Imperial Japanese Army Ranks
The T-38 was in service with the Imperial Japanese Army from 1906 to 1945. The T-38 was a 6.5mm weapon which appeared in both 'long' and 'short' models - though at 44 inches, even the 'short' type was pretty unwieldy for short Japanese soldiers in the thick jungle.
| Imperial Japanese Military |
|---|
| Administration |
| Imperial Japanese Army (Dai Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) |
| Imperial Japanese Navy (Dai Nippon Teikoku Kaigun) |
| Rank insignia |
| History |
The following graphs present the rank insignia of the Imperial Japanese Navy from its establishment in 1868 to its defeat during World War II in 1945. These designs were used from 1931 onwards.
Commissioned officer ranks[edit]
Cap badges:
| All-forces ranks | IJN insignia (sleeve) | IJN insignia (collar & shoulder boards) |
|---|---|---|
| 大元帥 Dai-gensui (Lord high admiral) | ||
| OF-10 元帥、海軍大将 Gensui-kaigun-taishō (Grand admiral) | (Same insignia as admiral; with enamelled breast badge) | |
| OF-9 海軍大将 Kaigun-taishō (Admiral) | ||
| OF-8 海軍中将 Kaigun-chūjō (Vice-admiral) | ||
| OF-7 海軍少将 Kaigun-shōshō (Rear-admiral) | ||
| OF-5 海軍大佐 Kaigun-daisa (Captain) | ||
| OF-4 海軍中佐 Kaigun-chūsa (Commander) | ||
| OF-3 海軍少佐 Kaigun-shōsa (Lieutenant-commander) | ||
| OF-2 海軍大尉 Kaigun-daii (Lieutenant) | ||
| OF-1 海軍中尉 Kaigun-chūi (Sub-lieutenant/Lieutenant junior grade) | ||
| OF-1 海軍少尉 Kaigun-shōi (Ensign) |
Cadet and warrant officer ranks[edit]
| All-forces ranks | IJN insignia (sleeve) | IJN insignia (collar & shoulder boards) |
|---|---|---|
| OF(D) 海軍少尉候補生 Kaigun shōi kōhosei (Midshipman) | ||
| OR-9 兵曹長 Heisōchō (Warrant Officer) |
Enlisted rates[edit]
Input data in data load editor from app overview. All warrant and commissioned officer ranks had the same names as their army counterparts. For seamen and petty officers, which were selected from enlisted men or conscripts and given one year of training in the Navy PO Academy, the naming changed in November 1942. Both of the names were different from the army names but were equal in rank.
| Before 1942 | After 1942 | IJN insignia (upper sleeve) |
|---|---|---|
| Petty officers 下士官 (Kashikan) | ||
| OR-7 一等兵曹 Ittōheisō Petty officer first class | OR-7 上等兵曹 Jōtōheisō Chief petty officer | |
| OR-6 二等兵曹 Nitōheisō Petty officer second class | OR-6 一等兵曹 Ittōheisō Petty officer first class | |
| OR-5 三等兵曹 Santōheisō Petty officer third class | OR-5 二等兵曹 Nitōheisō Petty officer second class | |
| Enlisted/Seamen 水兵 (Suihei) | ||
| OR-4 一等水兵 Ittōsuihei Seaman first class | OR-4 水兵長 Suiheichō Leading seaman | |
| OR-3 二等水兵 Nitōsuihei Seaman second class | OR-3 上等水兵 Jōtōsuihei (senior seaman) Able seaman | |
| OR-2 三等水兵 Santōsuihei Seaman third class | OR-2 一等水兵 Ittōsuihei (seaman first class) Ordinary seaman | |
| OR-1 四等水兵 Yontōsuihei Seaman (seaman fourth class) | OR-1 二等水兵 Nitōsuihei (seaman second class) Seaman recruit | |
Service branch colors[edit]
The branch of the Navy in which non-executive personnel served was indicated by a color code. For officers, including midshipmen, it was the color of cloth placed as background to the cuff stripes, on both sides of the gold lace on the shoulder boards, and as longitudinal piping on the collar patches. Midshipmen and cadets wore a colored anchor on the cap, which cadets wore on the shoulder boards as well.[2] The branch of enlisted men was denoted by the color of the Chrysanthemum flower on their rank patch; line personnel using the default gold.
| Color | Branch |
|---|---|
| Violet | Engineering |
| Brown | Ship and engine construction |
| Purple-brown | Ordnance construction |
| Red | Medical |
| Pale green | Legal |
| White | Paymaster |
| Black | Survey officers |
| Light blue | Aviation (Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service) and Hydrography |
| Green | Chief carpenters (warrant officer) |
| Grey-blue | Band master (warrant officer) |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Rosignoli, Guido (1980). Naval and Marine Badges and Insignia of World War 2. Blandford Colour Series. Link House, West Street, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1LL: Blandford Press Ltd. pp. 152–153.
- ^Rosignoli, Guido (1980). Naval and Marine Badges and Insignia of World War 2. Blandford Colour Series. Link House, West Street, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1LL: Blandford Press Ltd. pp. 152–153.
Imperial Japanese Army Ranks
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The following tables present the rank insignia of the Japanesemilitary before and during World War II. These designs were worn on shoulders as passants[disambiguation needed] between the years 1911 and 1938, then on collars afterwards until 1945, when the Imperial Japanese Army was dissolved.
The same officer ranks were used for both the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy, the only distinction being the placement of the word Rikugun (Army) or Kaigun (Navy) before the rank. Thus, for example, a Captain in the navy shared the same rank designation as that of a Colonel in the Army-Taisa (Colonel), so the rank of 'Rikugun Taisa' denoted an Army Colonel while the rank of 'Kaigun Daisa' denoted a Naval Captain.
Officer ranks
| Imperial Japanese Army ranks | Collar insignia |
|---|---|
| Grand Marshal General Daigensui-Rikugun-Taishō(大元帥、陸軍大将?) | |
| OF-10 Marshal General Gensui-Rikugun-Taishō(元帥、陸軍大将?) | As General, plus enamelled breast badge: |
| OF-9 General Rikugun-Taishō(陸軍大将?) | |
| OF-8 Lieutenant General Rikugun-Chūjō(陸軍中将?) | |
| OF-7 Major General Rikugun-Shōshō(陸軍少将?) | |
| OF-5 Colonel Rikugun-Taisa(陸軍大佐?) | |
| OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel Rikugun-Chūsa(陸軍中佐?) | |
| OF-3 Major Rikugun-Shōsa(陸軍少佐?) | |
| OF-2 Captain Rikugun-Tai-i(陸軍大尉?) | |
| OF-1 First Lieutenant Rikugun-Chūi(陸軍中尉?) | |
| OF-1 Second Lieutenant Rikugun-Shōi( 陸軍少尉?) | |
| OR-9 Warrant Officer Rikugun-Jun-i (Associate Officer) (陸軍准尉?) |
Enlisted ranks
| All-forces ranks | Collar insignia |
|---|---|
| OR-7 Sergeant Major Sōchō(曹長?) | |
| OR-6 Sergeant Gunsō(軍曹?) | |
| OR-5 Corporal Gochō(伍長?) | |
| OR-4 Junior Corporal Gochō Kimmu jōtōhei (Senior Soldier acting as Corporal)(伍長勤務上等兵?)
| |
| OR-3 Superior Private Jōtōhei (Senior Soldier)(上等兵?) | |
| OR-2 Private 1st Class Ittōhei (Soldier First Class)(一等兵?) | |
| OR-1 Private Nitōhei (Soldier Second Class)(二等兵?) |