IJN Helmet - Kanji translation needed

[MAP]

Thanks in advance (Guy/Nick or anyone else who can help)

This is for a friend. Any help in translating this?

If you expand the photo you can just see a horizontal stroke above the left most Kanji character.

Thanks!

[ghp95134]

We need Nick's help here; I'm out of my depth here:

副右指
Assistant/Deputy/Vice-Right-Finger
...however .... 指 "finger" can be short for guideance/instructor/teach {指導 shidou}

So just maybeeeee......

Assistant/Deputy/Vice-Right-Guide/Coach


And right now I'm remembering my days on the rifle/pistol range where there were assistant instructors (safety NCOs) on the right and left of the firing line. Maybe something like that?

Range Safety Officer Commands:
"Ready on the right?" [RSO looks at right Assistant Instructor for status]
"Ready on the left?" [RSO looks at left Assistant Instructor for status]
"Ready on the Firing Line!" [RSO to all at the range]
"Lock and load one magazine of 30 rounds and place your lever on semiautomatic."

"Gentlemen, WATCH ... your lane!"

I'm just clutching at straws here.... and violating Nick's strong encouragement not to speculate.


--Guy

[Nick Komiya]

Particularly, if there's no name on it, it has to be referring to a posting assignment that sometimes requires a helmet like the number 2 gunner for the right side of a turret gun.

[MAP]

Thanks gentlemen. Great information. I will pass this along.