Japanese Teishin Shudan Paratrooper Squad from Warlord Games

Japanese Teishin Shudan Paratrooper Squad

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

They were initially deployed in the Dutch East Indies during the Battle of Palambang in February 1942. One regiment of paratroopers crashed into the Palambang airfield, while another captured the town and its oil refinery. Heavy losses among the paratroopers prevented further airborne operations, and the Teishin Shudan subsequently fought as elite infantry formations – much like their German counterparts.

With the same fanatical will as other Japanese troops, and hardened by the hardships of fighting behind enemy lines, the last time they attempted an airborne assault was an attack on US airbases on Leyte. Most of the force was shot down before reaching its objective. Although the 300 men who landed on Leyte inflicted considerable damage, the small force was soon contained and destroyed.

Models are delivered unassembled and unpainted.