China Area Fleet

Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy

China Area Fleet

Active| 20 October 1937 – 9 September 1945
Country|  Empire of Japan
Branch|  Imperial Japanese Navy
Battle honours| Pacific Theatre of World War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders| Shigetarō Shimada
Mineichi Koga

Military unit

The China Area Fleet (支那方面艦隊, Shina Hōmen Kantai) was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy organized after the Battle of Shanghai. It reported directly to the Imperial General Headquarters and had the same organizational level as the Combined Fleet. This article handles their predecessor fleet the Southern Qing Fleet (南清艦隊, Nanshin Kantai), China Expeditionary Fleet (遣支艦隊, Kenshi Kantai) and 1st/2nd Expeditionary Fleet (第一/第二遣外艦隊, Daiichi/Daini Kengai Kantai) also.

## Organizations of the China Area Fleet and Subordinate Units

[edit]

### China Area Fleet

[edit]

#### Structure (extract)

[edit]

Date | Higher unit | Lower units, vessels and elements

|
|

20 October 1937 (original) | Imperial General Headquarters | 3rd Fleet, 4th Fleet,
1st Carrier Division, 2nd Carrier Division, 3rd Carrier Division, 1st Combined Air Group, 2nd Combined Air Group
1 February 1938 | Imperial General Headquarters | 3rd Fleet, 4th Fleet, 5th Fleet
15 November 1939 | Imperial General Headquarters | 1st China Expeditionary Fleet, 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet, 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet,
13th Division, 2nd Combined Air Group, Shanghai Area Base Force, Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force
10 December 1941 | Imperial General Headquarters | Coast defence ship Izumo, 1st China Expeditionary Fleet, 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet, 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet,
13th Gunboat Division, 14th Gunboat Division, 1st Motor gunboat Division, 2nd Motor gunboat Division,
Shanghai Area Base Force, Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force, Zhōushān Island Guard Unit, Shanghai Port office
1 April 1943 | Imperial General Headquarters | Cruiser Izumo, 1st China Expeditionary Fleet, 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet,
Qingdao Area Special Base Force, Shanghai Area Base Force, Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force
1 April 1944 | Imperial General Headquarters | Cruiser Izumo, 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet,
Qingdao Area Special Base Force, Shanghai Area Base Force, Yangtze River Area Base Force, Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force,
Shanghai Naval Air Group, Qingdao Naval Air Group, 256th Naval Air Group, 2nd Weather Observation Unit
1 June 1945 | Supreme Headquarters of the Navy | 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet, Qingdao Area Special Base Force, Shanghai Area Base Force, Yangtze River Area Base Force,
Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force
9 September 1945 | Surrendered.

#### Commanders of the China Area Fleet

[edit]

# | Commander-in-Chief | Dates | Previous Post | Next Post | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

1 |  | Admiral
Hasegawa Kiyoshi
長谷川清 | 20 October
1937 | 25 April
1938 | 3rd Fleet | Commander-in-chief
Yokosuka Naval District | Remained Commander-in-chief 3rd Fleet
for duration of posting.
2 |  | Vice-Admiral
Oikawa Koshirō
及川古志郎 | 25 April
1938 | 1 May
1940 | Director
Naval Aviation Bureau | Commander-in-chief
Yokosuka Naval District | Also Commander-in-chief 3rd Fleet
until 15 November 1939
Promoted to Admiral 15 November 1939
3 |  | Vice-Admiral
Shimada Shigetarō
嶋田繁太郎 | 1 May
1940 | 1 September
1941 | Commander-in-chief
Kure Naval District | Commander-in-chief
Yokosuka Naval District | Promoted to Admiral 15 November 1940
4 |  | Vice-Admiral
Koga Mineichi
古賀峯一 | 1 September
1941 | 10 November
1942 | Commander-in-chief
2nd Fleet | Commander-in-chief
Yokosuka Naval District | Promoted to Admiral 1 May 1942
5 |  | Admiral
Yoshida Zengo
吉田善吾 | 10 November
1942 | 1 December
1943 | Naval Councilor | Naval Councilor |
6 |  | Admiral
Kondō Nobutake
近藤信竹 | 1 December
1943 | 15 May
1945 | Naval Councilor | Naval Councilor |
7 |  | Vice-Admiral
Fukuda Ryōzō
福田良三 | 15 May
1945 | 9 September
1945 | Commander-in-chief
Takao Guard District |  |

* Chief of staff

# | Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post

|
|
|
|

1 | Rear-Admiral | Rokuzō Sugiyama | 20 October 1937 | Chief of staff of the 3rd Fleet
2 | Rear-Admiral | Jin'ichi Kusaka | 25 April 1938 | Chief of staff of the 3rd Fleet
3 | Rear-Admiral
Vice-Admiral | Shigeyoshi Inoue | 23 October 1939
15 November 1939 | Chief of staff of the 3rd Fleet

4 | Rear-Admiral
Vice-Admiral | Denshichi Ōkawachi | 1 October 1940
15 November 1940 |
5 | Vice-Admiral | Minoru Tayui | 16 March 1942 |
6 | Vice-Admiral | Kanji Ugaki | 1 September 1943 |
7 | Vice-Admiral | Naomasa Sakonju | 15 December 1944 |

### 1st China Expeditionary Fleet

[edit]

The 1st China Expeditionary Fleet (第一遣支艦隊, Dai-Ichi Kenshi Kantai) was reorganized from the 3rd Fleet on 15 November 1939. Their role was the guard of the coast in China at first, however, it changed for the guard in the down stream area of the Yangtze River. Describe 3rd Fleet, 1st China Expeditionary Fleet and successor unit the Yangtze River Area Base Force (揚子江方面根拠地隊, Yōsukō Hōmen Konkyochitai) in this section.

* Structure (extract)

Date | Higher unit | Unit name | Lower units, vessels and elements

|
|
|

2 February 1932 (original) | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | 3rd Fleet | Coast defence ship Izumo, Cruiser Ōi, Tatsuta,
Collier Muroto, Collier Noshima, Oiler Notoro, Naruto, Food supply ship Mamiya,
1st Expeditionary Fleet, 2nd Expeditionary Fleet, 3rd Division, 1st Carrier Division,
1st Destroyer Squadron, 26th Destroyer Division
20 October 1937 | China Area Fleet | 3rd Fleet | Coast defence ship Izumo, 11th Division, 3rd Destroyer Squadron,
Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force
15 November 1939 | China Area Fleet | 1st China Expeditionary Fleet
(renamed and reorganized) | 11th Division, Hankou Area Base Force, Jiujiang Base Unit
15 November 1940 | China Area Fleet | 1st China Expeditionary Fleet | Gunboat Ataka, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, Futami, Fushimi, Sumida,
Hankou Area Base Force
20 August 1943 | China Area Fleet | Yangtze River Area Base Force
(renamed and reorganized) | Gunboat Fushimi, Sumida, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, Futami, Suma, Tatara, Narumi,
Jiujiang Guard Unit
1 June 1945 | China Area Fleet | Yangtze River Area Base Force | Gunboat Fushimi, Sumida, 21st Gunboat Division, 22nd Gunboat Division, 23rd Gunboat Division,
24th Gunboat Division, Jiujiang Guard Unit
9 September 1945 | Surrendered.

Commanders of the 3rd Fleet

| Commander-in-Chief | Dates | Previous Post | Next Post | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

1 |  | Vice-Admiral
Nomura Kichisaburō
野村吉三郎 | 2 February
1932 | 28 June
1932 | Commander-in-chief
Yokosuka Naval District | Commander-in-chief
Yokosuka Naval District | Relieved after being blinded in eye
during the Hongkou Park bombing 29 April 1932.
2 |  | Vice-Admiral
Sakonji Seizō
左近司政三 | 28 June
1932 | 1 December
1932 |  | Commander-in-chief
Sasebo Naval District |
3 |  | Vice-Admiral
Mitsumasa Yonai
米内光政 | 1 December
1932 | 15 September
1933 | Commander
Chinkai Guard District | Attendant
Navy General Staff |
4 |  | Vice-Admiral
Imamura Nobujirō
| 15 September
1933 | 15 November
1934 |  | Commander-in-chief
Sasebo Naval District |
5 |  | Vice-Admiral
Hyakutake Gengo
百武源吾 | 15 November
1934 | 1 December
1935 | Commander-in-chief
Maizuru Guard District | Commander-in-chief
Sasebo Naval District |
6 |  | Vice-Admiral
Oikawa Koshirō
及川古志郎 | 1 December
1935 | 1 December
1936 |  | Director
Naval Aviation Bureau |
7 |  | Admiral
Hasegawa Kiyoshi
長谷川清 | 1 December
1936 | 25 April
1938 | Vice-Minister of the Navy | Commander-in-chief
Yokosuka Naval District | Also Commander-in-chief China Area Fleet
after 20 October 1937
8 |  | Vice-Admiral
Oikawa Koshirō
及川古志郎 | 25 April
1938 | 15 November
1939 | Chief
Naval Aviation Bureau | Commander-in-chief
China Area Fleet | Also Commander-in-chief China Area Fleet

Commander in chief 1st China Expeditionary Fleet and commander (Yangtze River Area Base Force)

| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post

|
|
|
|

9 | Vice-Admiral | Umatarō Tanimoto | 15 November 1939 | Commander of the 11th Division
10 | Vice-Admiral | Boshirō Hosogaya | 15 November 1940 |
11 | Vice-Admiral | Marquis Teruhisa Komatsu | 5 July 1941 |
12 | Vice-Admiral | Kakusaburō Makita | 14 February 1942 |
13 | Vice-Admiral | Yoshikazu Endō | 9 March 1943 |
14 | Vice-Admiral | Ichirō Ōno | 20 August 1943 |
15 | Vice-Admiral | Kōichirō Hatakeyama | 20 March 1944 |
16 | Vice-Admiral | Torao Sawada | 21 November 1944 |

* Chief of staff (3rd Fleet and 1st China Expeditionary Fleet)

| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post

|
|
|
|

1 | Rear-Admiral | Shigetarō Shimada | 2 February 1932 |
2 | Captain
Rear-Admiral | Shigeru Kikuno | 28 June 1932
1 December 1932 |
3 | Rear-Admiral | Seizaburō Mitsui | 1 April 1933 |
4 | Captain | Shirō Takasu | 15 November 1933 |
5 | Captain
Rear-Admiral | Eijirō Kondō | 15 November 1934
15 November 1935 |
6 | Rear-Admiral | Seiichi Iwamura | 2 December 1935 |
7 | Captain
Rear-Admiral

| Rokuzō Sugiyama | 16 November 1936
1 December 1936
20 October 1937 |

Chief of staff of the China Area Fleet
8 | Rear-Admiral | Jin'ichi Kusaka | 25 April 1938 | Chief of staff of the China Area Fleet
9 | Rear-Admiral | Shigeyoshi Inoue | 23 October 1939 | Chief of staff of the China Area Fleet
10 | Rear-Admiral | Shigenori Horiuchi | 15 November 1939 |
11 | Captain
Rear-Admiral

| Shin'ichi Ichise | 15 October 1940
15 November 1940
11 August 1941
15 January 1942 |

Commander of the Hankou Area Base Force

12 | Rear-Admiral | Gunji Kogure | 25 July 1942 |
x | Demotion to Area Base Force. | 20 August 1943 |

### 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet

[edit]

The 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet (第二遣支艦隊, Dai-Ni Kenshi Kantai) was reorganized from the 5th Fleet on 15 November 1939. The 5th Fleet was reinforcements for 3rd Fleet and 4th Fleet. Their role was the guard and invasion of South China. The 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet kept appearance of a fleet until the end of war.

* Structure (extract)

Date | Higher unit | Unit name | Lower units, vessels and elements

|
|
|

1 February 1938 (original) | China Area Fleet | 5th Fleet | 9th Division, 10th Division, 3rd Carrier Division, 4th Carrier Division, 5th Destroyer Squadron
15 December 1938 | China Area Fleet | 5th Fleet | 9th Division, 5th Destroyer Squadron, C.M. Seaplane tender Kamikawa Maru,
3rd Combined Air Group, 14th Air Group, 16th Air Group, 2nd Base Force, 3rd Base Force
15 November 1939 | China Area Fleet | 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet
(renamed and reorganized) | 15th Division, 3rd Combined Air Group, Xiamen Area Base Force, Guangdong Area Base Force, Hainan Area Base Force
10 December 1941 | China Area Fleet | 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet | 15th Division, Xiamen Base Force, Guangdong Base Force
1 January 1944 | China Area Fleet | 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet | Gunboat Saga, Hashidate, Hong Kong Special Base Force, Hong Kong Port office, Guangdong Guard Unit, Hainan Guard Unit,
254th Naval Air Group, 15th Guard Unit, 16th Guard Unit,
4th Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force, 1st Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force, 1st Maizuru Special Naval Landing Force
9 September 1945 | Surrendered.

#### Commanders of the 5th Fleet

[edit]

| Commander-in-Chief | Dates | Previous Post | Next Post | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

1 |  | Vice-Admiral
Shiozawa Kōichi
塩沢幸一 | 1 February
1938 | 15 December
1938 | Attendant
Navy General Staff | Director
Navy Technical Bureau |
2 |  | Vice-Admiral
Kondō Nobutake
近藤信竹 | 15 December
1938 | 29 September
1939 |  | Attendant
Navy General Staff |
3 |  | Vice-Admiral
Takasu Shirō
高須四郎 | 29 September
1939 | 15 November
1939 | Headmaster
Naval War College | Commander-in-chief
2nd China Expeditionary Fleet |

#### Commanders of the 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet

[edit]

| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post

|
|
|
|

3 | Vice-Admiral | Shirō Takasu | 15 November 1939 |
4 | Vice-Admiral | Yorio Sawamoto | 15 October 1940 |
5 | Vice-Admiral | Masaichi Niimi | 4 April 1941 |
6 | Vice-Admiral | Kiyoshi Hara | 14 July 1942 |
7 | Vice-Admiral | Daisuke Soejima | 21 June 1943 |
8 | Vice-Admiral | Ruitarō Fujita | 25 April 1945 |

* Chief of staff

| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post

|
|
|
|

1 | Rear-Admiral | Minoru Tayui | 1 February 1938 |
2 | Rear-Admiral | Tamon Yamaguchi | 15 December 1938 |
3 | Rear-Admiral | Chūichi Hara | 15 November 1939 |
4 | Captain
Rear-Admiral

| Yasuo Yasuba | 13 August 1941
15 October 1941
10 March 1942 |

Commander of the Hong Kong Special Base Force
5 | Captain
Rear-Admiral | Chōzaemon Obata | 1 September 1942
1 November 1942 | Commander of the Hong Kong Special Base Force
6 | Captain
Rear-Admiral | Yuzuru Ōkuma | 19 October 1943
1 May 1944 | Commander of the Hong Kong Special Base Force

### 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet

[edit]

The 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet (第三遣支艦隊, Dai-San Kenshi Kantai) was reorganized from the 4th Fleet on 15 November 1939. The 4th Fleet was reinforcements for 3rd Fleet. Their role was the guard in Bohai Sea. Describe 4th Fleet and 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet in this section. The 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet was specialization to guard unit for Qingdao and become extinct.

* Structure (extract)

Date | Higher unit | Unit name | Lower units, vessels and elements

|
|
|

20 October 1937 (original) | China Area Fleet | 4th Fleet | Cruiser Ashigara, 9th Division, 14th Division, 4th Destroyer Squadron, 5th Destroyer Squadron
15 December 1938 | China Area Fleet | 4th Fleet | 12th Division, 1st Combined Special Naval Landing Force
15 November 1939 | China Area Fleet | 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet
(renamed and reorganized) | 12th Division, Qingdao Area Special Base Force
10 December 1941 | China Area Fleet | 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet | Coast defence ship Iwate, 11th Torpedo boat Division, Qingdao Area Special Base Force
10 April 1942 | Dissolved and reorganized to Qingdao Area Special Base Force.

Commanders of the 4th Fleet

Commander-in-Chief | Dates | Previous Post | Next Post | Notes

|
|
|
|

1 |  | Vice-Admiral
Toyoda Soemu
豊田副武 | 20 October
1937 | 15 November
1938 |  | Commander-in-chief
2nd Fleet |
2 |  | Vice-Admiral
Hibino Masaharu | 15 November
1938 | 15 November
1939 |  |  |

Commanders of the 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet

| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post

|
|
|
|

3 | Vice-Admiral | Naokuni Nomura | 15 November 1939 |
4 | Vice-Admiral | Mitsumi Shimizu | 30 September 1940 |
5 | Vice-Admiral | Rokuzō Sugiyama | 5 July 1941 |
6 | Vice-Admiral | Shiro Kawase | 16 December 1941 |

* Chief of staff

| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post

|
|
|
|

1 | Captain
Rear-Admiral | Masami Kobayashi | 20 October 1937
1 December 1937 |
2 | Captain
Rear-Admiral | Arata Oka | 1 September 1938
15 November 1938 |
3 | Rear-Admiral | Takeo Tada | 15 November 1939 |
4 | Captain | Shigeji Kaneko | 8 August 1940
10 April 1941 |
Commander of the Qingdao Area Special Base Force
5 | Captain | Masaki Ogata | 24 May 1941 | Commander of the Qingdao Area Special Base Force
6 | Captain | Morikazu Ōsugi | 20 August 1941
15 January 1942 | Commander of the Qingdao Area Special Base Force
Commander of the Qingdao Area Special Base Force and Qingdao Guard Unit

## Organizations of pre-China Area Fleet

[edit]

Describe about pre-China Area Fleet in this section. The Southern Qing Fleet, China Expeditionary Fleet, 1st Expeditionary Fleet and 2nd Expeditionary Fleet were ancestor of China Area Fleet.

### Southern Qing Fleet

[edit]

The Southern Qing Fleet (南清艦隊, Nanshin Kantai) was organized after the Russo-Japanese War. They were reinforced by Xinhai Revolution in 1911, however, Beiyang Government declared neutrality in World War I. All gunboats were detained, and Southern Qing Fleet became extinct before long.

* Structure (extract)

Date | Higher unit | Unit name | Lower units, vessels and elements

|
|
|

20 December 1905 (original) | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | Southern Qing Fleet | Cruiser Takachiho, Chitose, Gunboat Uji, Sumida
22 November 1906 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | Southern Qing Fleet | Cruiser Takachiho, Akitsushima, Gunboat Uji, Sumida, Fushimi
24 December 1908 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | 3rd Fleet
(renamed) | Cruiser Akashi, Otowa, Gunboat Uji, Sumida, Fushimi
1 December 1911 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | 3rd Fleet | Cruiser Chiyoda, Niitaka, Suma, Dispatch vessel Mogami, Chihaya, Tatsuta, Gunboat Uji, Sumida, Fushimi, Toba
5 February 1915 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | 3rd Fleet | Cruiser Kasuga, Tsushima, Akitsushima
23 December 1915 | Dissolved.

* Commander

| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post

|
|
|
|

1 | Rear-Admiral | Kunikane Taketomi | 20 December 1905 |
2 | Rear-Admiral | Chikataka Tamari | 22 November 1906 |
3 | Rear-Admiral
Vice-Admiral | Izō Teragaki | 22 November 1906
1 December 1909 |
4 | Rear-Admiral | Reijirō Kawashima | 1 December 1910 |
5 | Rear-Admiral
Vice-Admiral | Matahachirō Nawa | 20 April 1912
1 December 1912 |
6 | Rear-Admiral | Mitsukane Tsuchiya | 25 March 1914 |
7 | Vice-Admiral | Takeshi Takarabe | 5 February 1915 |

* Chief of staff

| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post

|
|
|
|

1 | Captain | Hisatsune Iida | 13 September 1913
1 December 1913 | Newly established
Commanding officer of the cruiser Kasagi
x | Chief of staff was abolished. | 27 May 1914 |
2 | Commander | Yasuhira Yoshikawa | 8 August 1914 |
x | Chief of staff was abolished. | 1 December 1914 |

### China Expeditionary Fleet/1st Expeditionary Fleet

[edit]

The 1st Expeditionary Fleet (第一遣外艦隊, Dai-Ichi Kengai Kantai) was reorganized on 9 August 1919 from China Expeditionary Fleet (遣支艦隊, Kenshi Kantai). Their ancestor was 7th Division (第七戦隊, Dai-Nana Sentai) under World War I. They became 11th Division only for gunboats and became extinct.

* Structure (extract)

Date | Higher unit | Unit name | Lower units, vessels and elements

|
|
|

1 December 1917 (original) | 3rd Fleet | 7th Division | Cruiser Chitose, Gunboat Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi
10 August 1918 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | China Expeditionary Fleet
(renamed) | Cruiser Chitose, Gunboat Saga, Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi
9 August 1919 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | 1st Expeditionary Fleet
(renamed) | Cruiser Suma, Gunboat Yodo, Saga, Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi, 29th Destroyer Division
1 December 1924 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | 1st Expeditionary Fleet | Cruiser Tone, Gunboat Ataka, Saga, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi, Seta, Hira, Hozu
30 November 1929 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | 1st Expeditionary Fleet | Cruiser Hirado, Yahagi, Gunboat Ataka, Saga, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu,
Destroyer Urakaze
2 February 1932 | 3rd Fleet | 1st Expeditionary Fleet | Cruiser Hirado, Tsushima, Tenryū, Minelayer Tokiwa, Gunboat Ataka, Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi,
Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, 24th Destroyer Division, Destroyer Urakaze
20 May 1933 | 3rd Fleet | 11th Division
(renamed) | Cruiser Tsushima, Gunboat Ataka, Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu,
Atami, Futami, 24th Destroyer Division, Destroyer Urakaze
15 December 1938 | 3rd Fleet | 11th Division | Gunboat Ataka, Toba, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, Futami, Destroyer Tsuga, Kuri, Hasu,
1st Torpedo Boat Division
15 November 1939 | 1st China Expeditionary Fleet | 11th Division | Gunboat Ataka, Toba, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, Futami, Fushimi
15 November 1940 | Dissolved.

* Commander

| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post

|
|
|
|

x |  | Vacant post | 1 December 1917 |
1 | Rear-Admiral | Toyokazu Yamaoka | 15 December 1917 |
2 | Rear-Admiral
Vice-Admiral | Masujirō Yoshida | 8 November 1919
1 December 1920 |
3 | Rear-Admiral | Kenzō Kobayashi | 1 May 1922 |
4 | Rear-Admiral | Kichisaburō Nomura | 15 September 1923 |
5 | Rear-Admiral | Osami Nagano | 20 April 1925 |
6 | Rear-Admiral | Jirō Araki | 20 August 1926 |
7 | Rear-Admiral | Wataru Ugawa | 1 December 1927 |
8 | Rear-Admiral | Mitsumasa Yonai | 10 December 1928 |
9 | Rear-Admiral | Kōichi Shiozawa | 1 December 1930 |
10 | Rear-Admiral | Tsuneyoshi Sakano | 6 June 1932 |
11 | Rear-Admiral | Teijirō Sugisaka | 15 November 1933 |
12 | Rear-Admiral | Masaharu Hibino | 2 December 1935 |
13 | Rear-Admiral | Umatarō Tanimoto | 1 December 1936 |
14 | Rear-Admiral | Eijirō Kondō | 1 December 1937 |
15 | Rear-Admiral | Rokuzō Sugiyama | 15 December 1938 |
16 | Vice-Admiral | Umatarō Tanimoto | 15 November 1939 | Commander in chief of the 1st China Expeditionary Fleet

### 2nd Expeditionary Fleet

[edit]

The 2nd Expeditionary Fleet (第二遣外艦隊, Dai-Ni Kengai Kantai) was organized on 16 May 1927 for reinforcements for 1st Expeditionary Fleet. Their role was the guard of Northern China.

* Structure (extract)

Date | Higher unit | Lower units, vessels and elements

|
|

16 May 1927 (original) | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | Cruiser Hirado, Tsushima, 9th Destroyer Division
2 February 1932 | 3rd Fleet | Cruiser Kuma, Coast defence ship Yakumo, 13th Destroyer Division, 16th Destroyer Division
20 April 1933 | Dissolved.

* Commander

| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post

|
|
|
|

1 | Rear-Admiral | Susumu Nakajima | 16 May 1927 |
2 | Rear-Admiral | Kin'ichi Mukōda | 1 April 1928 |
3 | Rear-Admiral | Kiyohiro Ijichi | 10 December 1928 |
4 | Rear-Admiral | Shizue Tsuda | 21 May 1930 |

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Naval Minister's Secretariat/Ministry of the Navy (keep by "Japan Center for Asian Historical Records (JACAR)"., National Archives of Japan)
* Monograph: Year of 1900 - Extract of naval war history of Qing Incident, each volume
* Fleet boat division organization and warship torpedo boat deployment, each volume
* Vessels boat service list, each volume
* Senshi Sōsho each volume, Asagumo Simbun (Japan)
* Rekishi Dokuhon, Special issue No. 33 Overview of admirals of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Shin-Jinbutsuōraisha, 1999
* The Japanese Modern Historical Manuscripts Association, Organizations, structures and personnel affairs of the Imperial Japanese Army & Navy, University of Tokyo Press, 1971 ISBN 978-4-13-036009-8
* The Maru Special series each volume, "Ushio Shobō". (Japan)
* Ships of the World series each volume, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan)

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Area Fleet|

* China
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Fleet|

* 1
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* 9
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Expeditionary Fleet|

* China
* Southern

Battleship Division|

* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5

Cruiser Division|

* 2
* 3
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* 5
* 6
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Carrier Divisions|

* 1
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* 50
* 51

Seaplane Tender Division|

* 6
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* 11
* 12
* 17

Destroyer Squadron|

* 1
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* 10
* 11
* 31

Submarine Squadron|

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* 11

Minelayer Squadron|

* 17
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Escort ship Squadron|

* 51
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