The 1st Independent Mixed Brigade or 1st Mixed Brigade (獨立混成第1旅團) was an experimental combined arms formation of the Imperial Japanese Army. In July 1937, at the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the brigade was known as the Sakai Brigade, for its commander, Lt. General Koji Sakai. The brigade participated in Battle of Taiyuan in late 1937. After being promoted lieutenant general Masaomi Yasuoka took command from 1938 to 1939. The tank component, all but the 4th Tank Battalion, was pulled from the brigade in 1938. Major General Suzuki Teiji assumed command in 1941. By 1944 defense of the Japanese homeland prompted the creation of the inner line of defense extending northward from the Caroline Islands, Carolines, the Mariana Islands, Marianas, and the Bonin Islands, Ogasawara Islands. The brigade was assigned to the Thirty-First Army (Japan), 31st Army under General Hideyoshi Obata. There the 1st Mixed Brigade and the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade (Imperial Japanese Army), 2nd Mixed Brigade became part of the 109th Division (Imperial Japanese Army), 109th Division, commanded by General Tadamichi Kuribayashi. The 1st Mixed Brigade was stationed on Chichi-jimaU.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle:Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945 (Google eBook)
Retrieved 2014-04-17 with the division headquarters and the 2nd Brigade was moved to Iwo jima overseen by Kuribayashi. The brigade consisted of the following units: * 1st Independent Infantry Regiment * 4th Tank Battalion ** 12 Type 89 Medium Tanks ** 13 Type 95 Light Tanks ** 12 Type 94 tankette, Type 94 Tankettes ** 4 Armored Engineer Vehicles * 1st Independent Artillery Battalion * 1st Independent Engineer Company

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{{DEFAULTSORT:1st Independent Mixed Brigade Independent Mixed Brigades (Imperial Japanese Army) Military units and formations established in 1937 Military units and formations disestablished in 1944 1937 establishments in Japan 1944 disestablishments in Japan

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