Late war painted anchor IJN with net

[NARVIK1940]

The helmet itself is clearly an authentic, battle damaged piece. I am less certain about the net. Is this a late war net? It looks like someone secured it postwar with twine. No story with this one.

All input appreciated! Can anyone make out what the kanji says?

Thanks!

DSC_3203.JPG

DSC_3204.JPG

[NARVIK1940]

[ATTACH]2620497[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]2620498[/ATTACH]

[NARVIK1940]

[ATTACH]2620499[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]2620500[/ATTACH]

[NARVIK1940]

[ATTACH]2620501[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]2620502[/ATTACH]

[NARVIK1940]

[ATTACH]2620503[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]2620504[/ATTACH]

[NARVIK1940]

[ATTACH]2620505[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]2620506[/ATTACH]

[NARVIK1940]

It looks like the net has been on there for a very long time. There is actually interaction between the net and the metal like one sees on German wire helmets. When I got it, the chin straps were pulled up and tied into the net. I removed them, as I presumed this was done by the postwar owner. Without the strange attachments to the helmet, the net would simply fall off. It seems whenever this was done, it was a long time ago. But presumably after it was souvenired, as the extensive battle damage does not fit with the placement of the net, from what I can determine.

[GHP]

Kanji ...

加藤隊
Kato Tai [group/element]

小[一?]
Sho-ichi ? I can't read the kanji or mark following 小 ... but it is out of order to be a given name ....

山見
Yamami [family name]
[Mountain View]

--Guy

[GHP]

The only "Kato Tai" I could find on the internet was an army artillery group:

独立混成　砲兵大隊（加藤隊）旧山砲11連
Dokuritsu konsei hōhei daitai (Katō-tai) kyū sanpō 11-ren

Independant Composite [task force?] Artillery Division (Kato Tai); formerly Mountain Artillery Regiment 11

Can't find one associated with the IJN.

Hmmmm.... this page [Japanese only] mentions a navy Lt. Kato Masao who led a fighter group in a battle near Taiwan.

Google Translate is terrible, and I don't have the time or patience to make it more readable:

The enemy attack again in Taiwan
(Chapter five hundred and one squadron attack) Masao Kato (reconnaissance first position Squadron) Kaku Shigeru

Wartime career of Navy Captain Kato Masao

Five hundred and one 40 period Fei student Usa air attack Fuso long whale
Killed twenty-two per the 3rd ten month '19
Hobara Prefectural Junior High School (Fukushima)
Father Torataro mother Yasu

Corporal complement Kendo engagement Equestrian charge of second half Corps
[Here's the only place I'll correct the "translation":

第二五分隊の伍長補　剣道係　馬術係
Probationary Corporal, 25th Squad - Kendo NCOIC, Horsemanship NCOIC
-- "Probationary Corporal" might be Acting Corporal or Acting Sergeant
-- substitute NCOIC with OIC if he was an officer at the time.

A Japanese Google of 分隊 butai:
The squad in the Navy, translation into English as "division," the maintenance of discipline of members, is organized for the handling of personal affairs personnel. Is probationary class captain, Lieutenant, Ensign, warrant officer and the like can be ordered in squad officer to assist the squad leader to squad leader. Group is placed in the squad.]


Wartime career of Navy Captain Kaku Shigeru

Three four spy spy twelve thousand five hundred and two sky spy Nagato Tone 39 period Fei student
一 June the 3rd killed twenty-one Oh ten month '19
Second Kobe junior high father Isamu mother Tazuko Prefectural
Communication factor schoolyard engagement of the four eighth Corps brother

(Tactical situation)

U.S. task force dawn of twelve day, reaching to the calling ship at about eighty nautical miles east of Taiwan, was shot ship the aircraft for Taiwan attack in fourteen minutes six o'clock in the morning. Point of attack was the same as the previous day air mission number has been reduced to nine hundred seventy-four machine. The Corps control of our army and navy of Taiwan located struck welcomed this aggression, appropriation forces is greatly reduced at a loss the previous day, the action was very weak.

In the aftermath of typhoon this day, weather fence 戟海 surface was worse, but he dared to attack aircraft carrier group of group or four T-strike force found the spotter aircraft. On the coattails of spotter aircraft, war three, led by Kikuchi Yukitoshi lieutenant six machine galaxy of five hundred and one Osamu Kato Masao and twenty-seven machine set land attack of seven hundred and three attacks and seven hundred and eight attacks, Hatakeyama trust both lieutenant was a member of twelve machine Zero Fighter of the three hundred and, if necessary, revise wanna you start the base Kanoya minutes to three hundred and one pm. Attack team that returned from the direct vicinity Miyako 掩隊 Kikuchi Yukitoshi was waiting for the coming of twilight in this vicinity.

Twenty at around four o'clock afternoon I was waiting while turning over in Miyako Island, it has been reported spotter aircraft to discover the mother group. Became aware of attack Corps, began going south take the search operation attack formation dispersed in a small formation, the direct cooperation after the Corps went to searching for the enemy deploy this. This is the commander of the four machine galaxy, and land attack corps in company rush, for the enemy of 按中 tactile discovery of thirteen minutes straight six o'clock cooperation Corps, Lieutenant Kato has dared attack time to approach dusk.

The battlefield vicinity, is a semi-swelling state, just like the previous day, cloud layer was put sauce on top and bottom bunk hexagram into the sky. Regular haunt during the squall, cruiser remodeling, was added to the meat of the deadly attack Sako and committing a barrage to launch from Naoe ship to the aircraft carrier group of about eight vessels to suit.

According to the U.S. data, the accommodation in an airplane, it is surprise to four machine land attack, aircraft carrier Franklin has damaged the heavy cruiser Canberra is peril sinking at this time. Majority of each tie commanders since the end of the feedback may be situations of this attack Corps, details, you do not know, but it was as follows: last moment, such as Kato Corps reported by the feedback machine.

Last moment of Kato Masao lieutenant

Forty-five at around six o'clock in the search operation is en masse, (thunder device three, 爆装 one) four machine galaxy Kato Lieutenant, found the enemy forces that were illuminated in the flare of friend Corps.

Capture the Esekku type aircraft carrier flare under five past seven in parting with lightning Corps, Hatakeyama Lieutenant machine dive in this, bombing Corps, was reported two hit (Yaya bow feeling, hull and fold level Gochin> this is because of the visibility of the shopper of the rear seat, I open and there was no time to check Hatakeyama lieutenant of control employee is dedicated to 避退.

For lightning Corps you have another full-time, for both was not feedback, including Kato lieutenant, the details are unknown, there is nothing confirmed for night And fierce battle under also last moment of Kato lieutenant.

One of the machine who returned finally has also been struck, and that was telling intense anti-aircraft fire of the enemy.

Last moment of Kaku Shigeru lieutenant

To obtain the enemy task force to board the two expressions ship spy to thirty minutes two o'clock this afternoon, Kaku Shigeru lieutenant of squad leader of eleven spy was starting a Koroku base, but missing the standing contact then it became.

Because it would have been a single plane flight, the last moment is not Tsumabiraka.

[NARVIK1940]

Thanks. No connection, I think since it refers to a fighter squadron, unless it was ground personnel? Kato is a surname. Tai - is that a unit designation?

[Jareth]

Regardless if net is original or added post war the helmet is a great damaged example & you paid a very fair price. I really like the late navy gray liners

[NARVIK1940]

Thanks, Jareth. Do you think the net is original? Thanks also to Guy for taking the trouble to translate and research!

[NARVIK1940]

I mean wartime issued net, not necessarily original to helmet.

[NARVIK1940]

Also, Jareth - why is the liner grey? Is it dyed?

[Jareth]

net isn't standard pattern with circle opening on top. Also I like the drawstring to match & be made of same material as net itself. I'm on the fence. Regards to liner color we can only guess late in the war they used inferior animal skins & perhaps internals? OR the tanning process & chemicals were different. Whatever the reason we find these gray liners in late navy. Some are rough suede & others smooth