200th Division (National Revolutionary Army)
Encyclopedia
The 200th Division was the first mechanised division in the National Revolutionary Army
. It was created in 1938 by General Du Yuming
, who was also its first commander. Its first action was against the 14th Division in the Battle of Lanfeng
.
tanks. The armoured car regiment had around 50 BA armoured cars
and 12 ( 18? ) Leichter Panzerspähwagen
(Sd Kfz 221) armoured cars. Besides, it had more than 400 Ford trucks. The motorised infantry regiment used Soviet trucks and rifles, and the artillery regiment had 12 122 mm howitzer
s, also 45 mm anti-aircraft artillery and 75 mm field gun
s.
Following the Divisions combats in May in the Battle of Lanfeng
and in operations afterward until September 1938 the Divisions original subordinate mechanized units were placed under direct command of the 5th Army, and the division was reorganized as a motorised infantry division of about around 9000 men due to the June 1938 reorganization of Divisions.
It was next sent as reinforcement to the first Battle of Changsha but was never engaged. The armoured and artillery Regiments were placed under direct command of 5th Corps and the 200th Division became a motorized Infantry Division within the same Corps with the 1st Honor Division. 200th Division participated with 5th Corps against the Japanese invasion of Guangxi
, in the defense of Nanning
, devastating victory against the Japanese in the Battle of Kunlun Pass
, wiping out an entire Japanese brigade. It suffered heavy losses after the battle at Kunlun Pass in an offensive against Batang losing nearly two thirds of its strength.
It was rebuilt and reorganized and in early 1942 participated in the Battle of Yunnan-Burma Road
in the Burma campaign
. 200th Division distinguished itself in fighting in the Battle of Toungoo
, and Battle of Hopong - Taunggyi but then suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Hsipaw-Mogok Highway near the end of the campaign as it was attempting to retreat to China. Its commanding officer, Dai Anlan died of wounds suffered in that battle while being carried by the remnants of his force as it made its way back to China.
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
. It was created in 1938 by General Du Yuming
Du Yuming
Du Yuming was a Kuomintang field commander active in the Sino-Japanese War theatre of World War II and in the Chinese Civil War from 1945 to 1949....
, who was also its first commander. Its first action was against the 14th Division in the Battle of Lanfeng
Battle of Lanfeng
The Battle of Lanfeng was part of the larger campaign for Northern and Eastern Honan and was occurring at the same time as the Battle of Xuzhou...
.
Original organization January 1938
200th Division- 1149th Regiment (Tank Regiment)
- 1150th Regiment (Tank Regiment)
- 1151st Regiment (Armoured Car Regiment)
- 1152nd Regiment (Mechanized Infantry)
- 52nd Artillery Regiment
Equipment
The Tank regiments had 70 T-26, 4 BT-5, 20 ( 92? ) CV-33L3/35
The L3/35 or Carro Veloce CV-35 was an Italian tank used before and during World War II. Although designated a light tank by the Italian Army, its turretless configuration, weight and firepower make it closer to contemporary tankettes....
tanks. The armoured car regiment had around 50 BA armoured cars
BA-20
The BA-20 was an armored car developed in the Soviet Union in 1936 and used in the early stages of World War II.-Design and production:The BA-20 armored car was developed in 1934 for use by HQ staffs, reconnaissance and communications units...
and 12 ( 18? ) Leichter Panzerspähwagen
Leichter Panzerspähwagen
The Leichter Panzerspähwagen were a series of light four-wheel drive armoured cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944....
(Sd Kfz 221) armoured cars. Besides, it had more than 400 Ford trucks. The motorised infantry regiment used Soviet trucks and rifles, and the artillery regiment had 12 122 mm howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
s, also 45 mm anti-aircraft artillery and 75 mm field gun
Field gun
A field gun is an artillery piece. Originally the term referred to smaller guns that could accompany a field army on the march and when in combat could be moved about the battlefield in response to changing circumstances, as to opposed guns installed in a fort, or to siege cannon or mortars which...
s.
Following the Divisions combats in May in the Battle of Lanfeng
Battle of Lanfeng
The Battle of Lanfeng was part of the larger campaign for Northern and Eastern Honan and was occurring at the same time as the Battle of Xuzhou...
and in operations afterward until September 1938 the Divisions original subordinate mechanized units were placed under direct command of the 5th Army, and the division was reorganized as a motorised infantry division of about around 9000 men due to the June 1938 reorganization of Divisions.
Organization (October 1938)
200th Division (Major-General Tai An Lan)- 598th Regiment
- 599th Regiment
- 600th Regiment
It was next sent as reinforcement to the first Battle of Changsha but was never engaged. The armoured and artillery Regiments were placed under direct command of 5th Corps and the 200th Division became a motorized Infantry Division within the same Corps with the 1st Honor Division. 200th Division participated with 5th Corps against the Japanese invasion of Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
, in the defense of Nanning
Nanning
Nanning is the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. It is known as the "Green City" because of its abundance of lush tropical foliage.-History:...
, devastating victory against the Japanese in the Battle of Kunlun Pass
Battle of Kunlun Pass
The Battle of Kunlun Pass was a series of struggles between the Japanese and the Chinese in contention for Kunlun Pass, a stragetically important position in Guangxiprovince, which the Imperial Japanese Army hoped to cut off aid through China from French-controlled Vietnam and resulted in a...
, wiping out an entire Japanese brigade. It suffered heavy losses after the battle at Kunlun Pass in an offensive against Batang losing nearly two thirds of its strength.
It was rebuilt and reorganized and in early 1942 participated in the Battle of Yunnan-Burma Road
Battle of Yunnan-Burma Road
Battle of Yunnan-Burma Road was the name of the Chinese intervention to aid their British allies in the 1942 Burma Campaign. Its forces were composed of the Fifth, Sixth and Sixty-sixth Army under the command of the Chinese Expeditionary Force in Burma, commanded by Lt. General Joseph Stilwell, Lt...
in the Burma campaign
Japanese capture of Burma
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II took place over four years from 1942 to 1945. During the first year of the campaign, the Japanese Army drove British Commonwealth and Chinese forces out of Burma, and occupied the country, forming a Burmese administration with...
. 200th Division distinguished itself in fighting in the Battle of Toungoo
Battle of Toungoo
Battle of Toungoo, was one of the key battles in the Battle of Yunnan-Burma Road in the Burma Campaign of World War II and Second Sino-Japanese War.- Prelude :...
, and Battle of Hopong - Taunggyi but then suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Hsipaw-Mogok Highway near the end of the campaign as it was attempting to retreat to China. Its commanding officer, Dai Anlan died of wounds suffered in that battle while being carried by the remnants of his force as it made its way back to China.