| Unit Name: | China Area Fleet |
| Dates: | 20 October 1937 - 9 September 1945 |
| Battle Honours: | Pacific Theatre of World War II |
| Notable Commanders: | Shigetarō Shimada Mineichi Koga |
The 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, and also.
| Date | Higher unit | Lower units, vessels and elements | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 October 1937 (original) | Imperial General Headquarters | 3rd Fleet, 4th Fleet, 1st Carrier Division, 2nd Carrier Division, 3rd Carrier Division, 1st Combined Air Group, 2nd Combined Air Group | |
| 1 February 1938 | Imperial General Headquarters | 3rd Fleet, 4th Fleet, 5th Fleet | |
| 15 November 1939 | Imperial General Headquarters | 1st 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 1941 | Imperial General Headquarters | Coast 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 1943 | Imperial General Headquarters | Cruiser 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 1944 | Imperial General Headquarters | Cruiser 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 1945 | 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet, Qingdao Area Special Base Force, Shanghai Area Base Force, Yangtze River Area Base Force, Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force | ||
| 9 September 1945 | Surrendered. | ||
| Commander-in-Chief | Dates | Previous Post | Next Post | Notes | ||||
| 1 | Admiral Hasegawa Kiyoshi 長谷川清 | 20 October 1937 | 25 April 1938 | 3rd Fleet | Commander-in-chief Yokosuka Naval District | Remained Commander-in-chief 3rd Fleet for duration of posting. | ||
| 2 | Vice-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 | ||
| 3 | Vice-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 | ||
| 4 | Vice-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 | ||
| 5 | Admiral Yoshida Zengo 吉田善吾 | 10 November 1942 | 1 December 1943 | Naval Councilor | Naval Councilor | |||
| 6 | Admiral Kondō Nobutake 近藤信竹 | 1 December 1943 | 15 May 1945 | Naval Councilor | Naval Councilor | |||
| 7 | Vice-Admiral Fukuda Ryōzō 福田良三 | 15 May 1945 | 9 September 1945 | Commander-in-chief Takao Guard District | ||||
| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post | ||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | 20 October 1937 | Chief of staff of the 3rd Fleet | ||
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | 25 April 1938 | Chief of staff of the 3rd Fleet | ||
| 3 | Rear-Admiral Vice-Admiral | 23 October 1939 15 November 1939 | Chief of staff of the 3rd Fleet | ||
| 4 | Rear-Admiral Vice-Admiral | 1 October 1940 15 November 1940 | |||
| 5 | Vice-Admiral | 16 March 1942 | |||
| 6 | Vice-Admiral | 1 September 1943 | |||
| 7 | Vice-Admiral | 15 December 1944 |
The 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 in this section.
| Date | Higher unit | Unit name | Lower units, vessels and elements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 February 1932 (original) | 3rd Fleet | Coast 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 1937 | China Area Fleet | 3rd Fleet | Coast defence ship Izumo, 11th Division, 3rd Destroyer Squadron, Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force | |
| 15 November 1939 | China Area Fleet | 1st China Expeditionary Fleet (renamed and reorganized) | 11th Division, Hankou Area Base Force, Jiujiang Base Unit | |
| 15 November 1940 | China Area Fleet | 1st China Expeditionary Fleet | Gunboat Ataka, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, Futami, Fushimi, Sumida, Hankou Area Base Force | |
| 20 August 1943 | China Area Fleet | Yangtze River Area Base Force (renamed and reorganized) | Gunboat Fushimi, Sumida, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, Futami, Suma, Tatara, Narumi, Jiujiang Guard Unit | |
| 1 June 1945 | China Area Fleet | Yangtze River Area Base Force | Gunboat Fushimi, Sumida, 21st Gunboat Division, 22nd Gunboat Division, 23rd Gunboat Division, 24th Gunboat Division, Jiujiang Guard Unit | |
| 9 September 1945 | Surrendered. | |||
Commanders of the 3rd Fleet
| Commander-in-Chief | Dates | Previous Post | Next Post | Notes | |||
| 1 | Vice-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. | |
| 2 | Vice-Admiral Sakonji Seizō 左近司政三 | 28 June 1932 | 1 December 1932 | Commander-in-chief Sasebo Naval District | |||
| 3 | Vice-Admiral Mitsumasa Yonai 米内光政 | 1 December 1932 | 15 September 1933 | Commander Chinkai Guard District | Attendant Navy General Staff | ||
| 4 | Vice-Admiral Imamura Nobujirō | 15 September 1933 | 15 November 1934 | Commander-in-chief Sasebo Naval District | |||
| 5 | Vice-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 | ||
| 6 | Vice-Admiral Oikawa Koshirō 及川古志郎 | 1 December 1935 | 1 December 1936 | Director Naval Aviation Bureau | |||
| 7 | Admiral Hasegawa Kiyoshi 長谷川清 | 1 December 1936 | 25 April 1938 | Vice-Minister of the Navy | Commander-in-chief Yokosuka Naval District | Also Commander-in-chief China Area Fleet after 20 October 1937 | |
| 8 | Vice-Admiral Oikawa Koshirō 及川古志郎 | 25 April 1938 | 15 November 1939 | 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)
| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post | ||
| 9 | Vice-Admiral | 15 November 1939 | Commander of the 11th Division | ||
| 10 | Vice-Admiral | 15 November 1940 | |||
| 11 | Vice-Admiral | 5 July 1941 | |||
| 12 | Vice-Admiral | 14 February 1942 | |||
| 13 | Vice-Admiral | 9 March 1943 | |||
| 14 | Vice-Admiral | 20 August 1943 | |||
| 15 | Vice-Admiral | 20 March 1944 | |||
| 16 | Vice-Admiral | 21 November 1944 |
| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post | ||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | Shigetarō Shimada | 2 February 1932 | ||
| 2 | Captain Rear-Admiral | 28 June 1932 1 December 1932 | |||
| 3 | Rear-Admiral | 1 April 1933 | |||
| 4 | Captain | 15 November 1933 | |||
| 5 | Captain Rear-Admiral | 15 November 1934 15 November 1935 | |||
| 6 | Rear-Admiral | 2 December 1935 | |||
| 7 | Captain Rear-Admiral | Rokuzō Sugiyama | 16 November 1936 1 December 1936 20 October 1937 | Chief of staff of the China Area Fleet | |
| 8 | Rear-Admiral | Jin'ichi Kusaka | 25 April 1938 | Chief of staff of the China Area Fleet | |
| 9 | Rear-Admiral | Shigeyoshi Inoue | 23 October 1939 | Chief of staff of the China Area Fleet | |
| 10 | Rear-Admiral | 15 November 1939 | |||
| 11 | Captain Rear-Admiral | 15 October 1940 15 November 1940 11 August 1941 15 January 1942 | Commander of the Hankou Area Base Force | ||
| 12 | Rear-Admiral | 25 July 1942 | |||
| x | Demotion to Area Base Force. | 20 August 1943 | |||
The 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.
| Date | Higher unit | Unit name | Lower units, vessels and elements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 February 1938 (original) | China Area Fleet | 5th Fleet | 9th Division, 10th Division, 3rd Carrier Division, 4th Carrier Division, 5th Destroyer Squadron | |
| 15 December 1938 | China Area Fleet | 5th Fleet | 9th 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 1939 | China Area Fleet | 2nd 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 1941 | China Area Fleet | 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet | 15th Division, Xiamen Base Force, Guangdong Base Force | |
| 1 January 1944 | China Area Fleet | 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet | Gunboat 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 1945 | Surrendered. | |||
| Commander-in-Chief | Dates | Previous Post | Next Post | Notes | |||||
| 1 | Vice-Admiral Shiozawa Kōichi 塩沢幸一 | 1 February 1938 | 15 December 1938 | Attendant Navy General Staff | Director Navy Technical Bureau | ||||
| 2 | Vice-Admiral Kondō Nobutake 近藤信竹 | 15 December 1938 | 29 September 1939 | Attendant Navy General Staff | |||||
| 3 | Vice-Admiral Takasu Shirō 高須四郎 | 29 September 1939 | 15 November 1939 | Headmaster Naval War College | Commander-in-chief 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet | ||||
| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post | ||
| 3 | Vice-Admiral | 15 November 1939 | |||
| 4 | Vice-Admiral | 15 October 1940 | |||
| 5 | Vice-Admiral | 4 April 1941 | |||
| 6 | Vice-Admiral | 14 July 1942 | |||
| 7 | Vice-Admiral | 21 June 1943 | |||
| 8 | Vice-Admiral | 25 April 1945 |
| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post | ||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | Minoru Tayui | 1 February 1938 | ||
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | 15 December 1938 | |||
| 3 | Rear-Admiral | 15 November 1939 | |||
| 4 | Captain Rear-Admiral | 13 August 1941 15 October 1941 10 March 1942 | Commander of the Hong Kong Special Base Force | ||
| 5 | Captain Rear-Admiral | 1 September 1942 1 November 1942 | Commander of the Hong Kong Special Base Force | ||
| 6 | Captain Rear-Admiral | 19 October 1943 1 May 1944 | Commander of the Hong Kong Special Base Force |
The 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.
| Date | Higher unit | Unit name | Lower units, vessels and elements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 October 1937 (original) | China Area Fleet | 4th Fleet | Cruiser Ashigara, 9th Division, 14th Division, 4th Destroyer Squadron, 5th Destroyer Squadron | |
| 15 December 1938 | China Area Fleet | 4th Fleet | 12th Division, 1st Combined Special Naval Landing Force | |
| 15 November 1939 | China Area Fleet | 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet (renamed and reorganized) | 12th Division, Qingdao Area Special Base Force | |
| 10 December 1941 | China Area Fleet | 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet | Coast defence ship Iwate, 11th Torpedo boat Division, Qingdao Area Special Base Force | |
| 10 April 1942 | Dissolved and reorganized to Qingdao Area Special Base Force. | |||
Commanders of the 4th Fleet
| Commander-in-Chief | Dates | Previous Post | Next Post | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vice-Admiral Toyoda Soemu 豊田副武 | 20 October 1937 | 15 November 1938 | Commander-in-chief 2nd Fleet | ||||
| 2 | Vice-Admiral Hibino Masaharu | 15 November 1938 | 15 November 1939 | |||||
Commanders of the 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet
| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post | ||
| 3 | Vice-Admiral | 15 November 1939 | |||
| 4 | Vice-Admiral | 30 September 1940 | |||
| 5 | Vice-Admiral | 5 July 1941 | |||
| 6 | Vice-Admiral | 16 December 1941 |
| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post | ||
| 1 | Captain Rear-Admiral | 20 October 1937 1 December 1937 | |||
| 2 | Captain Rear-Admiral | 1 September 1938 15 November 1938 | |||
| 3 | Rear-Admiral | 15 November 1939 | |||
| 4 | Captain | 8 August 1940 10 April 1941 | Commander of the Qingdao Area Special Base Force | ||
| 5 | Captain | 24 May 1941 | Commander of the Qingdao Area Special Base Force | ||
| 6 | Captain | 20 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 |
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.
The 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.
| Date | Higher unit | Unit name | Lower units, vessels and elements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 December 1905 (original) | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | Southern Qing Fleet | Cruiser Takachiho, Chitose, Gunboat Uji, Sumida | |
| 22 November 1906 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | Southern Qing Fleet | Cruiser Takachiho, Akitsushima, Gunboat Uji, Sumida, Fushimi | |
| 24 December 1908 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | 3rd Fleet (renamed) | Cruiser Akashi, Otowa, Gunboat Uji, Sumida, Fushimi | |
| 1 December 1911 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | 3rd Fleet | Cruiser Chiyoda, Niitaka, Suma, Dispatch vessel Mogami, Chihaya, Tatsuta, Gunboat Uji, Sumida, Fushimi, Toba | |
| 5 February 1915 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | 3rd Fleet | Cruiser Kasuga, Tsushima, Akitsushima | |
| 23 December 1915 | Dissolved. | |||
| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post | ||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | 20 December 1905 | |||
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | 22 November 1906 | |||
| 3 | Rear-Admiral Vice-Admiral | 22 November 1906 1 December 1909 | |||
| 4 | Rear-Admiral | 1 December 1910 | |||
| 5 | Rear-Admiral Vice-Admiral | 20 April 1912 1 December 1912 | |||
| 6 | Rear-Admiral | 25 March 1914 | |||
| 7 | Vice-Admiral | 5 February 1915 |
| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post | ||
| 1 | Captain | 13 September 1913 1 December 1913 | Newly established Commanding officer of the cruiser Kasagi | ||
| x | Chief of staff was abolished. | 27 May 1914 | |||
| 2 | Commander | 8 August 1914 | |||
| x | Chief of staff was abolished. | 1 December 1914 | |||
The was reorganized on 9 August 1919 from . Their ancestor was under World War I. They became 11th Division only for gunboats and became extinct.
| Date | Higher unit | Unit name | Lower units, vessels and elements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 December 1917 (original) | 3rd Fleet | 7th Division | Cruiser Chitose, Gunboat Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi | |
| 10 August 1918 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | China Expeditionary Fleet (renamed) | Cruiser Chitose, Gunboat Saga, Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi | |
| 9 August 1919 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | 1st Expeditionary Fleet (renamed) | Cruiser Suma, Gunboat Yodo, Saga, Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi, 29th Destroyer Division | |
| 1 December 1924 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | 1st Expeditionary Fleet | Cruiser Tone, Gunboat Ataka, Saga, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi, Seta, Hira, Hozu | |
| 30 November 1929 | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | 1st Expeditionary Fleet | Cruiser Hirado, Yahagi, Gunboat Ataka, Saga, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Destroyer | |
| 2 February 1932 | 3rd Fleet | 1st Expeditionary Fleet | Cruiser Hirado, Tsushima, Tenryū, Minelayer Tokiwa, Gunboat Ataka, Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, 24th Destroyer Division, Destroyer | |
| 20 May 1933 | 3rd Fleet | 11th Division (renamed) | Cruiser Tsushima, Gunboat Ataka, Uji, Toba, Sumida, Fushimi, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, Futami, 24th Destroyer Division, Destroyer | |
| 15 December 1938 | 3rd Fleet | 11th Division | Gunboat Ataka, Toba, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, Futami, Destroyer Tsuga, Kuri, Hasu, 1st Torpedo Boat Division | |
| 15 November 1939 | 1st China Expeditionary Fleet | 11th Division | Gunboat Ataka, Toba, Seta, Hira, Katada, Hozu, Atami, Futami, Fushimi | |
| 15 November 1940 | Dissolved. | |||
| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post | ||
| x | Vacant post | 1 December 1917 | |||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | 15 December 1917 | |||
| 2 | Rear-Admiral Vice-Admiral | 8 November 1919 1 December 1920 | |||
| 3 | Rear-Admiral | 1 May 1922 | |||
| 4 | Rear-Admiral | 15 September 1923 | |||
| 5 | Rear-Admiral | 20 April 1925 | |||
| 6 | Rear-Admiral | 20 August 1926 | |||
| 7 | Rear-Admiral | 1 December 1927 | |||
| 8 | Rear-Admiral | 10 December 1928 | |||
| 9 | Rear-Admiral | 1 December 1930 | |||
| 10 | Rear-Admiral | 6 June 1932 | |||
| 11 | Rear-Admiral | 15 November 1933 | |||
| 12 | Rear-Admiral | 2 December 1935 | |||
| 13 | Rear-Admiral | 1 December 1936 | |||
| 14 | Rear-Admiral | 1 December 1937 | |||
| 15 | Rear-Admiral | 15 December 1938 | |||
| 16 | Vice-Admiral | Umatarō Tanimoto | 15 November 1939 | Commander in chief of the 1st China Expeditionary Fleet |
The was organized on 16 May 1927 for reinforcements for 1st Expeditionary Fleet. Their role was the guard of Northern China.
| Date | Higher unit | Lower units, vessels and elements | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 May 1927 (original) | Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff | Cruiser Hirado, Tsushima, 9th Destroyer Division | |
| 2 February 1932 | 3rd Fleet | Cruiser Kuma, Coast defence ship Yakumo, 13th Destroyer Division, 16th Destroyer Division | |
| 20 April 1933 | Dissolved. | ||
| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post | ||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | 16 May 1927 | |||
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | 1 April 1928 | |||
| 3 | Rear-Admiral | 10 December 1928 | |||
| 4 | Rear-Admiral | 21 May 1930 |