3rd Division (Japan)
Encyclopedia
The is one of nine active divisions
of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
. The division is subordinated to the Central Army
and is headquartered in Itami
, Hyōgo
. Its responsibility is the defense of the Hyōgo
, Kyōto
, Nara
, Ōsaka
, Shiga
and Wakayama
prefectures.
The division was raised on 18 January 1962.
note 1: Infantry Regiments have only battalion strength.
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
The , or JGSDF, is the army of Japan. The largest of the three services of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Ground Self-Defense Force operates under the command of the chief of the ground staff, based in the city of Ichigaya, Tokyo. The present chief of ground staff is General Yoshifumi Hibako...
. The division is subordinated to the Central Army
Central Army (Japan)
The is one of five active Armies of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. It is headquartered in Itami, Hyōgo. Its responsibility is the defense of Chūgoku, Kansai, Shikoku and the Southern half of the Chūbu region.- Organization :* Central Army, in Itami...
and is headquartered in Itami
Itami, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city had an estimated population of 194,488 and a population density of 7,790 persons per km². The total area is 24.97 km².The center of Itami became a wealthy town by the middle of Sengoku period...
, Hyōgo
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
. Its responsibility is the defense of the Hyōgo
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, Kyōto
Kyoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro....
, Nara
Nara Prefecture
is a prefecture in the Kansai region on Honshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara.-History:The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka Prefecture....
, Ōsaka
Osaka Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...
, Shiga
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
and Wakayama
Wakayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Wakayama.- History :Present-day Wakayama is mostly the western part of the province of Kii.- 1953 Wakayama Prefecture flood disaster :...
prefectures.
The division was raised on 18 January 1962.
Organization
- 3rd Division, in ItamiItami, Hyogois a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city had an estimated population of 194,488 and a population density of 7,790 persons per km². The total area is 24.97 km².The center of Itami became a wealthy town by the middle of Sengoku period...
- 3rd Division HQ, in Itami
- 3rd Tank Battalion, in TakashimaTakashima, Shigais a city in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.On November 30, 2004 the city had an estimated population of 56,220 and a density of 110 persons per square kilometres. The total area is 511 square kilometres....
, with two squadrons of Type 74 tanks - 7th Infantry Regiment note 1, in FukuchiyamaFukuchiyama, Kyotois a city located in northern Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, on the Yura River. It is about 25 km inland from the Sea of Japan at the southern end of the Fukuchiyama Valley, and is surrounded by mountains to the south, west, and east....
- 36th Infantry Regiment, in Itami
- 37th Infantry Regiment, in IzumiIzumi, Osakais a city located in Osaka, Japan.The city was founded on September 1, 1956.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 181,935 and the density of 2,140 persons per km². The total area is 84.98 km². It is the last station on the Semboku Kousoku monorail line （泉北高速鉄道） at Izumi Chuo...
- 3rd Artillery Regiment, in HimejiHimeji, Hyogois a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 535,945, with 206,409 households. The total area is 534.43 km².- History :...
, with four batteries of FH-70FH-70The FH-70 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 started discussions and design studies and in 1968 established Agreed Operational...
towed howitzers - 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, in Itami, with Type 87 armored reconnaissance vehicle
- 3rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, in Himeji, with Type 81Type 81 Surface-to-Air MissileThe Type 81 Surface-to-Air Missile or Tan-SAM is a Japanese developed surface-to-air missile currently in service with the Japan Self-Defense Forces.-Development:...
and Type 93Type 93 Surface-to-Air MissileThe is a surface to air missile used by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. It is the vehicle-borne version of the Type 91 missile.It's known in JSDF ranks as the Closed Arrow.-Description:...
Surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
systems - 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, in UjiUji, Kyotois a city on the southern outskirts of the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Founded on March 1, 1951, Uji is located between the two ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto. The city sits on the Uji River, which has its source in Lake Biwa. As of April 1, 2008, Uji has an estimated population...
- 3rd Signal Battalion, in Itami
- 3rd Aviation Squadron, in YaoYao, Osakais a city in Osaka, Japan.As of 2009, the city has an estimated population of 271,454 and the density of 6,510 persons per km². The total area is 41.71 km².Yao is home to a general aviation airport, Yao Airport.The city was founded on April 1, 1948....
, flying UH-1J and OH-6DMD Helicopters MD 500The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American family of light utility civilian and military helicopters. The MD 500 was developed from the Hughes 500, a civilian version of the US Army's OH-6A Cayuse/Loach...
helicopters - 3rd NBC Protection Battalion, in Itami
- 3rd Logistic Support Regiment, in Itami
- 1st Maintenance Battalion
- 2nd Maintenance Battalion
- Supply Company
- Medical Company
- Transport Company
note 1: Infantry Regiments have only battalion strength.