Sentai

is a Japanese language word for a military unit and may be literally translated as "task force", "group" or "wing". The terms "regiment" and "flotilla", while sometimes used as translations of "Sentai", are also used to refer to larger formations.

World War II

It is perhaps best known as a term used during World War II by the military of the Empire of Japan, for Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF) and Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) military aviation units equivalent to a group or wing in other air forces. However, the term had slightly different meanings in the IJAAF and the IJNAS.

Am IJAAF "Sentai" was made up of two to four squadrons, known as "chutai" by the IJAAF. In the IJAAF, two or more "Sentai" comprised a "hikodan" (air brigade). In the later stages of World War II, the IJAAF abolished "chutai" and divided its "sentai" into "hikotai" (flying units) and "seibutai" (maintenance units). A "sentai" commander ("sentaicho") was generally a Lieutenant Colonel.

In the IJNAS, a "sentai" was a larger unit: a "kokutai" was the equivalent of an IJAAF "sentai". Several "sentai" made up a "kantai" (air fleet). In the IJNAS, a "Sentaicho" was usually a Naval Captain.

uper Sentai

The nihongo|Super Sentai Series|スーパー戦隊シリーズ|Sūpā Sentai Shirīzu is a franchise of Japanese tokusatsu television dramas that uses the word "sentai" to describe a group of between 3 and 7 costumed superheroes who often pilot mecha.

ee also

* Senshi

References

* [http://www.warbirdforum.com/jaaf.htm Dan Ford, 2004-05, "An introduction to the Japanese Army Air Force"] (warbirdforum.com)
* [http://markkaiser.com/japaneseaviation/jaafstructure.html Mark Kaiser, 1997-98, "Unit structure of IJA Air Force"] (self-published)
* [http://world.std.com/~Ted7/minorafp.htm Mitch Schwartz, 2001, "East Asian/Pacific Area"] (self-published)
* [http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/jnaf/jnaf.htm Peter Dunn, 2002, "Japanese Navy Air Force (JNAF) Operating in the Australian Area During WW2"] (ozatwar.com)