Yasuoka Detachment

The Yasuoka Task Force planned to attack Soviet forces on the Halha's east bank, north of the Holsten River while simultaneously, the main force of the IJA 23rd Division would eliminate Soviet forces on the east bank and then cross to the west bank of the Halha River and drive south to the Kawamata Bridge, destroying Soviet artillery batteries and supply dumps along the west bank. The link-up of the two pincer columns in the vicinity of the Kawamata Bridge would encircle the Soviet forces and then destroy them.

The Japanese tank regiments operating on the east bank from July 2, separated and not coordinating with each other or their attached infantry, engineers and artillery failed to break through the Soviet defenses resulting in the loss of half their armor. On July 9 the Yasuoka Task Force was dissolved, Lt. General Yasuoka Masaomi was relieved and the Armour regiments withdrawn.

• Drea, Edward J., Nomonhan: Japanese-Soviet Tactical Combat, 1939; Leavenworth Paper #2, Combat Studies Institute, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 66027, 1981.

• Nomonhan: Japanese-Soviet Tactical Combat, 1939