The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy established during World War II.
History The Southwest Area Fleet was an operational command of the Imperial Japanese Navy established on April 10, 1942, to coordinate naval, air, and ground forces for the invasion, occupation and defense of the Philippines, French Indochina, Malaya, and the Netherlands East Indies.
The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Southern Expeditionary Fleets and the IJN 13th Air Fleet were under operational control of the Southwest Area Fleet.
After February 1945, the headquarters of the Southwest Area Fleet was isolated in the Philippines, and the IJN 10th Area Fleet was created in Singapore to take over operational command of its surviving forces, with the exception of the 3rd Southern Expeditionary Fleet, which was also trapped in the Philippines.D'Albas, Death of a Navy Through fierce fighting during the American re-occupation of the Philippines, especially in Manila, Cebu and Mindanao, the surviving elements of the Southwest Area Fleet and the 3rd Southern Expeditionary Fleet were largely annihilated by the end of May 1945.
Organization Southwest Area Fleet (HQ Manila) First Expeditionary Fleet (Singapore) Second Expeditionary Fleet (Surabaya) Third Expeditionary Fleet (Manila) Fourth Expeditionary Fleet (Ambon) IJN 13th Air Fleet
Commanders of the IJN Southwest Fleet Wendel, Axis History Database
Commander in chiefDatesPrevious PostNext PostNotes1 Vice-AdmiralTakahashi Ibō高橋伊望 10 April194215 September1942Commander-in-chief3rd Fleet Also Commander-in-chief2nd Southern Exepeditionary Fleet2 Vice-AdmiralTakasu Shirō高須四郎15 September194218 June1944AttendantNavy General StaffNaval CouncilorAlso Commander-in-chief2nd Southern Exepeditionary Fleet until 15 April 19433 Vice-AdmiralMikawa Gunichi三川軍一18 June19441 November1944 4 Vice-AdmiralŌkawachi Denshichi1 November194415 September1945
Chief of staff Rank Name Date 1 Vice-Admiral Toshihisa Nakamura 10 Apr 1942 – 10 Oct 19422 Vice-Admiral Takeo Tada 10 Oct 1942 – 15 Mar 19443 Rear-Admiral Hidehiko Nishio 15 Mar 1944 – 1 Nov 19444 Vice-Admiral Kaoru Arima 1 Nov 1944 – 6 Sep 1945
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