OSPREY PUBLISHING [ MORE REVIEWS ] [ WEBSITE ] [ NEW STORIES ]

Book Review
Japan's Naval Landing Forces
Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces; Uniforms and equipment 1932-45
  • move

by: Frederick Boucher [ JPTRR ]

Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces; Uniforms and equipment 1932-45
Authors: Gary Nila & Robert A Rolfe
Illustrator: T Chong
Series: Men-at-Arms * 432
ISBN: 1-84603-100-1
Length: 48 pages
Format: Softcover, PDF, ePub

Introduction
Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces; Uniforms and equipment 1932-45 is the 432nd title of the Men-at-Arms series. As well as an overview of that Imperial Japanese force and their history and war record, it features black-and-white and color photographs, full color artwork, and detailed descriptions of their uniforms and equipment.
Content
Imperial Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces were not “Japanese Marines” yet they were ferocious fighters that gained a reputation that exceeded their small numbers. This book explores the foundation of their concept and formation; first action in China; employment in Japan’s early World War Two successes and final Banzais across Pacific battlefields. While small in number, SNLF units appeared at most island battles. The authors include a full page listing known SNLF units.

Modelers, historians and re-enactors should be interested to know that the majority of the book – 34 pages – focuses on SNLF uniforms and equipment. The book is arranged in standard Osprey format, with subject plates interspersed through the text, with commentary in the back. The subject is brought to us through 48 pages in six chapters:

    1. Introduction

      a. Naval landing parties during the Russo-Japanese war
      b. the SNLF in China from 1932
      c. the SNLF in World War II
      d. SNLF units

    2. Uniforms

      a. Headgear: China, 1932-41: sailor caps; blue wool field caps; green wool field caps; neck flaps; steel helmets. Pacific campaign, 1941-45: enlisted men’s field caps; petty officers’ field caps; officer’s field cap; navy type 3 steel helmet; helmet camouflage, cover and nets; tropical pith helmets
      b. Clothing: enlisted men and petty officers; officers
      c. Insignia: ratings patches, 1920s-1940s; shoulder and collar insignia
      d. Identity labels and tags
      e. Footwear

    3. Field equipment

      a. Haversacks; canteens; first aid kits; belts & ammunition pouches; bayonets & frogs; knapsacks; gas masks
      b. Weapons: handguns; rifles; light machine guns; grenade discharger; grenades; swords; daggers

    4. Select bibliography
    5. The plates
    6. Index
    artwork, photographs
    Fortifying the text are dozens of quality and clear photographs. Furthermore, 18 color photographs are included; coauthor R. A. Rolfe is a collector of Imperial Japanese uniforms and equipment, specializing in the SNLF. Artist Tony Chong supports the text with two pages of color illustrations:

      a. Officers' Rank Insignia
      b. Helmet, liner, chin strap, SNLF badge; puttees, tapes, puttee label

    Furthermore, a table of Japanese kanji characters, numbers, useful terms, and calender dates is included.

    Conclusion
    As an enthusiast of all things Pacific War, I am very happy with this book. While relatively short at 48 pages, it is packed full with exceptional color photographs from an impressive collection. The authors do a great job of identifying Imperial Japanese equipment, i.e., Type 94 pistol,Type 99 ammo pouch, Type 30 bayonet, and other equipment. The colors and other differences between SNLF uniforms and IJA uniforms is very useful for modelers of Imperial Japanese subjects. Mr. Chong's artwork is excellent, as are the black-and-white photos that support the text.

    The minor faux pas of the typo is meaningless in light of the excellent reference this book provides.

    Modelers, historians and re-enactors should find this book to be very useful. I heartily recommend this book.

    Please tell vendors and retailers that you saw this book here - on Armorama.

Click here for additional images for this review.

SUMMARY
Highs: Excellent color photographs of vintage SNLF uniforms and equipment.
Lows: Typo.
Verdict: Modelers, historians and re-enactors should find this book to be very useful.
Percentage Rating
98%
  Scale: N/A
  Mfg. ID: 1-84603-100-1
  Suggested Retail: $17.95 ( 9.99€ )
  PUBLISHED: Mar 12, 2013
  NATIONALITY: Japan / 日本
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 87.04%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 90.16%

Our Thanks to Osprey Publishing!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

View This Item  |  View Vendor Homepage  |  More Reviews  

About Frederick Boucher (JPTRR)
FROM: TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES

I'm a professional pilot with a degree in art. My first model was an AMT semi dump truck. Then Monogram's Lunar Lander right after the lunar landing. Next, Revell's 1/32 Bf-109G...cried havoc and released the dogs of modeling! My interests--if built before 1900, or after 1955, then I proba...

Copyright ©2021 text by Frederick Boucher [ JPTRR ]. All rights reserved.



   
ADVERTISEMENT


Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
ADVERTISEMENT