World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations

Last Updated 03.11.2006

Commanders of Fleets
In cooperation with Jeff Donahoo

1st Fleet (also known as Main Force) Headquarters: Hiroshima, Japan       • V.Adm Takasu Shiro (35) 11.08.41 – 14.07.42       • V.Adm Shimuzu Mitsumi (36) 14.007.42 – 20.10.43       • V.Adm Nagumo Chuichi (36) 20.10.43 – 25.02.44 Combined Fleet: 09.41 – 25.02.44 (deactivated)

2nd Fleet (also known as Scouting Force) Headquarters: Hainan, China       • V.Adm (02.04.43 Adm.) Kondo Nobutake (35) 01.09.41 – 09.08.43       • V.Adm Kurita Takao (38) 09.08.43 – 23.12.44       • *V.Adm Ito Seiichi (39) 23.12.44 – 07.04.45 Combined Fleet: 09.41 – 30.04.45 (deactivated)

3rd Fleet (I) (also known as Blockade Force) Headquarters: Formosa       • V.Adm Takahashi Ibo (36) 10.04.41 – 10.03.42 Combined Fleet: 10.04.41 – 10.03.42 renamed 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet 10.03.42

3rd Fleet (II) activated 14.07.42 (from 1st Air Fleet)       • V.Adm Nagumo Chuichi (36) 14.07.42 – 11.11.42       • V.Adm Ozawa Jisaburo (37) 11.11.42 – 01.04.44 Combined Fleet: 14.07.42 – 01.04.44 renamed Mobile Fleet 01.04.44

4th Fleet (I) (also known as Inner South Seas Force) Headquarters: Truk, East Carolines activated: 15.11.39       • V.Adm Inoue Shigeyoshi (37) 11.08.41 – 26.10.42       • V.Adm Samejima Tomoshige (37) 26.10.42 – 01.04.43       • V.Adm Kobayashi Masashi (38) 01.04.43 – 19.02.44       • V.Adm Hara Chuichi (39) 19.02.44 – 04.03.44 Combined Fleet: 09.41 – 04.03.44 (deactivated)

4th Fleet (II) activated 18.07.44       • ? 18.07.44 – 09.45 Combined Fleet: 18.07.44 – 09.45

5th Fleet (also known as North Pacific Force) Headquarters: Maizuru, Japan       • V.Adm Hosagaya Boshiro (36) 25.07.41 – 01.04.43       • V.Adm Kawase Shiro (38) 01.04.43 – 15.02.44       • V.Adm Shima Kiyohide (39) 15.02.44 – 20.06.45 Combined Fleet: 25.07.41 – 05.08.43 North East Area Fleet: 05.08.43 –50.12.44 South West Area Fleet: 05.12.44 – 20.01.45 10th Area Fleet: 20.01.45 – 20.06.45 (deactivated)

6th Fleet (also known as Vanguard Force) Headquarters: Kwajalein, Marshalls       • V.Adm Shimizu Mitsumi (36) 21.07.41 – 16.03.42       • V.Adm Komatsu Teruhisa (37) 16.03.42 – 21.06.43       • *V.Adm Takegi Takeo (39) 21.06.43 – 08.07.44       • V.Adm Miwa Shigeyoshi (39) 10.07.44 – 01.05.45       • V.Adm Daigo Tadashige (40) 01.05.45 – 15.09.45 Combined Fleet: 21.07.41 – 15.09.45

7th Fleet activated 10.04.45       • V.Adm Kishi Fukuji (40) 15.04.45 – 20.08.45       • V.Adm Omori Sentaro (41) 20.08.45 – 15.09.45 Combined Fleet: 10.04.45 – 09.45

8th Fleet Headquarters: Rabaul, New Britain, New Guinea activated 14.07.42       • V.Adm Mikawa Guinchi (38) 14.07.42 – 01.04.43       • V.Adm Samejima Tomoshige (37) 01.04.43 – 09.45 Combined Fleet 14.07.42 – 24.12.42 Southeast Area Fleet 24.12.42 – 09.45

9th Fleet Headquarters: Hollandia, New Guinea activated 15.11.43       • *V.Adm Endo Yoshikazu (39) 15.11.43 – 03.05.44       • ? 03.05.44 – 10.07.44 South East Area Fleet: 15.11.43 – 25.03.44 South West Area Fleet: 25.03.44 – 10.07.44 (deactivated)

Mobile Fleet activated: 01.04.44 (from 3rd Fleet (II))       • V.Adm Ozawa Jisaburo (37) 01.04.44 – 15.11.44 Combined Fleet: 01.04.44 – 15.11.44

1st China Fleet       • V.Adm Komatsu Teruhisa (37) 05.07.41 – 14.02.42       • V.Adm Makita Kakusaburo (38) 14.02.42 – 09.03.43       • V.Adm Endo Yoshikazu (39) 09.03.43 – 20.08.43 China Area Fleet: 12.41 – 20.08.43 (deactivated)

2nd China Fleet       • V.Adm Niimi Masaichi (36) 01.04.41 – 14.07.42       • V.Adm Hara Kiyoshi (38) 14.07.42 – 21.06.43       • V.Adm Soejima Daisuke (38) 21.06.43 – 25.04.45       • V.Adm Fujita Ruitaro (38) 25.04.45 – 09.45 China Area Fleet: 12.41 – 09.45

3rd China Fleet       • V.Adm Sugiyama Rokuzo (38) 05.07.41 – 26.12.41       • V.Adm Kawase Shiro (38) 26.12.41 – 10.04.42 China Area Fleet: 12.41 – 10.12.42 (deactivated)

South Expeditionary Fleet       • V.Adm Ozawa Jisaburo (37) 12.41 – 10.01.42 Combined Fleet: 12.41 – 10.01.42 renamed 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet: 10.01.42

1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet (also known as Malay Force) activated: 10.01.42 (from Southern Expeditionary Fleet)       • V.Adm Ozawa Jisaburo (37) 10.01.41 – 14.07.42       • V.Adm Okawauchi Denshichi (37) 07.42 – 03.43       • V.Adm Edo Yoshikazu (39) 03.43 – 09.43       • V.Adm Tayui Minoru (39) 09.43 – 01.45       • V.Adm Fukudome Shigeru (40) 01.45 – Combined Fleet: 10.01.42 – 10.04.42 South West Area Fleet: 10.04.42 – 05.02.45 10th Area Fleet: 05.02.45 – 09.45

2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet (also known as Durch Indies Force) activated 10.03.42       • V.Adm Takahashi Ibo (36) 10.03.42 – 15.09.42       • V.Adm Takasu Shiro (35) 15.09.42 – 15.04.43       • V.Adm Iwamura Seiichi (37) 15.04.43 – 03.09.43       • V.Adm Mikawa Guichi (38) 03.09.43 – 18.06.44       • V.Adm Kawase Shiro (38) 1806.44 – 29.01.45       • V.Adm Shibata Yaichiro (40) 29.01.45 – 09.45 Combined Fleet: 10.03.42 – 10.04.42 South West Area Fleet: 10.04.42 – 05.02.45 05.02.45 – 09.45

3rd Southern Expeditionary Fleet (also known as Philippine Force) activated 03.01.42       • V.Adm Sugiyama Rokuzo (38) 03.01.42 – 01.12.42       • V.Adm Ota Taiji (37) 01.12.42 – 20.09.43       • V.Adm Oka Arata (40) 20.09.43 – 15.08.44       • V.Adm Mikawa Gunichi (38) 15.08.44 – 01.11.44       • V.Adm Okawauchi Denshichi (37) 01.11.44 – 09.45 Combined Fleet: 01.03.42 – 10.04.45 South West ARea Fleet: 10.04.42 – 05.02.45 10th Area Fleet: 05.02.45 – 09.45

4th Southern Expeditionary Fleet activated 30.11.43       • V.Adm Yamagata Seigo (39) 30.11.43 – 10.03.45 Soth West Area Fleet: 30.11.43 – 05.02.45 10th Area Fleet: 05.02.45 – 10.03.45 (deactivated)