Kaoru Arima
Encyclopedia
was an admiral and commander in the Imperial Japanese Navy
(IJN) during World War II
. Early in the war with the United States, Arima commanded the battleship
, one of the largest battleships ever built.
. He graduated from the 42nd class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
in 1914. He was ranked 40th in a class of 117 cadets. As a midshipman
, he was assigned to the cruiser
and battleship , and as a sub-lieutenant to the cruiser . After serving on the crew of the destroyer
s and , he was commissioned as a lieutenant
and assigned to the cruiser , followed by the cruiser and the battleship .
Arima graduated from the 25th class of the Naval Staff College
and was promoted to lieutenant commander
in December 1926. After a 2½-year stint as a gunnery instructor at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, he subsequently served as chief gunnery officer on the cruiser . He was assigned to the staff of the 2nd Expeditionary Fleet in China in September 1931, and made the jump to the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
in November 1932. After his promotion to commander
in December 1932, he served as an instructor at the Naval Staff College through 1937.
Arima was also promoted to captain
in December 1936, and received his first command, the cruiser in November 1939. In October 1940, he was assigned command of the battleship . From September 1941, he was executive officer
on the new super-battleship , becoming its captain on 5 August 1942. He was promoted to rear admiral
on 15 November. For most of the remainder of the war, he served as an instructor at the naval academy and specialized training schools.
Later, Arima served as chief of staff for the IJN's IJN 4th Fleet
; he was promoted to vice admiral
in November 1945. Surviving the war, Arima died in 1956.
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...
(IJN) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Early in the war with the United States, Arima commanded the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
, one of the largest battleships ever built.
Biography
Arima was a native of Miyazaki prefectureMiyazaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Miyazaki.- History :Historically, after the Meiji Restoration, Hyūga Province was renamed Miyazaki Prefecture....
. He graduated from the 42nd class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
The was a school established to train officers for the Imperial Japanese Navy. It originally located in Nagasaki, moved to Yokohama in 1866, and was relocated to Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1869. It moved to Etajima, Hiroshima in 1888...
in 1914. He was ranked 40th in a class of 117 cadets. As a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
, he was assigned to the cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
and battleship , and as a sub-lieutenant to the cruiser . After serving on the crew of the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s and , he was commissioned as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
and assigned to the cruiser , followed by the cruiser and the battleship .
Arima graduated from the 25th class of the Naval Staff College
Naval War College (Japan)
The was the staff college of the Imperial Japanese Navy, responsible for training officers for command positions either on warships, or in staff roles....
and was promoted to lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in December 1926. After a 2½-year stint as a gunnery instructor at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, he subsequently served as chief gunnery officer on the cruiser . He was assigned to the staff of the 2nd Expeditionary Fleet in China in September 1931, and made the jump to the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
The was the highest organ within the Imperial Japanese Navy. In charge of planning and operations, it was headed by an Admiral headquartered in Tokyo.-History:...
in November 1932. After his promotion to commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
in December 1932, he served as an instructor at the Naval Staff College through 1937.
Arima was also promoted to captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in December 1936, and received his first command, the cruiser in November 1939. In October 1940, he was assigned command of the battleship . From September 1941, he was executive officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
on the new super-battleship , becoming its captain on 5 August 1942. He was promoted to rear admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
on 15 November. For most of the remainder of the war, he served as an instructor at the naval academy and specialized training schools.
Later, Arima served as chief of staff for the IJN's IJN 4th Fleet
IJN 4th Fleet
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...
; he was promoted to vice admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
in November 1945. Surviving the war, Arima died in 1956.