Handbook on Japanese Military Forces

War Department Technical Manual TM-E 30-480 Handbook On Japanese Military Forces dated 15 September 1944 was the US Army's guide to the Japanese armed forces for the use of troops in the field. The "E" stands for "enemy."

It was 8" × 10½", bound in two removable olive pasteboard covers to facilitate the addition and deletion of material. It was originally 401pp., with 412 illustrations including diagrams, photos, charts. color plates of uniforms & medals. It detailed most of the known information about the Imperial Japanese Military as of the publication date. It superseded the original TM E 30-480 dated 14 May 1941 and the second edition dated 21 September 1942. The handbook was classified "Restricted" (the lowest of the four wartime security classifications) to enable its dissemination to the widest possible audience.

Readers should take care when consulting TM-E 30-480 as there are many inaccuracies shown by post war research. It is a wartime publication subject to the limitations of wartime intelligence collection and dissemination.

TM-E 30-480 has been reprinted several times by several different publishers. The 1995 edition includes an Introduction by David Isby and an afterword by Jeffrey Ethell, Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge Louisiana 70803, ISBN 0-8071-2013-8, 403 pp., illus, in colour and b/w, maps, wraps. None of these editions is complete.

PART I. General tactical doctrine
- Section I. General
- Section II. Offensive
- Section III. Defensive
- Section IV. Retrograde movements
- Section V. Employment of tanks and mechanized units
PART II. Application of tactics
- Section VI. Antiaircraft
- Section VII. Antitank defense
- Section VIII. Jungle warfare
- Section IX. Small island defense
- Section X. Coastal defense
- Section XI. Japanese joint operations
- Section XII. Japanese parachute troops

CHAPTER VIII. SUPPLY, MOVEMENTS, AND EVACUATION.

Section I. Supply
Section II. Movements
Section III. Evacuation

CHAPTER IX. WEAPONS.

Section I. Introduction
Section II. Infantry weapons
Section III. Artillery
Section IV. Tanks and armored cars
Section V. Chemical warfare

CHAPTER X. EQUIPMENT.

Section I. Introduction
Section II. Infantry equipment
Section III. Artillery equipment
Section IV. Signal equipment
Section V. Engineer equipment
Section VI. Cavalry and reconnaissance
Section VII. Automotive and land transport equipment
Section VIII. Tentage
Section IX. Medical equipment

CHAPTER XI. UNIFORMS, PERSONAL EQUIPMENT, AND INSIGNIA

Section I. Standard Uniforms
Section II. Uniforms for Special Arms
Section III. Special cold and hot weather clothing
Section IV. Individual equipment
Section V. Insignia, Decorations, and Awards

CHAPTER XII. CONVENTIONAL SIGNS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Section I. Introduction
Section II. Geographic signs
Section III. Military signs
Section IV. Military abbreviations

CHAPTER XIII. MILITARY TERMS AND CHARACTERS

Section I. Japanese Year Dates
Section II. Japanese Weights, Measures, and Moneys
Section III. Method of Numbering Models

APPENDIX SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

Changes

TM E 30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces had five Changes which were as follows:

Change 1: Japanese Airforces (1 January 1945); 39 pages,
Change 3: Field Organization (1 June 1945); 94 pages,
Change 4: Japanese Fortifications (1 July 1945); 68 pages,
Change 5: Naval Ground Units (1 July 1945); 11 pages,
Change 6: Weapons (15 September 1945); 228 pages,
Change 7: Japanese Military Police (15 August 1945);

References

TM-E 30-480 Handbook On Japanese Military Forces, 15 September 1944 (with printed changes 1 through 7)

Handbook on Japanese Military Forces

Contents

Contents

Changes

References

External links