Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Special Naval Landing Forces" in English language version.
The term 'Imperial Marines' is not quite accurate as a description for these naval personnel, who were actually ground soldiers. The correct name for these troops was Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF). Despite their relatively small numbers, they comprised a significant augmentation of the Japanese combat capabilities on land. After August 1942, the SNLF were almost exclusively involved in defensive fighting, holding various island outposts against the growing U.S. offensive.
