World War II Armed Forces – Orders of Battle and Organizations

Last Updated 01.11.2006

 

Imperial Japanese Navy In cooperation with Jeff Donahoo Commanders and Assignments of other Capital Ships

The format is Japanese style: rank; last name, first name; (Eta Jima class, if known); day.month.year of command and assignment. Commanders marked with * are known to have died. UC = Under Construction FO = Fitting Out

 

Aikoku Maru (armed merchant cruiser)       • Capt Okamura Masao (38) 05.09.41 – 25.08.42       • Capt Oishi Tamotsu (48) 25.08.42 – 05.04.43       • Capt Mizusaki Shojiro (38) 05.04.43 – 17.09.43       • *Capt Nakamaruo Yoshizo (36) 17.09.43 – 17.02.44 24th Squadron, Combined Fleet: 10.10.41 – 10.03.42 Combined Fleet: 10.03.42 – 01.10.43 Kure Naval District (as transport): 01.10.43 – 17.02.44

Akagi Maru (armed merchant cruiser)       • Capt Sakuma Takao (36) 11.41 – 03.43       • *Capt Kurosaki Rinzo (37) 02.03.43 – 02.03.44 Kure Naval District: 30.12.41 – 29.01.42 22nd Squadron, 5th Fleet: 29.01.42 – 05.08.43 22nd Squadron, 5th Fleet, North East Area Fleet: 05.08.43 – 21.02.44 22nd Squadron, North East Area Fleet: 21.02.44 – 31.03.44 (removed)

Asaka Maru (armed merchant cruiser)       • Capt Ban Jiro (33) 11.09.41 – 02.03.43       • Capt Sakuma Takeo (36) 03.43 – 06.43       • Capt Yamazaki Makoto (42) 06.43 – 22nd Squadron, 5th Fleet: 09.41 – 05.08.43 22nd Squadron, 5th Fleet, North East Area Fleet: 05.08.43 – 01.10.43 Kure Naval District (as transport): 01.10.43 – ?

Awata Maru (armed merchant cruiser)       • Capt Maki Kaneyuki (34) 12.41 – 03.43       • Capt Takeuchi Heisichi (41) 03.43 – 10.43 22nd Squadron, 5th Fleet: 07.12.41 – 05.08.43 22nd Squadron, 5th Fleet, North East Area Fleet: 05.08.43 – 01.10.43 Kure Naval District (as transport): 01.10.43 – ?

Gokoku Maru (armed merchant cruiser)       • *Capt Mizuno Kokichi (37) 10.08.42 – 10.11.44 Mitsui (UC): 10.07.42 – 01.10.42 Combined Fleet: 01.10.42 – 01.10.43 Kure Naval District (as transport): 01.10.43 – 10.11.44

Hokoku Maru (armed merchant cruiser)       • Capt Aihara Aritaka (38) 20.09.41 – 25.08.42       • *Capt Imazato Hiroshi (45) 25.08.42 – 11.11.42 24th Squadron, Combined Fleet: 10.10.41 – 10.03.42 Combined Fleet: 10.03.42 – 10.12.42 (removed)

Izumo (former armored cruiser)       • Capt Uozumi Jisaku (42) 13.09.41 – 07.10.42       • Capt Murayama Seiroku 07.10.42 – 12.09.43       • Capt Nishioka Shigeyasu (40) 12.09.43 – 30.12.43       • Capt Kato Yoshio (43) 30.12.43 – 10.08.44       • Capt Kusakawa Kiyoshi (38) 10.08.44 – 01.03.45       • Capt Torri Takemi 01.03.45 – 24.07.45 15th Squadron, China Expeditionary Fleet: 09.41 – 10.04.42 China Area Fleet: 10.04.42 – 20.02.44 Kure Training Squadron: 20.02.44 – ?

Iwate (former armored cruiser)       • Capt Oka Tsuneo (??) 09.42 – 05.42       • Capt Matsumoto Takeji (45) 25.05.42 – 05.09.42       • ? 05.09.42 – 18.02.43       • Capt Inose Masamori (40) 18.02.43 – 08.11.43       • Capt Oishi Kenshiro (??)       • Capt Okada Yusaku (47)       • Capt Shimizu Takeo (??) 3rd China Expeditionary Fleet, China Area Fleet: 11.41 – 15.01.42 Kure Naval District: 15.01.42 – ?

Kinryu Maru (armed merchant cruiser)       • Capt Yamada Seizo (37) 12.41 – 09.42 4th Fleet: 12.41 – 14.07.42 Combined Fleet 14.07.42 – ?

Kiyozumi Maru (armed merchant cruiser)       • Capt Kitamasa Ichirou (34) 09.05.41 – 01.04.42       • ? 01.04.42 – 10.07.42       • Capt Kurosaki Rinzo (37) 10.07.42 – 23.12.42       • ? 23.12.42 – 18.08.43       • *Capt Maki Kikuta (34) 18.08.43 – 17.02.44 24th Squadron, Combined Fleet: 07.11.41 – 10.03.42 Combined Fleet: 10.03.42 – 01.10.43 Kure Naval District (as tranport): 01.10.43 – 17.02.44

Kongo Maru (armed merchant cruiser)       • Capt Mizusaki Shojiro (38) 12.41 – 04.42 4th Fleet: 12.41 – 20.03.42 (removed)

Noshiro Maru (armed merchant cruiser)       • Capt Otsuka Miki (39) 29.09.41 – 01.02.42       • ?       • Capt Sada Tokinaga (??) 25.08.42 – ? 2nd Maritime Escort Unit, 4th Fleet: 10.04.42 – 01.08.42 Supply Command: 01.08.42  – ?

Saigon Maru (armed merchant cruiser)       • ?       • *Capt Kameyama Minegoro (44) 08.44 – 09.44 18th Escort Squadron, General Escort Command: 20.01.44 – 10.11.44 (removed)

Ukishima Maru (armed merchant cruiser)       • ?       • Capt Yano Kanji (50) 04.43 (temp) 1st Maritime Escort Unit, General Escort Command: 10.04.42 – 01.08.42 2nd Maritime Escort Unit, 4th Fleet: 01.08.42 – 15.03.43 (removed)

Yakumo (former armored cruiser)       • Capt Yamanori Kamenosuke (45) 01.11.40 – 05.05.42       • Capt Kobe Yuji (45) 05.05.42 – 14.07.42       • Capt Kato Yoshiro (43) 07.42 –       • Capt Sasaki Kiyoharu (??)       • Capt Teraoka Masao (46) 01.45 – 05.45       • Capt Sato Kozo (??) 1st Fleet, Combined Fleet: 05.09.43 – 01.12.43 Kure Naval District: 01.12.43 – ?