IJN 4th Fleet
Encyclopedia
The was a fleet designation of the Imperial Japanese Navy
. The Fourth Fleet designation was used during three separate periods. The initial designation was for a group of ships that were assigned to work together during the Russo-Japanese conflict and the period of its immediate aftermath. The second time the designation was used was during the Sino-Japanese conflict, and the third time was as a South Pacific area of command during the middle of the Pacific War.
in the Russo-Japanese War
specifically to support and cover the landings of Japanese forces in Sakhalin
. Afterwards, it was sent to the United States
with the Japanese delegation negotiating the Treaty of Portsmouth
ending the war, and was disbanded on December 20, 1905.
, had their bows torn away by the heavy seas. A number of recently built heavy cruisers also suffered significant structural damage. The Myoko
, the Mogami and the submarine tender Taigei developed serious cracks in their hulls, and the light aircraft-carriers Ryujo
and Hōshō
suffered damage to their flight decks and superstructure, while Ryujo also suffered the flooding of its hangar. The minelayer Itsukushima
suffered significant damage that cost several months for extensive repairs, resulting in an almost complete rebuild. Nearly all the fleet's destroyers suffered damage to their superstructures, and the lives of fifty-four crewman were lost, swept overboard or killed outright. A hearing on the event resulted in recommendations for structural changes on a number of Japanese ships. Efforts were made to stabilize the ships by reducing weight above the waterline. Also, the newly adopted practice of electric welding hull seams was cancelled on all new Japanese warships. The event was kept a secret from the public. A similar event occurred to the US Third Fleet
some nine years later in December of 1944 when it faced Typhoon Cobra.
of 1937. The new 4th fleet was based out of Tsingtao and assigned to patrol the Bohai Sea
and the East China Sea
regions. However, unlike the IJN 5th Fleet
, the 4th Fleet was never in actual combat. On November 15, 1939, the 4th Fleet was absorbed into the 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet under the overall aegis of the China Area Fleet. Although most of its ships were released for service with the Combined Fleet
in the Pacific War
a year later, most of the staff for the 4th Fleet remained in China, and were assigned to the Tsingtao Base Force for the duration of the war.
, Marshall Islands
, Mariana Islands
, Palau
). This third IJN 4th Fleet came under the aegis of the Combined Fleet
on November 15, 1940. The operational name of this fleet was the South Seas Force. With the start of hostilities against the United States
, the 4th Fleet was based out of Truk, with a secondary base at Kwajalein
. After initial Japanese successes, additional bases were established in the southern Philippines
, Guam
, Wake Island
, Gilbert Islands
, eastern New Guinea
, Bismarck Archipelago
and the Solomon Islands
.
After the Battle of the Coral Sea
, the area covered by the 4th Fleet was reduced to an “inner core” of Japanese possessions, while the new IJN 8th Fleet
was assigned to confront the advancing American forces in the Solomon Islands
and New Guinea
. However, in November 1943, the Americans attacked the Gilbert Islands and captured the major naval base of Tarawa, which brought the 4th Fleet and its various garrison forces back into the front lines of combat.
The Americans continued to advance through the Gilbert and Marshall islands in early 1944, capturing the IJN 4th Fleet HQ in Truk in February, and pushing the surviving units back to Palau, which also proved vulnerable to air attack.
In March 1944, the IJN 4th Fleet came under operational control of the Central Pacific Area Fleet
based in Saipan
. It effectively ceased to exist with the fall of Saipan to American forces
.
{| class=wikitable
|+Chief of Staff
|-
!Rank
!Name
!Date
|-
|Admiral || Tanin Yamaya|| 14 Jun 1905 – 20 Dec 1905
|-
| || Disbanded || 20 Dec 1905 – 20 Oct 1937
|-
|Vice-Admiral || Masami Kobayashi|| 20 Oct 1937 – 1 Sep 1938
|-
| Vice-Admiral || Arata Oka|| 1 Sep 1938 – 15 Nov 1939
|-
| Vice-Admiral || Fukuji Kishi|| 15 Nov 1939 – 10 Oct 1941
|-
| Vice-Admiral || Shikazo Yano|| 10 Oct 1941 – 1 Nov 1942
|-
| Rear-Admiral || Shunsaku Nabeshima|| 1 Nov 1942 – 6 Jan 1944
|-
| Rear-Admiral || Michio Sumikawa|| 6 Jan 1944 – 30 Mar 1944
|-
| Vice-Admiral || Kaoru Arima
|| 30 Mar 1944 – 12 Aug 1944
|-
| Rear-Admiral || Michio Sumikawa|| 12 Aug 1944 – 2 Sep 1945
|}
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
. The Fourth Fleet designation was used during three separate periods. The initial designation was for a group of ships that were assigned to work together during the Russo-Japanese conflict and the period of its immediate aftermath. The second time the designation was used was during the Sino-Japanese conflict, and the third time was as a South Pacific area of command during the middle of the Pacific War.
Russo-Japanese War
First established on June 14, 1905, the 4th Fleet was created after the Battle of TsushimaBattle of Tsushima
The Battle of Tsushima , commonly known as the “Sea of Japan Naval Battle” in Japan and the “Battle of Tsushima Strait”, was the major naval battle fought between Russia and Japan during the Russo-Japanese War...
in the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
specifically to support and cover the landings of Japanese forces in Sakhalin
Sakhalin
Sakhalin or Saghalien, is a large island in the North Pacific, lying between 45°50' and 54°24' N.It is part of Russia, and is Russia's largest island, and is administered as part of Sakhalin Oblast...
. Afterwards, it was sent to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with the Japanese delegation negotiating the Treaty of Portsmouth
Treaty of Portsmouth
The Treaty of Portsmouth formally ended the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War. It was signed on September 5, 1905 after negotiations at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine in the USA.-Negotiations:...
ending the war, and was disbanded on December 20, 1905.
The Fourth Fleet Incident
While participating in war game maneuvers in 1935 the Fourth Fleet became caught in extremely foul weather. The weather continued to deteriorate and by 26 September had reached typhoon status. Two of the newer, large Special Type destroyers, the Hatsuyuki and the YugiriJapanese destroyer Yugiri
was the fourteenth of twenty-four destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world...
, had their bows torn away by the heavy seas. A number of recently built heavy cruisers also suffered significant structural damage. The Myoko
Japanese cruiser Myoko
was the name-ship of the four-member of heavy cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy — the other ships of the class being the Nachi, Ashigara, and Haguro....
, the Mogami and the submarine tender Taigei developed serious cracks in their hulls, and the light aircraft-carriers Ryujo
Japanese aircraft carrier Ryujo
Ryūjō was a light aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was laid down by Mitsubishi at Yokohama in 1929, launched in 1931 and commissioned on 9 May 1933. Her final design resulted in a top-heavy unstable vessel and within a year she was back at Kure Naval Yard for modification...
and Hōshō
Japanese aircraft carrier Hosho
Hōshō |phoenix]]") was the world's first commissioned ship that was designed and built as an aircraft carrier,The HMS Argus pre-dated Hōshō and had a long landing deck, but was designed and initially built as an ocean liner. and the first aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy...
suffered damage to their flight decks and superstructure, while Ryujo also suffered the flooding of its hangar. The minelayer Itsukushima
Japanese minelayer Itsukushima
was a medium-sized minelayer of the Imperial Japanese Navy, which was in service during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. She was named after the First Sino-Japanese War-era cruiser , which in turn was named after Itsukushima, a sacred island in Hiroshima Prefecture of Japan...
suffered significant damage that cost several months for extensive repairs, resulting in an almost complete rebuild. Nearly all the fleet's destroyers suffered damage to their superstructures, and the lives of fifty-four crewman were lost, swept overboard or killed outright. A hearing on the event resulted in recommendations for structural changes on a number of Japanese ships. Efforts were made to stabilize the ships by reducing weight above the waterline. Also, the newly adopted practice of electric welding hull seams was cancelled on all new Japanese warships. The event was kept a secret from the public. A similar event occurred to the US Third Fleet
United States 3rd Fleet
The Third Fleet is one of seven numbered fleets in the United States Navy. Third Fleet's area of responsibility includes approximately fifty million square miles of the eastern and northern Pacific ocean areas including the Bering Sea, Alaska, the Aleutian Islands and a sector of the Arctic...
some nine years later in December of 1944 when it faced Typhoon Cobra.
Second Sino-Japanese War
On October 20, 1937, the 4th Fleet was resurrected as part of the emergency reinforcement program for the China Area Fleet after the North China IncidentBattle of Shanghai
The Battle of Shanghai, known in Chinese as Battle of Songhu, was the first of the twenty-two major engagements fought between the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China and the Imperial Japanese Army of the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
of 1937. The new 4th fleet was based out of Tsingtao and assigned to patrol the Bohai Sea
Bohai Sea
Bohai Sea , also known as Bohai Gulf, Bohai, or Bo Hai, is the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea on the coast of Northeastern and North China. It is approximately 78,000 km2 Bohai Sea , also known as Bohai Gulf, Bohai, or Bo Hai, is the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea on the coast of...
and the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
regions. However, unlike the IJN 5th Fleet
IJN 5th Fleet
The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, active during the early portions of the Second Sino-Japanese War, and again in World War II, primarily in the Battle of the Aleutian Islands.-China Expeditionary Fleet:...
, the 4th Fleet was never in actual combat. On November 15, 1939, the 4th Fleet was absorbed into the 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet under the overall aegis of the China Area Fleet. Although most of its ships were released for service with the Combined Fleet
Combined Fleet
The was the main ocean-going component of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Combined Fleet was not a standing force, but a temporary force formed for the duration of a conflict or major naval maneuvers from various units normally under separate commands in peacetime....
in the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
a year later, most of the staff for the 4th Fleet remained in China, and were assigned to the Tsingtao Base Force for the duration of the war.
Pacific War
On the same date at that the 4th Fleet was absorbed into the China Area Fleet, a new 4th Fleet was created to provide administrative control over Japanese naval forces in the Japanese-held island territories of the South Pacific (Caroline IslandsCaroline Islands
The Caroline Islands are a widely scattered archipelago of tiny islands in the western Pacific Ocean, to the north of New Guinea. Politically they are divided between the Federated States of Micronesia in the eastern part of the group, and Palau at the extreme western end...
, Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
, Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
, Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
). This third IJN 4th Fleet came under the aegis of the Combined Fleet
Combined Fleet
The was the main ocean-going component of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Combined Fleet was not a standing force, but a temporary force formed for the duration of a conflict or major naval maneuvers from various units normally under separate commands in peacetime....
on November 15, 1940. The operational name of this fleet was the South Seas Force. With the start of hostilities against the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the 4th Fleet was based out of Truk, with a secondary base at Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
. After initial Japanese successes, additional bases were established in the southern Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, Wake Island
Wake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
, Gilbert Islands
Gilbert Islands
The Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
, eastern New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, Bismarck Archipelago
Bismarck Archipelago
The Bismarck Archipelago is a group of islands off the northeastern coast of New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean and is part of the Islands Region of Papua New Guinea.-History:...
and the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
.
After the Battle of the Coral Sea
Battle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged...
, the area covered by the 4th Fleet was reduced to an “inner core” of Japanese possessions, while the new IJN 8th Fleet
IJN 8th Fleet
The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy established during World War II.-History:Established on 14 July 1942, the IJN 8th Fleet was a headquarters unit established to direct Japanese naval operations in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea...
was assigned to confront the advancing American forces in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
and New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. However, in November 1943, the Americans attacked the Gilbert Islands and captured the major naval base of Tarawa, which brought the 4th Fleet and its various garrison forces back into the front lines of combat.
The Americans continued to advance through the Gilbert and Marshall islands in early 1944, capturing the IJN 4th Fleet HQ in Truk in February, and pushing the surviving units back to Palau, which also proved vulnerable to air attack.
In March 1944, the IJN 4th Fleet came under operational control of the Central Pacific Area Fleet
Central Pacific Area Fleet
The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy established during World War II.-History:The Central Pacific Area Fleet was a short-lived operational headquarters of the Imperial Japanese Navy, established on March 4, 1944...
based in Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
. It effectively ceased to exist with the fall of Saipan to American forces
Battle of Saipan
The Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands from 15 June-9 July 1944. The Allied invasion fleet embarking the expeditionary forces left Pearl Harbor on 5 June 1944, the day before Operation Overlord in Europe was...
.
Russo-Japanese War
- Cruiser Division 7 (Chinen, Iki, OkinoshimaJapanese battleship OkinoshimaThe General Admiral Graf Apraksin , sometimes transliterated as Apraxin, was a member of the s of the Imperial Russian Navy. She was named after General Admiral Fyodor Matveyevich Apraksin, the first commander of Russian Baltic Fleet. She was one of eight Russian pre-dreadnought battleships...
, MishimaJapanese battleship MishimaAdmiral Seniavin , was a built for Imperial Russian Navy during the 1890s. She was one of eight Russian pre-dreadnought battleships captured by the Imperial Japanese Navy from the Russians during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905...
) - Cruiser Division 8 (ItsukushimaJapanese cruiser Itsukushimawas the lead ship in the of protected cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Like its sister ships, the name Itsukushima comes from one of the three most famous scenic spots in Japan, in this case, the Itsukushima Jinja in Hiroshima prefecture on the Inland Sea, home to a famous Shinto shrine...
, HashidateJapanese cruiser Hashidatewas the 3rd in the of protected cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was the only one of the class constructed in Japan. Like its sister ships, was the 3rd (and final vessel) in the of protected cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was the only one of the class constructed in Japan....
, MatsushimaJapanese cruiser Matsushimawas the second vessel of the protected cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Like its sister ships, its name comes from one of the three most famous scenic spots in Japan, in this case, the Matsushima archipelago near Sendai in Miyagi prefecture....
) - Cruiser Division 9 (ChokaiJapanese gunboat Chōkaiwas an early steam gunboat, serving in the fledgling Imperial Japanese Navy. She was the second vessel to be completed in the four vessel , and was named after Mount Chōkai in between Yamagata and Akita Prefectures.-History:...
, MayaJapanese gunboat Mayawas an early steam gunboat, serving in the fledgling Imperial Japanese Navy. She was the lead ship in the four vessel , and was named after Mount Maya near Kobe.-History:...
, AkagiJapanese gunboat Akagi| was an early steam gunboat, serving in the fledgling Imperial Japanese Navy. She was the fourth and final vessel to be completed in the four vessel , and was named after Mount Akagi in Gunma Prefecture.-History:...
, Uji, Destroyer Divisions 1, 10, 11, 15 and 20) - Auxiliaries: Manshu, Tanan-maru.
Second Sino-Japanese War
- Flagship: AshigaraJapanese cruiser AshigaraAshigara was a Myōkō class heavy cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The other ships of her class were Myōkō , Nachi , and Haguro...
- Cruiser Division 9: MyōkōJapanese cruiser Myokowas the name-ship of the four-member of heavy cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy — the other ships of the class being the Nachi, Ashigara, and Haguro....
, NagaraJapanese cruiser Nagarawas the lead ship of her class of light cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was named after the Nagara River in the Chūbu region of Japan.-Background:... - Cruiser Division 14: TenryūJapanese cruiser Tenryuwas the lead ship in the two-ship of light cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Tenryū was named after the Tenryū River in Nagano and Shizuoka prefectures.-Background:...
, Tatsuta - No.4 Torpedo Squadron: KisoJapanese cruiser Kisowas the fifth and last of the five light cruisers in Kuma class, which served with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It is named after the Kiso River in central Honshū, Japan.-Background:...
,- Destroyer Division 6
- Destroyer Division 10
- Destroyer Division 11
- No.5 Torpedo Squadron: NatoriJapanese cruiser Natoriwas a Nagara-class light cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was named after the Natori River in Miyagi prefecture, Japan.-Background:Natori was the fourth vessel completed in the Nagara-class of light cruisers...
- Destroyer Division 5
- Destroyer Division 22
Order of Battle at time of Pearl Harbor
- Flagship: KashimaJapanese cruiser Kashimawas the second vessel completed of the three light cruisers in Katori class, which served with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It is named after the noted Shinto shrine Kashima Jingu in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan.-Background:...
- Cruiser Division 18 (Wake Invasion Task Force, based at KwajaleinKwajaleinKwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
)- TenryūJapanese cruiser Tenryuwas the lead ship in the two-ship of light cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Tenryū was named after the Tenryū River in Nagano and Shizuoka prefectures.-Background:...
- Tatsuta
- Armed merchant cruisers Kongo Maru and Kinryu Maru
- Destroyer Squadron 6 (partial)
- YubariJapanese cruiser Yubariwas a light cruiser built between 1922 and 1923 for the Imperial Japanese Navy. She fought in World War II and was sunk by the US Navy.-Design:The ship originated as an experimental scout cruiser, which would have the combat potential of the standard Japanese light cruisers on a much lighter ship....
- Destroyer Division 29 (HayateJapanese destroyer Hayatewas one of nine Kamikaze-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War...
, OiteJapanese destroyer Oite (1924)was the sixth vessel of the Kamikaze-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:Construction of the...
) - Destroyer Division 30 (KisaragiJapanese destroyer Kisaragiwas one of twelve destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War...
, MochizukiJapanese destroyer Mochizukiwas one of twelve destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War...
, MutsukiJapanese destroyer Mutsukiwas the lead ship of twelve destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:...
, Yayoi)
- Yubari
- Maizuru 2nd SNLF
- Tenryū
- Minesweeper Division 19 (Gilbert Island Invasion Task Force)
- Tennyo-maru
- TokiwaJapanese cruiser Tokiwawas an armored cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Tokiwa was named after a lake in Yamaguchi prefecture, near Ube city. Her sister ship was the cruiser...
(converted to minelayer) - OkinoshimaJapanese minelayer Okinoshimawas a large minelayer of the Imperial Japanese Navy, which was in service during the early stages of World War II. She was named after the Okinoshima Island in the Sea of Japan and the earlier...
- TsugaruJapanese minelayer Tsugaruwas a large minelayer of the Imperial Japanese Navy that was in service during the early stages of World War II. She was named after the earlier , which in turn was named after Tsugaru Peninsula in northwest Aomori Prefecture of Japan...
- Destroyer Squadron 6 (partial)
- Destroyer Division 29 (AsanagiJapanese destroyer Asanagiwas the eighth vessel of the Kamikaze-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:Construction of the...
, Yunagi)
- Destroyer Division 29 (Asanagi
- Submarine Squadron 7 (based at Kwajalein)
- Submarine tender Jingei
- Submarine Division 26
- Submarine Division 27
- Submarine Division 28
- Submarine tender Jingei
- No.3 Base Force (Palau)
- No.4 Base Force (Truk)
- No.5 Base Force (Saipan)
- No.6 Base Force (Kwajalein)
- No.24 Air Flotilla
- Seaplane tender Kiyokawa maruJapanese seaplane tender Kiyokawa Maruwas a seaplane tender in the Imperial Japanese Navy . The ship was built at Kawasaki's Kōbe Shipyard and launched on 13 December 1936 as a merchant vessel for the Kawasaki Kisen K. K. Line. Kyokawa Maru was involved in a collision with the small train ferry Uko Maru No. 1 on 19 August 1937 in the...
- Seaplane tender Goshu maru
- Seaplane tender Kamoi
- Yokohama Air GroupYokohama Air Groupwas an aircraft and airbase garrison unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during the Pacific campaign of World War II.-History:The Yokohama Air Group was formed in Yokohama, Japan on October 1, 1936 as a patrol unit equipped with six Navy Type 91 Hiro H4H flying boats...
- Chitose Air Group
- Seaplane tender Kiyokawa maru
Commanders of the 4th Fleet
| Rank | Name | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Admiral | Baron Dewa Shigeto | 14 Jun 1905 – 20 Dec 1905 |
| Disbanded | 20 Dec 1905 – 20 Oct 1937 | |
| Admiral | Soemu Toyoda | 20 Oct 1937 – 15 Nov 1938 |
| Vice-Admiral | Masaharu Hibino | 15 Nov 1938 – 15 Nov 1939 |
| Vice-Admiral | Eikichi Katagiri | 15 Nov 1939 – 15 Nov 1940 |
| Admiral | Shiro Takasu Shirō Takasu Admiral was a career naval officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.-Biography:Takasu was a native of Sakuragawa Village, , and graduated from the 35th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, where his classmates included future admirals Nobutake Kondō and Naokuni Nomura... |
[5 Nov 1940 – 11 Aug 1941 |
| Admiral | Shigeyoshi Inoue Shigeyoshi Inoue was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He was commander of the Japanese 4th Fleet and later served as Vice-Minister of the Navy. A noted naval theorist, he was a strong advocate of naval aviation within the Japanese Navy... |
11 Aug 1941 – 26 Oct 1942 |
| Vice-Admiral | Baron Tomoshige Samejima Tomoshige Samejima -Notes:... |
26 Oct 1942 – 1 Apr 1943 |
| Vice-Admiral | Masami Kobayashi | 1 Apr 1943 – 19 Feb 1944 |
| Vice-Admiral | Chuichi Hara Chuichi Hara -External links:*... |
19 Feb 1944 – 2 Sep 1945 |
{| class=wikitable
|+Chief of Staff
|-
!Rank
!Name
!Date
|-
|Admiral || Tanin Yamaya|| 14 Jun 1905 – 20 Dec 1905
|-
| || Disbanded || 20 Dec 1905 – 20 Oct 1937
|-
|Vice-Admiral || Masami Kobayashi|| 20 Oct 1937 – 1 Sep 1938
|-
| Vice-Admiral || Arata Oka|| 1 Sep 1938 – 15 Nov 1939
|-
| Vice-Admiral || Fukuji Kishi|| 15 Nov 1939 – 10 Oct 1941
|-
| Vice-Admiral || Shikazo Yano|| 10 Oct 1941 – 1 Nov 1942
|-
| Rear-Admiral || Shunsaku Nabeshima|| 1 Nov 1942 – 6 Jan 1944
|-
| Rear-Admiral || Michio Sumikawa|| 6 Jan 1944 – 30 Mar 1944
|-
| Vice-Admiral || Kaoru Arima
Kaoru Arima
was an admiral and commander in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Early in the war with the United States, Arima commanded the battleship , one of the largest battleships ever built.-Biography:...
|| 30 Mar 1944 – 12 Aug 1944
|-
| Rear-Admiral || Michio Sumikawa|| 12 Aug 1944 – 2 Sep 1945
|}