Japanese Teishin Shudan Paratrooper Squad

Japanese Teishin Shudan Paratrooper Squad

Japanese paratroopers – Teishin Shudan (Raiding Group) – proved highly effective in the early years of the war. German successes with paratroopers during 1940 encouraged the Japanese to develop their airborne arm as part of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF).

They were first deployed in the Dutch East Indies during the Battle of Palembang in February 1942. One regiment of paratroopers dropped onto Palembang airfield whilst another took the town and its oil refinery. High casualties amongst the paratroopers deterred further airborne deployments and the Teishin Shudan subsequently fought as elite infantry formations – much like their German counterparts.

Possessing the same fanatical will as other Japanese troops and hardened by the rigours of combat behind enemy lines, the last time they attempted an airborne drop was an attack on US airbases on Leyte. Most of the force was shot down before it reached its target. Although the 300 men who landed on Leyte caused significant damage, the small force was soon contained and destroyed.

Models supplied unassembled and unpainted.