IJN Daihatsu Landing Craft

Since the post on the paper Daihatsu landig craft I did a bit of more googling and found some intresting information on the said vessel. A japanese page containing a number of photos from the use can be found here. Pacific Wrecks have a couple of photos of the real thing today, could be useful if scratching one.

The bow is said to be of a twin design in order to stabilize the craft while beached. Source of drawing is Taki's home page and there is plenty of Japanese amphibious things to find out about if you click Vessels under the IJA Weapons title, as well as a few amphibious tanks if you click AFV.

Related goods; IJN Paper Landing Craft

Found this nice Daihatsu landing craft of WW 2 vintage at the Paperkraft page. Just print out, a bit of fancy scissor work, glue it together and sit back and enjoy. Well, that is the theory at least, I think I have to try this one myself. Photo from the Paperkraft page.

Japanese propaganda art 1904

Went to the military archives yesterday to dig a bit. Doing a bit of research on amphibious vehicles in Sweden but it's hard work and takes a lot of time. Didn't find much useful but just before leaving I cast my eyes on this post card. It is a reproduction of propaganda art from the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-05. The scene is from the landing on May 5:th, 1904 at Hishika peninsula in China. No copyright holder or artist name on the post card.

A film; Letters from Iwo Jima

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Letters from Iwo Jima, directed by Clint Eastwood


This is the second film from Clint Eastwood on the Iwo Jima  theme. Watch the commanding General Kuribayashi transform a volcanic island into a fortress waiting for the Americans to assault it from the sea. Many battle scenes are directly connected to the ones in Flags of our Fathers and this is a great way to understand the opposing forces and their efforts to fight and survive. The film was nominated for four Oscars.


Much recommended.

A film: Flags of our Fathers

 

Flags of our Fathers, directed by Clint Eastwood


The story of three young men who fought on the beaches of Iwo Jima and one day found them selves not only to be alive but to be the most famous men of United States. Follow them and the other soldiers and officers as they prepare for and fight a bitter battle to capture one of the islands on the way to the Japanese mainland. This film is paired with Letters from Iwo Jima, also by Clint Eastwood. The two films show the opposite sides of the same particular battle. 


Recommended.

A book; Amphibious Assault, Manoeuvre from the Sea

Amphibious Assault, Manoeuvre from the sea, edited by Tristan Lovering

If only buying one book on amphibious operations this would be the one, that's for sure. Covering the history of landing soldiers on a hostile coast in the old days to the recent actions in Iraq this hefty piece of old school information is not something you read while taking a bath but rather sit down by a table reading it as the text book it is on how to do it as a professional. A lot of text, a large number of good maps and a fair dose of photos makes up a must have if you're seriously bitten by the amphibious bug. Read more at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IBR/is_4_38/ai_n31591250/

Much recommended.