Back Südseeabteilung German Destacamento de los Mares del Sur Spanish Détachement des mers du Sud French
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The South Seas Detachment (南海支隊, Nankai Shitai) of the Imperial Japanese Army was a brigade-size force formed in 1941 to be the army unit used in the Japanese seizure of the South Pacific island groups of Wake, Guam and the Gilberts. As part of the South Seas Force, it fell under Imperial Japanese Navy command and control. It was drawn from the 55th Division and was commanded by Major General Tomitarō Horii. It consisted of the following units:
- 144th Infantry Regiment with 2700 men
- 1st Battalion of the 55th Mountain Artillery Regiment with 750 men and 12 75mm mountain guns
- 3rd Squadron 55th Cavalry Regiment
- 1st Company 47th Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion.
- Infantry Gun Company of the 144th Infantry Regiment
- plus Engineer, Communications, Transport and 3 Medical detachments.
The detachment was to be used to seize Guam but was diverted to Wake after the initial unsuccessful attempt by the navy to seize the atoll, where it suffered some casualties. It later rejoined the 55th Division for the New Guinea Campaign.