{"product_id":"original-japanese-wwii-imperial-japanese-navy-reserves-merchant-marine-insignia-lot-35-items","title":"Original Japanese WWII Imperial Japanese Navy Reserves \/ Merchant Marine Insignia Lot - 35 Items","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Items: Only One Lot of 35 Available. Now this a fantastic and extensive collection of WWII Japanese Navy Reserve \/ Merchant Marine insignia lot. The lot includes rank tabs, camp badges, shoulder boards and much more. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II, at the beginning of the Pacific War in December 1941, was the third most powerful navy in the world, and the naval air service was one of the most potent air forces in the world. During the first six months of the war, the Imperial Japanese Navy enjoyed spectacular success inflicting heavy defeats on Allied forces, being undefeated in every battle. The attack on Pearl Harbor crippled the battleships of the US Pacific Fleet, while Allied navies were devastated during Japan's conquest of Southeast Asia. Japanese Navy aircraft operating from land bases were also responsible for the sinkings of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse which was the first time that capital ships were sunk by aerial attack while underway. In April 1942, the Indian Ocean raid drove the Royal Navy from South East Asia. After these successes, the Japanese now concentrated on the elimination and neutralization of strategic points from where the Allies could launch counter offensives against Japan's conquests. However, at Coral Sea the Japanese were forced to abandon their attempts to isolate Australia while the defeat at Midway saw them forced on the defensive. The campaign in the Solomon Islands, in which the Japanese lost the war of attrition, was the most decisive; they had failed to commit enough forces in sufficient time.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Items In This Lot:\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e- \u003cstrong\u003eReserve Officer Bullion Cap Insignia\u003c\/strong\u003e: Bullion wire embroidered Japanese Naval Anchor insignia surrounded by Laurel leaves and a \"nautical star\" above the anchor, instead of the Cherry Blossom. This is what indicates that this is a \"reserve officer\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- \u003cstrong\u003eMerchant Marine Officer Cap Insignia\u003c\/strong\u003e: 2 piece metal stamped construction on a black wool backing. Features a laurel with an Anchor in the center to two rows of chevrons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- \u003cstrong\u003eCap\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBadge\u003c\/strong\u003e: Small oval shaped badge with bronze color wire border with a Japanese flag outlined in bronze color wire behind a naval anchor.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 coloured anchor on the cap, which cadets wore on the shoulder boards as well. The branch of enlisted men was denoted by the color of the cherry blossom flower on their rank patch; line personnel using the default gold.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- \u003cstrong\u003ex7 (Black) Executive\/Line\/Survey officers Rank Tabs\u003c\/strong\u003e: All are complete with rank designator Nautical Stars\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- \u003cstrong\u003ex6 (Purple) Draftsman Rank Tabs\u003c\/strong\u003e: All are complete with rank designator Nautical Stars. Two of the tabs are faded slightly making them appear as pink.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- \u003cstrong\u003eAircraftsman Commander Tab\u003c\/strong\u003e: The tab is green in color and has 2 “pips” above 2 gold stripes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- \u003cstrong\u003ex2 Paymaster Tabs\u003c\/strong\u003e: One of the tabs is for a Captain with 3 pips above 2 gold stripes, the second is for a Acting Sub-Leutenant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- \u003cstrong\u003ex2 Marine School Tabs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- \u003cstrong\u003ex2 Merchant Marine Enlisted Cap Badges\u003c\/strong\u003e: The badges consist of a Naval anchor with a single row of “chevrons” across the middle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- \u003cstrong\u003ex3 Reserve\/Merchant Marine Sleeve Insignia\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- \u003cstrong\u003ex 4 Shoulder Boards\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are all beautiful items which unfortunately not a lot of information exists on, making this a wonderful research opportunity. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComes ready for further research and display.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40230527467589,"sku":"ONJR22RAJ180","price":695.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONJR22RAJ180__01.jpg?v=1659539008","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-japanese-wwii-imperial-japanese-navy-reserves-merchant-marine-insignia-lot-35-items","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}