Development of Chinese armoured forces (1927–1945)

Development of Chinese armoured forces (1927–1945)

This article deals with the chronology and development of Chinese armoured forces from 1927 to 1945.

Contents

Introduction of Armoured Vehicles

The Chinese warlord Zhang Zuolin introduced tanks to China. Surprised during the Northern Expedition by Chiang Kai-shek's National Revolutionary Army, he bought several Renault FT-17 tanks armed with 37 mm guns from France in 1927. It is uncertain how these tanks were used in combat, but they were eventually captured by the Japanese and the Chinese Nationalists. The tanks captured by the Japanese army were deployed in the Kwantung Army and later used during the Mukden Incident. The Nationalists in the meantime also bought 36 FT-17 tanks. However, they saw no action but were used mainly for training.[1] Also about 6 or 10 Renault UE light armoured carriers armed with Browning MG were bought in France.[citation needed]

Additional Armoured Vehicles

Vickers amphibious tank.
Chinese markings on Vickers Carden Loyd Light tanks.

Influenced by the Japanese tank performance during the First Battle of Shanghai, the Chinese Nationalist government started the mechanisation of the army in 1933, buying 24 British Carden Loyd Mk VI tankettes. Later they bought about 20 Vickers 6-ton tanks between 1935 and 1936. They also bought some Vickers Amphibious Tanks, which were developed in 1932 and not used in the United Kingdom.[1]

Chinese T-26 tanks.

Since 1930, the Nationalists had hired several German military advisers. They made the Nationalists purchase many European weapons through a German company with which the German advisers cooperated. The Nationalists bought Italian CV-33 and CV-35 tankettes, German Panzer I Ausf. A light tanks, and British 12-ton tanks. The exact name of the British 12-ton tank is unknown.[1]

With these newly purchased tanks the Nationalists organized three tank battalions in 1936. The 1st Battalion in Shanghai had 32 Vickers Amphibious tanks and some Vickers 6-ton tanks, and the 2nd Battalion also in Shanghai had 20 Vickers 6-ton tanks, 4 Carden Loyd tankettes and carriers. The 3rd Battalion in Nanking had 10 Panzer I Ausf. A tanks, 20 CV-33 tankettes and some SdKfz 221 and 222 armoured cars. When the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in earnest, these battalions participated in the Second Battle of Shanghai and the Battle of Nanking and were more or less completely destroyed by the Japanese forces.[1]

In early 1938, the Japanese government demanded that the German government withdraw all German advisers from China. Given the closer relations between the two nations, Hitler agreed and soon after they left China.[1]

Chinese Stuart tanks on the Ledo Road.

After the Germans left, the Soviet Union started to support the Nationalists. Soviet advisers and Soviet tanks arrived in China for the first time in March 1938.[2] The Soviet advisers organized a mechanised unit in China, the 200th Division, which consisted of one tank regiment and one motorised infantry regiment.[1] The tank regiment consisted of four tank battalions. Each tank battalion had three tank companies.[1] The tank regiments had approximately 200 armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs).[1] The Nationalist government bought 88 T-26 tanks and BA-10 and BA-20 armoured cars.[1] These AFVs and remaining German AFVs were deployed in the 200th Division and the division finally saw action in late 1938, when it inflicted a devastating defeat upon the Japanese army at the Battle of Kunlun Pass. This division then saw action in the Burma Theatre under Joseph Stilwell, to disastrous results.

Upon the American entry into the war in 1941, it began to supply China with AFVs which the Soviets were unable to provide. M3 Stuarts, M4 Shermans, and M18 Hellcats trickled in through Burma and formed part of the several well-equipped, well-trained armies that the Nationalists could deploy. These units were responsible for stopping numerous Japanese attacks during the later phases of the war.

See also

  • Development of Chinese Nationalist air force (1937-1945)

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Takizawa, Akira (1999-2000). "Chinese Nationalist Armour in World War II". Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942. http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/china_armour.html. 
  2. ^ "China". Tanks!. http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/china/china.html. 

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Development of Chinese armoured forces (1927-1945) — This article deals with the chronology and development of Chinese armoured forces from 1927 to 1945.Introduction of Armoured VehiclesThe Chinese warlord Zhang Zuolin introduced tanks to China. Surprised during the Northern Expedition by Chiang… …   Wikipedia

  • Second Sino-Japanese War — Part of the Pacific War of World War II (from 1941) …   Wikipedia

  • National Revolutionary Army — (NRA) 國民革命軍 Flag of the National Revolutionary Army Active 1925–1947 …   Wikipedia

  • List of World War II topics (D) — # D 10 tank gun # D 8 Armored Car # D Day 1 # D Day (game) # D Day Dodgers # D Day Museum # D Day the Sixth of June # # D Day # D. C. Stephenson # D. C. Wimberly # D. Robinson # D. V. Peyton Ward # Döme Sztójay # Džafer beg Kulenović # Dachau… …   Wikipedia

  • Republic of China Armed Forces — For the Military of the Republic of China before the implementation of the Constitution in 1947, see National Revolutionary Army. Not to be confused with People s Liberation Army, the military forces of the People s Republic of China (PRC).… …   Wikipedia

  • Airborne forces — Airborne Military parachuting or gliding form of inserting personnel or supplies. Purpose Delivering personnel, equipment, or supplies. Origins Attributed to Italian troops on November 1927. [ Parachutist Badge awarded by the United States Army… …   Wikipedia

  • china — /chuy neuh/, n. 1. a translucent ceramic material, biscuit fired at a high temperature, its glaze fired at a low temperature. 2. any porcelain ware. 3. plates, cups, saucers, etc., collectively. 4. figurines made of porcelain or ceramic material …   Universalium

  • China — /chuy neuh/, n. 1. People s Republic of, a country in E Asia. 1,221,591,778; 3,691,502 sq. mi. (9,560,990 sq. km). Cap.: Beijing. 2. Republic of. Also called Nationalist China. a republic consisting mainly of the island of Taiwan off the SE coast …   Universalium

  • Blitzkrieg — (German for lightning war Audio|De blitzkrieg.ogg|listen) is a popular name for an offensive operational level military doctrine which involves an initial bombardment followed by the employment of motorized mobile forces attacking with speed and… …   Wikipedia

  • Vietnam War — Part of the Cold War and the Indochina Wars …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”