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The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy

The origins of the Imperial Japanese Navy trace back to early interactions with nations on the Asia, beginning in the early history of Japan#Feudal Japan and reaching a peak of activity during the 16th and 17th centuries at a time of cultural diffusion with European power during the Age of Discovery....
 during World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
, primarily responsible for command of submarine
Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below water. It differs from a submersible, which has only limited underwater capability....
 operations.

IJN 6th Fleet was formed on 15 November 1940, and was assigned general control of all Japanese submarine operations. Its initial mission was reconnaissance off the west coast of the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, east coast of Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
, and the sea lane
Sea lane

A sea lane is regularly used route for ocean-going Ship. In the time of sailing ships they were not only determined by the distribution of land masses but also the prevailing winds, whose discovery was crucial for the success of long voyages....
s of the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering about 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by Asia ; on the west by Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and on the south by the Southern Ocean ....
.

r to World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
, Japan had a very diverse and technically advanced submarine fleet, including the only submarines of over 5,000 tons submerged displacement
Displacement

Displacement may refer to:...
, or submarines over 400 feet in length until the advent of nuclear power
Nuclear power

Nuclear power is any nuclear technology designed to extract usable energy from atomic nucleus via controlled nuclear reactions. The only method in use today is through nuclear fission, though other methods might one day include nuclear fusion and radioactive decay ....
.






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The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy

The origins of the Imperial Japanese Navy trace back to early interactions with nations on the Asia, beginning in the early history of Japan#Feudal Japan and reaching a peak of activity during the 16th and 17th centuries at a time of cultural diffusion with European power during the Age of Discovery....
 during World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
, primarily responsible for command of submarine
Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below water. It differs from a submersible, which has only limited underwater capability....
 operations.

History

The IJN 6th Fleet was formed on 15 November 1940, and was assigned general control of all Japanese submarine operations. Its initial mission was reconnaissance off the west coast of the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, east coast of Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
, and the sea lane
Sea lane

A sea lane is regularly used route for ocean-going Ship. In the time of sailing ships they were not only determined by the distribution of land masses but also the prevailing winds, whose discovery was crucial for the success of long voyages....
s of the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering about 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by Asia ; on the west by Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and on the south by the Southern Ocean ....
.

Background

Prior to World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
, Japan had a very diverse and technically advanced submarine fleet, including the only submarines of over 5,000 tons submerged displacement
Displacement

Displacement may refer to:...
, or submarines over 400 feet in length until the advent of nuclear power
Nuclear power

Nuclear power is any nuclear technology designed to extract usable energy from atomic nucleus via controlled nuclear reactions. The only method in use today is through nuclear fission, though other methods might one day include nuclear fusion and radioactive decay ....
. Japan was also unique in that it built 41 submarines that could carry aircraft: something no other nation had yet produced. Japan also had submarines with the longest ranges and highest speeds of any nation. With the development of the Type 95
Type 95 torpedo

The type 95 torpedo was a torpedo of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Based on the very formidable long lance type 93 torpedo, the Type 95 had a smaller 893-pound warhead, less range and a smaller diameter, and intended to be fired from a standard 21-inch torpedo tube of a submerged submarine....
 submarine-launched variant of the Long Lance oxygen-propelled torpedo, Japan not only had the world's most advanced torpedo, but one with the largest warhead.

However, despite numerous technical advantages, Japanese submarines achieved remarkably little during World War II. This was primarily due to the antiquated strategy of 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....
, which viewed submarines as little more than scouts, whose main role was to locate and shadow enemy naval task forces in preparation for a decisive surface conflict.

Early stages of the Pacific War

At the start of the Pacific War
Pacific War

The Pacific War was the part of World War II?and preceding conflicts?that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, between July 7, 1937 and August 14, 1945....
, Midget submarine
Midget submarine

A midget submarine is any submarine under 150 tons, typically operated by one or two but up to 6 or 8 crew, with no on-board living accommodation....
s were used in preparatory reconnaissance of the US Navy
United States Navy

The United States Navy is the navy of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy currently has approximately 331,682 personnel on active duty as of 31 December 2008 and 124,000 in the United States Navy Reserve....
 anchorage at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor is a harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu, Hawaii. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base....
, Hawaii
Hawaii

File:Pahoehoe and Aa flows at Hawaii.jpgThe State of Hawaii is a U.S. state in the United States, located on an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of Australia....
, and in the initial stages of the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Empire of Japan Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States' naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of Sunday, December 7, 1941, later resulting in the United States becoming militarily involved in World War II....
. With the outbreak of general war, the mission of the IJN 6th Fleet expanded to include shipping interdiction and mine laying
Naval mine

A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of or contact with an enemy ship....
. A few specialized missions, such as the Attack on Sydney Harbour
Attack on Sydney Harbour

In late May and early June 1942, during World War II, Imperial Japanese Navy submarines made a series of attacks on the cities of Sydney and Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia....
 with the use of midget submarines were also undertaken. The IJN 6th fleet cooperated briefly with the German Navy
German Navy

The German Navy The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the Revolutions of 1848 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy and became the Imperial Navy ....
 in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering about 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by Asia ; on the west by Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and on the south by the Southern Ocean ....
 in operations to interdict British
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 commerce from its base in Penang
Penang

Penang is a States of Malaysia in Malaysia, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. Penang is the second smallest state in Malaysia after Perlis, and the eighth most populous....
, but these missions were a minority. The Navy General Staff placed more emphasis on ambush operations of Allied capital ship
Capital ship

File:HMS Ark Royal USS Nimitz Norfolk2 1978.jpegThe capital ships of a navy are its "important" warships; the ones with the heaviest firepower and armor....
s. In 1942, Japanese submarines were credited with sinking two aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier

An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a navy force to project air power great distances without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations....
s, one cruiser
Cruiser

A cruiser is a large type of warship, which had its prime period from the late 19th century to the end of the Cold War. The first cruisers were intended for individual raiding and protection missions on the seas....
 and several destroyer
Destroyer

In navy terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a Naval fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range but powerful attackers ....
s, as well as damaging one aircraft carrier and two battleship
Battleship

A battleship is a large, heavily armour warship with a main artillery battery consisting of the largest calibre of guns. Battleships were larger, better armed, and better armored than cruisers and destroyers....
s.

However, the success of 1942 could not be repeated in 1943, due to increased anti-submarine
Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and then damage or destroy enemy submarines....
 capabilities by the US Navy and to the vast scale of the Pacific conflict, which made it difficult for a submarine to be in “right place at the right time” to make a successful attack.

Latter stages of the Pacific War

After 1942, the Navy General Staff also gave very little support to continued commerce interdiction or ambush operations. Instead, submarines came to be increasingly used (especially after massive Japanese surface vessel losses in the Solomon Islands campaign
Solomon Islands campaign

The Solomon Islands campaign was a major military campaign of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign began with Empire of Japan landings and occupation of several areas in the Solomon Islands and Bougainville Island, in the Territory of New Guinea, during the first six months of 1942....
 for transport of critical supplies and reinforcements to the starving garrisons on isolated islands. The Japanese Navy expended hundreds of sorties on such missions, which might have otherwise been used offensively against the Allied war effort.

In the meantime, continuous developments in anti-submarine warfare by the US Navy resulted in ever-increasing losses for Japan's submarine fleet. Japan started the war with 63 ocean-going submarines (not including midgets), and completed 111 during the war, for a total of 174. Of this total, 128 vessels were lost during the conflict. Most of the survivors were either training vessels, or were else recently completed by the end of the war and never saw combat. Of the 30 submarines that supported the Pearl Harbor attack, none survived the war.

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....
 in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands , officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands , is a Micronesian island nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator....
 was the main base for Japanese submarine operations in the Pacific until it fell to the Americans in February 1944. IJN 6th fleet headquarters was relocated to Saipan
Saipan

Saipan is the largest island and Capital of the United States Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of 115.39 km? ....
 in the Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands

The Mariana Islands are an 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....
, which the fell to the Americans in July 1944 with the death of IJN 6th fleet commander in chief Admiral Takeo Takagi
Takeo Takagi

was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II....
 and most of his staff. The remnants of the IJN 6th fleet were based at Ulithi
Ulithi

Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling 4.5 km? , surrounding a lagoon about 30 km long and 15 km wide?at 548 km? the fourth largest in the world....
 Atoll in the Caroline Islands
Caroline Islands

The Caroline Islands form a large archipelago of widely scattered islands in the western Pacific Ocean, northeast 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....
 until the end of the war.

Japan's submarine forces were unable to provide much support during the Battle of the Philippines
Battle of the Philippines

Several major battles and wars have been fought in the Philippines:* Battle of Manila Bay in 1898, during the Spanish-American War.* Philippine-American War of 1899–1913....
 due to increased vigilance by the American fleet. In the final stages of the war, surviving submarines were largely used as carriers for kaiten
Kaiten

The Kaiten was a torpedo modified as a suicide attack, and used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the final stages of World War II.Early designs allowed for the pilot to escape after the final acceleration toward the target, although whether this could have been done successfully is doubtful....
 suicide missions.

The final sortie of the IJN 6th fleet was after the termination of the war, when the super submarine Japanese submarine I-401
Japanese submarine I-401

The I-400 class submarine I-401 was once the largest submarine in the world. It was commanded by Lieutenant Commander Nambu. Capable of carrying three two-seat Aichi M6A1 "Seiran" float torpedo bombers, the Sen Tokus were built to launch a surprise air strike against the Panama Canal....
 returned to Yokosuka
Yokosuka, Kanagawa

is a cities of Japan located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.It is located at the mouth of Tokyo Bay in the Miura Peninsula, and the city stretches across the peninsula to Sagami Bay....
 from Ulithi.

Organization


15 November 1940

  • Submarine Squadron 1 : Training cruiser Katori
    Japanese cruiser Katori

    was the lead ship of the Katori class cruiser of three light cruisers which served with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It is named after the noted Shinto shrine Katori Shrine in Chiba prefecture, Japan....
     (Flagship), Submarine tender Taigei
    Japanese aircraft carrier Ryuho

    The was a Empire of Japan Imperial Japanese Navy vessel which started life as the submarine depot ship Taigei, and was taken out of service in December 1941 for conversion into a light aircraft carrier....
    , Submarine I-20
    • Submarine Flotilla 1 : Submarine I-15, I-16, I-17
  • Submarine Squadron 2 : Light cruiser Isuzu
    Japanese cruiser Isuzu

    was one of six s in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was named after the Isuzu River, near Ise Shrine in the Chubu region of Japan....
    • Submarine Flotilla 11 : Submarine I-74, I-75
    • Submarine Flotilla 12 : Submarine I-68, I-69, I-70
    • Submarine Flotilla 20 : Submarine I-71, I-72, I-73
  • Submarine Squadron 3 : Submarine tender Chogei, Submarine I-7
    • Submarine Flotilla 7 : Submarine I-1, I-2, I-3
    • Submarine Flotilla 8 : Submarine I-4, I-5, I-6

1 December 1941

  • Training cruiser Katori
    Japanese cruiser Katori

    was the lead ship of the Katori class cruiser of three light cruisers which served with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It is named after the noted Shinto shrine Katori Shrine in Chiba prefecture, Japan....
     (Flagship), Fleet oiler Ondo
  • Submarine Squadron 1 : Auxiliary submarine tender Yasukuni-maru, Submarine I-9
    • Submarine Flotilla 1 : Submarine I-15, I-16, I-17
    • Submarine Flotilla 2 : Submarine I-18, I-19, I-20
    • Submarine Flotilla 3 : Submarine I-21, I-22, I-23
    • Submarine Flotilla 4 : Submarine I-24, I-25, I-26
  • Submarine Squadron 2 : Auxiliary submarine tender Santos-maru, Submarine I-7, I-10
    • Submarine Flotilla 7 : Submarine I-1, I-2, I-3
    • Submarine Flotilla 8 : Submarine I-4, I-5, I-6
  • Submarine Squadron 3 : Submarine tender Taigei, Submarine I-8
    • Submarine Flotilla 11 : Submarine I-74, I-75
    • Submarine Flotilla 12 : Submarine I-68, I-69, I-70
    • Submarine Flotilla 20 : Submarine I-71, I-72, I-73

15 June 1944

(The 6th fleet does not have a flagship, because the headquarters moved to the land.)
  • Submarine I-10
  • Submarine Squadron 7
    • Submarine Flotilla 51 : Submarine Ro-104, Ro-105, Ro-106, Ro-107, Ro-108, Ro-109, Ro-111, Ro-112, Ro-113, Ro-114, Ro-115, Ro-116, Ro-117
  • Submarine Squadron 8 : Submarine I-8, I-26, I-27, I-29, I-37, I-52, I-165, I-166, Ro-501
  • Submarine Squadron 11 : Submarine tender Chogei, Submarine I-33, I-46, I-54, I-55, I-361, I-362, Ro-46, Ro-48
  • Submarine Flotilla 7 : Submarine I-5, I-6
  • Submarine Flotilla 12 : Submarine I-169, I-174, I-175, I-176
  • Submarine Flotilla 15 : Submarine I-16, I-32, I-36, I-38, I-41, I-44, I-45, I-53
  • Submarine Flotilla 22 : Submarine I-177, I-180, I-183, I-184, I-185
  • Submarine Flotilla 34 : Submarine Ro-36, Ro-41, Ro-42, Ro-43, Ro-44, Ro-45, Ro-47

1 June 1945

  • Patrol Squadron 22 : Auxiliary boom defence vessel Kiku-maru
    • 4 Patrol Divisions
  • Hunter-Killer Squadron 31 : Destroyer Hanazuki
    Japanese destroyer Hanazuki

    Hanazuki was an Akizuki class destroyer destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means " March". In June 1947, Hanazuki was turned over to United States as "DD-934", and was later sunk as target off Goto Islands, Japan on 3 February 1948....
    • Destroyer Division 17 : Destroyer Yukikaze
      Japanese destroyer Yukikaze

      was a in service with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. She was the only member of her class to survive the war. The attrition rate of Japanese destroyers was extremely high due to the need to use them for transporting supplies to the many scattered island garrisons....
    • Destroyer Division 41 : Destroyer Suzutsuki
      Japanese destroyer Suzutsuki

      Suzutsuki was a Akizuki class destroyer destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "Clear Moon ".On 6?7 April 1945, Suzutsuki escorted from the Inland Sea on Operation Ten-Go against the Allied forces fighting on Okinawa....
      , Fuyuzuki
      Japanese destroyer Fuyuzuki

      Fuyuzuki was a Akizuki class destroyer destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "Winter Moon".On October 12 1944, while escorting the light cruiser from Yokosuka to the Inland Sea, she was hit on the bow by a torpedo fired from ....
    • Destroyer Division 43 : Destroyer Take
      Matsu class destroyer

      The were a class of destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy , who referred to them as .*The and the were called .*The was called .*The was called ....
      , Kiri
      Matsu class destroyer

      The were a class of destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy , who referred to them as .*The and the were called .*The was called .*The was called ....
      , Maki
      Matsu class destroyer

      The were a class of destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy , who referred to them as .*The and the were called .*The was called .*The was called ....
      , Sii
      Matsu class destroyer

      The were a class of destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy , who referred to them as .*The and the were called .*The was called .*The was called ....
    • Destroyer Division 52 : Destroyer Sugi
      Matsu class destroyer

      The were a class of destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy , who referred to them as .*The and the were called .*The was called .*The was called ....
      , Kashi
      Matsu class destroyer

      The were a class of destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy , who referred to them as .*The and the were called .*The was called .*The was called ....
      , Kaba
      Matsu class destroyer

      The were a class of destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy , who referred to them as .*The and the were called .*The was called .*The was called ....
      , Escort ship CD-31, CD-43
  • Submarine Squadron 11 : Submarine tender Chogei, Submarine I-201, I-202, I-203
  • Submarine Flotilla 1 : Submarine I-13, I-400, I-401
  • Submarine Flotilla 15 : Submarine I-36, I-47, I-53, I-58
  • Submarine Flotilla 16 : Submarine I-369, I-372, Ha-101, Ha-102, Ha-104
  • Submarine Flotilla 34 : Submarine Ha-109


Commanders of the IJN 6th Fleet

Commander in chief
Rank Name Date
1 Vice-Admiral Noboru Hirata 15 November 1940 21 July 1941
2 Vice-Admiral Mizumi Shimizu 21 July 1941 16 March 1942
3 Vice-Admiral Marquis Teruhisa Komatsu
Teruhisa Komatsu

Marquis was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II.Born as HIH Kitashirakawa-no-miya Teruhisa, as the younger son of HIH Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa, his title was devolved from oke that that of the kazoku peerage in 1910 in order to preserve to Komatsu family line, which had become extinct with the death of Prince...
 		 16 March 1942 21 June 1943
4 Vice-Admiral Takeo Takagi
Takeo Takagi

was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II....
 		 21 June 1943 10 July 1944
5 Vice-Admiral Shigeyoshi Miwa
Shigeyoshi Miwa

, was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He commanded the Japanese submarine forces during the attack on Pearl Harbor....
 		 10 July 1944 1 May 1945
6 Vice-Admiral Marquis Tadashige Daigo
Daigo Tadashige

Marquis was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II....
 		 1 May 1945 15 September 1945


Chief of staff
Rank Name Date
1 Vice-Admiral Hisashi Ichioka 15 November 1940 6 January 1941
2 Vice-Admiral Hisashi Mito 6 January 1941 22 October 1942
3 Rear Admiral Hisagoro Shimamoto 22 October 1942 15 November 1943
4 Rear Admiral Kozo Nishina 15 November 1943 21 December 1944
5 Rear Admiral Hankyu Sasaki 21 December 1944 15 September 1945


Books


External links