| Japanese Marine Paratroopers "Rikusentai" Special Naval Landing Forces | |
|---|---|
 Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces Paratroopers, 1940–1945 | |
| Active | 1940–1945 |
| Country |  Empire of Japan |
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
| Branch |  Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Type | Airborne forces |
| Role | Amphibious warfare Anti-tank warfare Artillery observer Assault and airfield seizure Bomb disposal Close-quarters combat Coastal raiding Demolition Direct action Fire support Force protection Forward air control HUMINT Indirect fire Jungle warfare Long-range penetration Mountain warfare Parachuting Raiding Reconnaissance Special reconnaissance Support amphibious warfare Tactical communications Tracking |
| Size | 2 battalions |
| Part of | Armed Forces of the Empire of Japan |
| Engagements | World War II
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Commander Toyoaki Horiuchi Lieutenant Commander Koichi Fukumi |
The Japanese marine paratroopers was a marine airborne forces during World War II. The troops were officially part of the Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF or Rikusentai).[1] They came from the 1st and 3rd Yokosuka SNLFs.[2] They were under the operational control of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS or Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun Koku Hombu). Rikusentai paratroopers should not be confused with the Imperial Japanese Army paratroopers, known as Teishin.
Rikusentai units were grouped in battalion level formations, named after the three naval districts, including Yokosuka.[1] Paratroop units were only organized on the very eve of the war, beginning in September 1941.[2] The lightly armed parachute units were intended to assault and airfield seizure and providing security, assault coastal areas, CQB/CQC, direct action, jungle warfare, mountain warfare, special reconnaissance, supporting amphibious warfare, tracking targets in jungle, and other strategic objectives. They were not meant to become entangled in heavy, pitched land battles. However, their operational use would prove to be contrary to this doctrine.
- ^ a b Yaklitch, Alsleben and Takizawa. "Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces". The Netherlands East Indies 1941-1942. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
- ^ a b Donaldson, Graham. "The Japanese paratroopers in the Dutch East Indies, 1941-1942". The Netherlands East Indies 1941-1942. Archived from the original on 2015-07-08.