Battle of West Hubei

Battle of West Hubei
	Part of the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific Theater of World War II
Date	May 5 – June 11, 1943; (1 month and 6 days)
Location	West Hubei, China29°9′20″N 112°14′43″E / 29.15556°N 112.24528°E
Result	Chinese strategic victory: Withdrawal of Imperial Japanese Armed Forces from West Hubei to their initial position
Belligerents
China; United States (air support only)	Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders
Chen Cheng; Sun Lianzhong; Hu Lien; Wang Zuanxu; Luo Guangwen; Fang Tien; Song Kendang; Gao Zhuodong; Mu Ting-Fang	Isamu Yokoyama; Takeshi Takashina; Yamamoto Mitsuo; Akashika Tadashi; Sumida Raishiro; Aoki Seiichi
Units involved
National Revolutionary Army 6th War Area 41 divisions from : 86th Army; ; 10th Army Group 87th Army; 94th Army; Total : 6 divisions; ; 26th Army Group 75th Army; 66th Army; Total : 5 divisions; ; 29th Army Group 44th Army; 67th Army; 73rd Army; Total : 9 divisions; ; 33rd Army Group 59th Army; 77th Army; 79th Army; 30th Army; Total : 12 divisions; ; 26th Army; 99th Army; River defense force 32nd Army; 18th Army 11th Division; 18th Division; ; ; ; 8 divisions from other support units :; ; Republic of China Artillery units ; Republic of China Navy ; Republic of China Air Force Bombardment Group 5 bombardment groups; ; Pursuit Group 4 pursuit groups; ; United States Army Air Force China Area Task Force 23rd Fighter Group 4 squadrons; ; 11th Bombardment Squadron; ;	Imperial Japanese Army 11th Army Divisions 3rd Division; 13th Division; 39th Division; 40th Division; ; Brigade/Detachments 17th Independent Mixed Brigade; Haragaya detachment (34th Division); Nozoe Detachment (58th Division); ; ; Imperial Japanese Army Air Service 44th Air Regiment; Imperial Japanese Navy
Strength
6th War Area in the main battlefield : 264,700; ; 5th and 9th War Areas in supporting operations : 66,884	120,000
Casualties and losses
Chinese Claim :; From 15 February until 30 June 1943 :; 23,550 killed; 18,295 wounded; 7,270 missing; ; 6th War Area from 5 May until 30 June 1943 :; 14,723 killed; 12,229 wounded; 10,614 missing; ; Japanese Claim :; 30,766 killed; 4,279 captured	Chinese Claim :; 25,000 killed and wounded; 40 aircraft destroyed; 122 naval vessels damaged or sunk; ; Japanese Claim :; 771 killed; 2,746 wounded
	↑ Includes losses of the : 6th War Area from February 15 until March 31 in the battles along the Yangtze River (excluding the independent 128th division) and from May 5 until June 30; 5th and 9th War Areas in two supporting operations from March 13 until April 10 and from May 14 until June 16; Air Force; ;
	Location within Hubei Battle of West Hubei (China)

The Battle of West Hubei (simplified Chinese: 鄂西会战; traditional Chinese: 鄂西會戰; pinyin: È Xī Huìzhàn), was one of 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was also one of four major battles that took place in Hubei.

The battle resulted in a Chinese strategic victory, although they lost more troops than the Japanese Army. Historian Barbara W. Tuchman, however, writes that the "Japanese withdrew without pursuit from what appeared to have been a training and foraging offensive to collect rice and river shipping." However, he also states that the battle ended in a tactical draw. The Chinese government reported that the Chinese had scored a major victory. Japanese troops retreated to their former positions.

[3] Includes losses of the :
6th War Area from February 15 until March 31 in the battles along the Yangtze River (excluding the independent 128th division) and from May 5 until June 30

5th and 9th War Areas in two supporting operations from March 13 until April 10 and from May 14 until June 16

Air Force

[mwRA] 6th War Area from February 15 until March 31 in the battles along the Yangtze River (excluding the independent 128th division) and from May 5 until June 30

[mwSw] 5th and 9th War Areas in two supporting operations from March 13 until April 10 and from May 14 until June 16

[mwTA] Air Force