Армия и Флот Императорской Японии

[sulejm34]

Старший сержант(Со-шо) Гвардейской дивизии императорской армии, нач. 1930-х гг.

г. Токио.

[sulejm34]

Можно ли извлечь ещё какую-нибудь дополнительную информацию об этом сержанте из элементов его униформы?

[sulejm34]

Унтер-офицер императорского ВМС с семьёй.

Звание определить представляется затруднительным. Нашивка скрыта за «фикусом».

Из того, что видно, помимо нашивки за хорошее поведение, можно предположить либо старшего матроса, либо старшину, либо старшину 1-й статьи)

 

Возможно ли предположить, что за награды у моряка?

[sulejm34]

Старший рядовой(Джото-хей) в меховой зимней шапке. Что это у него за треугольничек на кармане?

[Freiwillige]

Возможно ли предположить, что за награды у моряка?

 

Денис, я бы предположил, что этот унтер носит планки наград:

- Низшая степень Ордена Восходящего солнца (?)

- Медаль “За участие в китайском инциденте” (Sina jihen jugun kisho), учрежденная Высочайшим указом № 496 от 27.07.1939 г.

[sulejm34]

Большое спасибо, Андрей! Похоже, так оно і есть. Посему, сие семейное фото можно датировать после 1939 г. !

[Freiwillige]

"Вживую" планка, по идее, выглядела так.

 

[sulejm34]

Супер!!!!

[cmf]

Старший рядовой(Джото-хей) в меховой зимней шапке. Что это у него за треугольничек на кармане?

 

Hi Denis,

 

This Superior Private (Joto-hei, literally ‘Senior Soldier’) wears the heavy wool, winter version of the Other Ranks’ mustard-khaki Type 90 tunic, which was first introduced in 1930 (also known as the ‘Showa Type 5’).

 

Indeed, this tunic is actually of the ‘transitional type’ worn from 1938. New Dress Regulations in that year introduced a new uniform (the Type 98), which included a tunic with stand-and-fall collar, plus a new method of displaying rank insignia: for those troops yet to be issued with the new uniform, the Type 90 was usually modified to display rank in the new manner. This is what we see in this photograph – the removal of the rank passants hitherto worn on the outer shoulders, and the replacing of the ‘swallowtail’ collar patches (which had been in arm-of-service colour) with the new, smaller, Type 98 rank patches, in universal red (bearing the three yellow stars of this man’s rank).

 

Given that you’ve identified this man as belonging to the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS), we can tentatively identify the triangular insignia on his breast pocket-flap. Within the Imperial Japanese Army, individual regiments were often issued with distinctive badges, to be pinned to uniforms or caps: unfortunately, little is known of these designs, which were usually simple unit symbols. Within the IJAAS, the basic tactical unit was (after 1938), the Hiko Sentai (literally ‘Air Combat Group’), which was a single-role unit composed of two, or more, Chutai (squadrons), which in turn was made up of three Shotai (flights), each of three (later four) aircraft. From the mid-1930s, the display of unit insignia became common on IJAAS aircraft, with each Sentai usually identifiable by a distinctive marking, although the basis of the designs chosen was almost limitless. The 5^th Hiko Sentai (after 1938 a fighter unit) adopted, late in the war, tail markings incorporating a stylised Roman numeral ‘V’. This could very well have been simply (for reasons of esprit de corps) the adoption, for flying use, of the existing unit emblem, as worn on uniform (the previous tail markings of the unit having being quite abstract).

 

Therefore, the triangular insignia being worn by the Superior Private in the photograph, could, possibly, be the ‘V’ emblem of the 5^th Hiko Sentai, although without further evidence this remains a supposition!

 

Locations of 5^th Hiko Sentai, 1938-45

 

Tachikawa, near Tokyo (Japan): 1938 – June 1939

Kashiwa, near Tokyo (Japan): June 1939 – July 1943

Matsudo, near Tokyo (Japan): detachment, circa December 1941

Malang, East Java (Dutch East Indies): July 1943 – 1944

Ambon, near Ceram (Dutch East Indies): 1943 – 1944

Lautem (Portugese Timor): 1943 – 1944

Tanimbar (Dutch East Indies): 1943 – 1944

Namlea, Buru (Dutch East Indies): 1943 – 1944

Babo, western New Guinea (Dutch East Indies): 1943 – 1944

Sorong, western New Guinea (Dutch East Indies): 1943 – 1944

Komaki (Japan): September 1944 – October 1944

Kiyosu, south-east of Nagoya (Japan): October 1944 – August 1945

[sulejm34]

Many thanks for the such an interesting comment!

However, how can we say that this Joto-hei served in the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service? Unfortunately, I have no such information .

[cmf]

Looks like Google translate was having a bad day hahaha . . . it translated Старший рядовой as 'Senior Airman'!!

 

Ah well, it was a good theory while it lasted!!

 

At least we can say that the mystery insignia is still, most probably, an as yet unidentified regimental or unit emblem.

 

One other thought is the fact that on the Type 90 tunic, brass numerals and other devices were worn on the collar patches to indicate unit: whereas regiments usually displayed their number in Arabic numerals on both patches, for units deployed to Korea or Formosa the Arabic numeral was worn on the left patch only, with the right patch bearing the regimental number in the form of a Roman numeral. Could the 'V' seen in this photograph be a unit adaptation of this system for display on the 'transitional' tunic? (the conversion of the Type 90 tunic to display Type 98 insignia was usually performed at the the unit level).

Edited April 11, 2016 by cmf

[sulejm34]

Google Translate - a great power!

 

Yes, indeed, it is the mystery of this insignia remains. Perhaps someday meet counterpart - then it will be possible to say more definitely.

The version about regimental number in Roman numerals for regiments placed on Farmoze and in Korea seems to me very interesting.

 

В моём альбоме 80-го полка пехоты 20-й пехотной дивизии Японской императорской армии из г. Daegu (Корея) я обнаружил 2 фото. Возможно, они помогут ответить на вопрос - что это такое?

In my album of the 80th Infantry Regiment of the 20th Infantry Division of the Imperial Japanese Army from the city of Daegu (Korea), I have found 2 photos. Perhaps they will help to answer the question - what is it ?

 

Фото 1. Группа солдат с иероглифом на кармане. В верху у всех одинаковый иероглиф, внизу – разный. У сержанта(гун-со) – только один иероглиф похожий на Е

Возможно, и у нашего Joto-hei также иероглиф? Но что он означает?

 

Photo 1. A group of soldiers with the hieroglyphs on the pocket. At the top of all are the same hieroglyphs, below - different. The sergeant (Gunsō) - is only one hieroglyph similar to the E

Perhaps our Joto-hei also see hieroglyph? But what does it mean?

[sulejm34]

Фото 2. Группа солдат. У всех солдат мы видим нашивку с иероглифом и арабскими цифрами 80(80th Infantry Regiment ?). На кармане у этих солдат мы видим шеврон – по видимому, это шеврон, обозначающий рядовой 2-го класса( и один рядовой 1-го класса в центре), призванные на воинскую службу из запаса. Но я видел такой шеврон только на рукаве, но не на кармане. Или это Good Conduct Chevron?

 

Photo 2. A group of soldiers. All of the soldiers we see a stripe with the hieroglyph and Arabic numerals 80 (80th Infantry Regiment?). On the pocket of the soldiers we see chevron - apparently, this chevron indicating Private 2nd class (and one Private 1st Class in the center) called up for military service from reserve. But I have seen such chevron only on the sleeve, but not on the pocket. Or is it a Good Conduct Chevron?

Edited April 11, 2016 by sulejm34

[cmf]

Можно ли извлечь ещё какую-нибудь дополнительную информацию об этом сержанте из элементов его униформы?

 

Hi Denis,

 

As you say, this is a senior N.C.O. of the Imperial Guards Division, specifically a Sergeant-Major (So-cho). He wears the wool, winter version of the mustard-khaki Type 45 service-dress uniform, introduced in 1912, which can be identified by the piping on cuffs and trouser seams: this piping, which was red for all arms-of-service, was abolished in 1922 (the Type 90, or ‘Showa Type 5’ uniform, introduced in 1930, differed essentially from the Type 45 only in the materials utilised in its construction). The mustard-khaki Type 45 service-dress cap, with black leather peak and chinstrap, has a the red band, and red piping on the crown, which was common to all arms-of-service. It bears, of course, the distinctive cap-badge of the Imperial Guards, which was a wreathed star: this is the only indicator in this photograph that this N.C.O. is a Guardsman.

 

The youthfulness of this N.C.O. is explained by the fact that he is, in fact, a Reserve Officer Candidate (Kambu Kohosei). This is indicated by the gold five-pointed star within a gold disc, worn on the ‘swallowtail’ collar patches. Officer Candidates of the Regular Army wore the gold star without the disc.

 

The process of becoming a Reserve officer was as follows: after three months of basic training, those conscripts of the Regular Army with the requisite educational qualifications (usually meaning at least two years of High School), and who were deemed suitable, could be selected as Reserve Officer Candidates. After three further months of training and study, these Candidates would sit an exam, the result being their subsequent classification into either ‘A’ Candidates (i.e. suitable for Officer training), or ‘B’ Candidates (i.e. suitable for training as N.C.O.s). ‘Class A’ men would then be sent to undertake courses at a Reserve Officer Training School: for a prospective Reserve Infantry Officer, in peacetime, this would normally last around 11 months. Once successfully graduated, a Reserve Officer Candidate would then spend 4 months on probation, serving as a Sergeant-Major with a unit in the field, before being commissioned as a Reserve Second Lieutenant: he would then either return to civilian life, or be retained for active service.

 

This Reserve Officer Candidate carries the Type 19 Sword for Dismounted Company Officers: introduced in 1886 and of conventional western appearance, this pattern was used by the Imperial Japanese Army until the adoption of the traditional Japanese design in the mid-1930s. As such the Type 19 is often referred to as the Kyuo-gunto (literally ‘old [pattern] military sword’). The sword-knot is the Company Officers’ pattern, with brown and blue strap and tassel, while the sword-belt and slings are of the brown-leather Type 19 Dismounted Company Officers’ pattern, lined in blue felt, and embossed with the rising sun on the clasp-buckle.

 

Because of the use of this Dismounted Officers’ sword, we can say with certainty that this Reserve Officer Candidate is not serving with the Guards Cavalry or Guards Field Artillery; and although possibly belonging to the Guards Engineer Battalion (brown collar patches), he is most likely serving with a Guards infantry regiment (red collar patches).

Edited April 12, 2016 by cmf

[sulejm34]

Dear Chris!

As always, I am very grateful to You for such a full and so interesting study! You could find a lot of unknown for me information about this Japanese military! Thanks again!

[cmf]

Hi Denis!

 

Always a pleasure!! There's always something to find in a photograph!!

 

Now to look at those other two photos . . .

[Freiwillige]

Портрет капрала (го-шо) по имени Тасира, датированный на обороте 19 декабря 1942 года.

Обмундирование образца 1930 года (тип 90) - китель со стоячим воротником и брюки цвета хаки с горчичным оттенком, фуражка. Околыш фуражки и выпушка донца - стандартного красного цвета. На красных контрпогончиках - знаки различия капрала: золотая металлическая звездочка на желтой тканной полоске.

Цвет петлиц, соответствующий роду войск, определить затрудняюсь. Обращает на себя внимание отсутствие номера части на петлицах.

На мой взгляд, цвет петлиц на фотографии явно темнее, чем цвет погончиков. Следовательно, петлицы не красные, а значит это не пехотинец. К тому же смущает отсутствие номера полка на петлицах.

Возможные варианты: инженерные войска (коричневый), медицинская служба (темно-зеленый), ветеринарная служба (фиолетовый).

Но это мое личное мнение, возможно, я ошибаюсь, и цвет все-таки красный.

[sulejm34]

Андрей, мне также кажется что петлицы темнее.

[sulejm34]

Курсанты ВМС Турции и офицеры Императорского Военно-морского флота, г. Стамбул, 14.04.1934 г.

[Freiwillige]

Интересная с точки зрения сюжета фотография, датированная 1 января 1913 года.

[sulejm34]

Андрей, а фото подписано? Где он сделано, можно предположить?

[Freiwillige]

Фото в оригинальном альбоме тех лет, надо будет вынуть и посмотреть реверс.

[sulejm34]

Японском альбоме?

[Freiwillige]

Да, конечно, в японском альбоме тех лет.

[Freiwillige]

Андрей, а фото подписано? Где он сделано, можно предположить?

 

Вот реверс этой фотографии.