RISING STORM - THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY AND
CHINA
1931-1941
Hainan Island showing Haikou (Haikow) and Sanya (Samah)
Assault on Hainan Island, China -1939
© 2012-2013 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Anthony Tully
Rev 1
110 B.C. The Han Dynasty establishes a military garrison on Hainan Island, but in 46 B.C. abandons the island for economic reasons. Around that time, mainland Chinese, primarily from the southern provinces, begin to migrate to Hainan. Under the Song Dynasty (980-1279), Hainan becomes part of Guangxi Province. Large numbers of Han Chinese arrive and settle mainly in northern Hainan. Under the Yuan Dynasty (1206–1368, Hainan becomes an independent province. In 1370, the Ming Dynasty places Hainan under Guangdong Province.
During the 1920s and 30s, the Communists are very active in Hainan. They and other locals fight a guerrilla campaign against the Japanese occupation, but between 1939-1945, over one-third of the male population is killed. Hainan Island is rich in minerals, most importantly iron, first mined by the Japanese during their occupation. The Japanese also exploit the island's copper resources.
30 January 1939:
CarDiv 1's AKAGI departs Sasebo for southern China. Her air group carries 12 A5M2 “Claude” fighters, 18 D1A2 “Susie” biplane dive-bombers and 36 B4Y1 “Jean” biplane torpedo-bombers.
IJN Mitsubishi A5M, Aichi D1A and Yokosuka B4Y
February 1939:
AKAGI arrives off Hainan Island, China.
IJN AKAGI spewing exhaust smoke and showing three flight decks before her '37-'38 modernization
E February 1939:
AKAGI’s air group participates in blockade operations.
9 February 1939:
At midnight, after escorting a convoy, Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake’s (35)(former CO of KONGO) 5th Fleet (South China Naval Force) consisting of CruDiv
9's MYOKO (F), light cruisers NATORI and NAGARA, DesDiv 23’s MOCHIZUKI,MUTSUKI, MIKAZUKI and KIKUZUKI, DesDiv 45’s MATSUKAZE and ASAKAZE and DesDiv 28’s YUNAGI and ASANAGI and MinesweepDiv 12 enter and anchor in Tsinghai Bay on the northern shore of Hainan Island. Kondo’s forces then carry out a amphibious assault landing. Air cover is provided by CarDiv 1's AKAGI and seaplane
carrier CHIYODA.
LtCdr (later Captain) Prince Takamatsu Nobuhito (1/52)(former Division Commander, FUSO), brother of Emperor Hirohito (Showa) and a Naval General Staff officer is aboard MYOKO as an observer.
Heavy cruiser IJN MYOKO at speed
10 February 1939:
At 1200, the 4th Base Force’s 4th Yokosuka, No. 6 Kure and No. 8 Sasebo Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF) effect a landing at Haikow. IJA MajGen Iida Shojiro’s Taiwan Mixed Brigade consisting of the 1st and 2nd Infantry and Mountain Gun Regiments and Navy SNLF forces mop up the northern part of the island.
11 February 1939:
Combat units land at Samah at the southern Hainan Island and occupy Yulin (Samah) and Yai-Hsien. Later, these units and the 5th Garrison Unit occupy and subjugate the entire island. Hainan Guard District's Headquarters is established at Samah
and an air base is completed on the island.
19 February 1939:
AKAGI departs Chinese waters.
1941:
Samah, Hainan Island, becomes home port for the IJNs Second Fleet and supports the Japanese occupation of Vichy French Indochina and is the main embarkation point for Operation “E” - the Invasions of Malaya and Thailand.
uthor's Note:
Thanks go to Allan Alsleben of Oregon for help with Rev 1
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Anthony Tully
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