Re: Japanese marines? Who sez not?

Nelson,

It's a strange distinction that I have never grasped clearly either, but to answer one question you pose: "Were there Japanese fleet marines aboard the larger warships--aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers--whose role was as traditional shipboard sea soldiers?" No, AFAIK definitely not.

Tokubetsu rikusentai were on occasion transported aboard such ships, but were not integral to their crews. Often they were transported aboard troopships/transports, etc. however. And their commanding officers were regular navy (kaigun), as far as I know. (By that I mean they had had shipboard assignments and/or commanded IJN vessels, etc.)

The two most knowledgeable guys on this area I am aware of are Alan Alsleben, who posts here occasionally, and Akira Takizawa in Japan, ditto. In ALL instances I would defer to their knowledge on this subject.

The subject of the SNLF is a rich and important one, however. They were involved in many significant actions throughout the war. Some extraordinarily efficient or valiant ones (in the NEI and at Tarawa), and others deplorably less so (a number of the most serious warcrimes).

FWIW