The division of the Japanese naval forces in November 1938

A letter of the German naval attache in Japan dated Tokyo, Japan 26 November 1938 reported that the Japanese Department of Navy supplied a secret document dealing with the present division of the naval forces.

United Fleet

First Fleet

-1st Squadron consisting of battleships Mutsu, Hyuga, Ise 

Mutsu anno 1943. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

-3rd Squadron consisting of the battleships Kirishima, Kongo

Kongo-class battle cruisers original silhouette. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

 -8th Squadron consisting of the light cruisers Kinu, Yura, Naka 

Naka. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

-1st Destroyer squadron of the light cruiser Sendai and the 2nd, 9th and 24th Destroyer flotillas

Sendai. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

-1st Submarine squadron consisting of the submarine tender Jingei and the 7th and 8th Submarine flotillas

Jingei-class submarine tenders. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

-1st Aircraft carrier squadron consisting of the aircraft carrier Kaga and 29th Destroyer flotilla

Kaga. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Second Fleet

-4th Squadron consisting of the heavy cruisers Chokai and Maya

-7th Squadron consisting of the heavy cruisers Mikuma, Susuya and Kumano 

Mogami sister ship Dutch magazine Onze Vloot dated June 1936, p. 79, drawing by E.Th. Poppe

-3rd Destroyer Squadron consisting of the light cruiser Jintsu and the 7th, 8th and 12th Destroyer flotillas

Sendai sister ship of the Jintsu. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

-2nd Submarine Squadron consisting of the light cruiser Isuzu and the 12th, 28th and 29th Submarine flotillas.

-2nd Aircraft carrier Squadron consisting of the aircraft carrier Ryujo and the 30 Destroyer flotilla

Division of the naval foces in the Chinese waters

Third Fleet

2 coastal defence ships. 1 cruiser,3 minelayers, 9 gun vessels (gunboats?), 18 destroyers, 12 torpedoboats, 14 minesweepers, 2 seaplane mother ships and numerous other vessels

Fourth Fleet

2 cruisers, 1 minelayer, 6 destroyers and numerous other vessels

Fifth Fleet

5 cruisers, 1 aircraft carrier, 3 seaplane mother ships, 9 destroyers, 6 minesweepers and numerous other vessels.

Each fleet possessed marines (landing corps) and aircraft support.

The training squdron consisted of the training cruisers Iwate and Yakumo.

Yakumo 1897-1947. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Source

High Command of the Kriegsmarine (OKM). Case 36