IJA 30th Division
| 30th Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1943 - 1945 |
| Country | Empire of Japan |
| Branch | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | reserve |
| Garrison/HQ | Pyongyang |
| Nickname(s) | Panther Division |
| Engagements |
Battle of Leyte Battle of Mindanao |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Gyosaku Morozumi |
The 30th Division (第30師団 Dai-sanjū Shidan) was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Panther division (豹兵団 Hyō-heidan). The 29th Division was formed on 14 May 1943 as a triangular division in Pyongyang city. The 30th division was not recruited but rather assembled from the infantry regiments detached from the other units.
Initially, the 30th division was based on the Mindanao, but with the start of the Battle of Leyte 17 October 1944 was used to reinforce Leyte positions.
Two battalions from the 41st regiment of the 30th division landed on Leyte 20 October 1944 and started fighting from 25 October 1944. Reinforcements (2 battalions) of about 2000 men have arrived also 26 October 1944 into the Albuera, Leyte, unloading safely. 41st infantry regiment of the 30th division was ordered 26 October 1944 from Carigara to Jaro, which was under heavy US attack at the moment. They did not make it in time, as Jaro defenses failed 29 October 1944. By 9 November 1944, the 41st rejiment has stalled 3.5 km northwest of Jaro town. Although until 29 October 1944 Japanese has planned to leave only 3 battalions of the 30th division, after heavy losses of the 26th division during landing in Ormoc the future reinforcements were held back. Nonaka battalion of a 30th division was ordered to prepare an emergency beach defences near Ipil, Ormoc, which was considered a rear area at the moment. The US forces landed in Ormoc 7 December 1944, and Nonaka battalion "fought bravely", in one case conducting a counter-landing from junks by a machine gun company and an infantry company. By the nightfall 8 December 1944, the Nonaka battalion forces were pushed from the beaches at all points, suffering heavy casualties in the process.
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