Author | Lightnews

Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 1d

Japanese had supporting weapons within the standard rifle platoon - 4th squad was support squad, armed with grenade dischargers.
As for training: TO&Es clearly distinguished between riflemen, LMGmen and GDmen - but manual stated, that ANY infantryman had to master both rifle, LMG, GD, hand grenade.

Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 1d

Indeed it is. Surprising, in the infantry company even tailors, shoemakers and stretcher-bearers were to carry rifles.
See here: bsky.app/profile/euge...
I really don't know the reason for this.

Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 23d

TO&E Japanese Infantry Company, infantry regiment Type 2, 1945.
Type 2 regiments were for "Mobile Striking Divisions", intended to counter-attack US forces, that landed on Japanese Islands.
Note team organization of squads.

More details in my blog: vijsko.blogspot.com/2025/09/to-d...

#ORBATBoys

Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 2d

Some details on MG squad organization are in my other TO&E drawing here: bsky.app/profile/euge...

Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 4d

TO&E drawing, Japanese machine-gun company (1940 & 1943) - 8-guns
More details in my blog: vijsko.blogspot.com/2025/10/to-d...
#ORBATBoys

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 2d

No, 2 men in MG squad are armed with pistols - see weapons symbols at the left side of the drawing.

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 2d

9. Each IJA infantry heavy weapon was allotted only 2 pistols each - and no rifles. The lager was squad, the more unarmed solders were there.

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 4d

TO&E drawing, Japanese machine-gun company (1945) - 12-guns.
More details in my blog: vijsko.blogspot.com/2025/10/to-d...

#ORBATBoys

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 4d

AFAIK, Ichiki Detachment had only one infantry battalion - rest were support troops. And battalion can't include other battalions.

Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 4d

TO&E drawing, Japanese machine-gun company (1940 & 1943) - 8-guns
More details in my blog: vijsko.blogspot.com/2025/10/to-d...
#ORBATBoys

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 6d

Wow! I didn't know there was a company against luxury already in 1940.

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Reposted by Eugen Pinak

hush @hush-ndb.bsky.social · 6d

On August 1, 1940, signs and posters reading "Luxury is the enemy (Teki)" were put up all over Tokyo.
In response, author Nagai Kafuu wrote in his diary, "Is there really anything in Tokyo today that can be called extravagant? It's something to laugh at."

A sign that reads "Luxury is the Enemy!"
From the Mainichi Shimbun's "Mainichi Mook Series: 20th Century Memories: The War of the Empire of Japan 2."
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Luxury_is_our_enemy.JPG

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 6d

TO&E drawing, Japanese Infantry company, Amphibious infantry regiment of the "Ocean" or "Regimental Combat Team" division, 1943-44.
The only time I've seen anti-tank rifle in 1942-45 IJA TO&Es.
More details in my blog: vijsko.blogspot.com/2025/10/to-d...
#ORBATBoys

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 6d

Even before Japan entered Pacific War, it already had supply problems at home - so propaganda had to ridicule other countries as living in worse conditions.
Supply problems are not surprising, as by 1941 Japan fought a big war in China for 4 years.

David Fedman @dfeds.bsky.social · 7d

A Japanese cartoon from Oct. 1941, ridiculing Londoners during the Blitz

"Don't worry," reads the caption, dripping in sarcasm, "We are blessed with an abundance of supplies."

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 15d

Yes, Yamatos were classical "white elephants", to precious to use in uncertain circumstances. So IJN waited, and waited, and waited - until it become too late to use them.

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 15d

Indeed. But you can build them faster. And mini-Yamato require only c. half of Yamato's power and simplified gun constriction designs.

Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 15d

It will depend on BBs actually laid down and other parts of alternate IJN shipbuilding program. As a guy who tried various IJN alternate fleets I can vouch, that changing ONLY BB construction is not an option - IJN had to change overall fleet composition too.

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 15d

All "replacements" from early 1930s were to be backbone of IJN battleline. For night fighting, etc new heavy and later super-heavy cruisers were to be used.

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 15d

Exactly. New IJN BBs could do much harm to USN at Solomons.

Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 15d

Who knows? Mini-Yamatos could be larger, then Iowas.

Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 15d

Old "Either-Or" logical fallacy exposed by @justinpykehistory.bsky.social .
Also note, that neither quality nor quantity of weaponry BY ITSELF wins wars. Strategy, tactics, training, logistics and many other factors are also influencing outcomes of wars.

Justin Pyke @justinpykehistory.bsky.social · 16d

I think the core of why this argument repeatedly appears in discussions is the casual assumption that if you make a vast amount of something then it must be mediocre-to-bad, when the reality in the Second World War was that the Allies were so industrially dominant they had both quality and quantity.

Secretary of Defense Rock @sodrock.bsky.social · 16d

Like this is such a wrong statement that anyone making it should not be taken seriously at all (this piece annoyed the shit out of me at the time and I have not had the opportunity to litigate it lol)

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 15d

Kongo-class were overworked because they were old and weak = expendable. 4 new and powerful mini-Yamatos would've kept out of danger just as 2 real Yamato-class were.

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 17d

TO&E Japanese Infantry and Assault Companies, infantry regiment Type 1, 1945.
Type 1 regiments were for coastal defense of Japanese Islands.
Note unique squad organization in both companies.
More details in my blog: vijsko.blogspot.com/2025/10/to-d...
#ORBATBoys

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 19d

Mitsubishi Ki-2 was the backbone of IJAAF bomber force in early 1930s.

Олександр Бузько @oleksa79buzko.bsky.social · 20d

Mitsubishi Ki-2-I Model 1 bomber before takeoff

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 23d

TO&E Japanese Infantry Company, infantry regiment Type 2, 1945.
Type 2 regiments were for "Mobile Striking Divisions", intended to counter-attack US forces, that landed on Japanese Islands.
Note team organization of squads.

More details in my blog: vijsko.blogspot.com/2025/09/to-d...

#ORBATBoys

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · 23d

Wow! This video is truly a great find.

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Eugen Pinak @eugenpinak.bsky.social · Sep 22

I think 3-months conversion time for those ships was for quick conversion - just to enable them to operate aircraft. Full conversion had to take more time.
Also in several years after construction aircraft became bigger and heavier - so more work was required.

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