| Fourth Carrier Division | |
|---|---|
 Ise in October 1944, during the Battle off Cape Engaño | |
| Active | December 1, 1937 – July 14, 1942 May 1, 1944 – March 1, 1945 |
| Country | Empire of Japan |
| Allegiance | Axis Powers of World War II |
| Branch | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Type | Naval aviation unit |
| Role | Aircraft carrier support |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Kakuji Kakuta |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol | Notoro 1937 Notoro (ノトロ) Ryūjō 1941–42 DI-xxx Taiyō, Shōhō, Jun'yō 1941-42 DII-xxx May 1944 634-xxx |
The 4th Carrier Division (第四航空戦隊, Dai Yon Kōkū Sentai, or Yon Kōsen) was a seaplane tender and aircraft carrier unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet.
Organization
| Date | Higher unit | Ships and air units |
|---|---|---|
| 1 December 1937 (original) | Combined Fleet | Notoro, Kinugasa Maru |
| 1 August 1938 | disbanded | |
| 1 April 1941 | 1st Air Fleet | Ryūjō |
| 11 August 1941 | Ryūjō, Destroyer Squadron 3 : Shiokaze, Hokaze | |
| 10 December 1941 | Ryūjō, Kasuga Maru (Taiyō), Destroyer Squadron 3 : Shiokaze, Hokaze | |
| 1 April 1942 | Ryūjō, Shōhō | |
| 3 May 1942 | Ryūjō, Shōhō, Jun'yō | |
| 20 May 1942 | Ryūjō, Jun'yō | |
| 14 July 1942 | disbanded | |
| 1 May 1944 | 3rd Fleet | Hyūga, Ise, 634th Naval Air Group |
| 15 October 1944 | Jun'yō, Ryūhō, Hyūga, Ise | |
| (24 October 1944) | Hyūga, Ise | |
| 15 December 1944 | 2nd Fleet | Hyūga, Ise |
| 1 March 1945 | disbanded | |
Commander
| Rank | Name | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R.ADM | Tomoshige Samejima | 1 December 1937 |
| x | disbanded | 1 August 1938 | |
| x | vacant post | 1 April 1941 | |
| 2 | R.ADM | Torao Kuwabara | 10 April 1941 |
| 3 | R.ADM | Kakuji Kakuta | 1 September 1941 |
| x | disbanded | 14 July 1942 | |
| 4 | R.ADM | Matsuda Chiaki | 1 May 1944 |
| x | disbanded | 1 March 1945 |
Footnotes
- Carrier Air Group. Equipped D4Y2-Kai Judy and E16A1 Paul.
- Battle of Leyte Gulf (The Battle off Cape Engaño).
Bibliography
- "Monthly The Maru" series, and "The Maru Special" series, "Ushio Shobō". (Japan)
- "Monthly Ships of the World" series, "Kaijinsha". (Japan)
- "Famous Airplanes of the World" series and "Monthly Kōku Fan" series, Bunrindō (Japan)
