China Area Fleet
Active20 October 1937 9 September 1945
Country Empire of Japan
Branch Imperial Japanese Navy
Battle honoursPacific Theatre of World War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Shigetarō Shimada
Mineichi Koga

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

China Area Fleet

Structure (extract)

DateHigher unitLower units, vessels and elements
20 October 1937 (original)Imperial General Headquarters3rd Fleet, 4th Fleet,
1st Carrier Division, 2nd Carrier Division, 3rd Carrier Division, 1st Combined Air Group, 2nd Combined Air Group
1 February 1938Imperial General Headquarters3rd Fleet, 4th Fleet, 5th Fleet
15 November 1939Imperial General Headquarters1st 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 1941Imperial General HeadquartersCoast 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 1943Imperial General HeadquartersCruiser 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 1944Imperial General HeadquartersCruiser 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 1945Supreme Headquarters of the Navy2nd China Expeditionary Fleet, Qingdao Area Special Base Force, Shanghai Area Base Force, Yangtze River Area Base Force,
Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force
9 September 1945Surrendered.

Commanders of the China Area Fleet

#Commander-in-ChiefDatesPrevious PostNext PostNotes
1Admiral
Hasegawa Kiyoshi
長谷川清
20 October
1937
25 April
1938
3rd FleetCommander-in-chief
Yokosuka Naval District
Remained Commander-in-chief 3rd Fleet
for duration of posting.
2Vice-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
3Vice-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
4Vice-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
5Admiral
Yoshida Zengo
吉田善吾
10 November
1942
1 December
1943
Naval CouncilorNaval Councilor
6Admiral
Kondō Nobutake
近藤信竹
1 December
1943
15 May
1945
Naval CouncilorNaval Councilor
7Vice-Admiral
Fukuda Ryōzō
福田良三
15 May
1945
9 September
1945
Commander-in-chief
Takao Guard District
  • Chief of staff
#RankNameDateNote, additional post
1Rear-AdmiralRokuzō Sugiyama20 October 1937Chief of staff of the 3rd Fleet
2Rear-AdmiralJin'ichi Kusaka25 April 1938Chief of staff of the 3rd Fleet
3Rear-Admiral
Vice-Admiral
Shigeyoshi Inoue23 October 1939
15 November 1939
Chief of staff of the 3rd Fleet

4Rear-Admiral
Vice-Admiral
Denshichi Ōkawachi1 October 1940
15 November 1940
5Vice-AdmiralMinoru Tayui16 March 1942
6Vice-AdmiralKanji Ugaki1 September 1943
7Vice-AdmiralNaomasa Sakonju15 December 1944

1st China Expeditionary Fleet

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)
DateHigher unitUnit nameLower units, vessels and elements
2 February 1932 (original)Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff3rd FleetCoast 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 1937China Area Fleet3rd FleetCoast defence ship Izumo, 11th Division, 3rd Destroyer Squadron,
Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force
15 November 1939China Area Fleet1st China Expeditionary Fleet
(renamed and reorganized)
11th Division, Hankou Area Base Force, Jiujiang Base Unit
15 November 1940China Area Fleet1st China Expeditionary FleetGunboat Ataka, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, Futami, Fushimi, Sumida,
Hankou Area Base Force
20 August 1943China Area FleetYangtze River Area Base Force
(renamed and reorganized)
Gunboat Fushimi, Sumida, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, Futami, Suma, Tatara, Narumi,
Jiujiang Guard Unit
1 June 1945China Area FleetYangtze River Area Base ForceGunboat Fushimi, Sumida, 21st Gunboat Division, 22nd Gunboat Division, 23rd Gunboat Division,
24th Gunboat Division, Jiujiang Guard Unit
9 September 1945Surrendered.

Commanders of the 3rd Fleet

Commander-in-ChiefDatesPrevious PostNext PostNotes
1Vice-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.
2Vice-Admiral
Sakonji Seizō
左近司政三
28 June
1932
1 December
1932
Commander-in-chief
Sasebo Naval District
3Vice-Admiral
Mitsumasa Yonai
米内光政
1 December
1932
15 September
1933
Commander
Chinkai Guard District
Attendant
Navy General Staff
4Vice-Admiral
Imamura Nobujirō
15 September
1933
15 November
1934
Commander-in-chief
Sasebo Naval District
5Vice-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
6Vice-Admiral
Oikawa Koshirō
及川古志郎
1 December
1935
1 December
1936
Director
Naval Aviation Bureau
7Admiral
Hasegawa Kiyoshi
長谷川清
1 December
1936
25 April
1938
Vice-Minister of the NavyCommander-in-chief
Yokosuka Naval District
Also Commander-in-chief China Area Fleet
after 20 October 1937
8Vice-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)

RankNameDateNote, additional post
9Vice-AdmiralUmatarō Tanimoto15 November 1939Commander of the 11th Division
10Vice-AdmiralBoshirō Hosogaya15 November 1940
11Vice-AdmiralMarquis Teruhisa Komatsu5 July 1941
12Vice-AdmiralKakusaburō Makita14 February 1942
13Vice-AdmiralYoshikazu Endō9 March 1943
14Vice-AdmiralIchirō Ōno20 August 1943
15Vice-AdmiralKōichirō Hatakeyama20 March 1944
16Vice-AdmiralTorao Sawada21 November 1944
  • Chief of staff (3rd Fleet and 1st China Expeditionary Fleet)
RankNameDateNote, additional post
1Rear-AdmiralShigetarō Shimada2 February 1932
2Captain
Rear-Admiral
Shigeru Kikuno28 June 1932
1 December 1932
3Rear-AdmiralSeizaburō Mitsui1 April 1933
4CaptainShirō Takasu15 November 1933
5Captain
Rear-Admiral
Eijirō Kondō15 November 1934
15 November 1935
6Rear-AdmiralSeiichi Iwamura2 December 1935
7Captain
Rear-Admiral

Rokuzō Sugiyama16 November 1936
1 December 1936
20 October 1937


Chief of staff of the China Area Fleet
8Rear-AdmiralJin'ichi Kusaka25 April 1938Chief of staff of the China Area Fleet
9Rear-AdmiralShigeyoshi Inoue23 October 1939Chief of staff of the China Area Fleet
10Rear-AdmiralShigenori Horiuchi15 November 1939
11Captain
Rear-Admiral


Shin'ichi Ichise15 October 1940
15 November 1940
11 August 1941
15 January 1942


Commander of the Hankou Area Base Force

12Rear-AdmiralGunji Kogure25 July 1942
xDemotion to Area Base Force.20 August 1943

2nd China Expeditionary Fleet

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)
DateHigher unitUnit nameLower units, vessels and elements
1 February 1938 (original)China Area Fleet5th Fleet9th Division, 10th Division, 3rd Carrier Division, 4th Carrier Division, 5th Destroyer Squadron
15 December 1938China Area Fleet5th Fleet9th 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 1939China Area Fleet2nd 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 1941China Area Fleet2nd China Expeditionary Fleet15th Division, Xiamen Base Force, Guangdong Base Force
1 January 1944China Area Fleet2nd China Expeditionary FleetGunboat 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 1945Surrendered.

Commanders of the 5th Fleet

Commander-in-ChiefDatesPrevious PostNext PostNotes
1Vice-Admiral
Shiozawa Kōichi
塩沢幸一
1 February
1938
15 December
1938
Attendant
Navy General Staff
Director
Navy Technical Bureau
2Vice-Admiral
Kondō Nobutake
近藤信竹
15 December
1938
29 September
1939
Attendant
Navy General Staff
3Vice-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

RankNameDateNote, additional post
3Vice-AdmiralShirō Takasu15 November 1939
4Vice-AdmiralYorio Sawamoto15 October 1940
5Vice-AdmiralMasaichi Niimi4 April 1941
6Vice-AdmiralKiyoshi Hara14 July 1942
7Vice-AdmiralDaisuke Soejima21 June 1943
8Vice-AdmiralRuitarō Fujita25 April 1945
  • Chief of staff
RankNameDateNote, additional post
1Rear-AdmiralMinoru Tayui1 February 1938
2Rear-AdmiralTamon Yamaguchi15 December 1938
3Rear-AdmiralChūichi Hara15 November 1939
4Captain
Rear-Admiral

Yasuo Yasuba13 August 1941
15 October 1941
10 March 1942


Commander of the Hong Kong Special Base Force
5Captain
Rear-Admiral
Chōzaemon Obata1 September 1942
1 November 1942
Commander of the Hong Kong Special Base Force
6Captain
Rear-Admiral
Yuzuru Ōkuma19 October 1943
1 May 1944
Commander of the Hong Kong Special Base Force

3rd China Expeditionary Fleet

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)
DateHigher unitUnit nameLower units, vessels and elements
20 October 1937 (original)China Area Fleet4th FleetCruiser Ashigara, 9th Division, 14th Division, 4th Destroyer Squadron, 5th Destroyer Squadron
15 December 1938China Area Fleet4th Fleet12th Division, 1st Combined Special Naval Landing Force
15 November 1939China Area Fleet3rd China Expeditionary Fleet
(renamed and reorganized)
12th Division, Qingdao Area Special Base Force
10 December 1941China Area Fleet3rd China Expeditionary FleetCoast defence ship Iwate, 11th Torpedo boat Division, Qingdao Area Special Base Force
10 April 1942Dissolved and reorganized to Qingdao Area Special Base Force.

Commanders of the 4th Fleet

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

Commanders of the 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet

RankNameDateNote, additional post
3Vice-AdmiralNaokuni Nomura15 November 1939
4Vice-AdmiralMitsumi Shimizu30 September 1940
5Vice-AdmiralRokuzō Sugiyama5 July 1941
6Vice-AdmiralShiro Kawase16 December 1941
  • Chief of staff
RankNameDateNote, additional post
1Captain
Rear-Admiral
Masami Kobayashi20 October 1937
1 December 1937
2Captain
Rear-Admiral
Arata Oka1 September 1938
15 November 1938
3Rear-AdmiralTakeo Tada15 November 1939
4CaptainShigeji Kaneko8 August 1940
10 April 1941

Commander of the Qingdao Area Special Base Force
5CaptainMasaki Ogata24 May 1941Commander of the Qingdao Area Special Base Force
6CaptainMorikazu Ōsugi20 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

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

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)
DateHigher unitUnit nameLower units, vessels and elements
20 December 1905 (original)Imperial Japanese Navy General StaffSouthern Qing FleetCruiser Takachiho, Chitose, Gunboat Uji, Sumida
22 November 1906Imperial Japanese Navy General StaffSouthern Qing FleetCruiser Takachiho, Akitsushima, Gunboat Uji, Sumida, Fushimi
24 December 1908Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff3rd Fleet
(renamed)
Cruiser Akashi, Otowa, Gunboat Uji, Sumida, Fushimi
1 December 1911Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff3rd FleetCruiser Chiyoda, Niitaka, Suma, Dispatch vessel Mogami, Chihaya, Tatsuta, Gunboat Uji, Sumida, Fushimi, Toba
5 February 1915Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff3rd FleetCruiser Kasuga, Tsushima, Akitsushima
23 December 1915Dissolved.
  • Commander
RankNameDateNote, additional post
1Rear-AdmiralKunikane Taketomi20 December 1905
2Rear-AdmiralChikataka Tamari22 November 1906
3Rear-Admiral
Vice-Admiral
Izō Teragaki22 November 1906
1 December 1909
4Rear-AdmiralReijirō Kawashima1 December 1910
5Rear-Admiral
Vice-Admiral
Matahachirō Nawa20 April 1912
1 December 1912
6Rear-AdmiralMitsukane Tsuchiya25 March 1914
7Vice-AdmiralTakeshi Takarabe5 February 1915
  • Chief of staff
RankNameDateNote, additional post
1CaptainHisatsune Iida13 September 1913
1 December 1913
Newly established
Commanding officer of the cruiser Kasagi
xChief of staff was abolished.27 May 1914
2CommanderYasuhira Yoshikawa8 August 1914
xChief of staff was abolished.1 December 1914

China Expeditionary Fleet/1st Expeditionary Fleet

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)
DateHigher unitUnit nameLower units, vessels and elements
1 December 1917 (original)3rd Fleet7th DivisionCruiser Chitose, Gunboat Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi
10 August 1918Imperial Japanese Navy General StaffChina Expeditionary Fleet
(renamed)
Cruiser Chitose, Gunboat Saga, Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi
9 August 1919Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff1st Expeditionary Fleet
(renamed)
Cruiser Suma, Gunboat Yodo, Saga, Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi, 29th Destroyer Division
1 December 1924Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff1st Expeditionary FleetCruiser Tone, Gunboat Ataka, Saga, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi, Seta, Hira, Hozu
30 November 1929Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff1st Expeditionary FleetCruiser Hirado, Yahagi, Gunboat Ataka, Saga, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu,
Destroyer Urakaze
2 February 19323rd Fleet1st Expeditionary FleetCruiser Hirado, Tsushima, Tenryū, Minelayer Tokiwa, Gunboat Ataka, Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi,
Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, 24th Destroyer Division, Destroyer Urakaze
20 May 19333rd Fleet11th Division
(renamed)
Cruiser Tsushima, Gunboat Ataka, Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu,
Atami, Futami, 24th Destroyer Division, Destroyer Urakaze
15 December 19383rd Fleet11th DivisionGunboat Ataka, Toba, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, Futami, Destroyer Tsuga, Kuri, Hasu,
1st Torpedo Boat Division
15 November 19391st China Expeditionary Fleet11th DivisionGunboat Ataka, Toba, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, Futami, Fushimi
15 November 1940Dissolved.
  • Commander
RankNameDateNote, additional post
xVacant post1 December 1917
1Rear-AdmiralToyokazu Yamaoka15 December 1917
2Rear-Admiral
Vice-Admiral
Masujirō Yoshida8 November 1919
1 December 1920
3Rear-AdmiralKenzō Kobayashi1 May 1922
4Rear-AdmiralKichisaburō Nomura15 September 1923
5Rear-AdmiralOsami Nagano20 April 1925
6Rear-AdmiralJirō Araki20 August 1926
7Rear-AdmiralWataru Ugawa1 December 1927
8Rear-AdmiralMitsumasa Yonai10 December 1928
9Rear-AdmiralKōichi Shiozawa1 December 1930
10Rear-AdmiralTsuneyoshi Sakano6 June 1932
11Rear-AdmiralTeijirō Sugisaka15 November 1933
12Rear-AdmiralMasaharu Hibino2 December 1935
13Rear-AdmiralUmatarō Tanimoto1 December 1936
14Rear-AdmiralEijirō Kondō1 December 1937
15Rear-AdmiralRokuzō Sugiyama15 December 1938
16Vice-AdmiralUmatarō Tanimoto15 November 1939Commander in chief of the 1st China Expeditionary Fleet

2nd Expeditionary Fleet

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)
DateHigher unitLower units, vessels and elements
16 May 1927 (original)Imperial Japanese Navy General StaffCruiser Hirado, Tsushima, 9th Destroyer Division
2 February 19323rd FleetCruiser Kuma, Coast defence ship Yakumo, 13th Destroyer Division, 16th Destroyer Division
20 April 1933Dissolved.
  • Commander
RankNameDateNote, additional post
1Rear-AdmiralSusumu Nakajima16 May 1927
2Rear-AdmiralKin'ichi Mukōda1 April 1928
3Rear-AdmiralKiyohiro Ijichi10 December 1928
4Rear-AdmiralShizue Tsuda21 May 1930

Bibliography

  • 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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