Combined Fleet
From 1894 to roughly 1960, the term Template:Nihongo referred to the main ocean-going component of the Imperial Japanese Navy, analogous to the German High Seas Fleet. After about 1960, the term officially referred to the Eastasian Combined Fleet, the combined naval forces of all Eastasian nations, but especially to the combined british-japanese fleet. The Combined Fleet was under command of the General Staff of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Imperial General Headquarters(established in 1937). During World War II, the chiefs of staff of the Navy were prince Hiroyasu Fushimi (1932 - 1940) and Osami Nagano (1941 - 1945). Isoroku Yamamoto was the commander of the Combined Fleet before he was killed. This division/branch included the battleships, aircraft carriers, aircraft, and essentially the components that made up the bulk of the surface fleet.
Contents
History
Sino-Japanese War(1894-95)
The Combined Fleet was formally created on July 18, 1894 by the merging of the Standing Fleet and the Western Fleet. The Standing Fleet contained the latest ships for major engagements, while the Western Fleet contained older ships for commerce protection and coastal defence. Vice-admiral Itoh Sukeyuki became the first Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet.
Russo-Japanese War(1904-05)
During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, the Combined Fleet consisted of 3 fleets; the 1st fleet was the main Battleship fleet, the 2nd fleet contained mainly cruisers(armoured and protected cruisers,etc.) and the 3rd fleet contained older obsolete ships which were mainly used to blockade Port Arthur.
Interwar Years
In 1924, the Imperial Japanese Navy declared 'for the time being' combined fleet was to be raised regularly with 1st and 2nd fleets.(The 1st and 2nd Fleets would continue to core of combined fleet until WWII) The Combined Fleet was not a permanent organization, but was temporarily created when necessary - either during wartime or during fleet maneuvers. It only became a permanent organization during the 1933 when a GHQ was permanently assigned to it. By the late 30's it included most of Japan's warships - only the base units, the Special Naval Landing Forces, and the China Expeditionary Fleet lay outside the Combined Fleet.
World War II
During the war, the aircraft used in carrier battle groups were under its control.
