The is one of eight active brigades of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The brigade is subordinated to the Eastern Army and is headquartered in Shintō, Gunma. Its responsibility is the defense of Gunma, Nagano, Niigata and Tochigi prefectures. The brigade was formed on 13 March 2001 with units from the disbanded 12th Infantry Division. Organization 12th Brigade, in Shintō 12th Brigade HQ, in Shintō 2nd Infantry Regiment note 1, in Jōetsu 13th Infantry Regiment, in Matsumoto 30th Infantry Regiment, in Shibata 12th Artillery Battalion, in Utsunomiya, with four batteries of FH-70 155mm towed howitzers 12th Reconnaissance Company, in Shintō, with Type 87 armored reconnaissance vehicle 12th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery, in Shintō, with Type 81 and Type 93 Surface-to-air missile systems 12th Combat Engineer Company, in Takasaki 12th Signal Company, in Shintō 12th Aviation Squadron, in Shintō, flying UH-60JA and CH-47J/JA helicopters 12th NBC-defense Company, in Shintō 12th Logistic Support Battalion, in Takasaki note 1: Infantry Regiments have only battalion strength. External links Homepage 12th Brigade (Japanese) Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Brigade Military units and formations established in 2001