Northern Army (Japan)

Northern Army
Northern Army Distinctive Unit Insignia
Active	15 October 1952 – present
Country	Japan
Branch	Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Type	Field army
Garrison/HQ	Camp Sapporo, Sapporo, Hokkaidō
Commanders
Current commander	Lt. Gen. Toshiya Okabe

The Northern Army (北部方面隊, Hokubu Hōmentai) is one of five active Armies of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). It is headquartered at Camp Sapporo in Sapporo, Hokkaidō and its responsibility is the defense of the island of Hokkaidō. It is the largest Army of the JGSDF as on Hokkaidō population and geographic constraints are less limiting than elsewhere in Japan. Most of JGSDF's modern Type 90 tank squadrons are located within the Northern Army's structure.

Organization

• Northern Army, at Camp Sapporo in Sapporo
  • 2nd Division, at Camp Asahikawa in Asahikawa, responsible for the defense of North Western Hokkaidō
  • 5th Brigade, at Camp Obihiro in Obihiro, responsible for the defense of North Eastern Hokkaidō
  • 7th Division (Armored), at Camp Higashi Chitose in Chitose, responsible for the defense of Southern Hokkaidō
  • 11th Brigade, at Camp Makomanai in Sapporo, responsible for the defense of South Western Hokkaidō
  • 1st Artillery Brigade, at Camp Kita Chitose in Chitose
  • 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade, at Camp Higashi Chitose
    • 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group, at Camp Higashi Chitose (MIM-23 Hawk)
    • 4th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group, at Camp Nayoro in Nayoro (MIM-23 Hawk)
  • Northern Army Combined Brigade (Training), at Camp Higashi Chitose
  • Northern Army Engineer Troop, at Camp Minami Eniwa in Eniwa
  • 1st Electric Warfare Unit, at Higashi Chitose
  • Northern Army Signal Group, at Camp Sapporo
  • Northern Army Aviation Group, at Camp Okadama in Sapporo
  • Northern Army Logistic Support, at Camp Shimamatsu in Eniwa
  • Northern Army Finance Service, at Camp Sapporo
  • Northern Army Medical Service, at Camp Makomanai
  • Northern Army Band, at Camp Makomanai
  • Northern Army Command Post Training Support, at Camp Higashi Chitose
  • Northern Army Intelligence Analysis, at Camp Sapporo
  • Northern Army Ground-to-Ship and Anti-Tank Company, at Camp Kutchan in Kutchan with Type 96 Multi-Purpose Missile Systems
  • Hokkaidō Logistic Depot, at Camp Shimamatsu, overseeing 10 fuel and ammunition depots on Hokkaido Island

Note: The Japanese Defense Intelligence Headquarters also has a classified SIGINT unit based at Camp Higashi Chitose.

Operational Structure of the Northern Army 2016
(click image to enlarge)

External links

• Northern Army Homepage (Japanese)