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This page showcases the Imperial Japanese Navy
By the beginning of WWII, the Imperial
Japanese Navy (IJA) was one of the largest in the world. Having come out
of WWI with large gains and concessions in the Pacific, the Empire created a
huge navy to control it. At the beginning of the War, the IJA may well
have been the most powerful navy in the world. They had the largest
battleships, and had been practicing Naval Tactics for years in their conquest
of Asian Waters.
This is a typical IJA Admiral, in dress
(winter) blues. I was inspired to do this kitbash after watching the movie
"Midway" again. He carries his Katana and map case in his right
hand, and a sextant in his left. There is no reason for the sextant,
historically, but it is a nice piece of gear, and it adds naval flavor to the
figure, so I include it.
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This is a medical orderly, a member of
the IJA Special Naval Landing Forces. The SNLF was essentially the Marine
branch of the IJA, serving as landing parties, invasion forces, scouts, etc. for
the IJA. As with US Marine Medical Orderlies, the IJN/SNLF versions
suffered horrendous casualties as well. Medical treatment in the IJN (and
IJA) was minimal. Typically, the wounded were urged to fight until they
passed out, and anyone still able to fight was ordered to hold their post or
position. A medic carried very little in the way of medicine; a few
bandages, water and some sulfa powder. Treatment was rare, usually the
injured would be given some water, their wounds roughly dresses, a weapon placed
back in their hand, and pointed in the direction of the battle. Recovery in a medical ward was rarer, and soldiers in hospitals were often
thought of as weak or cowardly for failing to be killed in battle.
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The
crew seen here include a member of the IJA (the officer in Khaki). The
others are IJN pilots and a SNLF medic. The pilot on the far left is a
Zero pilot, wearing cold weather/high altitude gear. The Officer in the
center right is an IJN Pilot officer, dressed for formal review or parade
activity, or an awards ceremony. The Pilot on the far right is a scout
plane pilot, dressed in a cotton jumper with warm sweater and gear
underneath.
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A
nearly perfect model of an IJN zero pilot. This figure by BBI needed
absolutely nothing to make it perfect. Cold weather gear, wool lined
flight helmet, even an officers sword and clamshell pistol holster are
perfectly detailed. One of my absolute favorite figures. |
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This was my attempt at a Japanese paratrooper from the invasion of the
Dutch Indies. The Paratroopers attacked the oilfields and rubber
plantations of the Dutch homesteaders in their attempt to overthrow
Java, Borneo, and the remote islands of Indonesia. This marks one of the
only known instances where the Japanese troops carried and used Japanese
made light submachine
guns (which I happily kitbashed for this figure).
It is nearly impossible to find photos of actual Japanese parasoldiers,
so I simply invented my own from what I know of other military para
units. |
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This is an IJN
Gunnery Director, dressed in winter blue uniform. He carries his family's
Katana as a source of Pride and honor. To the right is a fully outfitted
SNLF marine. They are sailors trained to take ground, capture ports, beaches, etc.
and hold until IJA forces can relieve them. They were the elite of the
service. On his shoulder is the ubiquitous ration bag, a long cotton
tube filled with rice. For most Japanese soldiers, this was their only
source of food, as Japanese supply lines were short, and ill-equipped. A
soldier was expected to carry their own food and live off of the land when that
ran out.
An IJN AA gunner
in his position. 
This picture
shows an IJN landing party coming to shore, probably to get fresh water and food
supplies for their vessel. Thousands of islands in the Pacific were
"taken" by Japanese forces, but never occupied. Coast Watchers
from the US and Australia inhabited these islands, and watched for
movements exactly like this. This party would have been scouted, and a
report filed with Central Command about their activities.
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An IJA sailor
in summer whites. He could easily be a member of the SNLF, especially
since he carries one of the few automatic weapons the Japanese created.
The Arisaka he carries is a clip fed, semi-automatic version of the classic bolt
action rifle. This weapon was only produced towards the end of the war,
and relatively few ever made it into combat.
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A SNLF marine Radio
Operator
The boots are absolutely NOT
authentic, but i just love the way they look. If the IJA/IJN didn't use
these boots, they should have.
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This
shore-based IJN sailor is manning a Lewis Machine gun mounted on an AA
tripod and frame. Not particularly effective, the Lewis gun was the
mainstay of much of Japan's initial AA defense in the first years of the
war. These weapons were later replaced with Japanese made weapons
and anti-aircraft cannons. |
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A Captured US Dodge
Command Car, converted into use by the IJN Medical staff. A SNLF
(marine) Medic drives a Red Cross Nurse and two IJA officers to a base
hopsital.
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IJN Airborne
This is the wonderfully detailed ITPT Japanese Paratrooper,
standing in the doorway of the jump plane. |
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