Japanese Army Armaments Badges
陸軍技能章
The inscription on the badge and the box reads 'Technical Skills Badge, Army Armaments Administrative
Headquarters and the Units under the same Command.'
There were at least two classes, Kou [1st Class] and Otsu [2nd Class], both shown below. You can see differences
in the design elements.
I'm not really sure about this badge, but this HQ group was formed in October 1942. Before this date, there were
three groups concerned with weapons development, weapons storage, and technical research. On October 15th,
1942, these three units were merged into one, and the last phrase on the box and badge appears to refer to that
merging.
The HQ Commander of this group reported directly to the Minister of the Army. There were only three HQ
Commanders of this group:
Osuda [Katsutsugu?]: From Showa 17 [1942] 10/15
Kimura Heitaro : From Showa 18 [1943] 3/11
Suga [Naritsugu??]: From Showa 19 [1944] 8/3
This HQ group was disbanded on April 1, 1945.
