The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) created as a mobile strike force in response to hostilities with Russia, and saw action in every IJN military operation until the end of World War II.
History
Established on 27 October 1903, the 2nd Fleet was created by the Imperial General Headquarters as a mobile strike force of cruisers and destroyers to pursue the Imperial Russian Navy's Vladivostok-based cruiser squadron while the remaining bulk of the Japanese fleet (the IJN 1st Fleet) continued to blockade Port Arthur in hopes of luring the battleships of the Russian Pacific Fleet into an open sea classic line of battle confrontation.
As the main mobile force in the IJN, the 2nd Fleet saw the bulk of all future IJN combat operations from the time of its inception until IJN dissolution at the end of World War II.
Order of Battle at time of Pearl Harbor
Based at Samah, Hainan Island<br>
4th Division
CA Takao (fleet flagship)
CA Atago
CA ChÃ
Âkai
CA Maya
5th Division
CA Haguro (flagship)
CA MyÃ
ÂkÃ
Â
CA Nachi
7th Division
CA Kumano (flagship)
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
CA Suzuya
8th Division
CA Tone (flagship)
CA Chikuma
Other
AD Kamikaze Maru
2nd Destroyer Squadron
:CL JintsÃ
« (flagship)
8th Destroyer Division
:DD Arashio
:DD Asashio
:DD Michishio
:DD Ã
Âshio
15th Destroyer Division
:DD Hayashio
:DD Kuroshio
:DD Natsushio
:DD Oyashio
16th Destroyer Division
:DD Amatsukaze
:DD Hatsukaze
:DD Tokitsukaze
:DD Yukikaze
18th Destroyer Division
:DD Arare
:DD KagerÃ
Â
:DD Kasumi
:DD Shiranuhi
4th Destroyer Squadron
:CL Naka (flagship)
2nd Destroyer Division
:DD Harusame
:DD Murasame
:DD Samidare
:DD Yudachi
4th Destroyer Division
:DD Arashi
:DD Hagikaze
:DD Maikaze
:DD Nowaki
9th Destroyer Division
:DD Asagumo
:DD Minegumo
:DD Natsugumo
:DD Yamagumo
24th Destroyer Division
:DD Kawakaze
:DD Suzukaze
:DD Umikaze
:DD Yamakaze
Order in the Malayan Campaign
Distant Cover Force
Closed Cover Force
Invasion Force
Commanders of the IJN 2nd Fleet
References
Books
External links
Notes