WW2 Japanese Naval Landing Force Tunic 1944 Named Seaman 3rd Class

Here is a very rare Japanese naval ground forces enlisted sailor’s  battlefield pickup combat tunic.

The Japanese Navy divided their shore based forces into several types of units, depending on the mission of that particular unit. 

The most famous shore based IJN unit was the Special Naval Landing Force. Early in the war, the SNLF were an offensive component of the Japanese Navy organized & trained as light infantry to seize ports and adjacent areas for use by the Japanese navy.

After the port was seized, the port or base would be garrisoned by IJN Japanese guard units, base defense units, construction units, anti aircraft units etc. 

Regardless, the sea green uniforms worn by the Special Naval Landing Force and Guard or Base  defense units were exactly the same. 

The rate is for a Seaman 3rd Class. These rates were stitched on by hand so they could be removed for laundry purposes.

This is tunic is a wonderful example of a seldom seen Pacific War battlefield pick up. Most IJN, shore-based, green uniforms found in collectors circles are new old stock, having been taken as souvenirs in post war Japan.

This is the type of tunic that would have been worn in the Philippines, in South China, Singapore, Malaysia, on Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, for the defense of Japan, etc.

As shown, this one has an easily identifiable Japanese navy black issue stamp on the inside of the flap. This type of block stamp includes the navy depot where the garment was made; a field for writing in the month and year of manufacture; another field for the month and year of issue; a field for the size; a field for the service-number of the Japanese sailor to whom it was issued; as well as the field for writing in his name.

This tunic is dated 1944 and is named.