This is # 432 in their 'Men At Arms' series and covers the uniforms and equipment used by the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces from 1932 until 1945. These men were not the equivalent of the US Marines, though they did perform some of the same functions. Mainly these troops were used to obtain objectives that the Imperial Naval Staff felt were important to the functioning of the Navy.

During WWII, and before, the Japanese Army and Navy rarely coordinated with each other when it came to equipment or battle plans. This intense rivalry was one of the many undoings of the Japanese plans for expansion and conquest during the Pacific War.

The authors provide a background on these units before and during WWII. The rest of the book is dedicated to the various items of uniform and equipment that were carried and used by these men. I found it interesting that the quality of the equipment of all sorts deteriorated in distinct steps. There was the early war gear, material from 1942, and then that used in the final year or so. Each step either removed embellishments or used lower quality materials in their manufacture.

All of this is able captured in period photographs, images of extant materials, and the superb artwork of T. Chong. Overall, this is a most interesting look into this little researched military arm.

July 2006

 Thanks to OSPREY USA for providing the review sample. For more on the complete line of Osprey books, visit www.ospreypublishing.com

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