77th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 77th Division
| dates = 1944–1945
| country = Empire of Japan
| allegiance = 5th area army
| branch = Imperial Japanese Army
| type = Infantry
| role = Coastal defense
| nickname = Ripe Division
| battles = none
| notable_commanders = Nonoyama Hidemi (野々山秀美)
| native_name = 第77師団
}}{{Infobox command structure|name=77th Division|date=1945|parent=16th area army
|subordinate=*98. Infantry regiment (Asahikawa)
- 99. Infantry regiment (Asahikawa)
- 100. Infantry regiment (Asahikawa)
- 77. Cavalry regiment
- 77. Mountain artillery regiment
- 77. Engineer regiment
- 77. Transport regiment
- 77. Automatic cannon company
- 77. Signals company
- 77. Sanitation company
- 77/1. Field hospital
- 77/4. Field hospital
- 77. Chemical warfare company
- 77. Ordnance company
- 77. Veterinary department
- Temporarily attached units:
- 7. Independent mountain artillery regiment
- 75. Independent engineer battalion
- 101st Independent Mixed Brigade (February–May 1945)
}}
The {{nihongo|77th Division|第77師団|Dai-nanajūnana Shidan}} was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the {{nihongo|Ripe Division|稔兵団|Nen Heidan}}.It was created in March 1944 in Asahikawa, Hokkaido{{Cite web |url=http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/945PEAB.pdf |title=Japanese Forces Hokkaido, Karafuto and Kurile Islands May 1945 |access-date=2016-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813054354/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/945PEAB.pdf |archive-date=2016-08-13 |url-status=dead }} to replace 7th division and disbanded in September 1945 in Kajiki, Kagoshima. It was a triangular division. The men of the division were drafted through 7th military district, located in Hokkaido.
Action
From 8 October 1945, the 77th division was subordinated to 5th area army and set in charge of the fortifications from west of Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group to Yūfutsu District, Hokkaido on the southern coast of Hokkaido. 11 February 1945, it was moved to reserve in Asahikawa, with newly formed 147th division taking over the Tomakomai fortifications.{{Cite web |url=http://www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/fortress/yufutsu/yufutsu.htm |title=勇払平野の防御陣地 |access-date=2016-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914004952/http://www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/fortress/yufutsu/yufutsu.htm |archive-date=2016-09-14 |url-status=dead }}
In May 1945, the division was subordinated to the 16th area army and sent to Satsumasendai, Kagoshima as part of the general buildup of Japanese forces on Kyushu in the wake of defeat in battle of Okinawa. Later the division was transferred to Kajiki, Kagoshima, where it meet the surrender of Japan 15 August 1945.{{Japan home islands defenses 1945}}
See also
Notes and references
{{Reflist|30em}}This article incorporates material from the article 第77師団 (日本軍) in the Japanese Wikipedia, retrieved on 14 January 2016.
- Madej, W. Victor. Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols] Allentown, PA: 1981
- Hata Ikuhiko, ed. "日本陸海軍総合事典 第2版" (Comprehensive Encyclopedia of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Army, Second Edition), Tōkyō Daigaku Shuppankai, 2005.
- Toyama Misao and Morimatsu Toshio, eds. "帝国陸軍編制総覧" (Comprehensive Sourcebook on Imperial Army Units), Fuyōshobō, 1987.
- 『別冊歴史読本 戦記シリーズNo.32 太平洋戦争師団戦史』 (Special Edition of Rekishi Yomihon: War History Series No.32 – Battle History of Pacific War Divisions), Shin Jinbutsu Ōraisha, 1996.
{{DEFAULTSORT:77th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)}}
Category:Japanese World War II divisions
Category:Infantry divisions of Japan
Category:Military units and formations established in 1944
Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945