Elite Japanese Soldiers of WWII

Bravo · Oct 14, 2006

does any1 know what japan's elite combat units were called?

and any info on how they operated (i.e. what sort of missions they were involved in, weapons, that sort of thing) would be very helpful.

thank you.

waylander · Oct 14, 2006

White Tigers according to George MacDonald Fraser

Higgins · Oct 15, 2006

Imperial Japanese Army

Bravo said:
does any1 know what japan's elite combat units were called?

and any info on how they operated (i.e. what sort of missions they were involved in, weapons, that sort of thing) would be very helpful.

thank you.

The Imperial Japanese had a different idea of "elite" than most armed forces. They had an Imperial Guard division (attacked Singapore), but every single Japanese unit was expected to fight to the death in every battle. They had paratroopers (took some Dutch East Indian oil facilities and air fields) and other specialist units, but I'd say the whole Imperial Army was elite in the sense of being expected to take on terrible odds and keep fighting to the bitter end or overrun and butcher their opponents ruthlessly to the point of madness (if possible).
Obviously in some ways they took the "elite" thing a bit too far (as in pilot training), but it worked well for some cases like cruiser and destroyer crews.
Of course, some units were better trained and more experienced and they did have labor battalions that were not well armed or trained for heavy fighting.

Bravo · Oct 15, 2006

hmmm....

yeah im trying to find a name for something that's just like our green berets. maybe some of the guards of the emperor? i dont know.

waylander- which book mentions the white tigers? i cant find anything on them on the net.

thank you

waylander · Oct 15, 2006

I think that was in his short story collection 'The General Danced at Dawn'

rt2 · Oct 15, 2006

Bravo,

The Japanese Imperial Army did not have military elite. They had Secret Societies which were their version of our OSS.

Try Black Ocean or better yet, Kokuryukai (Black Dragon Society.) I studied these intensly long ago. It might be close to what you are looking for or get you on the right track.

Good luck.

rt2

gwendy85 · Oct 15, 2006

On the subject...

I've been researching on the Japanese Imperial Army for quite some time and have yet to read about elite forces...unless you include the regimental colors donated by the emperor. Those troops were supposedly so important, they risked life and limb just to rescue them from being trapped.

Nothing pops up into mind other than the kamikaze corps, though they're hardly elite but they are infamous.

BTW, I'd like to ask if anyone knew the system of recruiting the Japanese men for the war. And in the army, there were aides for certain officials, right? How many aides were entitled to an official and what rank should he be?

Ex: Major's aide: how many and what rank
Captain's aide: how many and what rank

Thanks!

Bravo · Oct 16, 2006

rt said:
The Japanese Imperial Army did not have military elite. They had Secret Societies which were their version of our OSS.

Try Black Ocean or better yet, Kokuryukai (Black Dragon Society.) I studied these intensly long ago. It might be close to what you are looking for or get you on the right track.

actually this intelligence agents might work as well. i just need some way of identifying them (like how the yakuza have their pinky cut off or a tattoo of something). but youve given me something to start off w/.

thank you.

although i really dont know why you had to de-mod for this subject. is it going to get really heated in here?

gwendy said:
I've been researching on the Japanese Imperial Army for quite some time and have yet to read about elite forces...unless you include the regimental colors donated by the emperor. Those troops were supposedly so important, they risked life and limb just to rescue them from being trapped.

that might work. i just need some way of identifying a core group. i thought there might be guys like our green berets, infiltrating behind enemy lines, doing sabatoge that sort of stuff.

thank you.

rt2 · Oct 16, 2006

Bravo, this was driving me crazy so I had to find it.

http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Warriors-Nakano-Japanese-Intelligence/dp/1574884433

This book has just about all there is of WWII Japanese covert operations. historians have been frustrated by the lack of info over the years.

If this guy couldn't find more, I don't think we will.

Bravo · Oct 18, 2006

rt2 said:
Bravo, this was driving me crazy so I had to find it.

http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Warriors-Nakano-Japanese-Intelligence/dp/1574884433

This book has just about all there is of WWII Japanese covert operations. historians have been frustrated by the lack of info over the years.

If this guy couldn't find more, I don't think we will.

im disappointed that there isnt much more info on the web on this, so thank you for finding a book on this.

and it looks like youre gonna be back to being a mod after all.

rtilryarms · Oct 18, 2006

I didn't like the confusion I would cause. And I am confusing enough all by myself without having me around too.

Elite Japanese Soldiers of WWII

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