18. pěší pluk [1884-1944]

The regiment was formed in 1884 at Toyohashi, as part of the garrison of Nagoya. Most of its members came from the Mikawa region or eastern Aichi Prefecture.


3 battalions of this regiment were stationed in Nagoya and the regiment received its flag on 15 August 1884.


In 1886 the regiment is relocated to a garrison at Toyohashi. In May 1888, the 3rd Division, into which the regiment is subordinated, is reorganized.


From 1894 - 1895, the regiment participates in the First Sino-Japanese War. In 1904, the regiment pulls into combat again, this time as part of the Russo-Japanese War. Here it takes part in the battles of Nanshan, Te-Li-Ssu, Tashihchiao, Shaho and Panlongshan, among others.


In 1907 a change of subordination occurs and he comes under the command of the 15th Infantry Division under which he belongs until its disbandment following the disarmament of Minister of War Ugaki Kazushige. This occurs on 1 May 1925 and it reverts again to the 3rd Division.


In May 1928 it takes part in the Jinan Incident and subsequently the regiment is stationed in Tianjin. In February 1933, the regiment takes part in Operation Nekka, which results in a clash between Chinese and Japanese forces and Inner Mongolia is subsequently incorporated into the state of Manchukuo.


In 1934, the regiment serves as an occupation force in Manchukuo until it returns to Toyohashi in 1936.



Regiment in the Second Sino-Japanese War


After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurs, the regiment is mobilized in August 1937. The regiment is dispatched from Japan and, after landing on the mainland, participates in the Battle of Shanghai and then the Battle of Nanjing.


In early December 1937, crossing the Yangtze River about halfway between Shanghai and Nanjing, he launches an attack from Jiangyin on the south bank on the opposite Jingjiang. The regiment captures these towns by March 9, 1938.


In late 1938, the regiment participates in Operation Hankou and also the Battle of Wuhan. In 1939, it fights in the Battle of Xiang River and the First Battle of Changsha.


In 1940, the regiment participates in Operation Ichang and on the Han River, as well as both operations in Hubei Province.


In July 1942, command is transferred from the 3rd Division to the 29th Division. Subsequently, the regiment is ordered to serve as a garrison force in Haicheng, by then Mukden Province, now part of Liaoning Province.


By early 1944, the north of China is spacified and made safe, and most regiments from this area are moved to the Pacific, to various islands for protection from Allied invasion.


In February 1944, the 29th Division, which engulfs the 18th, 38th, and 50th, is relieved. Infantry Regiment are ordered to mobilize and prepare for operations in the Pacific.



Move to the Pacific


From Manchuria, the regiment, along with other regiments of the 29th Division, is transferred to Korea, where it is embarked on a transport vessel at Pusan.


The convoy is escorted by 3 Yugumo-class vessels. Destroyers of the 31st Division: Asashimo, Kishinami, and Okinami. The transport ship carrying the regiment, Sakito Maru, is hit by a torpedo from USS Trout, northeast of Saipan, on 29 February 1944.


The ship sinks, taking with it 2,200 of the 3,500 men on board, along with the commander, Col. Monma Kentaro. Many of the tanks are lost as well as most of the regimental equipment. 3 escort destroyers immediately load depth mines and sink the USS Trout, and then conduct salvage operations and extract the survivors. About 1,800 men arrive on Saipan.


Saipan


After the regiment is reorganized into two understrength paps with a shortage of equipment, it is moved to Guam in May 1944. But despite the move to Saipan, about 600 men from the 1st Battalion still remain. This force, under the command of Capt. Masao Kubo are assigned to the local garrison forces. Almost all of this force would fall shortly thereafter, in June-July 1944, in the Battle of Saipan.


Shortly after that, they are decorated by Capt. Sakae Ōba, who takes command of the few surviving soldiers and sailors, and subsequently, along with these, protects Japanese civilians. The group of about 300 people hide in small settlements in the jungle and in caves. The group continually escapes Allied soldiers who pursue them until they surrender by agreement on December 1, 1945.



Guam and the last moments of the regiment


In March 1944, the 29th Division, under the command of Lt. Gen. Takeshi Takashino landed on Guam and assumed military command of the island's defenses. In anticipation of an Allied attack, the main body of the 18th Regiment is positioned in the mountains, with each of its companies positioned to cover the most important possible landing points.


On July 21, 1944, the American landing begins. Despite determined resistance from Japanese forces, the U.S. Army and Marines manage to capture two beaches after dark and establish beachheads there. They occupy the Orote Peninsula on the west coast. In doing so, the Japanese defenders continually conduct counterattacks and fire with machine guns, artillery, and mortars.
On 24 July, the Japanese command receives orders to hold Guam at all costs. General Takashina comes up with a plan to attack the 3rd Marine Division, which occupies the Asan high ground, north of the Orote Peninsula.


Takashina's attack was to be coordinated with other Japanese forces and attempt to dislodge the opposing force and capture the peninsula.


The 18th Regiment, which had been reorganized into 3 battalions, was one of the main units attacking the American positions.


2 battalions were to make an attack on the 21st Marine Regiment and one on the flank of the 9th Marine Regiment. The objective was to exploit the approximately 700 meter space between these units, to break the American line and reach a higher position.


The other units were to attack the Marine infantry on the beaches as well as attempt to destroy their supplies and ammunition using charges.


On 25 July, the 18th Infantry Regiment's flag was ritually burned with the permission of the division commander. This was done in anticipation of the regiment's fate - its complete destruction.


1st Battalion

Just after midnight, the 1st Battalion of the 18th Regiment attacked the center of the 22nd Marine Regiment.


Many veterans of this event recall that the Japanese soldiers attacked on bayonets, their commanders leading them into battle with drawn sabers. Many soldiers wielded knives or homemade spears made from clubs.


The assault was made in the open, and the Japanese soldiers were immediately caught by artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire. This forced them to retreat into the mangrove swamps. US artillery continued to bombard the swamps as a precaution against a possible further attack.


2nd Battalion


The main Japanese attack is launched at 0300 hrs. on 26 July. the 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment, attacks under the command of Maj. Maruyama Chusa. He attacks the center of the 21st Marine Regiment and conducts a desperate man-to-man fight. The battalion reaches the Marine infantry despite artillery and machine gun fire. The Japanese achieve a beach retreat. However, the Americans were unprepared for such a situation and suddenly the Japanese soldiers were facing several Shermans. The Japanese soldiers lacked any anti-tank weaponry and were unable to damage a single tank. The soldiers regrouped and made another man-to-man attack until the unit was completely finished.


3rd Battalion


The 3rd Battalion of the 18th Regiment, under the command of Maj. Yukioka Setsuo was able to take advantage of the space between the 9th and 21st Marine Regiments and advanced as far as the command center near the beach. The Japanese were close to encircling the command center, but their attack was weakened by desperate fighting during the American counterattack, which was supported by artillery and mortar fire.


One section of the 3rd Battalion nevertheless attacked the command center 3rd Marine Division. The Japanese encirclement was only prevented by the fact that every man, cook, clerk, doctor, etc. took up arms and joined the fight.


That was until two companies of engineers arrived, who came to the aid of the enlisted men.
The engineers then launched a counterattack and routed or killed the Japanese invaders. The engineers then advanced and pursued the remnants of the 3rd Battalion. Instead of surrendering, the Japanese most often committed suicide, many times using hand grenades.


On the morning of 26 July it was clear that the Japanese plan for a counter-attack had failed. It was now clear even Gen. Takashina that victory on Guam was impossible, because of the tremendous loss of life, material, and morale. Takashina decided that all remaining troops would retreat to the interior of the island, regroup, and fight as guerrillas, inflicting maximum casualties on the Allies.



During the previous night, most of the men of the 18th Regiment had been killed in action, along with their commander, Col. Hikoshiro Ohashi.


At the end of the day on 26 July 1944, the 18th Infantry Regiment ceased to exist as a unit.


source
ja.wikipedia.org;
en.wikipedia.org