Battle of West Hubei

Battle of West Hubei
Part of the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific Theater of World War II
Date (1943-05-05) (1943-06-11)May 5 – June 11, 1943
(1 month and 6 days)
Location
West Hubei, China
29°9′20″N 112°14′43″E / 29.15556°N 112.24528°E / 29.15556; 112.24528
Result Chinese strategic victory: Withdrawal of Imperial Japanese Armed Forces from West Hubei to their initial position
Belligerents
 China
 United States (air support only)
Empire of Japan Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders
Republic of China (1912–1949) Chen Cheng
Republic of China (1912–1949) Sun Lianzhong
Republic of China (1912–1949) Hu Lien
Republic of China (1912–1949) Wang Zuanxu
Republic of China (1912–1949) Luo Guangwen
Republic of China (1912–1949) Fang Tien
Republic of China (1912–1949) Song Kendang
Republic of China (1912–1949) Gao Zhuodong
Republic of China (1912–1949) Mu Ting-Fang
Empire of Japan Isamu Yokoyama
Empire of Japan Takeshi Takashina
Empire of Japan Yamamoto Mitsuo
Empire of Japan Akashika Tadashi
Empire of Japan Sumida Raishiro
Empire of Japan Aoki Seiichi
Units involved

National Revolutionary Army

  • 6th War Area
    • 41 divisions from :
        • 86th Army
      • 10th Army Group
        • 87th Army
        • 94th Army
        • Total : 6 divisions
      • 26th Army Group
        • 75th Army
        • 66th Army
        • Total : 5 divisions
      • 29th Army Group
        • 44th Army
        • 67th Army
        • 73rd Army
        • Total : 9 divisions
      • 33rd Army Group
        • 59th Army
        • 77th Army
        • 79th Army
        • 30th Army
        • Total : 12 divisions
      • 26th Army
      • 99th Army
      • River defense force
    • 8 divisions from other support units :

Artillery units
 Republic of China Navy
 Republic of China Air Force

  • Bombardment Group
    • 5 bombardment groups
  • Pursuit Group
    • 4 pursuit groups

United States United States Army Air Force

 Imperial Japanese Army

Empire of Japan Imperial Japanese Army Air Service

 Imperial Japanese Navy
Strength
280,000 120,000
Casualties and losses
23,550 killed
18,295 wounded
7,270 missing[1]: 137 
25,000 killed and wounded
40 aircraft destroyed
122 naval vessels damaged or sunk[2]
Battle of West Hubei is located in Hubei
Battle of West Hubei
Location within Hubei
Battle of West Hubei is located in China
Battle of West Hubei
Battle of West Hubei (China)

The Battle of West Hubei (simplified Chinese: 鄂西会战; traditional Chinese: 鄂西會戰; pinyin: È Xī Huìzhàn), was one of 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was also one of four major battles that took place in Hubei.

The battle resulted in a Chinese strategic victory, although they lost more troops than the Japanese Army. Historian Barbara W. Tuchman, however, writes that the "Japanese withdrew without pursuit from what appeared to have been a training and foraging offensive to collect rice and river shipping."[3] However, he also states that the battle ended in a tactical draw. The Chinese government reported that the Chinese had scored a major victory.[4] Japanese troops retreated to their former positions.

  1. ^ 陳敬堂 (15 July 2014). 《寫給香港人的中國現代史》. 香港: 中華書局(香港). ISBN 978-988-8290-82-6.
  2. ^ "鄂西大捷 徹底擊潰日軍13師團 滇西展開反攻". 鐵血映丹心. 青年日報. 31 May 2015.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Barbara Tuchman, Stilwell and the American Experience in China, pp. 373
  4. ^ "China Handbook". 1937.