Japanese Paratroop Forces of World War II

Description

For the first time in English, this book offers a concise but fact-packed account of the organization, equipment, and all operations of Japan's small but elite wartime parachute forces. Correcting and amplifying previous accounts based on wartime intelligence, it traces the Imperial Army's Raiding Regiments and the Imperial Navy's parachute-trained Yokosuka 1st & 3rd Special Naval Landing Forces from the first trials units, through their successful assaults in early 1942, to the last desperate battles and raids of 1944-45. Thetext is illustrated with rare photographs, and meticulouslyreconstructed color artworkof the men and their gear.

Gordon L Rottman entered the US Army in 1967, volunteered for Special Forces and completed training as a weapons specialist. He served in the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam in 1969-70 and subsequently in airborne infantry, long-range patrol and intelligence assignments, retiring after 26 years. He was a special operations forces scenario writer at the Joint Readiness Training Centre and is now a freelance writer. He lives in Cypress, Texas. Akira Takizawa was born in Japan in 1954 and studied history at the Tokyo University. He worked as a computer programmer developing PC wargames. Now, devoted to the study on the Imperaial Japanese Army he maintains the IJA website (http://www3.plala.or.jp/takihome/). A member of Japanese Tank Research Group, "j-tank". He lives in Tokyo with his wife. Mike Chappell served in the British infantry for 22 years, enlisting as a teenage private in 1952 and retiring as a regimental sergeant major. He has earned a world-wide reputation as a military illustrator and writer, and has contributed many books to the Osprey catalogue in both capacities. He currently lives in France. Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specialises in detailed historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on the Aztecs, the Greeks, the American Civil War and the American Revolution. His work features in exhibitions and publications throughout the world.

"The book concisely encompasses the paratroops' organization, equipment and operations ... The history includes the parachute-trained units' first tirals, their first successful assaults in early 1942, and raids and battles of 1944-45. Color illustrations of the Japanese troops and their equipment are accompanied by rare photographs." --Tony Little, Toy Soldier & Model Figure (April 2008)