2nd_Fleet_(Imperial_Japanese_Navy)

2nd Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)

2nd Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)

Japanese naval fleet (1903–1945)

The 2nd Fleet (第二艦隊, Dai-ni Kantai) was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) created as a mobile strike force in response to hostilities with Russia, and saw action in every IJN military operation until the end of World War II.

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History

Established on 27 October 1903, the 2nd Fleet was created by the Imperial General Headquarters as a mobile strike force of cruisers and destroyers to pursue the Imperial Russian Navy's Vladivostok-based cruiser squadron while the remaining bulk of the Japanese fleet (the IJN 1st Fleet) continued to blockade Port Arthur in hopes of luring the battleships of the Russian Pacific Fleet into an open sea classic line of battle confrontation.

Letter from Vice admiral Ijuin Gorō to Italian Royal Navy Lieutenant Ernesto Burzagli thanking him for courtesies extended to the Imperial Japanese Navy Second Fleet which visited Italy in 1907.

As the main mobile force in the IJN, the 2nd Fleet saw the bulk of all future IJN combat operations from the time of its inception until IJN dissolution at the end of World War II.

Order of Battle at time of Pearl Harbor

Based at Samah, Hainan Island[1]

4th Division

CA Takao (fleet flagship)
CA Atago
CA Chōkai
CA Maya

5th Division

CA Haguro (flagship)
CA Myōkō
CA Nachi

7th Division

CA Kumano (flagship)
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
CA Suzuya

8th Division

CA Tone (flagship)
CA Chikuma

Other

AD Kamikaze Maru

2nd Destroyer Squadron

CL Jintsū (flagship)
8th Destroyer Division
DD Arashio
DD Asashio
DD Michishio
DD Ōshio
15th Destroyer Division
DD Hayashio
DD Kuroshio
DD Natsushio
DD Oyashio
16th Destroyer Division
DD Amatsukaze
DD Hatsukaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Yukikaze
18th Destroyer Division
DD Arare
DD Kagerō
DD Kasumi
DD Shiranuhi

4th Destroyer Squadron

CL Naka (flagship)
2nd Destroyer Division
DD Harusame
DD Murasame
DD Samidare
DD Yudachi
4th Destroyer Division
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
DD Maikaze
DD Nowaki
9th Destroyer Division
DD Asagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Yamagumo
24th Destroyer Division
DD Kawakaze
DD Suzukaze
DD Umikaze
DD Yamakaze

Order in the Malayan Campaign

Distant Cover Force

More information Distant Cover Force, Commander ...

Closed Cover Force

More information Closed Cover Force, Commander ...

Invasion Force

More information Invasion Force, Commander ...

Commanders of the IJN 2nd Fleet

More information Commanders, IJN 2nd Fleet, Rank ...
More information Chief of Staff to IJN 2nd Fleet, Rank ...

References

Books

  • 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.
  • Lacroix, Eric; Linton Wells (1997). Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-311-3.

Notes

  1. [1]
    Niehorster, Leo; Alsleben, Al; Yoda, Tadashi. "Administrative Order of Battle – 2nd Fleet, Combined Fleet, 7 December 1941". Imperial Japanese Armed Forces.
  2. [2]
    Wendel, Axis History Database
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