The Kita and Minami Fortresses (

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

''kita'', "north" and ''minami'', "south") were defensive structures of the

Imperial Japanese Army The was the official ground-based armed force of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945. It was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Ministry of the Army, both of which were nominally subordinate to the Emperor o ...

and

Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrender ...

in the Kuril Archipelago. The most northerly points were on the Kokutan and Kurabu Zaki capes, and its coastal front on the Shumushu Strait near Lopatka Cape in the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...

Kamchatka The Kamchatka Peninsula (russian: полуостров Камчатка, Poluostrov Kamchatka, ) is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of about . The Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk make up the peninsula's eastern and wes ...

peninsula. This military organization was under the Twenty-Seventh Army (Chishima Area Base Unit or Kuril Area Army), led by Shozo Terakura. The Twenty-seventh Army was under the leadership of the Fifth Area Army, under the command of

Kiichiro Higuchi was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. Biography Higuchi was born in what is now part of Minamiawaji City on Awaji Island, Hyōgo Prefecture, as the eldest of nine siblings. When he was eleven years old, his p ...

whose headquarters was in

Sapporo ( ain, サッ・ポロ・ペッ, Satporopet, lit=Dry, Great River) is a city in Japan. It is the largest city north of Tokyo and the largest city on Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of the country. It ranks as the fifth most populous city ...

Hokkaidō is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel. The la ...

. The Twenty-Seventh Army was composed of the

42nd 4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures. In mathematics Four is the smallest c ...

and 91st Divisions.

Kurile fortresses

These defensive structures in the Kurile Islands were somewhat similar to the

Karafuto Karafuto Prefecture ( ja, 樺太庁, ''Karafuto-chō''; russian: Префектура Карафуто, Prefektura Karafuto), commonly known as South Sakhalin, was a prefecture of Japan located in Sakhalin from 1907 to 1949. Karafuto became t ...

fortifications. The key Japanese position was on Shumushu Island, whose defense consisted of permanent emplacements protected by field and AA artillery. A garrison of over 8,000 men reinforced by 60 tanks defended the islands of Shumushu and Paramushiro. All the coastal sections convenient for landings were covered with permanent emplacements and

bunkers A bunker is a defensive military fortification designed to protect people and valued materials from falling bombs, artillery, or other attacks. Bunkers are almost always underground, in contrast to blockhouses which are mostly above ground. T ...

, interconnected with underground passages and trenches. All the warehouses, power stations and hospitals were underground, up to 50 m deep. There are also some similar military buildings in other islands in the Northern Kuriles (

Shimushiro Simushir (russian: Симушир, ja, 新知島, translit=Shimushiru-tō, ain, シムシㇼ, translit=Simusir), meaning ''Large Island'' in Ainu, is an uninhabited volcanic island near the center of the Kuril Islands chain in the Sea of Okhots ...

Onnekotan Onekotan (russian: Онекотан; Japanese 温禰古丹島; Onekotan-tō, occasionally Onnekotan-tō, ain, オネコタン　or　オネコタㇴ) is an uninhabited volcanic island located near the northern end of the Kuril Islands chain in t ...

Uruppu Urup ( ja, 得撫島, Uruppu-to; russian: Уру́п, Urúp, ain, ウルㇷ゚, Urup) is an uninhabited volcanic island in the Kuril Islands chain in the south of the Sea of Okhotsk, northwest Pacific Ocean. Its name is derived from the Ainu la ...

Matsuwa Matua (russian: Матуа, ja, 松輪島, Matsuwa-tō) is an uninhabited volcanic island near the center of the Kuril Islands chain in the Sea of Okhotsk in the northwest Pacific Ocean, across Golovnin Strait from Raikoke. Its name is derived ...

) and

Southern Kuriles The Kuril Islands dispute, known as the Northern Territories dispute in Japan, is a territorial dispute between Japan and Russia over the ownership of the four southernmost Kuril Islands. The Kuril Islands are a chain of islands that stretch b ...

(

Etorofu , other_names = russian: Итуру́п; ja, 択捉島 , location = Sea of Okhotsk , coordinates = , archipelago = Kuril Islands , total_islands = , major_islands = , area_km2 = 3139 , length_km = 200 , width_km = 27 , coastline = , highest_moun ...

Kunashiri , other_names = kz, Kün Ashyr; ja, 国後島 , location = Sea of Okhotsk , locator_map = File:Kurily Kunashir.svg , coordinates = , archipelago = Kuril Islands , total_islands = , major_islands = , area = , length = , width = fr ...

Shikotan ; ja, 色丹島 , location = Pacific Ocean , coordinates = , archipelago = Kuril Islands , total_islands = 1 , major_islands = , area_km2 = 225 , length = , width = , coastline ...

and

Habomai ; ja, 歯舞群島, Habomai guntō , location = Pacific Ocean , coordinates = , archipelago = Kuril Islands , total_islands = 10 + several rocks , major_islands = , area_km2 = 100 , length = , ...

archipelago).

Kita Chishima Fortress

Shumushu Island

Shumushu fortification system

There were nine fortified installations and 20 coastal defence positions commanded from Kataoka Fortress.

Japanese Army units

* 91st division ** 73rd Infantry Brigade (part of 91st division under command of Maj. Gen. Iwao Zugino) *** 282nd Battalion *** 283rd Battalion *** 284th Battalion *** 285th Battalion *** 286th Battalion *** 287th Battalion ** 11th armored regiment - Commanded by Colonel Zueo Ikeda, the regiment was equipped with 20

Type 97 Shinhoto Chi-Ha Type may refer to: Science and technology Computing * Typing, producing text via a keyboard, typewriter, etc. * Data type, collection of values used for computations. * File type * TYPE (DOS command), a command to display contents of a file. * Typ ...

tanks, 19

Type 97 Chi-Ha The was a medium tank used by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Battles of Khalkhin Gol against the Soviet Union, and the Second World War. It was the most widely produced Japanese medium tank of World War II. T ...

medium tanks, and 25

Type 95 Ha-Go The was a light tank used by the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War, at Battles of Khalkhin Gol, Nomonhan against the Soviet Union, and in the Second World War. It proved sufficient against infantry but, like the American M3 Stu ...

light tanks. **2. Independent armored company * 1st Artillery Unit * 2nd Artillery Unit * I/54th Air Regiment (4

Nakajima Ki-43 The Nakajima Ki-43 ''Hayabusa'' (, "Peregrine falcon", "Army Type 1 Fighter" ) is a single-engine land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service in World War II. The Allied reporting name was "Oscar", but it was o ...

Hayabusa "Oscar", some

Nakajima Ki-44 The Nakajima Ki-44 ''Shoki'' (鍾馗, " Devil Queller") was a single-seat fighter-interceptor which was developed by the Nakajima Aircraft Company and operated by the Imperial Japanese Army from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. Its official de ...

Shoki "Tojo" and possibly

Nakajima Ki-84 The is a single-seat fighter flown by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service in the last two years of World War II. The Allied reporting name was "Frank"; the Japanese Army designation was . The Ki-84 is generally considered the best Japanese fi ...

Hayate "Frank"), based in Miyoshino Airfield, Shumushu. *Shumushu Alert Radar: located at Minami Cape and cannery on the Naka River

Paramushiro Island

Paramushiro fortification system

There are less than two or possibly more fortifications and 6 or more coastal defensive positions commanded from Kashibawara Fortress.

Japanese Army units

* 91st Division HQ (Lt. Gen.

Tsutsumi Fusaki was a career military officer and a lieutenant-general of the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II.Ф. 238. Оп. 1584. Д. 175. Л. 99. Допрос командира 91 ПД Цуцуми Фусаки" Life Born in the city of Kofu, Yama ...

) ** 74th Infantry Brigade (Major Zeiji Zato) ** 4th Tank Company (detachment of 11th Tank Regiment) * II/54th Sentai (Ki-43 Oscars and Ki-44 Tojos) *Kitanodai Airfield: airfield located on the north-east tip of the island with a single 4,000' x 180° runway. The base had 40 revetments and over 50 hardstands. *Kashiwabara Airfield: located at the north-eastern tip of the island, closest to Shumshu Island. Japanese Army Staging area in the north.heavily defended by 20 anti-aircraft positions *Kakumabetsu Airfield: airfield located in the south-west side of the island with a 3,800' x 150' runway. Ki-44 Tojo operated from this strip. *Suribachi Airbase: annex airfield located at the center of the south coast of the island, with two runways.

Japanese Navy units on Shumushu and Paramushiro

* 51st Guard Unit (942 men) * 52nd Guard Unit (333 men) * Shumushu Signal Unit (42 men) * 32nd AA Defense Unit (18 men) * Kita Chishima Naval HQ * North East Fleet ( Kashibawara and Kataoka Bases) * North East Unit (189 men/4 Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" and probably Aichi D3A2 "Val" or Yokosuka D4Y2 "Judy" dive bombers) * 12th Air Fleet Unit (equipped with Kawanishi H6K2 "Mavis" and Mitsubishi G4M2 "Betty") * Shimushu Detachment, Naval Air Group 203 (with Mitsubishi A6M5 "Zeke" and Nakajima J1N1-S "Irving" night fighter) *Hokuto

Kōkūtai A ''Kōkūtai'' () was a term used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) to designate a military aviation unit, similar to the Air Groups in other air arms and services of the time. (''Group'' in the British Royal Air Force, ''Gruppe ...

(553rd Kōkūtai) - B5N Kate & B6N Jill *203rd Kōkūtai (A6M, J1N1) *Musashi Naval Base (Musashi Airfield): Located on the south-western tip of Paramushiro island was this naval base and airfield located at Karabu Zaki. The runways were 4,300' x 260' and 4,200' x 375'. Anti-aircraft guns were added at the nearby cape with 8 guns, 20 pillboxes and many gun pits. *Miyoshino Airfield Japanese Army-Navy airfield, located near the center of the Shumushu island. This airfield based several units including a B5N2 Kate, G3M Nell and

Ki-43 Oscar The Nakajima Ki-43 ''Hayabusa'' (, "Peregrine falcon", "Army Type 1 Fighter" ) is a single-engine land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service in World War II. The Allied reporting name was "Oscar", but it was o ...

based there. *Kataoka Naval Base (Imaizaki Airfield):This base had two runways 5,000' x 250' and 4,000' x 250'. The base had a large 130' x 165' hangar with 13 covered revetments and 34 uncovered revetments, three 60' oil storage tanks, and other barracks and supply buildings. The base also had a seaplane facility on the harbor, allowing H6K2 Mavis flying boats to operate at the base as headquarters of the 5th Fleet. Such units were sometimes reinforced by seaplane tender '' Kimikawa Maru'' (with the 452nd Air Fleet aboard, equipped with

Nakajima A6M2-N The Nakajima A6M2-N (Navy Type 2 Interceptor/Fighter-Bomber) was a single-crew floatplane based on the Mitsubishi A6M Zero Model 11. The Allied reporting name for the aircraft was Rufe. Design and development The A6M2-N floatplane was develo ...

"Rufe" Hydro fighters). There was also a Japanese air

early warning radar An early-warning radar is any radar system used primarily for the long-range detection of its targets, i.e., allowing defences to be alerted as ''early'' as possible before the intruder reaches its target, giving the air defences the maximum t ...

of unspecified type on the southern cape of

Paramushiro russian: Парамушир ja, 幌筵島 , native_name_link = , nickname = , location = Pacific Ocean , coordinates = , archipelago = Kuril Island , total_islands = , major_islands = , area_km2 = 2053 , length_km = 100 , width_km = 20 ...

, Kurabu Zaki, but its view of Shumushu was likely blocked by the 5958-foot volcano (apparently named

Suribachi ''Suribachi'' () and ''Surikogi'' () are a Japanese mortar and pestle. These mortars are used in Japanese cooking to crush different ingredients such as sesame seeds. The ''suribachi'' is a pottery bowl, glazed on the outside and with a ro ...

, like the one on

Iwo Jima Iwo Jima (, also ), known in Japan as , is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands and lies south of the Bonin Islands. Together with other islands, they form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The highest point of Iwo Jima is Mount Suribachi at high. ...

) in the center of Paramushiro.

Shimushiro Island

Shimushiro fortification system

There are less than 2 or possibly more fortifications and 6 or more coastal defensive positions commanded from Itarkioi and Ketoebone Fortresses.

Japanese Army units

* 42nd Division ( Itarkioi and Ketoebone detachments) at

Simushir Simushir (russian: Симушир, ja, 新知島, translit=Shimushiru-tō, ain, シムシㇼ, translit=Simusir), meaning ''Large Island'' in Ainu, is an uninhabited volcanic island near the center of the Kuril Islands chain in the Sea of Okho ...

island.

Matsuwa Island

* 41st Independent Mixed Regiment (Colonel Ueda) * 6th Independent Tank Company * Matsuwa Army Field Battalion * Matsuwa Air Intelligence Unit * 102nd Hikōtai, 553rd

(air naval unit equipped D3A2 type 99 model 22) * Possible east-west airstrip on southern area of island, upwards of 1.33 km maximum length

Uruppu Island

6000 troops were based on Uruppu, including: * 129th Independent Mixed Brigade (Maj. Niho) * 53rd Anchorange Unit * 6th Disembarkation Unit (800 men) * 80th Airfield Battalion * Uruppu Air Intelligence Unit (800 men) * 5th Independent Tank Company * 23rd Independent AA Gun Company

Other North Kuriles units

Some units possibly existed in Shashukotan ( Ootome Base) and

( Torushiri Base).

Minami Chishima Fortress

Etorofu Island

Etorofu fortification system

Defensive organization commanded from Rubetsu Fortress, was divided into: Etorofu District: * Shibetoro County ** Shibetoro Fortress * Shana County ** Shana Fortress ** Bettobu Fortress * Rubetsu or Etorofu County ** Toshimoe Fortress ** Rubetsu Fortress ** Tennel Fortress ** Naibo Fortress ** Riyaushi Fortress ** Tanemoe Fortress

Japanese Army units

* 89th Division ** 3rd Mixed Brigade * 15th Independent Mortar Battalion * 6th Independent Machine Gun Battalion * 67th Independent Field Machine Cannon Company * 23rd Independent Field AA Gun Company * 13th Independent Antitank Gun Company * 6th Shipping Engineer Regiment * Etorofu Air Intelligence Unit * 3rd Attack Air Combat regiment (equipped with Ki-48-Ib and Ki-48-IIa Bombers) * Hokushintai Sentai (Army Anti Submarine Warfare Squadron) (equipped with Ki-45-Tei is KMX-MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detector))based in Tenneru Army Airfield, Etorofu Island.

Shikotan Island

* 4th Mixed Brigade (part of 89th division) * 23rd Independent Machine Gun Battalion * 1st Mortar Company/15th Independent Mortar Battalion

Kunashiri Island

* 421st Battalion (part of 4th Mixed Brigade belonging to 89th division) * 23rd Special Guards Company

Other South Kuril units

There were probably other detached units in

Archipelago ( Kaigara Group, Suisho, Akiyuri,

Yuri Yuri may refer to: People and fictional characters Given name *Yuri (Slavic name), the Slavic masculine form of the given name George, including a list of people with the given name Yuri, Yury, etc. *Yuri (Japanese name), also Yūri, feminine Jap ...

, Shibotsu and Taraku island).

References

{{Reflist Kuril Islands Military history of Japan