The is one of five active
Armies
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
of the
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force ( ja, 陸上自衛隊, Rikujō Jieitai), , also referred to as the Japanese Army, is the land warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Created on July 1, 1954, it is the largest of the three service b ...
. It is headquartered in
Kumamoto
is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. , the city has an estimated population of 738,907 and a population density of 1,893 people per km2. The total area is 390.32 km2.
had a population of 1,461,000, ...
,
Kumamoto Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Kumamoto Prefecture has a population of 1,748,134 () and has a geographic area of . Kumamoto Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the north, Ōita Prefecture to ...
. Its responsibility is the defense of
Kyūshū
is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surround ...
and
Okinawa
is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi).
Naha is the capital and largest city ...
.
Organization
![Japan Ground Self-Defence Forces Western Army OrBat](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Japan_Ground_Self-Defence_Forces_Western_Army_OrBat.png)
*
![JGSDF Western Army](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/JGSDF_Western_Army.svg)
Western Army, in
Kumamoto
is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. , the city has an estimated population of 738,907 and a population density of 1,893 people per km2. The total area is 390.32 km2.
had a population of 1,461,000, ...
**
4th Division, in
Kasuga may refer to:
Places
* Kasuga, Fukuoka, a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
** Kasuga Station (Fukuoka), on the Kagoshima Main Line
* Kasuga, Hyogo, a former town in Hyōgo Prefecture
* Kasuga, Gifu, a former village in Gifu Prefecture
* Kas ...
, responsible for the defense of the
Fukuoka
is the sixth-largest city in Japan, the second-largest port city after Yokohama, and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since ancie ...
,
Nagasaki
is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan.
It became the sole port used for trade with the Portuguese and Dutch during the 16th through 19th centuries. The Hidden Christian Sites in the ...
,
Ōita and
Saga
is a series of science fantasy role-playing video games by Square Enix. The series originated on the Game Boy in 1989 as the creation of Akitoshi Kawazu at Square (video game company), Square. It has since continued across multiple platforms, ...
prefectures
**
8th Division 8th Division, 8th Infantry Division or 8th Armored Division may refer to:
Infantry divisions
* 8th Division (Australia)
* 8th Canadian Infantry Division
* 8th Air Division (People's Republic of China)
* 8th Division (1st Formation) (People's Repu ...
, in Kumamoto, responsible for the defense of the
Kagoshima
, abbreviated to , is the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Located at the southwestern tip of the island of Kyushu, Kagoshima is the largest city in the prefecture by some margin. It has been nicknamed the "Naples of the Eastern wor ...
,
Kumamoto
is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. , the city has an estimated population of 738,907 and a population density of 1,893 people per km2. The total area is 390.32 km2.
had a population of 1,461,000, ...
and
Miyazaki prefectures
**
15th Brigade, in
Naha
is the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. As of 1 June 2019, the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 persons per km2 (20,562 persons per sq. mi.). The total area i ...
, responsible for the defense of
Okinawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi).
Naha is the capital and largest city o ...
** 2nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade, in
Iizuka
is a city located at the confluence of the Honami and Onga rivers in central Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on January 20, 1932.
History
Iizuka was an important post-station on the Nagasaki Kaidō during the Edo Era. As Jap ...
*** 3rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group, in Iizuka (
Type 03 Chū-SAM
The or SAM-4 or is a Japanese developed surface-to-air missile system currently in service with the JGSDF. The SAM's vehicle chassis is based on the Kato Works Ltd/Mitsubishi Heavy Industries NK series heavy crane truck. It uses a state-of-the ...
,
MIM-23 Hawk
The Raytheon MIM-23 HAWK ("Homing all the way killer") is an American medium-range surface-to-air missile. It was designed to be a much more mobile counterpart to the MIM-14 Nike Hercules, trading off range and altitude capability for a much sm ...
)
*** 7th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group, in
Ōmura (
Type 03 Chū-SAM
The or SAM-4 or is a Japanese developed surface-to-air missile system currently in service with the JGSDF. The SAM's vehicle chassis is based on the Kato Works Ltd/Mitsubishi Heavy Industries NK series heavy crane truck. It uses a state-of-the ...
,
MIM-23 Hawk
The Raytheon MIM-23 HAWK ("Homing all the way killer") is an American medium-range surface-to-air missile. It was designed to be a much more mobile counterpart to the MIM-14 Nike Hercules, trading off range and altitude capability for a much sm ...
)
*** 304th Observation Battery, in Iizuka
** 5th Engineer Brigade, in
Ogōri
*** 2nd Engineer Group (Construction), in Iizuka
*** 9th Engineer Group (Construction), in Ogōri
*** 103rd Equipment Company, in Ogōri
*** 303rd Amphibious Company, in Ogōri
*** 305th Vehicle Company, in Ogōri
** Western Army Combined (Training) Brigade, in
Kurume
is a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of June 1, 2019, the city has an estimated population of 303,579 and a population density of 1,320 persons per km². The total area is 229.96 km².
On February 5, 2005, the town of Kitano (from ...
*** 19th Infantry Regiment, in Kasuga
*** 24th Infantry Regiment, in
Ebino
is a city located in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.
Ebino shares borders with Kagoshima Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture and Kobayashi, Miyazaki Prefecture.
As of June 1, 2019, the city has an estimated population of 18,337 and a population densi ...
*** 5th Basic Training Battalion, in Kurume
*** 113th Training Battalion, in
Kirishima
*** 118th Training Battalion, in Kurume
** Western Army Artillery, in
Yufu
is a city in Ōita Prefecture, Japan. The modern city of Yufu was established on October 1, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Hasama, Shōnai, and Yufuin (all from Ōita District). , the city has an estimated population of 33,120, and ...
*** 5th Surface-to-Surface Missile Regiment, in Kumamoto (
Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile
The Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile (12式地対艦誘導弾) is a truck-mounted anti-ship missile developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2012. It is an upgrade of the Type 88 Surface-to-Ship Missile. The Type 12 features INS with mi ...
)
*** 132nd Special Artillery Battalion, in Yufu (
M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System
The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (M270 MLRS) is an American-developed armored, self-propelled, multiple rocket launcher.
The U.S. Army variant of the MLRS vehicle is based on the chassis of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The first M270s wer ...
)
*** 302nd Observation Battery, in Yufu
*** Western Army Field Artillery Regiment, in Kumamoto
**** 1st Artillery Battalion, in Kumamoto, with two batteries of
FH-70
The FH70 (field howitzer for the 1970s) is a towed howitzer in use with several nations.
History
In 1963, NATO agreed a NATO Basic Military Requirement 39 for close support artillery, either towed or tracked. Subsequently, Germany and UK sta ...
155mm towed howitzers
**** 2nd Artillery Battalion, in
Kusu, with two batteries of FH-70 155mm towed howitzers
**** 3rd Artillery Battalion, in Ebino, with two batteries of FH-70 155mm towed howitzers
**** 4th Artillery Battalion, in Kurume, with three batteries of FH-70 155mm towed howitzers
** Western Army Aviation Group, in
Mashiki
*** 3rd Anti-tank Helicopter Battalion, in Mashiki
*** Western Army Helicopter Battalion, in Mashiki
*** Western Army Meteorological Company, in Mashiki
*** Logistic Support Battalion, in Mashiki
** Western Army Logistic Support Troops, in
Yoshinogari
** Western Army Signal Group, in Kumamoto
** Western Army Medical Service, in Kumamoto
** Western Army Military Intelligence, in Kumamoto
** Kyūshū Logistic Depot, in Yoshinogari
History
In August 2010, a proposal was being considered by the then Japanese government to convert a conventional
attalion strengthregiment from either the ''8th Division'' or the ''15th Brigade'' into a "US-style" amphibious unit, effectively giving the Western Army a battalion of marines for dealing with contingencies. This proposal seems have been shelved or fallen into limbo in the interim.
As of June 2013, as part of an ongoing expansion of defense capabilities in the Western Army's area of responsibility, the
MOD
Mod, MOD or mods may refer to:
Places
* Modesto City–County Airport, Stanislaus County, California, US
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Mods (band), a Norwegian rock band
* M.O.D. (Method of Destruction), a band from New York City, US ...
were considering creating a special "isle assault unit", whose role would be the recapture of remote Japanese islands that had been invaded by a foreign power., It would share this mission with the pre-existing ''Western Army Infantry Regiment'', itself currently undergoing an expansion in manpower and equipment (e.g. increase in authorised strength to 680 effectives, & adding (initially 4)
AAVP-7A1's to its
TOE
Toes are the digits (fingers) of the foot of a tetrapod. Animal species such as cats that walk on their toes are described as being ''digitigrade''. Humans, and other animals that walk on the soles of their feet, are described as being ''plan ...
). Equipment for the new unit on the other hand, may ultimately include the
Maneuver Combat Vehicle
The is a wheeled armored fighting vehicle of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
Overview
The ''Type 16'' maneuver combat vehicle (MCV) equips designated combat units. Due to its light weight and small size, it is designed for easy depl ...
and the
Light-weight Combat Vehicle (LCV) System
The is a wheeled self-propelled artillery vehicle under development by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
Overview
Many armies are looking into lighter, air-transportable vehicles that can perform many of the functions of tanks or medium arti ...
, both of which were designed in part with the remote island defence mission in mind.
If stood up, the new unit together with the ''WAIR'' would form a major part of the Western Army's first response to a hostile incursion in the more remote parts of its AOR. In early September 2015, plans for the creation of the new unit, now referred to as an 'amphibious mobile unit'
were confirmed. The new unit is to be stood up by the end of
FY2017, with a
training corps to be set up in the interim (by the end of FY2016).
In 2013 troops from the Western Army Infantry Regiment deployed from the JS Hyuga and JS Shimokita for an amphibious warfare exercise in California.
On 29 March 2021, a JGSDF electronic warfare unit was raised at Camp Kengun.
Other Developments
Under current plans, the Western Army will have priority on deliveries of the new
Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile
The Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile (12式地対艦誘導弾) is a truck-mounted anti-ship missile developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2012. It is an upgrade of the Type 88 Surface-to-Ship Missile. The Type 12 features INS with mi ...
upgrade (six sets on order to date
uly 2013. The Type 12 will be initially deployed with the ''5th Anti-Ship Missile Regiment'', but ultimately the ''6th Anti-Ship Missile Regiment'' (deactivated 21 April 2011
[ ''Japanese Wikipedia entry on 6th Anti-Ship Missile Regiment'', accessed 9 July 2013]) may be reactivated to operate the new systems.
Note: GSDF Anti-Ship Missile Regiments are alternatively known as Surface-to-Surface Missile Regiments.
References
External links
Western Army home page('' in Japanese'')
{{JGSDF Units
Armies of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Military units and formations established in 1955
1955 establishments in Japan