| Second Carrier Division | |
|---|---|
 Aircraft on the carriers Sōryū and Hiryū prepare to launch to attack Pearl Harbor in December 1941. | |
| Active | November 15, 1934 – July 10, 1944 |
| Country | Empire of Japan |
| Allegiance | Axis Powers of World War II |
| Branch | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Type | Naval aviation unit |
| Role | Aircraft carrier support |
| Engagements | Attack on Pearl Harbor Battle of Wake Island Bombing of Darwin Indian Ocean Raid Battle of Midway Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands Battle of the Philippine Sea |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Yamaguchi Tamon Kakuji Kakuta |
The Second Carrier Division (第二航空戦隊, Dai Ni Kōkū sentai, Ni Kōsen) was an aircraft carrier unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy's First Air Fleet. At the beginning of the Pacific Campaign of World War II, the Second Carrier Division consisted of the fleet carriers Sōryū and Hiryū. Both carriers were sunk at the Battle of Midway in June 1942 and were replaced by Jun'yō and Ryūjō.
Organization (extract)
| Date | Ships |
|---|---|
| 15 November 1934 (original) | Akagi and Destroyer Squadron 2 : Minekaze, Okikaze |
| 1 December 1936 | Kaga and Destroyer Squadron 22 : Satsuki, Minazuki, Fumizuki, Nagatsuki |
| 15 December 1938 | Sōryū, Ryūjō and Destroyer Squadron 12 : Shinonome, Usugumo, Shirakumo, Murakumo |
| 15 November 1939 | Hiryū, Sōryū and Destroyer Squadron 11 : Fubuki, Shirayuki, Hatsuyuki |
| 15 November 1940 | Hiryū, Sōryū and Destroyer Squadron 23 : Kikuzuki, Mikazuki, Mochizuki, Yūzuki |
| 14 July 1942 | Jun'yō, Ryūjō |
| 1 April 1943 | Jun'yō, Hiyō, Ryūhō |
| 10 July 1944 | dissolved |
Commander
| Rank | Name | Date | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R.ADM | Eikichi Katagiri | 15 November 1934 | |
| 2 | Capt./R.ADM | Rokurō Horie | 15 November 1935 | Rear-Admiral on 1 December 1936 |
| 3 | R.ADM | Nishizō Tsukahara | 1 December 1937 | |
| 4 | R.ADM | Teizō Mitsunami | 15 December 1937 | |
| 5 | R.ADM | Tomoshige Samejima | 1 September 1938 | |
| 6 | R.ADM | Michitarō Totsuka | 20 October 1939 | |
| 7 | R.ADM/V.ADM | Tamon Yamaguchi | 1 November 1940 | Vice-Admiral on 5 June 1942, KIA on 6 June 1942 |
| 8 | R.ADM/V.ADM | Kakuji Kakuta | 14 July 1942 | Vice-Admiral on 1 November 1942 |
| 9 | R.ADM | Munetaka Sakamaki | 22 May 1943 | |
| 10 | R.ADM | Takatsugu Jōjima | 1 September 1943 | |
| x | dissolved | 10 July 1944 |
References
- Peattie, Mark R. (1999). Sunburst: The Rise of Japanese Naval Air Power 1909-1941. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-664-X.
Bibliography
- The Maru Special series, "Ushio Shobō". (Japan)
- Ships of the World series, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan)
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