WW2 Japanese Navy Landing Force Tunic with Name – Gun 12 Patch

Here  is a very nice 1945 manufactured Japanese navy ground force tunic. This tunic bears a rare patch with his name, unit & blood type printed in Kanji and Leading Seaman Rate.

This patch is for a sailor with blood type AB. He is named 中山 (Nakayama) He was assigned to 横砲 十二.

The literal translation of 横砲 十二 is horizontal cannon 12. The 12 could either refer to his unit number, the 12th, or to the actual gun number to which Nakayama was assigned.

If we were standing with Nakayama in 1945, the context would obviously define the exact meaning of the four characters 横砲 十二.

The Depot stamp inside indicates this tunic was made in 1945 at an illegible Naval Supply Depot. The mark indicates Size 2 (Medium). You can see 中山 (Nakayama) in the box for name. However, his first name is illegible. In the box for service number, it has been filled in, but is illegible as well.

Because this was made in 1945, it does not have brass button or pleated pockets as the 1944 produced tunic had.

This late tunic had a white label inside. Nakayama took it off and used it for a name tag on the front of his tunic. Subsequently, likely prior to battle, he removed his rate and white name tag. These were found in a pocket and could easily be tacked back on.

We located a civilian defense helmet with the 横砲 characters painted inside.