The Southeast Area Fleet (南東方面艦隊, Nantō Hōmen Kantai) was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy established during World War II.

Southeast Area Fleet
Active24 Dec 1942 – 6 Sep 1945
CountryEmpire of Japan
Branch Imperial Japanese Navy
Part ofCombined Fleet
Battle honoursPacific Theatre of World War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Jinichi Kusaka
Vice Admiral Jinichi Kusaka, CIC of the Southeast Area Fleet

History

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The Southeast Area Fleet was an operational command of the Imperial Japanese Navy combining the remaining surface elements of the IJN 8th Fleet with the IJN 11th Air Fleet, the No.5 Special Base Unit. The Southeast Area Fleet was established on December 24, 1942, during the waning weeks of the Guadalcanal campaign and was headquartered in Rabaul, New Britain.

In February 1944, after heavy losses in the Solomon Islands campaign, most surviving Japanese surface and naval aircraft forces withdrew from Rabaul to Truk in the Caroline Islands. However, lacking transport, most of the headquarters staff of the Southeast Area Fleet was left abandoned on Rabaul, together with surviving elements of the Imperial Japanese Army IJA 8th Area Army, and was isolated until the end of the war.[1]

Commanders of the IJN Southeast Area Fleet

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Commander in chief [2]

Rank Name Date
1 Vice Admiral Jinichi Kusaka 24 Dec 1942 – 6 Sep 1945

Chief of staff

Rank Name Date
1 Vice-Admiral Yoshimasa Nakahara 24 Dec 1942 – 29 Nov 1943
2 Vice-Admiral Ryunosuke Kusaka 29 Nov 1943 – 6 Apr 1944
3 Rear-Admiral Sadatoshi Tomioka 6 Apr 1944 – 7 Nov 1944
4 Vice-Admiral Naosaburo Irifune 7 Nov 1944 – 6 Sep 1945

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ D'Albas, The Death of a Navy
  2. ^ Wendel, Axis History Database

Books

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  • 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.
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