| Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF) 海軍特別陸戦隊 Kaigun Tokubetsu Rikusentai | |
|---|---|
 The ensign of the Special Naval Landing Force | |
| Active | 1932–1945 |
| Country |  Empire of Japan |
| Allegiance | Emperor of Japan |
| Branch |  Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Type | Marines |
| Role | Amphibious warfare Anti-aircraft warfare Armoured warfare Close-quarters combat Cold-weather warfare Combined arms Counter-battery fire Demolition Fire support Maneuver warfare Raiding Jungle warfare Reconnaissance Urban warfare |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | Second Sino-Japanese War World War II |
TheSpecial Naval Landing Forces (SNLF;Japanese:海軍特別陸戦隊,romanized: Kaigun Tokubetsu Rikusentai) were standalonenaval infantry units in theImperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and were a part of theIJN land forces. They saw extensive service in theSecond Sino-Japanese War and in thePacific theatre ofWorld War II. While not existing as a dedicated naval infantry branch nor classified as "marines" by the IJN, they functioned as the infantry of the Navy, and engaged in many coastal oramphibious operations, leading to them being referred to as "Imperial marines"[1]or simply "Japanese marines" by a number ofWestern sources.[2][3]
The IJN'smarine paratroopers were designated as SNLF units, though they were operationally subordinated to theImperial Japanese Navy Air Service.IJN armored units were generally subordinated to SNLF units and fielded a variety oflight tanks,medium tanks andarmored cars.
The SNLF should not be confused with theNaval Landing Forces, which were primarily ad-hoc units of naval personnel formed intonaval infantry units whom rarely performed properamphibious operations and were primarily utilized in a defensive role ashore, particularly post-1942, though the SNLF were also employed in increasingly defensive roles as World War II came to a close.[4]
Since the late Meiji Era, the IJN hadnaval landing forces orrikusentai formed from individual ships's crews, who received infantry training as part of their basic training, for special and/or temporary missions. In addition, troops from Naval Bases known asKaiheidan could form a naval landing force.
Starting in the Meiji Era the navy began to raise units unofficially known as Special Naval Landing Forces. These forces were raised fromkaiheidan at — and took their names from — the four main naval districts/bases inJapan:Kure,Maizuru (deactivated following the Washington naval treaty, reactivated in 1939),Sasebo, andYokosuka. In 1927 some of these SNLF units were unified under command of the Shanghai Naval Landing Force and saw action in China from 1932 in theJanuary 28 Incident. Afterwards the Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force was officially formed in October 1932, signifying the first official SNLF unit. Official SNLF units from naval bases were authorized in 1936. SNLF units would once again see action at theBattle of Shanghai and countless other battles and cleanup operations throughout theSecond Sino-Japanese War.[5]
The strengths of each SNLF ranged from the 200 to over 3000 personnel. Almost all units were a single battalion with a varying number of companies.
In 1941, the 1st and 3rd Yokosuka SNLF were converted toparachute units. The SNLF paratroopers were successfully used during the attack onCelebes and theBattle of Manado. Aside from the paratroopers, there were also planned elite units to conduct reconnaissance and raid operations.
Like all landing forces they often experienced heavy casualties when faced with determined resistance, such as at theBattle of Milne Bay. This was due to their offensive spirit and unwillingness to surrender, and when completely out of ammunition, they sometimes resorted to hand-to-hand fighting with their swords and bayonets. After the failure to capture Milne Bay the Special Naval Landing Forces became a defensive force and very few units were raised. Naval Guard Units became much more common IJN infantry units in the Pacific.
The SNLF gained the distinction of being the first foreign forces to establish a foothold on American soil since theWar of 1812, when troops of the Maizuru 3rd SNLF landed onKiska Island,Alaska without opposition on June 6, 1942 and occupied the island as part of theAleutian Islands Campaign during World War II. After a year of occupation, with reinforcements from thousands ofImperial Japanese Army (IJA) soldiers, they completely evacuated on July 28, 1943two weeks before Allied forces landed.
In a well-known last stand in 1943, approximately 1,700 men of the 7th Sasebo SNLF and 2,000 base personnel (mostly the 3rd Special Base Force) at theBattle of Tarawa accounted for over 3,000U.S. Marine Corps casualties.
The uniforms of SNLF troops were exactly the same as those worn by members of theImperial Japanese Navy Land Forces. The single exception was the SNLF Paratroopers who had their own specialized uniforms.
When on board ships, the sailors of the SNLF wore their standard IJN blue or white uniforms, but on land the SNLF wore auniform similar to that of the Imperial Japanese Army. Originally they wore their shipboard dress during ground combat as well, but in the mid 1930s it was replaced with a specialized land uniform. The land uniform consisted of a green single breasted tunic with a stand and fall collar with three buttons which ran down the front, which is often referred to asRikusenfuku (陸戦服). These uniforms were also worn byregular Naval troops deployed on land. The SNLF usually wore this uniform with the collar open over the IJN's white trimmed teeshirt, or a heat resistant khaki button-up shirt later in the war. Towards the end of the war, the three-button uniform was replaced by a similar four-button green uniform known as the Class III (三種), which was intended to be the standard combat dress for all members of the Imperial Japanese Navy. In the final stages of the war, what was left of the SNLF could be seen wearing the previously mentioned uniforms, a green five button work uniform, or even a button-up undershirt and trousers. Officers wore their uniform with a shirt and tie, sometimes omitting the tie during combat or in hot weather. The tie was originally dark blue, but was later changed to green. Green long trousers orpantaloons were worn as standard along with the woolputtees or canvasgaiters for enlisted and leather gaiters for officers. All, except mounted troops (who worebreeches and high leather boots), wore this uniform with horsehide, pigskin or leather ankle-boots.
SNLF Paratroopers wore two types of green uniform made fromrip stopparachute silk with built inbandoleers and cargo pockets, being better designed than other paratrooper models of the time.
Originally, green rank insignia was used for SNLF officers. These were worn on either shoulder boards or collar tabs. Enlisted men wore red on green, or red on blue round ratings on the upper sleeves. Later the standard black Japanese Naval collar rank was adopted and worn by officers. The enlisted men went to a black on yellow shield rating. During the war, most enlisted men wore a cloth name tag affixed above their left or right breast pocket bearing information such as their name, rank and unit.
Theankle boots had either ahobnailed hard leather sole with metal heel J-cleat or a rubber sole with rubber cleats. When off duty, sailors could weartabis, although they sometimes wore them in combat as well.
SNLF officers were not usually issued uniforms so they had to procure their own, thus there was a wide variety in the details, color and texture of their uniforms, with uniform colors ranging from pale to dark green. Collars were stiffer and materials were of a higher quality.
The SNLF used a mix of models.
The SNLF carried a variety of items, some of it IJN produced material and others being borrowed from the IJA.
...and soldiers from Japan's Special Naval Landing Force, also known as 'Imperial Marines.'
The term 'Imperial Marines' is not quite accurate as a description for these naval personnel, who were actually ground soldiers. The correct name for these troops was Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF). Despite their relatively small numbers, they comprised a significant augmentation of the Japanese combat capabilities on land. After August 1942, the SNLF were almost exclusively involved in defensive fighting, holding various island outposts against the growing U.S. offensive.
...Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF) troops, whom the Americans often referred to as the 'Japanese Marines.'
