Combined Fleet#World War II

The Combined Fleet was formally created for the first time on 18 July 1894 by the merger of the Standing Fleet and the Western Fleet. The Standing Fleet (also known as the Readiness Fleet) contained the navy's most modern and combat-capable warships. The Western Fleet was a reserve force consisting primarily of obsolete ships deemed unsuitable for front-line combat operations, but still suitable for commerce protection and coastal defense. Vice-admiral Itō Sukeyuki was appointed the first Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet[http://navalhistory.flixco.info/H/169879x82985/8330/a0.htm/Combined Fleet] for the duration of the first Sino-Japanese War against China.

File:Togo Heihachiro in uniform.jpg, commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet during the Russo-Japanese War.]]

The Combined Fleet was re-formed during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–05 to provide a unified overall command for the three separate fleets in the Imperial Japanese Navy. The 1st Fleet was the main battleship force, which formed the backbone of the navy and was intended to be used in a traditional line of battle showdown with an equivalent enemy battleship fleet (Kantai Kessen). The 2nd Fleet was a fast, mobile strike force with armored cruisers and protected cruisers. The 3rd Fleet was primarily a reserve fleet of obsolete vessels considered too weak for front-line combat service, but which could still be used in the operation to blockade Port Arthur. Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō was commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet during the Russo-Japanese War.

The Combined Fleet was not maintained as a permanent organization, but was temporarily created when necessary during fleet maneuvers or when called for by extraordinary circumstances. Thus, during the period from 1905 to 1924, the Combined Fleet was created only sporadically as the occasion or circumstances dictated, and disbanded immediately afterwards.

In 1924, the Imperial Japanese Navy declared in an edict on fleet organization that "for the time being" the Combined Fleet would be a standing organization consisting of the IJN 1st Fleet and IJN 2nd Fleet. As this was not intended to be "permanent" and since the commander of IJN 1st Fleet concurrently directed the Combined Fleet, the Combined Fleet was not given a Headquarters staff of its own.

From 1933, with the Mukden Incident and the increasing tension with China, a permanent HQ staff for the Combined Fleet was established. By the late 1930s, it included most of Japan's warships—only the base units, the Special Naval Landing Forces, and the China Area Fleet lay outside the Combined Fleet.

File:Portrait of Yamamoto Isoroku.jpg, commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet during the early stage of the Pacific War.]]

The Combined Fleet came under direct command of the Imperial General Headquarters in 1937. With the start of the Pacific War with the attack on Pearl Harbor carried out by Combined Fleet's Kido Butai (1st Air Fleet), the Combined Fleet became almost synonymous with the Imperial Japanese Navy, under the command of admiral Isoroku Yamamoto till April 1943 when he died after his plane was shot-down by US Army Air Forces over Bougainville Island. It comprised the battleships, aircraft carriers, aircraft, and the components that made up the main fighting strength of the IJN. It was first mobilized on the whole for the Battle of Midway. After the devastating carrier losses at Midway and in the Solomon Islands campaign, the navy re-organized into a number of "Area Fleets" for local operational control of various geographic zones. The Combined Fleet then evolved into more of an administrative organization.

As the war situation deteriorated for the Japanese and the territories controlled by the "Area Fleets" fell one after another to the United States Navy, the Imperial General Headquarters and the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff acted to force the American fleet into a "decisive battle" in the Philippines per the Kantai Kessen philosophy. In the resultant Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf the Japanese fleet was severely depleted. The remnants of the Combined Fleet fled to Okinawa, but further operations were hindered by lack of fuel and air cover. By the time of the final suicide mission of the battleship Yamato in Operation Ten-Go, the Combined Fleet had ceased to exist as an effective combat force.

{{Officeholder table start

| showorder = y

| showimage = y

| image_title = Portrait

| officeholder_title = Commander-in-Chief

| showtermlenght = y

| showparty = n

| showdefencebranch = n

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 1

| image = Itoh Sukeyuki.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral

| officeholder = Itō Sukeyuki
伊藤祐亨

| officeholder_sort = Itō, Sukeyuki

| born_year = 1843

| died_year = 1914

| term_start = 18 July 1894

| term_end = 11 May 1895

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1894|07|18|1895|05|11}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image = Arichi Shinanojo.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral

| officeholder = Arichi Shinanojō{{efn|Created Baron on 5 June 1896.}}
有地品之允

| officeholder_sort = Arichi, Shinanojō

| born_year = 1843

| died_year = 1919

| term_start = 11 May 1895

| term_end = 16 November 1895{{efn|Forced into retirement on 21 October 1895 for boarding neutral vessels in search of Liu Yongfu, the fugitive president of the Republic of Formosa; Fleet dissolved.}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1895|05|11|1895|11|16}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 3

| image = Togo Heihachiro in uniform.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral
{{Small|(when appointed)}}
Admiral
{{Small|(from 6 June 1904)}}

| officeholder = Tōgō Heihachirō
東郷平八郎

| officeholder_sort = Tōgō, Heihachirō

| born_year = 1848

| died_year = 1934

| term_start = 28 December 1903

| term_end = 20 December 1905{{efn|Fleet dissolved.}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1903|12|28|1905|12|20}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 4

| image = Ijuin Goro.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral

| officeholder = Baron Ijūin Gorō
伊集院五郎

| officeholder_sort = Ijūin, Gorō

| born_year = 1852

| died_year = 1921

| term_start = 8 October 1908

| term_end = 20 November 1908

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1908|10|08|1908|11|20}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 5

| image = Shigetarō Yoshimatsu.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Yoshimatsu Shigetarō|ja|吉松茂太郎}}
吉松茂太郎

| officeholder_sort = Yoshimatsu, Shigetarō

| born_year = 1859

| died_year = 1935

| term_start = 1 November 1915

| term_end = 13 December 1915

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1915|11|01|1915|12|13}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = (5)

| image = Shigetarō Yoshimatsu.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Yoshimatsu Shigetarō|ja|吉松茂太郎}}
吉松茂太郎

| officeholder_sort = Yoshimatsu, Shigetarō

| born_year = 1859

| died_year = 1935

| term_start = 1 September 1916

| term_end = 14 October 1916

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1916|09|01|1916|10|14}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = (5)

| image = Shigetarō Yoshimatsu.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Yoshimatsu Shigetarō|ja|吉松茂太郎}}
吉松茂太郎

| officeholder_sort = Yoshimatsu, Shigetarō

| born_year = 1859

| died_year = 1935

| term_start = 1 October 1917

| term_end = 22 October 1917

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1917|10|01|1917|10|22}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 6

| image = Yamashita Gentaro.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Yamashita Gentarō
山下源太郎

| officeholder_sort = Yamashita, Gentarō

| born_year = 1863

| died_year = 1931

| term_start = 1 September 1918

| term_end = 15 October 1918

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1918|09|01|1918|10|15}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = (6)

| image = Yamashita Gentaro.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Yamashita Gentarō
山下源太郎

| officeholder_sort = Yamashita, Gentarō

| born_year = 1863

| died_year = 1931

| term_start = 1 June 1919

| term_end = 28 October 1919

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1919|06|01|1919|10|28}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 7

| image = Yamaya Tanin.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Yamaya Tanin
山屋他人

| officeholder_sort = Yamaya, Tanin

| born_year = 1866

| died_year = 1940

| term_start = 1 May 1920

| term_end = 24 August 1920

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1920|05|01|1920|08|24}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 8

| image = Sojiro Tochinai.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Tochinai Sojirō|ja|栃内曽次郎}}
栃内曽次郎

| officeholder_sort = Tochinai, Sojirō

| born_year = 1866

| died_year = 1932

| term_start = 24 August 1920

| term_end = 31 October 1920

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1920|08|24|1920|10|31}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = (8)

| image = Sojiro Tochinai.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Tochinai Sojirō|ja|栃内曽次郎}}
栃内曽次郎

| officeholder_sort = Tochinai, Sojirō

| born_year = 1866

| died_year = 1932

| term_start = 1 May 1921

| term_end = 31 October 1921

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1921|05|01|1921|10|31}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 9

| image = Isamu Takeshita.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral
{{Small|(when appointed)}}
Admiral
{{Small|(from 3 August 1923)}}

| officeholder = Takeshita Isamu
竹下勇

| officeholder_sort = Takeshita, Isamu

| born_year = 1870

| died_year = 1949

| term_start = 1 December 1922{{efn|Fleet recreated as permanent entity; given direct command over 1st Fleet.}}

| term_end = 27 January 1924

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1922|12|01|1924|01|27}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 10

| image = Suzuki Kantaro.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Kantarō Suzuki
鈴木貫太郎

| born_year = 1868

| died_year = 1948

| term_start = 27 January 1924

| term_end = 1 December 1924

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1924|01|27|1924|12|01}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 11

| image = Keisuke Okada 2.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Okada Keisuke
岡田啓介

| officeholder_sort = Okada, Keisuke

| born_year = 1868

| died_year = 1952

| term_start = 1 December 1924

| term_end = 10 December 1926

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1924|12|01|1926|12|10}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 12

| image = Kanji kato.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral
{{Small|(when appointed)}}
Admiral
{{Small|(from 1 April 1927)}}

| officeholder = Katō Hiroharu
加藤寛治

| officeholder_sort = Katō, Hiroharu

| born_year = 1870

| died_year = 1939

| term_start = 10 December 1926

| term_end = 10 December 1928

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1926|12|10|1928|12|10}} years

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 13

| image = Naomi Taniguchi.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Taniguchi Naomi|ja|谷口尚真}}
谷口尚真

| officeholder_sort = Taniguchi, Naomi

| born_year = 1870

| died_year = 1941

| term_start = 10 December 1928

| term_end = 11 November 1929

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1928|12|10|1929|11|11}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 14

| image = Yamamoto Eisuke.png

| military_rank = Vice Admiral
{{Small|(when appointed)}}
Admiral
{{Small|(from 1 March 1931)}}

| officeholder = {{ill|Yamamoto Eisuke|ja|山本英輔}}
山本英輔

| officeholder_sort = Yamamoto, Eisuke

| born_year = 1876

| died_year = 1962

| term_start = 11 November 1929

| term_end = 1 December 1931

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1929|11|11|1931|12|01}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 15

| image = Seizō Kobayashi.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral
{{Small|(when appointed)}}
Admiral
{{Small|(from 1 April 1933)}}

| officeholder = Kobayashi Seizō
小林躋造

| officeholder_sort = Kobayashi, Seizō

| born_year = 1877

| died_year = 1962

| term_start = 1 December 1931

| term_end = 15 November 1933

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1931|12|01|1933|11|15}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 16

| image = Suetsugu Nobumasa.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral
{{Small|(when appointed)}}
Admiral
{{Small|(from 30 March 1934)}}

| officeholder = Suetsugu Nobumasa
末次信正

| officeholder_sort = Suetsugu, Nobumasa

| born_year = 1880

| died_year = 1944

| term_start = 15 November 1933

| term_end = 15 November 1934

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1933|11|15|1934|11|15}} year

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 17

| image = Full Admiral Takahashi Sankichi.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral
{{Small|(when appointed)}}
Admiral
{{Small|(from 1 April 1936)}}

| officeholder = Takahashi Sankichi
高橋三吉

| officeholder_sort = Takahashi, Sankichi

| born_year = 1882

| died_year = 1966

| term_start = 15 November 1934

| term_end = 1 December 1936

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1934|11|15|1936|12|01}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 18

| image = Yonai Mitsumasa.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral

| officeholder = Yonai Mitsumasa
米内光政

| officeholder_sort = Yonai, Mitsumasa

| born_year = 1880

| died_year = 1948

| term_start = 1 December 1936

| term_end = 2 February 1937

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1936|12|01|1937|02|02}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 19

| image = Osami Nagano.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Nagano Osami
永野修身

| officeholder_sort = Nagano, Osami

| born_year = 1880

| died_year = 1947

| term_start = 2 February 1937

| term_end = 1 December 1937

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1937|02|02|1937|12|01}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 20

| image = Yoshida Zengo.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral

| officeholder = Yoshida Zengo
吉田善吾

| officeholder_sort = Yoshida, Zengo

| born_year = 1885

| died_year = 1966

| term_start = 1 December 1937

| term_end = 30 August 1939

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1937|12|01|1939|08|30}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 21

| image = Portrait of Yamamoto Isoroku.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral
{{Small|(when appointed)}}
Admiral
{{Small|(from 15 November 1940)}}{{efn|Promoted posthumously to Marshal Admiral.}}

| officeholder = Yamamoto Isoroku
山本五十六

| officeholder_sort = Yamamoto, Isoroku

| born_year = 1884

| died_year = 1943

| died = y

| term_start = 30 August 1939

| term_end = 18 April 1943{{efn|1st Fleet separated from direct command on 11 August 1941.}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1939|08|30|1943|04|18}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 22

| image = Koga Mineichi 3.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral{{efn|Promoted posthumously to Marshal Admiral.}}

| officeholder = Koga Mine'ichi
古賀峯一

| officeholder_sort = Koga, Mineichi

| born_year = 1885

| died_year = 1944

| died = y

| term_start = 21 May 1943

| term_end = 31 March 1944{{efn|Killed in action when Kawanishi H8K ("Emily") flying boat crashed during a typhoon between Palau and Davao.}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1943|05|21|1944|03|31}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 23

| image = Toyoda Soemu.JPG

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Toyoda Soemu
豊田副武

| officeholder_sort = Toyoda, Soemu

| born_year = 1885

| died_year = 1957

| term_start = 3 May 1944

| term_end = 29 May 1945

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1944|05|03|1945|05|29}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 24

| image = Ozawa11.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral{{efn|Refused promotion to Admiral.}}

| officeholder = Ozawa Jisaburō
小沢治三郎

| officeholder_sort = Ozawa, Jisaburō

| born_year = 1886

| died_year = 1966

| term_start = 29 May 1945

| term_end = 10 October 1945{{efn|Fleet surrendered.}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1945|05|29|1945|10|10}}

}}

{{Officeholder table end}}

{{#tag:timeline|

ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:12

PlotArea = top:10 bottom:50 right:100 left:20

AlignBars = late

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

Period = from:01/01/1894 till:01/01/1946

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1895

ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1894

BarData =

barset:PM

PlotData =

width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

barset:PM

from: 18/07/1894 till: 11/05/1895 color:darkblue text:"Itō Sukeyuki"

from: 11/05/1895 till: 16/11/1895 color:darkblue text:"Arichi Shinanojō"

from: 28/12/1903 till: 20/12/1905 color:darkblue text:"Tōgō Heihachirō"

from: 08/10/1908 till: 20/11/1908 color:darkblue text:"Ijūin Gorō"

from: 01/11/1915 till: 13/12/1915 color:darkblue text:"Yoshimatsu Shigetarō"

from: 01/09/1916 till: 14/10/1916 color:darkblue text:"Yoshimatsu Shigetarō"

from: 01/10/1917 till: 22/10/1917 color:darkblue text:"Yoshimatsu Shigetarō"

from: 01/09/1918 till: 15/10/1918 color:darkblue text:"Yamashita Gentarō"

from: 01/06/1919 till: 28/10/1919 color:darkblue text:"Yamashita Gentarō"

from: 01/05/1920 till: 24/08/1920 color:darkblue text:"Yamaya Tanin"

from: 24/08/1920 till: 31/10/1920 color:darkblue text:"Tochinai Sojirō"

from: 01/05/1921 till: 31/10/1921 color:darkblue text:"Tochinai Sojirō"

from: 01/12/1922 till: 27/01/1924 color:darkblue text:"Takeshita Isamu"

from: 27/01/1924 till: 01/12/1924 color:darkblue text:"Kantarō Suzuki"

from: 01/12/1924 till: 10/12/1926 color:darkblue text:"Okada Keisuke"

from: 10/12/1926 till: 10/12/1928 color:darkblue text:"Katō Hiroharu"

from: 10/12/1928 till: 11/11/1929 color:darkblue text:"Taniguchi Naomi"

from: 11/11/1929 till: 01/12/1931 color:darkblue text:"Yamamoto Eisuke"

from: 01/12/1931 till: 15/11/1933 color:darkblue text:"Kobayashi Seizō"

from: 15/11/1933 till: 15/11/1934 color:darkblue text:"Suetsugu Nobumasa"

from: 15/11/1934 till: 01/12/1936 color:darkblue text:"Takahashi Sankichi"

from: 01/12/1936 till: 02/02/1937 color:darkblue text:"Yonai Mitsumasa"

from: 02/02/1937 till: 01/12/1937 color:darkblue text:"Nagano Osami"

from: 01/12/1937 till: 30/08/1939 color:darkblue text:"Yoshida Zengo"

from: 30/08/1939 till: 18/04/1943 color:darkblue text:"Yamamoto Isoroku"

from: 21/05/1943 till: 31/03/1944 color:darkblue text:"Koga Mine'ichi"

from: 03/05/1944 till: 29/05/1945 color:darkblue text:"Toyoda Soemu"

from: 29/05/1945 till: 10/10/1945 color:darkblue text:"Ozawa Jisaburō"

}}

{{Officeholder table start

| showorder = y

| showimage = y

| image_title = Portrait

| officeholder_title = Chief of Staff

| showtermlenght = y

| showparty = n

| showdefencebranch = n

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 1

| image = Kazunori Samejima 01.jpg

| military_rank = Captain

| officeholder = Samejima Kazunori
鮫島員規

| officeholder_sort = Samejima, Kazunori

| born_year = 1845

| died_year = 1910

| term_start = 19 July 1894

| term_end = 17 December 1894

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1894|07|19|1894|12|17}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image = Dewa Shigeto.jpg

| military_rank = Captain

| officeholder = Dewa Shigetō
出羽重遠

| officeholder_sort = Dewa, Shigetō

| born_year = 1856

| died_year = 1930

| term_start = 17 December 1894

| term_end = 25 July 1895

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1894|12|17|1895|07|25}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 3

| image = Kamimura Hikonojo.jpg

| military_rank = Captain

| officeholder = Kamimura Hikonojō
上村彦之丞

| officeholder_sort = Kamimura, Hikonojō

| born_year = 1849

| died_year = 1916

| term_start = 25 July 1895

| term_end = 16 November 1895

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1895|07|25|1895|11|16}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 4

| image = Shimamura Hayao.jpg

| military_rank = Captain

| officeholder = Shimamura Hayao
島村速雄

| officeholder_sort = Shimamura, Hayao

| born_year = 1858

| died_year = 1923

| term_start = 28 December 1903

| term_end = 12 January 1905

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1903|12|28|1905|01|12}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 5

| image = Admiral Kato Tomosaburo.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Katō Tomosaburō
加藤友三郎

| officeholder_sort = Katō, Tomosaburō

| born_year = 1861

| died_year = 1923

| term_start = 12 January 1905

| term_end = 20 December 1905

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1905|01|12|1905|12|20}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 6

| image = Yamashita Gentaro.jpg

| military_rank = Captain

| officeholder = Yamashita Gentarō
山下源太郎

| officeholder_sort = Yamashita, Gentarō

| born_year = 1863

| died_year = 1931

| term_start = 8 October 1908

| term_end = 20 November 1908

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1908|10|08|1908|11|20}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 7

| image =

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Yamanaka Shibakichi|ja|山中柴吉}}
山中柴吉

| officeholder_sort = Yamanaka, Shibakichi

| born_year = 1870

| died_year = 1941

| term_start = 1 November 1915

| term_end = 13 December 1915

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1915|11|01|1915|12|13}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 8

| image = Saburo Horiuchi.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Horiuchi Saburō|ja|堀内三郎}}
堀内三郎

| officeholder_sort = Horiuchi, Saburō

| born_year = 1869

| died_year = 1933

| term_start = 1 September 1916

| term_end = 14 October 1916

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1916|09|01|1916|10|14}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = (8)

| image = Saburo Horiuchi.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Horiuchi Saburō|ja|堀内三郎}}
堀内三郎

| officeholder_sort = Horiuchi, Saburō

| born_year = 1869

| died_year = 1933

| term_start = 1 October 1917

| term_end = 22 October 1917

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1917|10|01|1917|10|22}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 9

| image = HanrokuSaito.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Saitō Hanroku|ja|斎藤半六}}
斎藤半六

| officeholder_sort = Saitō, Hanroku

| born_year = 1869

| died_year = 1952

| term_start = 1 September 1918

| term_end = 15 October 1918

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1918|09|01|1918|10|15}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 10

| image = Kajishiro Funakoshi.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Funakoshi Kajishirō|ja|舟越楫四郎}}
舟越楫四郎

| officeholder_sort = Funakoshi, Kajishirō

| born_year = 1870

| died_year = 1962

| term_start = 1 June 1919

| term_end = 28 October 1919

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1919|06|01|1919|10|28}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 11

| image = Yoshioka Hansaku.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Yoshioka Hansaku
吉岡範策

| officeholder_sort = Yoshioka, Hansaku

| born_year = 1869

| died_year = 1930

| term_start = 1 May 1920

| term_end = 31 October 1920

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1920|05|01|1920|10|31}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = (11)

| image = Yoshioka Hansaku.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Yoshioka Hansaku
吉岡範策

| officeholder_sort = Yoshioka, Hansaku

| born_year = 1869

| died_year = 1930

| term_start = 1 May 1921

| term_end = 31 October 1921

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1921|05|01|1921|10|31}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 12

| image = Kumazo Shirane.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Shirane Kumazō|ja|白根熊三}}
白根熊三

| officeholder_sort = Shirane, Kumazo

| born_year = 1876

| died_year = 1939

| term_start = 1 December 1922

| term_end = 1 December 1923

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1922|12|01|1923|12|01}} year

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 13

| image = Kabayama Kanari.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Kabayama Kanari|ja|樺山可也}}
樺山可也

| officeholder_sort = Kabayama, Kanari

| born_year = 1876

| died_year = 1932

| term_start = 1 December 1923

| term_end = 10 November 1924

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1923|12|01|1924|11|10}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 14

| image = Kanjiro Hara.jpg

| military_rank = Captain
{{Small|(when appointed)}}
Rear Admiral
{{Small|(from 1 December 1924)}}

| officeholder = {{ill|Hara Kanjirō|ja|原敢二郎}}
原敢二郎

| officeholder_sort = Hara, Kanjirō

| born_year = 1880

| died_year = 1948

| term_start = 10 November 1924

| term_end = 1 December 1925

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1924|11|10|1925|12|01}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 15

| image = Oominato Naotaro.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Ōminato Naotarō|ja|大湊直太郎}}
大湊直太郎

| officeholder_sort = Ōminato, Naotarō

| born_year = 1879

| died_year = 1958

| term_start = 1 December 1925

| term_end = 1 November 1926

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1925|12|01|1926|11|01}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 16

| image = Full Admiral Takahashi Sankichi.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Takahashi Sankichi
高橋三吉

| officeholder_sort = Takahashi, Sankichi

| born_year = 1882

| died_year = 1966

| term_start = 1 November 1926

| term_end = 1 December 1927

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1926|11|01|1927|12|01}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 17

| image = Eijiro Hamano.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Hamano Eijirō|ja|濱野英次郎}}
濱野英次郎

| officeholder_sort = Hamano, Eijirō

| born_year = 1880

| died_year = 1952

| term_start = 1 December 1927

| term_end = 10 December 1928

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1927|12|01|1928|12|10}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 18

| image = Vice Admiral Terajima Ken.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Terajima Ken
寺島健

| officeholder_sort = Terajima, Ken

| born_year = 1882

| died_year = 1972

| term_start = 10 December 1928

| term_end = 30 October 1929

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1928|12|10|1929|10|30}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 19

| image = Shiozawa kōichi.JPG

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Shiozawa Kōichi
塩沢幸一

| officeholder_sort = Shiozawa, Kōichi

| born_year = 1881

| died_year = 1943

| term_start = 30 October 1929

| term_end = 1 December 1930

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1929|10|30|1930|12|01}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 20

| image = Shimada Shigetarō.JPG

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Shimada Shigetarō
嶋田繁太郎

| officeholder_sort = Shimada, Shigetarō

| born_year = 1883

| died_year = 1976

| term_start = 1 December 1930

| term_end = 1 December 1931

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1930|12|01|1931|12|01}} year

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 21

| image = Yoshida Zengo.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Yoshida Zengo
吉田善吾

| officeholder_sort = Yoshida, Zengo

| born_year = 1885

| died_year = 1966

| term_start = 1 December 1931

| term_end = 15 September 1933

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1931|12|01|1933|09|15}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 22

| image = Toyoda Soemu.JPG

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Toyoda Soemu
豊田副武

| officeholder_sort = Toyoda, Soemu

| born_year = 1885

| died_year = 1957

| term_start = 15 September 1933

| term_end = 15 March 1935

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1933|09|15|1935|03|15}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 23

| image = Vizeadmiral Nobutake Kondo.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Kondō Nobutake
近藤信竹

| officeholder_sort = Kondō, Nobutake

| born_year = 1886

| died_year = 1953

| term_start = 15 March 1935

| term_end = 15 November 1935

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1935|03|15|1935|11|15}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 24

| image = 野村直邦.png

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Nomura Naokuni
野村直邦

| officeholder_sort = Nomura, Naokuni

| born_year = 1885

| died_year = 1973

| term_start = 15 November 1935

| term_end = 16 November 1936

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1935|11|15|1936|11|16}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 25

| image =

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Iwashita Yasutarō|ja|岩下保太郎}}
岩下保太郎

| officeholder_sort = Iwashita, Yasutarō

| born_year = 1887

| died_year = 1937

| died = y

| term_start = 16 November 1936

| term_end = 18 February 1937

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1936|11|16|1937|02|18}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 26

| image = Ozawa11.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Ozawa Jisaburō
小沢治三郎

| officeholder_sort = Ozawa, Jisaburō

| born_year = 1886

| died_year = 1966

| term_start = 18 February 1937

| term_end = 15 November 1937

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1937|02|18|1937|11|15}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 27

| image = Ibou Takahashi.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Takahashi Ibō
高橋伊望

| officeholder_sort = Takahashi, Ibō

| born_year = 1888

| died_year = 1947

| term_start = 15 November 1937

| term_end = 15 November 1939

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1937|11|15|1939|11|15}} year

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 28

| image = Fukudome Shigeru.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Fukudome Shigeru
福留繁

| officeholder_sort = Fukudome, Shigeru

| born_year = 1891

| died_year = 1971

| term_start = 15 November 1939

| term_end = 10 April 1941

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1939|11|15|1941|04|10}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 29

| image = Vice Admiral Seiichi Ito.png

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = Itō Seiichi
伊藤整一

| officeholder_sort = Itō, Seiichi

| born_year = 1890

| died_year = 1945

| term_start = 10 April 1941

| term_end = 1 August 1941

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1941|04|10|1941|08|01}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 30

| image = Ugaki Matome.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral
{{Small|(when appointed)}}
Vice Admiral
{{Small|(from 1 November 1942)}}

| officeholder = Ugaki Matome
宇垣纏

| officeholder_sort = Ugaki, Matome

| born_year = 1890

| died_year = 1945

| term_start = 1 August 1941

| term_end = 22 May 1943

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1941|08|01|1943|05|22}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 31

| image = Fukudome Shigeru.jpg

| military_rank = Vice Admiral

| officeholder = Fukudome Shigeru
福留繁

| officeholder_sort = Fukudome, Shigeru

| born_year = 1891

| died_year = 1971

| term_start = 22 May 1943

| term_end = 6 April 1944

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1943|05|22|1944|04|06}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 32

| image = RyunosukeKusaka.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral
{{Small|(when appointed)}}
Vice Admiral
{{Small|(from 1 May 1944)}}

| officeholder = Kusaka Ryūnosuke
草鹿龍之介

| officeholder_sort = Kusaka, Ryūnosuke

| born_year = 1893

| died_year = 1971

| term_start = 6 April 1944

| term_end = 24 June 1945

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1944|04|06|1945|06|24}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 33

| image = Shikazou Yano.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Yano Shikazō|ja|矢野志加三}}
矢野志加三

| officeholder_sort = Yano, Shikazō

| born_year = 1893

| died_year = 1966

| term_start = 25 June 1945

| term_end = 25 September 1945

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1945|06|25|1945|09|25}}

}}

{{Officeholder table end}}

{{Officeholder table start

| showorder = y

| showimage = y

| image_title = Portrait

| officeholder_title = Vice Chief of Staff

| showtermlenght = y

| showparty = n

| showdefencebranch = n

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 1

| image = Kengo Kobayasi.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Kobayashi Kengo|ja|小林謙五}}
小林謙五

| officeholder_sort = Kobayashi, Kengo

| born_year = 1893

| died_year = 1948

| term_start = 11 June 1943

| term_end = 10 September 1944

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1943|06|11|1944|09|10}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image = Toshitane Takada.jpg

| military_rank = Captain
{{Small|(when appointed)}}
Rear Admiral
{{Small|(from 15 October 1944)}}

| officeholder = {{ill|Takada Toshitane|ja|高田利種}}
高田利種

| officeholder_sort = Takada, Toshitane

| born_year = 1895

| died_year = 1987

| term_start = 20 September 1944

| term_end = 10 May 1945

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1944|09|20|1945|05|10}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 3

| image = Shikazou Yano.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Yano Shikazō|ja|矢野志加三}}
矢野志加三

| officeholder_sort = Yano, Shikazō

| born_year = 1893

| died_year = 1966

| term_start = 10 May 1945

| term_end = 25 June 1945

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1945|05|10|1945|06|25}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 4

| image = Hiroshi Matsubara.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Matsubara Hiroshi|ja|松原博 (海軍軍人)}}
松原博

| officeholder_sort = Matsubara, Hiroshi

| born_year = 1896

| died_year = 1965

| term_start = 10 June 1945

| term_end = 15 September 1945

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1945|06|10|1945|09|15}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 5

| image = Tomozō Kikuchi.jpg

| military_rank = Rear Admiral

| officeholder = {{ill|Kikuchi Tomozō|ja|菊池朝三}}
菊池朝三

| officeholder_sort = Kikuchi, Tomozō

| born_year = 1896

| died_year = 1988

| term_start = 25 June 1945

| term_end = 15 September 1945

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1945|06|25|1945|09|15}}

}}

{{Officeholder table end}}

• Self Defense Fleet
• 1st Air Fleet

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book

| last = D'Albas

| first = Andrieu

| year = 1965

| title = Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II

| publisher = Devin-Adair Pub

| isbn = 0-8159-5302-X

}}

• {{cite book

| last = Dull

| first = Paul S.

| year = 1978

| title = A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941–1945

| publisher = Naval Institute Press

| isbn = 0-87021-097-1

| url-access = registration

| url = https://archive.org/details/battlehistoryofi0000dull

}}

• {{cite web

| last = Nishida

| first = Hiroshi

| url = http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/ja03.htm#GF/

| title = Imperial Japanese Navy

| access-date = 2007-08-25

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130130002404/http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/ja03.htm%233F#GF/

| archive-date = 30 January 2013

| url-status = dead

}}

• {{cite web

| last = Wendel

| first = Marcus

| url = http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=7816

| title = Axis Database

| access-date = 2007-08-25

}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20121228231502/http://niehorster.orbat.com/014_japan/42-07-14_navy/_ijn.htmlWorld War II Armed Forces – Orders of Battle and Organizations]
• [http://www.combinedfleet.com/ Nihon Kaigun]

{{IJN}}

Category:Fleets of the Imperial Japanese Navy

Category:Military units and formations established in 1894

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945