade (Japanese: 第1空挺団, romanized: Dai 1 Kūtei-dan)
    • Brigade Headquarters, in Funabashi
    • Headquarters Company
    • Signal Company
    • 1st Airborne Infantry Battalion
    • 2nd Airborne Infantry Battalion
    • 3rd Airborne Infantry Battalion
    • Airborne Artillery Battalion (3 x batteries with F1 120mm mortars)
    • Airborne Logistic Support Battalion
    • Engineer Company
    • Airborne School
  • Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (Japanese: 水陸機動団, romanized: Suirikukidōdan)
    • Brigade Headquarters, in Ainoura
    • Brigade Signal Company
    • Brigade Reconnaissance Battalion (with Komatsu LAVs)
    • 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment (with AAV-7 Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor Aircraft)
    • 2nd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment (with AAV-7 Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor Aircraft)
    • 3rd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment (with AAV-7 Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor Aircraft) – being formed in 2022
    • Brigade Artillery Battalion (with 120mm Rayé F1 Mortars)
    • Brigade Engineer Battalion
    • Brigade Combat Landing Battalion
    • Brigade Logistic Support Battalion
    • Amphibious Rapid Deployment Training Unit
  • 1st Helicopter Brigade (Japanese: 第１ヘリコプター団, romanized: Dai-ichi Herikoputa-Dan)
    • Brigade Headquarters, in Kisarazu
    • Headquarters and Service Company (with OH-6 Light Reconnaissance Helicopters)
    • Command and Reconnaissance Squadron (with Mitsubishi MU-2 & Beechcraft Super King Air reconnaissance planes)
    • 1st Transportation Helicopter Group (4 x squadrons with Boeing CH-47J/JA Heavy Utility Helicopters)
    • 102nd Flight Squadron (with UH-60JA Black Hawks and OH-6D Light Reconnaissance Helicopters)
    • Special Helicopter Transportation Squadron (with Eurocopter EC225 Super Pumas)
    • Field Maintenance Party

Northern Army

Northern Army Headquarters main building in Sapporo.

The Northern Army is tasked with defending the island of Hokkaidō. It is the largest Army of the JGSDF as on Hokkaidō population and geographic constraints are less limiting than elsewhere in Japan. Most of JGSDF's modern Type 90 tank squadrons are located within the Northern Army's structure. The Northern Army is divided into four regional formations: 2nd Mechanised Division encompassing North-Eastern Hokkaidō, 5th Mechanised Brigade encompassing Eastern Hokkaidō and the southern Kuril Islands (disputed with Russia), 7th Armoured Division encompassing Southern (and South-Eastern) Hokkaidō, and finally the 11th Mechanised Brigade encompassing Western and South-Western Hokkaidō.

• Northern Army () (Japanese: 北部方面隊, romanized: Hokubu Hōmentai)
  • Headquarters, Northern Army, in Sapporo
    • Commander Northern Army: Lieutenant General Yoshihiko Okimura
  • Northern Army Signals (2 x signal battalions)
  • 1st Electronic Warfare Battalion, in Higashi Chitose
  • Northern Army Military Intelligence Battalion, in Sapporo
    • 301st Costal Observation Unit, in Wakkanai
    • 302nd Coastal Observation Unit, in Shibetsu
    • Northern Army Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Fleet, in Shinhidaka
    • Northern Army Movement Surveillance Team, in Kutchan
  • Northern Army Anti-Ship and Anti-Tank Unit, in Kutchan (3 x platoons with Type 96 Multi-Purpose Missile Systems)
  • Hokkaidō Logistic Depot, at Camp Shimamatsu – overseeing 10 fuel and ammunition depots on Hokkaido Island
  • Northern Army Financial Service
  • Northern Army Medical Service, in Makomanai
  • Northern Army Command Post Training Support, in Chitose
  • Northern Army Band, in Makomanai

    

    Troops from the 5th Reconnaissance Company of the 5th Mechanised Brigade during a training session.

  • 5th Mechanised Brigade (Japanese: 第5旅団, romanized: Dai 5 Ryodan)
    • 5th Brigade Headquarters, in Obihiro
    • 5th Signal Company
    • 5th Reconnaissance Company, in Betsukai (with Type 87 ARVs)
    • 5th Tank Battalion, in Shikaoi (3 x squadrons with Type 90 MBTs)
    • 4th Infantry Regiment (Mechanised Infantry; with Type 96 Wheeled APCs)
    • 6th Infantry Regiment, in Bihoro (Mechanised Infantry; with Type 96 Wheeled APCs)
    • 27th Infantry Regiment, in Kushiro (Mechanised Infantry; with Type 96 Wheeled APCs)
    • 5th Artillery Battalion (3 x batteries with Type 99 155mm SPGs)
    • 5th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company (3 x batteries with a mix of Type 81 & Type 93 SAMs)
    • 5th Combat Engineer Company
    • 5th Logistic Support Battalion
    • 5th Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Company
    • 5th Aviation Squadron (with UH-1J Utility Helicopters & OH-6D Light Reconnaissance Helicopters)

      

      Old Type 74 Main Battle Tank of the 11th Tank Battalion, 11th Mechanised Brigade during a public demonstrations exercise.

  • 11th Mechanised Brigade (Japanese: 第11旅団, romanized: Dai 11 Ryodan)
    • 11th Brigade Headquarters, in Sapporo
    • 11th Signal Company
    • 11th Reconnaissance Company (with Type 87 ARVs)
    • 11th Tank Battalion (2 x squadrons with Type 90 MBTs)
    • 10th Rapid Deployment Infantry Regiment, in Takikawa (Mechanised Infantry; with Type 96 Wheeled APCs)
    • 18th Infantry Regiment (Mechanised Infantry; with Type 96 Wheeled APCs)
    • 28th Infantry Regiment, in Hakodate (Mechanised Infantry; with Type 96 Wheeled APCs)
    • 11th Artillery Battalion (3 x batteries with Type 99 155mm SPGs)
    • 11th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company (with Type 81 and Type 93 Mobile SAM systems)
    • 11th Combat Engineer Company
    • 11th Logistic Support Battalion
    • 11th Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Company
    • 11th Aviation Squadron (with UH-1J Utility Helicopters & OH-6D Light Reconnaissance Helicopters)

      

      A M110 203mm heavy SPG utilised by the 1st Artillery Brigade.

  • 1st Artillery Brigade (Japanese: 第1砲兵旅団, romanized: Dai 1 Hōheiryodan)
    • Brigade Headquarters, in Chitose
    • 301st Observation Battery
    • 1st Mechanised Artillery Regiment
      • 101st Artillery Battalion, in Bihoro (3 x batteries with M110 203mm SPGs)
      • 102nd Artillery Battalion (3 x batteries with M110 203mm SPGs)
      • 129th Artillery Battalion (3 x batteries with M270 MLRS)
    • 4th Mechanised Artillery Regiment, in Kamifurano
      • 104th Artillery Battalion (3 x batteries with M110 203mm SPGs)
      • 132nd Artillery Battalion (3 x batteries with M270 MLRS)
    • 1st Anti-Ship Missile Regiment (4 x batteries with Type 88 Mobile Anti-Ship Missile Systems)
    • 2nd Anti-Ship Missile Regiment, in Bibai (4 x batteries with Type 88 Mobile Anti-Ship Missile Systems)
    • 3rd Anti-Ship Missile Regiment, in Kamifurano (4 x batteries with Type 88 Mobile Anti-Ship Missile Systems)

      

      MIM-23 Hawk SAM system of the Japanese Air Defence School.

  • 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade (Japanese: 第1対空砲旅団, romanized: Dai 1 Tai Kūhō Ryodan)
    • Brigade Headquarters, in Chitose
    • 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group (with MIM-23 Hawk tracked SAM systems)
    • 4th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group, in Nayoro (with MIM-23 Hawk tracked SAM systems)
    • 101st Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Battery, in Shinhidaka (with Fuji FFOS and Fuji FFRS)
  • 3rd Engineer Brigade (Japanese: 第3エンジニア旅団, romanized: Dai 3 Enjinia Ryodan)
    • Brigade Headquarters, in Eniwa
    • 12th Engineer Group (Construction), in Iwamizawa
    • 13th Engineer Group (Construction), in Noboribetsu
    • 14th Engineer Group (Construction), in Kamifurano
    • 303rd Vehicle Company
    • 105th Equipment Company
  • Northern Army Logistic Support () (Japanese: 北軍の後方支援, romanized: Hokugun No Kōhō Shien)
    • Headquarters, in Eniwa
    • Northern Army Transportation Battalion, in Sapporo
    • 101st General Support Battalion
    • 102nd General Support Battalion, in Sapporo
    • 103rd General Support Battalion, in Kamifurano
    • 101st Engineer Support Battalion
    • 101st Artillery Support Battalion, in Chitose
    • 101st Anti-Aircraft Support Battalion, in Chitose
    • 101st Signal Support Company, in Sapporo
    • 303rd Infantry Support Company, in Sapporo
    • 301st Anti-Tank/Ship Support Company, in Kutchan
  • Northern Army Combined Brigade (Training) (Japanese: 北軍合同旅団（訓練), romanized: Hokugun Gōdō Ryodan (Kunren))
    • Brigade Headquarters, in Chitose
    • 52nd Training Infantry Regiment, in Sapporo (Mechanised Infantry; with Type 96 Wheeled APCs)
    • 1st Basic Training Battalion
    • 120th Basic Training Battalion, in Sapporo
    • Cold Weather Combat Training Unit, in Sapporo
  • Northern Army Aviation Group (Japanese: 北軍航空グループ, romanized: Hokugun Kōkū Gurūpu)
    • Group Headquarters, in Sapporo
    • 1st Anti-Tank Helicopter Battalion, in Obihiro (with Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters)
    • Northern Army Helicopter Battalion (with UH-60J Black Hawks and Boeing CH-47J Chinooks)
    • Logistic Support Battalion
    • Northern Army Meteorological Company

2nd Mechanised Division

Troops from the 2nd Mechanised Division on parade during the 61st Anniversary of the opening of the Asahikawa Camp.

2nd Division is responsible for the defence of North Western Hokkaidō.

• 2nd Mechanised Division () (Japanese: 第2師団, romanized: Dai-Ni Shidan)
  • 2nd Division Headquarters, in, Asahikawa
  • 2nd Signal Regiment
  • 2nd Reconnaissance Company, in Nayoro (with Type 87 ARVs)
  • 2nd Tank Regiment, in Kamifurano (Armoured with a mix of Type 90 & Type 74 MBTs)
  • 3rd Rapid Deployment Infantry Regiment, in Nayoro (Mechanised Infantry; with Type 96 Wheeled APCs) – Rapid Deployment Unit
  • 25th Infantry Regiment, in Engaru (Mechanised Infantry; with Type 96 Wheeled APCs)
  • 26th Infantry Regiment, in Rumoi (Mechanised Infantry; with Type 96 Wheeled APCs)
  • 2nd Mechanised Artillery Regiment – 5 x battalions each with 2 x batteries of Type 99 155mm SPGs
  • 2nd Anti-Tank Company, in Kamifurano
  • 2nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (3 x batteries with a mix of Type 81 & Type 93 SAMs)
  • 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion
  • 2nd Logistic Support Regiment
  • 2nd Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defence Company
  • 2nd Aviation Squadron (with UH-1J Utility Helicopters & OH-6D Light Reconnaissance Helicopters)

7th Armoured Division

Tanks of the 7th Armoured Division during the 59th Anniversary of the 7th Division and 58th Anniversary of the creation of the camp.

7th Armoured Division is the only active armoured division of the army and responsible for the defence of Northern Hokkaidō.

• 7th Armoured Division (Japanese: 第7師団, romanized: Dai-Nana Shidan)
  • 7th Division Headquarters, in Chitose
  • 7th Signal Battalion
  • 7th Reconnaissance Company (with Type 87 ARVs)
  • 71st Tank Regiment (4 x squadrons with Type 90 MBTs & 1 x squadron with Type 10 MBTs)
  • 72nd Tank Regiment, in Eniwa (5 x squadrons with Type 90 MBTs)
  • 73rd Tank Regiment, in Eniwa (5 x squadrons with Type 90 MBTs)
  • 11th Mechanised Infantry Regiment (Mixed Armoured/Mechanised Infantry; 3 x companies with Type 89 IFVs and 3 x companies with Type 73 APCs)
  • 7th Mechanised Artillery Regiment, in Chitose – 4 x artillery battalions each with 2 x batteries of Type 99 155mm SPGs
  • 7th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Shinhidaka (2 x batteries with Type 81 Mobile SAM systems & 4 x batteries with Type 87 Self-propelled AA guns)
  • 7th Combat Engineer Battalion
  • 7th Logistic Support Regiment
  • 7th Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Company
  • 7th Aviation Squadron (with UH-1J Utility Helicopters & OH-6D Light Reconnaissance Helicopters)

Structure of the Northern Army as it appeared in 2018.

North Eastern Army

North Eastern Army Headquarters main building in Sendai.

The Northern Army is tasked with defending the Tōhoku region. The army is divided into two combined arms infantry divisions: 6th Infantry Division responsibly for the prefectures of Fukushima, Miyagi, and Yamagata, while the 9th Mechanised Division is responsible for the prefectures of Akita, Aomori, and Iwate.

• North Eastern Army () (Japanese: 東北方面隊, romanized: Tōhoku Hōmentai)
  • Headquarters, North Eastern Army, in Sendai
  • North Eastern Army Signal Group
  • 101st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group, in Hachinohe (with MIM-23 Hawk SAMs)
  • North Eastern Army Finance Service
  • North Eastern Army Command Post Training Support
  • North Eastern Army Military Intelligence
  • North Eastern Army Band
  • North Eastern Army Medical Service
  • Tōhoku Logistic Depot
  • North Eastern Army Combined (Training) Brigade (Japanese: 東北方面隊合同（訓練）旅団, romanized: Tōhokuhōmentai Gōdō (Kunren) Ryodan)
    • Brigade Headquarters, in Sendai
    • 38th Training Infantry Regiment, in Tagajō
    • 2nd Basic Training Battalion
    • 119th Training Battalion, in Tagajō
  • North Eastern Army Artillery () (Japanese: 東北方面隊の砲兵, romanized: Tōhokuhōmentai No Hōhei)
    • Headquarters, in Sendai
    • 304th Observation Battery
    • 4th Anti-Ship Missile Regiment, in Hachinodhe (with Type 88 Anti-Ship missile systems)
  • 2nd Engineer Brigade (Japanese: 第2エンジニア旅団, romanized: Dai 2 Enjinia Ryodan)
    • Brigade Headquarters, in Shibata
    • 10th Engineer Group (Construction)
    • 11th Engineer Group (Construction), in Fukushima
    • 312th Vehicle Company
    • 104th Equipment Company
  • North Eastern Army Logistic Support () (Japanese: 東北方面隊の後方支援, romanized: Tōhokuhōmentai No Kōhō Shien)
    • Headquarters, in Sendai
    • North Eastern Army Transport Battalion
    • 105th Engineer Support Battalion
    • 108th General Support Battalion
    • 303rd Signal Support Company
    • 301st Infantry Support Company, in Hachinohe
    • 102nd Artillery Support Company
    • 303rd Anti-Aircraft Support Company, in Hachinohe
  • North Eastern Army Aviation Group () (Japanese: 東北方面隊航空グループ, romanized: Tōhokuhōmentai Kōkū Gurūpu)
    • Group Headquarters, in Sendai
    • 2nd Anti-Tank Helicopter Battalion, in Hachinohe (with Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters)
    • North Eastern Army Helicopter Battalion (with UH-60J Black Hawks and Boeing CH-47J Chinooks)
    • North Eastern Army Meteorological Company
    • Logistic Support Battalion

6th Infantry Division

Troops of the 22nd Rapid Deployment Infantry Regiment during an exercise.

The 6th Infantry Division is responsible for the defence of the prefectures of Fukushima, Miyagi, and Yamagata.

• 6th Infantry Division (Japanese: 第6師団, romanized: Dai-roku Shidan)
  • Division Headquarters, in Higashine
  • 6th Signal Battalion
  • 6th Reconnaissance Company, in Taiwa (with Type 87 ARVs)
  • 22nd Rapid Deployment Infantry Regiment, in Tagajō (Mechanised; with Type 96 Wheeled APCs and Type 16 Light Tanks)
  • 20th Infantry Regiment (Motorised; with Komatsu LAVs)
  • 44th Infantry Regiment, in Fukushima (Motorised; with Komatsu LAVs)
  • 6th Artillery Regiment, in Kōriyama (3 x artillery battalions, each with 2 x batteries of FH-70 155mm howitzers)
  • 6th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, in Kōriyama (with Type 81 and Type 93 Mobile SAM Systems)
  • 6th Combat Engineer Battalion
  • 6th Logistic Support Regiment
  • 6th Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Company
  • 6th Aviation Squadron, in Yamagata (with UH-1J Utility Helicopters and OH-6D Light Reconnaissance Helicopters)

9th Mechanised Division

An old Type 74 Main Battle Tank of the 9th Division during an exercise.

The 9th Mechanised Division is responsible for the prefectures of Akita, Aomori, and Iwate.

• 9th Mechanised Division (Japanese: 第9師団, romanized: Dai 9 Shidan)
  • Division Headquarters, in Aomori
  • 9th Signal Battalion
  • 9th Reconnaissance Company, in Hirosaki (with Type 16 Light Tanks and Type 87 ARVs)
  • 5th Infantry Regiment (Mechanised; with Type 96 Wheeled APCs)
  • 36th Infantry Regiment, in Hirosaki (Mechanised; with Type 96 Wheeled APCs)
  • 21st Infantry Regiment, in Akita (Motorised; with Komatsu LAVs)
  • 9th Artillery Regiment, in Takizawa (3 x artillery battalions, each with 2 x batteries of FH-70 155mm howitzers)
  • 9th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, in Takizawa (with Type 81 and Type 93 Mobile SAM Systems)
  • 9th Combat Engineer Battalion, in Hachinohe
  • 9th Logistic Support Battalion, in Hachinohe
  • 9th Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Company
  • 9th Aviation Squadron, in Hachinohe (with UH-1J Utility Helicopters and OH-6D Light Reconnaissance Helicopters)

Structure of the Northern Army as it appeared in 2019.

Footnotes