The Combined Fleet (聯合艦隊, Rengō Kantai) was the main sea-going component of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Until 1933, the Combined Fleet was not a permanent organization, but a temporary force formed for the duration of a conflict or major naval maneuvers from various units normally under separate commands in peacetime.
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[1] for the duration of the first Sino-Japanese War against China.
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.
Interwar yearsedit
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.
World War IIedit
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, 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 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.
^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.
D'Albas, Andrieu (1965). Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II. Devin-Adair Pub. ISBN0-8159-5302-X.
Dull, Paul S. (1978). A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941–1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-097-1.
External linksedit
Nishida, Hiroshi. "Imperial Japanese Navy". Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
Wendel, Marcus. "Axis Database". Retrieved 25 August 2007.
Nihon Kaigun
February 16, 2024
combined, fleet, rengō, kantai, redirects, here, other, uses, this, japanese, term, rengō, kantai, disambiguation, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, in. Rengō Kantai redirects here For other uses of this Japanese term see Rengō Kantai disambiguation This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Combined Fleet 聯合艦隊 Rengō Kantai was the main sea going component of the Imperial Japanese Navy Until 1933 the Combined Fleet was not a permanent organization but a temporary force formed for the duration of a conflict or major naval maneuvers from various units normally under separate commands in peacetime Combined Fleet聯合艦隊 Rengō Kantai Rising Sun FlagActive1894 1945Country Empire of JapanAllegianceEmperor of JapanBranch Imperial Japanese NavyTypeSea going component of the Imperial Japanese NavyEngagementsFirst Sino Japanese War Russo Japanese War World War ISecond Sino Japanese War World War IICommandersNotablecommandersTōgō HeihachirōIsoroku YamamotoInsigniaIdentificationsymbolImperial Seal of Japan and Seal of the Imperial Japanese Navy Contents 1 History 1 1 Sino Japanese War 1894 95 1 2 Russo Japanese War 1904 05 1 3 Interwar years 1 4 World War II 2 Commander in Chief 司令長官 Shireichōkan 3 Chief of Staff 参謀長 Sanbōchō 4 Vice Chief of Staff 参謀副長 Sanbō fukuchō 5 See also 6 Footnotes 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Books 8 External linksHistory editSino Japanese War 1894 95 edit 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 1 for the duration of the first Sino Japanese War against China Russo Japanese War 1904 05 edit nbsp Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō 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 Interwar years edit 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 World War II edit nbsp Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto 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 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 Commander in Chief 司令長官 Shireichōkan editNo Portrait Commander in Chief Took office Left office Time in office1 nbsp Itō Sukeyuki Vice AdmiralItō Sukeyuki伊藤祐亨 1843 1914 18 July 189411 May 1895297 days2 nbsp Arichi Shinanojō Vice AdmiralArichi Shinanojō a 有地品之允 1843 1919 11 May 189516 November 1895 b 189 days3 nbsp Tōgō Heihachirō Vice Admiral when appointed Admiral from 6 June 1904 Tōgō Heihachirō東郷平八郎 1848 1934 28 December 190320 December 1905 c 1 year 357 days4 nbsp Ijuin Gorō Vice AdmiralBaron Ijuin Gorō伊集院五郎 1852 1921 8 October 190820 November 190843 days5 nbsp Yoshimatsu Shigetarō Vice AdmiralYoshimatsu Shigetarō ja 吉松茂太郎 1859 1935 1 November 191513 December 191542 days 5 nbsp Yoshimatsu Shigetarō Vice AdmiralYoshimatsu Shigetarō ja 吉松茂太郎 1859 1935 1 September 191614 October 191643 days 5 nbsp Yoshimatsu Shigetarō AdmiralYoshimatsu Shigetarō ja 吉松茂太郎 1859 1935 1 October 191722 October 191721 days6 nbsp Yamashita Gentarō AdmiralYamashita Gentarō山下源太郎 1863 1931 1 September 191815 October 191844 days 6 nbsp Yamashita Gentarō AdmiralYamashita Gentarō山下源太郎 1863 1931 1 June 191928 October 1919149 days7 nbsp Yamaya Tanin AdmiralYamaya Tanin山屋他人 1866 1940 1 May 192024 August 1920115 days8 nbsp Tochinai Sojirō AdmiralTochinai Sojirō ja 栃内曽次郎 1866 1932 24 August 192031 October 192068 days 8 nbsp Tochinai Sojirō AdmiralTochinai Sojirō ja 栃内曽次郎 1866 1932 1 May 192131 October 1921183 days9 nbsp Takeshita Isamu Vice Admiral when appointed Admiral from 3 August 1923 Takeshita Isamu竹下勇 1870 1949 1 December 1922 d 27 January 19241 year 57 days10 nbsp AdmiralKantarō Suzuki鈴木貫太郎 1868 1948 27 January 19241 December 1924309 days11 nbsp Okada Keisuke AdmiralOkada Keisuke岡田啓介 1868 1952 1 December 192410 December 19262 years 9 days12 nbsp Katō Hiroharu Vice Admiral when appointed Admiral from 1 April 1927 Katō Hiroharu加藤寛治 1870 1939 10 December 192610 December 19282 years13 nbsp Taniguchi Naomi AdmiralTaniguchi Naomi ja 谷口尚真 1870 1941 10 December 192811 November 1929336 days14 nbsp Yamamoto Eisuke Vice Admiral when appointed Admiral from 1 March 1931 Yamamoto Eisuke ja 山本英輔 1876 1962 11 November 19291 December 19312 years 20 days15 nbsp Kobayashi Seizō Vice Admiral when appointed Admiral from 1 April 1933 Kobayashi Seizō小林躋造 1877 1962 1 December 193115 November 19331 year 349 days16 nbsp Suetsugu Nobumasa Vice Admiral when appointed Admiral from 30 March 1934 Suetsugu Nobumasa末次信正 1880 1944 15 November 193315 November 19341 year17 nbsp Takahashi Sankichi Vice Admiral when appointed Admiral from 1 April 1936 Takahashi Sankichi高橋三吉 1882 1966 15 November 19341 December 19362 years 16 days18 nbsp Yonai Mitsumasa Vice AdmiralYonai Mitsumasa米内光政 1880 1948 1 December 19362 February 193763 days19 nbsp Nagano Osami AdmiralNagano Osami永野修身 1880 1947 2 February 19371 December 1937302 days20 nbsp Yoshida Zengo Vice AdmiralYoshida Zengo吉田善吾 1885 1966 1 December 193730 August 19391 year 272 days21 nbsp Yamamoto Isoroku Vice Admiral when appointed Admiral from 15 November 1940 e Yamamoto Isoroku山本五十六 1884 1943 30 August 193918 April 1943 f 3 years 231 days22 nbsp Koga Mineichi Admiral g Koga Mine ichi古賀峯一 1885 1944 21 May 194331 March 1944 h 315 days23 nbsp Toyoda Soemu AdmiralToyoda Soemu豊田副武 1885 1957 3 May 194429 May 19451 year 26 days24 nbsp Ozawa Jisaburō Vice Admiral i Ozawa Jisaburō小沢治三郎 1886 1966 29 May 194510 October 1945 j 134 daysChief of Staff 参謀長 Sanbōchō editNo Portrait Chief of Staff Took office Left office Time in office1 nbsp Samejima Kazunori CaptainSamejima Kazunori鮫島員規 1845 1910 19 July 189417 December 1894151 days2 nbsp Dewa Shigetō CaptainDewa Shigetō出羽重遠 1856 1930 17 December 189425 July 1895220 days3 nbsp Kamimura Hikonojō CaptainKamimura Hikonojō上村彦之丞 1849 1916 25 July 189516 November 1895114 days4 nbsp Shimamura Hayao CaptainShimamura Hayao島村速雄 1858 1923 28 December 190312 January 19051 year 15 days5 nbsp Katō Tomosaburō Rear AdmiralKatō Tomosaburō加藤友三郎 1861 1923 12 January 190520 December 1905342 days6 nbsp Yamashita Gentarō CaptainYamashita Gentarō山下源太郎 1863 1931 8 October 190820 November 190843 days7 nbsp Yamanaka Shibakichi Rear AdmiralYamanaka Shibakichi ja 山中柴吉 1870 1941 1 November 191513 December 191542 days8 nbsp Horiuchi Saburō Vice AdmiralHoriuchi Saburō ja 堀内三郎 1869 1933 1 September 191614 October 191643 days 8 nbsp Horiuchi Saburō Vice AdmiralHoriuchi Saburō ja 堀内三郎 1869 1933 1 October 191722 October 191721 days9 nbsp Saitō Hanroku Rear AdmiralSaitō Hanroku ja 斎藤半六 1869 1952 1 September 191815 October 191844 days10 nbsp Funakoshi Kajishirō Rear AdmiralFunakoshi Kajishirō ja 舟越楫四郎 1870 1962 1 June 191928 October 1919149 days11 nbsp Yoshioka Hansaku Rear AdmiralYoshioka Hansaku吉岡範策 1869 1930 1 May 192031 October 1920183 days 11 nbsp Yoshioka Hansaku Rear AdmiralYoshioka Hansaku吉岡範策 1869 1930 1 May 192131 October 1921183 days12 nbsp Shirane Kumazo Rear AdmiralShirane Kumazō ja 白根熊三 1876 1939 1 December 19221 December 19231 year13 nbsp Kabayama Kanari Rear AdmiralKabayama Kanari ja 樺山可也 1876 1932 1 December 192310 November 1924345 days14 nbsp Hara Kanjirō CaptainHara Kanjirō ja 原敢二郎 1880 1948 10 November 19241 December 19251 year 21 days15 nbsp Ōminato Naotarō Rear AdmiralŌminato Naotarō ja 大湊直太郎 1879 1958 1 December 19251 November 1926335 days16 nbsp Takahashi Sankichi Rear AdmiralTakahashi Sankichi高橋三吉 1882 1966 1 November 19261 December 19271 year 30 days17 nbsp Hamano Eijirō Rear AdmiralHamano Eijirō ja 濱野英次郎 1880 1952 1 December 192710 December 19281 year 9 days18 nbsp Terajima Ken Rear AdmiralTerajima Ken寺島健 1882 1972 10 December 192830 October 1929324 days19 nbsp Shiozawa Kōichi Rear AdmiralShiozawa Kōichi塩沢幸一 1881 1943 30 October 19291 December 19301 year 32 days20 nbsp Shimada Shigetarō Rear AdmiralShimada Shigetarō嶋田繁太郎 1883 1976 1 December 19301 December 19311 year21 nbsp Yoshida Zengo Rear AdmiralYoshida Zengo吉田善吾 1885 1966 1 December 193115 September 19331 year 288 days22 nbsp Toyoda Soemu Rear AdmiralToyoda Soemu豊田副武 1885 1957 15 September 193315 March 19351 year 181 days23 nbsp Kondō Nobutake Rear AdmiralKondō Nobutake近藤信竹 1886 1953 15 March 193515 November 1935245 days24 nbsp Nomura Naokuni Rear AdmiralNomura Naokuni野村直邦 1885 1973 15 November 193516 November 19361 year 1 day25 nbsp Iwashita Yasutarō Rear AdmiralIwashita Yasutarō ja 岩下保太郎 1887 1937 16 November 193618 February 1937 94 days26 nbsp Ozawa Jisaburō Rear AdmiralOzawa Jisaburō小沢治三郎 1886 1966 18 February 193715 November 1937270 days27 nbsp Takahashi Ibō Rear AdmiralTakahashi Ibō高橋伊望 1888 1947 15 November 193715 November 19392 year28 nbsp Fukudome Shigeru Rear AdmiralFukudome Shigeru福留繁 1891 1971 15 November 193910 April 19411 year 146 days29 nbsp Itō Seiichi Rear AdmiralItō Seiichi伊藤整一 1890 1945 10 April 19411 August 1941113 days30 nbsp Ugaki Matome Rear Admiral when appointed Vice Admiral from 1 November 1942 Ugaki Matome宇垣纏 1890 1945 1 August 194122 May 19431 year 294 days31 nbsp Fukudome Shigeru Vice AdmiralFukudome Shigeru福留繁 1891 1971 22 May 19436 April 1944320 days32 nbsp Kusaka Ryunosuke Rear Admiral when appointed Vice Admiral from 1 May 1944 Kusaka Ryunosuke草鹿龍之介 1893 1971 6 April 194424 June 19451 year 79 days33 nbsp Yano Shikazō Rear AdmiralYano Shikazō ja 矢野志加三 1893 1966 25 June 194525 September 194592 daysVice Chief of Staff 参謀副長 Sanbō fukuchō editNo Portrait Vice Chief of Staff Took office Left office Time in office1 nbsp Kobayashi Kengo Rear AdmiralKobayashi Kengo小林謙五 1893 1948 11 June 194310 September 19441 year 91 days2 nbsp Takada Toshitane Captain when appointed Rear Admiral from 15 October 1944 Takada Toshitane高田利種 1895 1987 20 September 194410 May 1945232 days3 nbsp Matsubara Hiroshi Rear AdmiralMatsubara Hiroshi松原博 1896 1965 10 June 194515 September 194597 days4 nbsp Kikuchi Tomozō Rear AdmiralKikuchi Tomozō菊池朝三 1896 1988 25 June 194515 September 194582 daysSee also editSelf Defense Fleet 1st Air FleetFootnotes edit Created Baron on 5 June 1896 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 Fleet dissolved Fleet recreated as permanent entity given direct command over 1st Fleet Promoted posthumously to Marshal Admiral 1st Fleet separated from direct command on 11 August 1941 Promoted posthumously to Marshal Admiral Killed in action when Kawanishi H8K Emily flying boat crashed during a typhoon between Palau and Davao Refused promotion to Admiral Fleet surrendered References editNotes edit Combined Fleet Books edit D Albas Andrieu 1965 Death of a Navy Japanese Naval Action in World War II Devin Adair Pub ISBN 0 8159 5302 X Dull Paul S 1978 A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1941 1945 Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 097 1 External links editNishida Hiroshi Imperial Japanese Navy Archived from the original on 30 January 2013 Retrieved 25 August 2007 Wendel Marcus Axis Database Retrieved 25 August 2007 World War II Armed Forces Orders of Battle and Organizations Nihon Kaigun Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Combined Fleet amp oldid 1174128414, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
