The Japanese Army 1931-45 (1): 1931-42: Pt.1 (Men-at-Arms) - Softcover

During Japan's devastating Pacific offensive of 1941/42, the Allies paid a high price for their failure to take seriously an army which had already been fighting in Manchuria and China for ten years. That army was a unique blend of the ancient and the modern and its up-to-date equipment and resourceful tactics served an almost medieval code of unquestioning obedience and ruthless aggression. This first of two titles covers the organisation, equipment, uniforms and character of Japanese ground forces in the Chinese and early Pacific campaigns, illustrated with insignia charts, many rare photographs, and eight meticulous uniform plates.

Philip Jowell was born in Leeds in 1961, and has been interested in military history for as long as he can remember. His first Osprey book was the ground-breaking MAA 306, Chinese Civil War Armies 1911-49; he has since published a three-part sequence on The Italian Army 1940-45 (MAA 340, 349 & 353). A rugby league enthusiast and amateur genealogist, he is married and lives in Leeds. Stephen Andrew was born in 1961 in Glasgow, where he still lives and works. An entirely self-taught artist, he worked in advertising and design agencies before going freelance in 1993. Military history is his passion, and in the past few years he has established himself as a respected artist in this field. Since 1997 he has illustrated half a dozen Men-at-Arms titles including MAA 306: Chinese Civil War Armies 1911-49, and a five-part sequence on The German Army 1939-45 (MAA 311, 316, 326, 330 & 336).