Charging toward enemy with katana?

[Christian W.]

Did Japanese officers charge toward their enemy with katanas?

[Imad]

One incident occurred in the Kohima/Imphal battle: a British tank commander stuck his head out of his hatch and promptly got beheaded by a sword wielding Japanese officer. The latter then jumped into the tank and killed another crew member. The surviving crew member grapppled with him and shot him after a difficult struggle.
All the best, Imad

[David_Aiken]

Ohayo All,
In 1980, I had the good fortune to attend -almost daily- the making of Samurai Swords by a licensed Japanese swordmaker. At his side was the SOLE American ever to be so licensed ...Keith Austin. Cornering Keith each day, while he was on break, was one of my objectives....as he told details about sword making, and stories told by his two master sensei about swords and sword making.... and a few things about which I was surprised.

Briefly, one of the surprises, he told of a Japanese Army soldier -famed in Japan- for having 125 COMBAT sword kills between 1938-1945.
Kampai,
David Aiken

[Gustav_SC]

Two Japanese lieutenants were in a competition to see who could take the most heads. This was covered extensively in Japanese newspapers. However, this was primarily captured Chinese prisoners NOT combat "kills". Their respective "scores" were each over 100.

[Peter H]

In China--Japanese publication 1941.

US Marine Private Jack Stambaugh,awarded the Navy Cross at Tarawa 1943:

For extraordinary heroism,self-sacrifice,and devotion to duty while repulsing an enemy counterattack at night and giving his life gallantly for a comrade.He observed four enemy attacking a wounded and isolated marine.On his own initiative and without regard for his own safety,he went to the aid of his comrade and killed all four enemy with his rifle and bayonet,suffering a sword wound which caused his death before aid could reach him.

[David_Aiken]

Two Japanese lieutenants were in a competition to see who could take the most heads. This was covered extensively in Japanese newspapers. However, this was primarily captured Chinese prisoners NOT combat "kills". Their respective "scores" were each over 100.

Accoding to supportive documents in the trials held for the Nanking Massacre, and as told to me by Keith Austin from his sensei, the two Lieutenants were in a competition...but to see whether the machine made sword or the hand made sword were better. The sword test was held on the Nanking bridge across the river. The result from the one day -all day- test, neither sword failed.

Hope this helps,
David Aiken

[Unsere_Freiheit]

can you further tell us about the 'supportive documents'?

[David_Aiken]

can you further tell us about the 'supportive documents'?

Konnichiwa Unsere_Freiheit,
The basic source to begin your quest is:
The Tokyo war crimes trial : index and guide By: R John Pritchard, Sonia M Zaide, Donald Cameron Watt • Publisher: New York : Garland, 1981-1987. • ISBN: 0824047729

The testimony of witnesses are particularly grusome. As to supportive documents cited, check out:
No. 309. Diary Notes written by J. H. McCallum - Japanese Occupation of Nanking Dec 1937 - Jan 1938 dated 27 June 1946
No. 323. Excerpts from documents of the Nanking Safety Zone edited by Shuhsi Hu, published by Kelly & Walsh, Ltd., Shanghai-Hong Kong-Singapore, 1939
No. 324. Estimated Number of Victims of Japanese Massacre in Nanking
No. 325. Chart showing burial of victims by the Tsung-Shan-Tang Teams
No. 326. Chart showing burying of victims by the Red Swastika Society
No. 327. Summary report on the Investigations of Japanese War Crimes committed in Nanking, prepared by the Procurator of the District Court, Nanking
No. 328. Telegrams and Despatches from the files of the American Embassy at Nanking in Dec 1937 and the year 1938

My interest in this source were the documents and witness testimony related to Pearl Harbor.
Kampai,
D. Ai-ken, Dai toa senso kokan senshi: Shinjuwan Sakusen Sensei

[Christian W.]

How effective katana was in close quarters combat? How easily could it cut trough the enemy?

[Imad]

How effective katana was in close quarters combat? How easily could it cut trough the enemy?

Marines and G.Is were advised to block a downward slash from a Katana by holding up their rifles perpendicular to the angle of the cut but this was not always found to be effective as the Katana could often slash through the rifle barrel itself.

[PF]

I think either before or after US Flag was raised on Iwo Jima-Joe Rosenthal was attacked by a sword slashing Japanese officer

[Peter H]

1937:

[hisashi]

Officers bought their swords by their own budget, and used them as a commanding symbol. The effectiveness of katana was questionable because of short range, and beautiful old katana was easy to bend. Modern burly katana, such as type-95 katana issued for NCO in some positions, was better at fierce cross fight. Commanders used katana as the only cross fight weapon they had. The army sought for combat arts for katana but was not enough to overcome the shortage of range.

[David Thompson]

For the possible war crimes aspect of this thread, see:

The beheading competition
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=117063

[Penn44]

How effective katana was in close quarters combat? How easily could it cut trough the enemy?

Marines and G.Is were advised to block a downward slash from a Katana by holding up their rifles perpendicular to the angle of the cut but this was not always found to be effective as the Katana could often slash through the rifle barrel itself.

How many US soldiers and Marines were killed or wounded in combat by a sword wielding Japanese soldier?

Conversely, how many sword wielding Japanese soldiers were killed or wounded in combat by rifle wielding US soldiers and Marines?

Penn44

.