8th Independent Mixed Brigade Artillery Unit Commemorative Watch Fob/皇紀2603.7春第2986部隊章

Salty watch fob.

Obverse

2986 = 1936 (year of unit establishment)

記念 - Commemorative

春第2986部隊 - Unit Haru No.2986

皇紀2603.7- July 1943

 

Code 春 - Haru /Spring/ belong to the 8th Independent Mixed Brigade.

2986部隊 = Artillery Unit
2987部隊 = Engineer Unit
2988部隊 = Signal Unit

The Japanese independent mixed brigades, as they were formed in China in 1937-38 for garrison and anti-guerrilla duties, were organized as follows

The battalions consist of 3 or 4 companies, and their strength has been reported to be about 700 to 900 men. Other units are comparatively small. The total strength of these brigades were somewhere between 6,000 to 10,000 men.​