%202005%20=%2081%20%D1%82%D0%B3%D1%80%20-%20jpg.jpg)
This TO&E was
created for one particular unit - the 81st Tactical Group of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine. The term “tactical group” in
Ukrainian military language usually means ad hoc battle group and only here was
used as a name of a permanent unit with its own TO&E.
The reason for this is
politics. In 2003-2004 Ukraine formed three brigades for service in Iraq as
part of the Multinational Forces: 5th, 6th, 7th. Formation of the 8th Independent
Mechanized Brigade was under way in 2004, when it was decided to withdraw
Ukrainian troops from Iraq and send as a final rotation only one battalion
instead a brigade. One-battalion “brigade” looked ridiculous, so the unit was
named “tactical group”.
The group was formed from
the 80th Independent Airmobile Regiment and served in Iraq in April - December
2005. It was the last Ukrainian unit serving in Iraq. After the return from
Iraq 81st Tactical Group was reformed back into 80th Independent Airmobile
Regiment.
Personnel strength according to the TO&E:
general – 1,
officers – 109,
warrant officers – 69
non-commissioned
officers – 119
privates – 486
TOTAL: 864 men.
Weapons and equipment according to the TO&E:
wheeled APC – 56,
30mm AGL – 12,
120mm mortars – 6,
R-142N auto radio – 1,
R-145K HQ vehicle – 3,
R-145BM HQ vehicle –
2,
personnel cars – 10,
trucks – 18,
special trucks – 3,
special vehicles (arms
and services) – 38,
fire truck – 1,
trailers – 8.
For more details see on Rukaigun.org my translation of the Japanese article "Regarding the organization of 244th Air Group" by Sakuari Takashi, which describes organization of the IJA Air Force fighter unit.
During the Pacific War Japanese bureaucrats sometimes did ridiculous things to ensure "proper morals" were maintained by Japanese, as morals were considered important factor to win the war.
Among other things this meant women should've abstain from sex even as their husbands were in the military and away from home - sometimes for years.
So Japanese military decided to produce vibrators for women whose husbands were at the front. But once a model had been chosen and a factory established, authorities were unable to market this product to married women. Why? - Because advertising vibrators was banned as "immoral" by other bureaucrats.
Those who think I've invented all this - please look at pages 63-64 of the book "The thought war - Japanese imperial propaganda" by Barak Kushner.
Land combat component of the Imperial Japanese Navy is poorly researched in modern English-language literature. The book “Rikusentai” by Austin Adachi tries to correct this.
Despite small size, book gives reader good overall picture about IJN land forces (not just SNLFs – there were many IJN land formations, either intended or forced to fight on land): their creation, evolution, organization, uniform, weapons and equipment. Also it has many quality photos, which were never published before. And printing quality is excellent – the book is pleasure to read.
The only thing missing is combat history of IJN land units. But even a short description of combat operations will require at least several volumes of the “Rikusentai” size, so I can understand, why author decided to cut his description of combat operations down to the most general words.
As a researcher I’m also pleased, that, despite small size of the book, author found some space for the sources of his knowledge, which greatly helps people who’d like to find more on the topic.
In my opinion the book “Rikusentai” is a great work on topic despite its small size.
Austin Adachi is also the head of the Japanese Naval Landing Forces Historical Preservation Association. It’s web site has a lot of interesting Japanese photos (sometimes totally unlike your average Pacific War Japanese photos): https://en.rikusentai.net/
Presentation of the Japan Self-Defense Force flags in
June 1954 (Army flag on the left, Navy flag on the right)
In 1954, Japan was allowed to re-establish a military force, called the Japanese Self-Defense Force. Among other things, a competition was announced in the country for new flags for the Army and Navy.
For the flag
of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force design was chosen with the traditional
Rising Sun, but different from the banners of the former Imperial Japanese Army
(you can see original IJA banners design in my post here: https://vijsko.blogspot.com/2023/06/imperial-japanese-army-regimental-flags.html
).
But there
was a problem with the flag competition for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense
Force. An artist Yonai Suiho sent to the competition an old flag of
the Imperial Japanese Navy with the bold claim, that nobody will come up with a
better design anyway. And indeed, nobody was able to create anything better.
Therefore, it was necessary to formally recognize the victory of the
plagiarist – an incredible thing in Japan.
But this design was not very politically correct (World War II ended only 9 years ago), so the final decision was submitted for approval to Japanese Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru. He said: "There is no country in the world, that does not know this flag" – and the design was approved. To this day Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force uses this "old-new" flag design.
