Ryojun Guard District
Encyclopedia
The was the major navy base for the Imperial Japanese Navy
in the Kwantung Leased Territory
before and during Second Sino-Japanese War
. Located in at Ryojun 38°48′45"N 121°14′30"E), (present-day Lüshunkou
, China
, The Ryojun Guard District was responsible for control of the strategic seaward approaches to Manchukuo
and to north China
and for patrols in the Yellow Sea
and along the China coastlines. It was disbanded in 1943.
Sea Frontier
s concept. the Guard District maintained a small garrison
force of ships and Naval Land Forces
which reported directly to the Guard District commander, and hosted detachments of the numbered fleets on a temporary assignment basis.
The port of Ryojun on the Kwantung Peninsula was an area with a long association with the Imperial Japanese Navy, having been first seized during the First Sino-Japanese War
in December 1894. Japan was forced to abandon the port due to the Triple Intervention
in February 1896, and its port facilities were soon occupied and developed by the Imperial Russian Navy
as Port Arthur
, Russia’s most important naval base in the Far East.
The Russian naval base was seized by Japan after the Battle of Port Arthur
in August 1904 and was proclaimed the . However, it lacked the shipyards, armories and the training facilities associated with other naval districts, (for which it relied on Sasebo Naval District
). Tasked primarily with coastal patrols of the Liaodong Peninsula and control of the strategic seaward approaches to Tianjin
and Beijing
, it was regarded as a prestigious posting, with its commander receiving his commission directly from the Emperor.
However, on March 14, 1914, the status of the Ryojun Naval District was reduced to that of a third echelon naval port, or . It served as a staging point and refueling base in the World War I
for operations against the Imperial German Navy’s German East Asia Squadron
based out of Tsingtao. With the Allied
victory in World War I eliminating the German threat and with the Washington Naval Treaty
limiting naval forces, Ryojun Military Port was deactivated on December 1, 1922.
In April 1933, the base was reactivated, and its role expanding to include patrols and guard of the coastline of Manchukuo
. On November 20, 1941 in anticipation of the coming war with the United States
, Ryojun was upgraded to Guard District status.
However, on January 15, 1942, with Japan in full control of the seaward approaches to China and Manchukuo, the Guard District was again deactivated.
Chief of Staff
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...
in the Kwantung Leased Territory
Kwantung Leased Territory
The Kwantung Leased Territory was a territory in the southern part of the Liaodong Peninsula in Inner Manchuria that existed from 1898 to 1945. It was one of the numerous territorial concessions that the Empire of China was compelled to award to foreign countries at the end of the 19th century...
before and during Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
. Located in at Ryojun 38°48′45"N 121°14′30"E), (present-day Lüshunkou
Lüshunkou
Lüshunkou is a district in the municipality of Dalian, Liaoning province, China. Also called Lüshun City or Lüshun Port, it was formerly known as both Port Arthur and Ryojun....
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, The Ryojun Guard District was responsible for control of the strategic seaward approaches to Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
and to north China
North China
thumb|250px|Northern [[People's Republic of China]] region.Northern China or North China is a geographical region of China. The heartland of North China is the North China Plain....
and for patrols in the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
and along the China coastlines. It was disbanded in 1943.
History
The were second tier naval bases, similar to the first tier , with docking, fueling and resupply facilities, but typically lacked a shipyard or training school. They tended to be established by strategic waterways or major port cities for defensive purposes. In concept, the Guard District was similar to the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Sea Frontier
Sea Frontier
Sea Frontiers were established by the United States Navy from 1 July 1941 during World War II as areas of defense against enemy vessels, especially submarines, along the American coasts...
s concept. the Guard District maintained a small garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
force of ships and Naval Land Forces
Imperial Japanese Navy Land Forces
Imperial Japanese Navy Land Forces of World War II originated with the Special Naval Landing Forces, and eventually consisted of the following:...
which reported directly to the Guard District commander, and hosted detachments of the numbered fleets on a temporary assignment basis.
The port of Ryojun on the Kwantung Peninsula was an area with a long association with the Imperial Japanese Navy, having been first seized during the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
in December 1894. Japan was forced to abandon the port due to the Triple Intervention
Triple Intervention
The was a diplomatic intervention by Russia, Germany, and France on 23 April 1895 over the terms of the Treaty of Shimonoseki signed between Japan and Qing dynasty China that ended the First Sino-Japanese War.-Treaty of Shimonoseki:...
in February 1896, and its port facilities were soon occupied and developed by the Imperial Russian Navy
Imperial Russian Navy
The Imperial Russian Navy refers to the Tsarist fleets prior to the February Revolution.-First Romanovs:Under Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich, construction of the first three-masted ship, actually built within Russia, was completed in 1636. It was built in Balakhna by Danish shipbuilders from Holstein...
as Port Arthur
Lüshunkou
Lüshunkou is a district in the municipality of Dalian, Liaoning province, China. Also called Lüshun City or Lüshun Port, it was formerly known as both Port Arthur and Ryojun....
, Russia’s most important naval base in the Far East.
The Russian naval base was seized by Japan after the Battle of Port Arthur
Battle of Port Arthur
The Battle of Port Arthur was the starting battle of the Russo-Japanese War...
in August 1904 and was proclaimed the . However, it lacked the shipyards, armories and the training facilities associated with other naval districts, (for which it relied on Sasebo Naval District
Sasebo Naval District
was the third of five main administrative districts of the pre-war Imperial Japanese Navy. Its territory included the western and southern coastline of Kyūshū, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan and Korea, as well as patrols in the East China Sea and the Pacific...
). Tasked primarily with coastal patrols of the Liaodong Peninsula and control of the strategic seaward approaches to Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
and Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, it was regarded as a prestigious posting, with its commander receiving his commission directly from the Emperor.
However, on March 14, 1914, the status of the Ryojun Naval District was reduced to that of a third echelon naval port, or . It served as a staging point and refueling base in the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
for operations against the Imperial German Navy’s German East Asia Squadron
German East Asia Squadron
The German East Asia Squadron was a German Navy cruiser squadron which operated mainly in the Pacific Ocean between the 1870s and 1914...
based out of Tsingtao. With the Allied
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
victory in World War I eliminating the German threat and with the Washington Naval Treaty
Washington Naval Treaty
The Washington Naval Treaty, also known as the Five-Power Treaty, was an attempt to cap and limit, and "prevent 'further' costly escalation" of the naval arms race that had begun after World War I between various International powers, each of which had significant naval fleets. The treaty was...
limiting naval forces, Ryojun Military Port was deactivated on December 1, 1922.
In April 1933, the base was reactivated, and its role expanding to include patrols and guard of the coastline of Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
. On November 20, 1941 in anticipation of the coming war with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Ryojun was upgraded to Guard District status.
However, on January 15, 1942, with Japan in full control of the seaward approaches to China and Manchukuo, the Guard District was again deactivated.
Order of Battle at time of the attack on Pearl Harbor
- Ryojun Guard District
- Minesweeper Division 32
- Shanan Maru #16
List of commanders
Commanding officer| Name | Dates | |
| 1 | Admiral Baron Yahachi Shibayama | 6 Feb 1905 - 2 Feb 1906 |
| 2 | Admiral Baron Sotaro Misu | 2 Feb 1906 - 22 Nov 1906 |
| 3 | Vice-Admiral Baron Masaaki Hashimoto | 22 Nov 1906 - 28 Aug 1908 |
| 4 | Vice-Admiral Baron Sadayasu Tomioka Sadatoshi Tomioka - Notes :... |
28 Aug 1908 - 1 Dec 1910 |
| 5 | Vice-Admiral Hikohachi Yamada | 1 Dec 1910 - 1 Dec 1912 |
| 6 | Vice-Admiral Hajime Sakamoto | 1 Dec 1912 - 1 Apr 1914 |
| 7 | Vice-Admiral Reijiro Kawashima | 1 Apr 1914 - 13 Dec 1915 |
| 8 | Vice-Admiral Takeshi Takarabe Takarabe Takeshi - Notes :... |
13 Dec 1915 - 1 Dec 1916 |
| 9 | Admiral Teijiro Kuroi | 1 Dec 1916 - 1 Dec 1918 |
| 10 | Vice-Admiral Tatsuo Matsumura | 1 Dec 1918 - 1 Oct 1920 |
| 11 | Vice-Admiral Naoe Nakano | 1 Oct 1920 - 1 Dec 1921 |
| 12 | Vice-Admiral Kesataro Kawahara | 1 Dec 1921 - 10 Dec 1922 |
| X | Deactivated | 10 Dec 1922 - 20 Apr 1933 |
| 13 | Vice-Admiral Shizue Tsuda | 20 Apr 1933 - 1 Jul 1933 |
| 14 | Vice-Admiral Yurikazu Edahara | 1 Jul 1933 - 15 Nov 1934 |
| 15 | Vice-Admiral Kichijiro Hamada | 15 Nov 1934 - 15 Nov 1935 |
| 16 | Admiral Hideho Wada | 15 Nov 1935 - 1 Dec 1936 |
| 17 | Vice-Admiral Masaichi Maeda | 1 Dec 1936 - 15 Nov 1938 |
| 18 | Vice-Admiral Ichiro Sato | 15 Nov 1938 - 15 Nov 1939 |
| 19 | Vice-Admiral Boshiro Hosogaya Boshiro Hosogaya , was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.-Biography:Hosogaya was born to a farming family in Nozawa, Nagano prefecture in 1888. He graduated from the 36th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1908. He was ranked 16th in a class of 191 cadets. As a midshipman, he... |
15 Nov 1939 - 15 Nov 1940 |
| 20 | Vice-Admiral Teruhisa Komatsu Teruhisa Komatsu -Notes:... |
15 Nov 1940 - 5 Jul 1941 |
| 21 | Vice-Admiral Hidehiko Ukita | 5 Jul 1941 - 5 Jan 1942 |
Chief of Staff
| Name | Dates | |
| 1 | Vice-Admiral Chikataka Tamari | 7 Jan 1905 - 22 Nov 1906 |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral Tomokazu Takigawa | 22 Nov 1906 - 28 Aug 1908 |
| 3 | Vice-Admiral Yasutaro Egashira | 28 Aug 1908 - 1 Dec 1909 |
| 4 | Rear-Admiral Genzaburo Ogi | 1 Dec 1909 - 1 Dec 1910 |
| 5 | Vice-Admiral Tadamichi Kamaya | 1 Dec 1910 - 1 Dec 1911 |
| 6 | Rear-Admiral Sukeshiro Hanabusa | 1 Dec 1911 - 6 Dec 1911 |
| 7 | Rear-Admiral Yoshimoto Shoji | 6 Dec 1911 - 1 Dec 1912 |
| 8 | Rear-Admiral Sadaichi Hiraoka | 1 Dec 1912 - 1 Dec 1913 |
| 9 | Rear-Admiral Masaki Nakamura | 8 May 1914 - 11 May 1916 |
| 10 | Rear-Admiral Kanshiro Haji | 11 May 1916 - 1 Dec 1917 |
| 11 | Rear-Admiral Kametaro Muta | 12 Feb 1918 - 10 Nov 1918 |
| 12 | Rear-Admiral Kenkichi Wada | 20 Nov 1920 - 1 Apr 1922 |
| 13 | Vice-Admiral Kiyohiro Ijichi | 1 Apr 1922 - 10 Nov 1922 |
| X | Deactivated | 10 Dec 1922 - 20 Apr 1933 |
| 14 | Rear-Admiral Hisoharu Kubota | 20 Apr 1933 - 15 Nov 1935 |
| 15 | Vice-Admiral Chuichi Hara Chuichi Hara -External links:*... |
15 Nov 1935 - 1 Dec 1937 |
| 16 | Vice-Admiral Shintaro Hashimoto Shintaro Hashimoto -Web:- Firsthand account of the battle by a member of HMS Vigilant's crew.- Fairly detailed account of the battle... |
1 Dec 1937 - 15 Nov 1939 |
| 17 | Rear-Admiral Isamu Takeda | 15 Nov 1939 - 1 Nov 1940 |
| 18 | Rear-Admiral Keizo Tanimoto | 1 Nov 1940 - 5 Jan 1942 |