Kihei Company

includes a Kihei Platoon (Cavalry Platoon) and Kihei Chutai HQ (Cavalry Company Headquarters) with four Cavarly MG teams, a Command Cavalry Sword team, a 2iC Cavalry Command Sword team and a Company Command Cavalry Sword team. Options to field Banners or Regimental Standard included.

A Kehei (Cavalry) Platoon is small but it does have a Type 96 light machine-gun in each cavalry squad, giving them considerable firepower for a unit of its size.

Their duties would normally consist of advancing ahead of the division to discover the enemy’s disposition. After the destruction of their fellow reconnaissance regiment, the Azuma Detachment, the cavalry men of the Ioki Detachment found themselves in defensive positions.

Designed by Evan Allen
Painted by James Brown

Manchurian Cavalry Platoon
The Japanese Manchurian puppet-state (Manchukuo) provided cavalry for patrolling the border with Mongolia and the Soviet Union. These troops wore uniforms similar to that of the Japanese. However, there training and enthusiasm to fight was not as high as that of the iron-willed Japanese. The Manchurian cavalry was engaged in the first clashes with the Mongolians, before retiring to patrol the Japanese army’s flanks and rear.

You can also use the miniatures form the Kihei Platoon (JBX04) to field the Manchurian Cavalry Platoon on page 28 of Rising Sun.

The Manchurian troops are trained by the Japanese, but do not share the Japanese enthusiasm for warfare. A Manchurian Cavalry Platoon is rated as Reluctant Trained.