Back قوات الإنزال البحرية الخاصة (إمبراطورية اليابان) Arabic Speziallandungskräfte (Kaiserlich Japanische Marine) German Fuerzas Navales Especiales Japonesas Spanish Forces navales spéciales de débarquement French Pasukan Pendaratan Gabungan Khusus ID Kaigun Tokubetsu Rikusentai Italian 海軍陸戦隊#特別陸戦隊 Japanese Pasukan Pendaratan Khusus Laut Malay Piechota Morska Japońskiej Cesarskiej Marynarki Wojennej Polish Kaigun Rikusentai Portuguese
| Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF) 海軍特別陸戦隊 Kaigun Tokubetsu Rikusentai | |
|---|---|
 The ensign of the Special Naval Landing Force | |
| Active | 1932–1945 |
| Country |  Empire of Japan |
| Allegiance | Emperor of Japan |
| Branch |  Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Type | Marines |
| Role | Amphibious warfare Anti-aircraft warfare Armoured warfare Close-quarters combat Cold-weather warfare Combined arms Counter-battery fire Demolition Fire support Maneuver warfare Raiding Jungle warfare Reconnaissance Urban warfare |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | Second Sino-Japanese War World War II |
The Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF; Japanese: 海軍特別陸戦隊, romanized: Kaigun Tokubetsu Rikusentai) were standalone naval infantry units in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and were a part of the IJN land forces. They saw extensive service in the Second Sino-Japanese War and in the Pacific theatre of World War II. While not existing as a dedicated naval infantry branch nor classified as "marines" by the IJN, they functioned as the infantry of the Navy, and engaged in many coastal or amphibious operations, leading to them being referred to as "Imperial marines"[1] or simply "Japanese marines" by a number of western sources.[2][3]
The SNLF should not be confused with the Naval Landing Forces, which were primarily ad-hoc units of naval personnel formed into naval infantry units whom rarely performed proper amphibious operations and were primarily utilized in a defensive role ashore.[citation needed]
- ^ Giaffo, Lou (2013). Gooch's Marines. Pittsburgh, PA: Rosedog Press. p. 81. ISBN 9781434935212.
...and soldiers from Japan's Special Naval Landing Force, also known as 'Imperial Marines.'
- ^ Marcello, Ronald; Lane, Peter (2005). Warriors and Scholars. Denton, Texas: University of North Texas. p. 52. ISBN 9781574411973.
The term 'Imperial Marines' is not quite accurate as a description for these naval personnel, who were actually ground soldiers. The correct name for these troops was Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF). Despite their relatively small numbers, they comprised a significant augmentation of the Japanese combat capabilities on land. After August 1942, the SNLF were almost exclusively involved in defensive fighting, holding various island outposts against the growing U.S. offensive.
- ^ Nila, Gary; Younghusband, Bill (2012). Japanese Naval Aviation Uniforms and Equipment 1937-45. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781780966281.
...Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF) troops, whom the Americans often referred to as the 'Japanese Marines.'