Osprey Men-at-Arms 432 : Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces : Uniforms and Equipment 1932-1945

The Imperial Japanese Navy's Special Landing Force units enjoyed a reputation out of proportion to their small size. Often wrongly termed "Imperial Marines", they were in fact sailors led by Naval officers, and traced their origins directly to landing parties from warships. Their true combat debut was at Shanghai in 1932. Thereafter the SNLF expanded and fought in the assaults that followed Pearl Harbour in 1941, and were dispersed as island garrisons during the Pacific campaigns. This book describes their uniforms and equipment in unprecedented detail, including colour photos of original items from private collections. Text by Gary Nila and Robert A Rolfe with illustrations by Christa Hook.

Contents

• Origins of SNLF
• World War II Headgear including Caps and Helmets
• Uniforms
• Footwear
• Insignia of Rank and Specialty
• Leather Equipment
• Cloth & Canvas Equipment
• Weapons
• Naval Paratroop Equipment
• Miscellaneous Equipment