IJN enlisted Ratings/Job specialties

[geahanse]

Did the Imperial Japanese Navy have enlisted occupational ratings such as Machinist's Mate Third Class, Aviation Radioman First Class, Boatswain's Mate Second Class. If so, what are they? I seem to be only able to find the enlisted ranks

[Wellgunde]

They had them but the rating badges (final period-post 1942) on their uniforms only indicated the general branch or corps and not the specific occupational specialty as in the U.S. Navy. The color of the cherry blossom between the anchor and the stripes varied in color as follows:
Seaman Branch - yellow
Aviation - blue
Aviation maintenance - green
Engineering, Construction, and Repair - purple
Hospital Corps - crimson
Paymaster - white
Band - navy blue
I believe there may have been several others, but I don't recall what they were.

Wellgunde

[ijnfleetadmiral]

Aviation and Aviation Maintenance were probably both Blue; Green was the Legal branch (aka JAG). Orange was the Ordnance branch.

[Wellgunde]

The attached may be of interest.

Wellgunde

[Wellgunde]

Here are pictures of the old style insignia:

Wellgunde

[geahanse]

Thanks wellgunde. What do you mean "old style"?

[hisashi]

New style was introduced in Apr 1942. Old style was no good for wartime mass production of uniform, so IJN introduced simpler indication of specialties and their grades.

[Wellgunde]

Hisashi is correct. The illustrations, by the way, are from Joint Army-Navy Publication #1 (JAN-1): Uniforms and Insignia.

Wellgunde

[Wellgunde]

According to chart number one on page 196 of Zusetsu Teikoku Kaigun: Kyu Nihon Kaigun Kanzen Gaido (図說 帝国海軍: 旧日本海軍完全ガイド)( Illustrated Imperial Navy: A Complete Guide to the Japanese Navy) by Nomura Minoru (1995), the official colors for the navy occupational branches after the 1942 changes were as follows:

1. Seaman Branch (Hei-ka): 黄 (kiiro)(yellow)
2. Aviation Branch (Hiko-ka): 青 (ao)(blue)
3. Aviation Maintenance Branch (Seibi-ka): 緑 (midori)(green)
4. Engineering Branch (Kikan-ka): 紫色 (murasaki iro)( purple)
5. Construction Branch (Kosaku-ka): 紫色 (murasaki iro)( purple)
6. Music Branch (Gungaku-ka): 藍色 (aiiro)(indigo)
7. Hospital Branch (Kango-ka): 赤 (aka)(red)
8. Paymaster/Finance/Intendance Branch (Shukei-ka): 白 (shiro)(white)
9. Maintenance Branch (Gijitusu-ka): 鰕茶色 (ebichairo [lit. “shrimp brown”])(maroon)

Wellgunde
with a tip of the hat to Fontessa