Imperial Japanese Navy land forces
The Imperial Japanese Navy land forces were a variety of land-based units of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) organized for offensive operations, the defense of Japanese naval and shore-based facilities, military policing tasks, construction and engineering, training, and shore-based anti-aircraft roles; both overseas, and in the Japanese home islands.Units ranged from dedicated military police formations, to ad-hoc groups of naval personnel pressed into service as naval infantry, to professional marines, among others.The land forces were most active during the interwar period and World War II, with IJN land forces complementing, supporting, and in some cases, operating in-place of Imperial Japanese Army units.Upon Imperial Japan’s defeat in WWII, IJN land forces were disbanded alongside the IJN proper in 1945.The Imperial Japanese Navy’s land forces consisted of the following units: The IJN additionally operated armored units — typically subordinated to an SNLF unit — that were equipped with armoured cars, tankettes and tanks, including at various times: Known armored units include: IJN SNLF tank units were distinguished by IJN anchor symbol, as opposed to the Imperial Japanese Army star.
Imperial Japanese NavyensignEmpire of JapanAmphibious operationsExpeditionary warfareAirborne operationsJungle warfareMilitary policingTokkeitaiDefensive operationsInstallation securityAnti-aircraft defenceNaval education and trainingSecond Sino-Japanese WarWorld War IIType 93 13 mm anti-aircraft machine gunconstruction and engineeringanti-aircraftJapanese home islandsnaval infantrymarinesinterwar periodImperial Japanese ArmyImperial Japan’sJapanese Special Naval Landing ForcesSpecial Naval Landing Forces paratroop unitsKantō PlainUnited States Marine CorpsRoyal MarinesminefieldsAnti-aircraft artilleryFormosamilitary policeKempeitaiKeishi-chōTokkōcounter-intelligenceKaiheidanYokosukaSaseboMaizurunon-commissioned officerType 2 Ka-Miarmored unitsVickers Crossley armoured carType 93 armoured carType 94 tanketteType 97 Te-Ke tanketteType 95 Ha-Go light tankType 89 I-Go medium tankType 97 Chi-Ha medium tankType 97 ShinHōtō Chi-Ha medium tankShanghai IncidentMilne BayKwajalein AtollSaipanMarianasCoastal Troops of the Russian NavyAmphibious Rapid Deployment BrigadeAmphibious Brigades (Imperial Japanese Army)Special Boarding Unit