Kure Naval District
Encyclopedia
was the second of four main administrative districts of the pre-war Imperial Japanese Navy
. Its territory included the Inland Sea of Japan and the Pacific
coasts of southern Honshū
from Wakayama
to Yamaguchi prefecture
s, eastern and northern Kyūshū
and Shikoku
.
The area of the Kure Naval District encompassed Hashirajima
Anchoring Area located at the south end of Hiroshima Bay, 30-40 kilometers southwest of Kure. When not in need of repairs ships usually anchored in this area to free up pier space at Kure. Hashirajima was also a major staging area for fleet operations.
Tokuyama port
, was also part of Kure Naval District, and had the largest fuel depot in the Japanese Navy.
within the sheltered Inland Sea of Japan was recognized of strategic importance in controlling the sea lanes around western Japan by the Meiji government and early Imperial Japanese Navy. With the formation of the navy in 1886, Japan was divided into five naval districts for recruiting and supply. During the administrative re-organization of the Japanese Navy in 1889, Kure was designated as the “Second Naval District” (第二海軍区, dai-ni kaigunku), and its harbor was dredged, a breakwater
constructed and docking facilities for warship
s were established. The following year, work began on the Kure Naval Arsenal
, which would eventually expand to become one of the largest shipyards in Japan for the construction of large capital ship
s. The facilities of Kure Naval District included armories, production factories for torpedo
es, naval mine
s and naval artillery
(and associated ammunition), and also a naval hospital and training centers.
The Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
and Naval Staff College
were relocated from Tokyo
to nearby Etajima
, and thus also came within the borders of the Kure Naval District, but did not come under the command of Kure Naval District itself.
In 1920, the Japanese navy established its main submarine base
and submarine warfare
training school in Kure. An air wing was established in 1932, and a telecommunications center in 1937.
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor
in 1941, Kure Naval District encompassed the following
Kure was heavily bombed by United States Navy
and United States Army Air Force bombers in the final stages of the Pacific War
, and many of its facilities were destroyed. The Kure area came under occupation by Australian and British forces during the occupation of Japan, and was largely demilitarized. A small portion of the area continued to be occupied by the modern post-war Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, which has preserved a portion of the original red brick gates and couple of buildings as commemorative museums.
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
. Its territory included the Inland Sea of Japan and the Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
coasts of southern Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
from Wakayama
Wakayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Wakayama.- History :Present-day Wakayama is mostly the western part of the province of Kii.- 1953 Wakayama Prefecture flood disaster :...
to Yamaguchi prefecture
Yamaguchi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Yamaguchi, in the center of the prefecture. The largest city, however, is Shimonoseki.- History :...
s, eastern and northern Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
and Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
.
The area of the Kure Naval District encompassed Hashirajima
Hashirajima
is an island in southern Hiroshima Bay of the Inland Sea, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Located 26 kilometers southeast of Iwakuni, it is part of the Kutsuna Islands within the Bōyō Islands group....
Anchoring Area located at the south end of Hiroshima Bay, 30-40 kilometers southwest of Kure. When not in need of repairs ships usually anchored in this area to free up pier space at Kure. Hashirajima was also a major staging area for fleet operations.
Tokuyama port
Tokuyama, Yamaguchi
was a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.On April 21, 2003 Tokuyama was merged with the city of Shinnan'yō, the town of Kumage, from Kumage District, and the town of Kano, from Tsuno District, to form the new city of Shūnan....
, was also part of Kure Naval District, and had the largest fuel depot in the Japanese Navy.
History
The location of KureKure, Hiroshima
is a city in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 240,820 and a population density of 681 persons per km². The total area is 353.74 km².- History :...
within the sheltered Inland Sea of Japan was recognized of strategic importance in controlling the sea lanes around western Japan by the Meiji government and early Imperial Japanese Navy. With the formation of the navy in 1886, Japan was divided into five naval districts for recruiting and supply. During the administrative re-organization of the Japanese Navy in 1889, Kure was designated as the “Second Naval District” (第二海軍区, dai-ni kaigunku), and its harbor was dredged, a breakwater
Breakwater (structure)
Breakwaters are structures constructed on coasts as part of coastal defence or to protect an anchorage from the effects of weather and longshore drift.-Purposes of breakwaters:...
constructed and docking facilities for warship
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
s were established. The following year, work began on the Kure Naval Arsenal
Kure Naval Arsenal
was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Kure Naval District was established at Kure, Hiroshima in 1889, as the second of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands along with the establishment of the...
, which would eventually expand to become one of the largest shipyards in Japan for the construction of large capital ship
Capital ship
The capital ships of a navy are its most important warships; they generally possess the heaviest firepower and armor and are traditionally much larger than other naval vessels...
s. The facilities of Kure Naval District included armories, production factories for torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es, naval mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
s and naval artillery
Naval artillery
Naval artillery, or naval riflery, is artillery mounted on a warship for use in naval warfare. Naval artillery has historically been used to engage either other ships, or targets on land; in the latter role it is currently termed naval gunfire fire support...
(and associated ammunition), and also a naval hospital and training centers.
The Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
The was a school established to train officers for the Imperial Japanese Navy. It originally located in Nagasaki, moved to Yokohama in 1866, and was relocated to Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1869. It moved to Etajima, Hiroshima in 1888...
and Naval Staff College
Naval War College (Japan)
The was the staff college of the Imperial Japanese Navy, responsible for training officers for command positions either on warships, or in staff roles....
were relocated from Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
to nearby Etajima
Etajima, Hiroshima
is a city located on the island of Etajima in Hiroshima Bay in southwestern Hiroshima, Japan.The city was formed on November 1, 2004 from the merger of the town of Etajima from Aki District with three towns from Saeki District: Nōmi, Ōgaki, and Okimi.As of March 1, 2008 population data, the city...
, and thus also came within the borders of the Kure Naval District, but did not come under the command of Kure Naval District itself.
In 1920, the Japanese navy established its main submarine base
Submarine base
A submarine base is a military base that shelters submarines and their personnel.Examples of present-day submarine bases include HMNB Clyde, Île Longue , Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Naval Submarine Base New London, and Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base .The Israeli navy bases its growing submarine...
and submarine warfare
Submarine warfare
Naval warfare is divided into three operational areas: surface warfare, air warfare and underwater warfare. The latter may be subdivided into submarine warfare and anti-submarine warfare as well as mine warfare and mine countermeasures...
training school in Kure. An air wing was established in 1932, and a telecommunications center in 1937.
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
in 1941, Kure Naval District encompassed the following
- Kure Naval District HQ
- Kure Naval Base
- Kure Naval Guard Unit
- Destroyer YakazeJapanese destroyer Yakazewas a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:...
- Submarine I-52
- Submarine Ro-30
- Submarine Ro-31
- Submarine Ro-32
- Minelayer KatsurikiJapanese survey ship KatsurikiThe was a minelayer of the Imperial Japanese Navy serving during the World War I and the World War II, the only ship of her class. She was the first purpose-built ocean-minelayer in the IJN.-Background:...
- KaibokanKaibokanAn escort ship, or kaibokan, , is the term used by the United States Navy for a type of naval ship used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II for escort duty....
YakumoJapanese cruiser Yakumowas a 1st class armored cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy, designed and built by the Stettiner Vulcan AG shipyards in Stettin, Germany. The Yakumo was named from a stanza of the Waka by Susanoo in the Japanese mythology.-Background:...
- Destroyer Yakaze
- Kure Naval ArsenalKure Naval Arsenalwas one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Kure Naval District was established at Kure, Hiroshima in 1889, as the second of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands along with the establishment of the...
- Kure Naval Hospital
- Kure Naval Prison
- Kure Naval Fuel Deport
- Kure Special Naval Landing Forces
- Kure Naval Guard Unit
- Kure Submarine Base
- Otake Naval Infantry Barracks
- Tokuyama Naval Fuel Depot
- Kure Naval Air Group
- Saeki Naval Air Group
- Usa Naval Air Training Unit
- Submarine Division Six (training)
-
- Submarine Ro-57
- Submarine Ro-58
- Submarine Ro-59
-
- 12th Combined Naval Air Wing
- Oita Naval Air Group
- Hakata Naval Air Group
- Omuro Naval Air Group
- Kure Naval Base
Kure was heavily bombed by United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and United States Army Air Force bombers in the final stages of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, and many of its facilities were destroyed. The Kure area came under occupation by Australian and British forces during the occupation of Japan, and was largely demilitarized. A small portion of the area continued to be occupied by the modern post-war Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, which has preserved a portion of the original red brick gates and couple of buildings as commemorative museums.
Commanding officers
- Vice-Admiral Baron Nagayoshi Maki (26 September 1887 – 8 March 1889)
- Vice-Admiral Viscount Kuranosuke NakamutaNakamuta Kuranosuke-External links:*- Notes :...
(8 March 1889 – 12 December 1892) - Vice-Admiral Baron Shinanojo ArichiArichi ShinanojoBaron was an admiral in the early Imperial Japanese Navy, and served as Chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff in the late 19th century.-Biography:...
(12 December 1892 – 12 May 1895) - Vice-Admiral Baron Kiyokazu AboKiyokazu Abo- Notes :...
(12 May 1895 – 26 February 1896) - Fleet Admiral Viscount Yoshika Inoue (26 February 1896 – 20 May 1900)
- Admiral Baron Yahachi Shibayama (20 May 1900 – 6 February 1905)
- Vice-Admiral Shinichi Arima (6 February 1905 – 2 February 1906)
- Vice-Admiral Baron Masuji Yamauchi (2 February 1906 – 1 December 1909)
- Fleet Admiral Viscount Tomozaburo Kato(1 December 1909 – 1 December 1913)
- Vice-Admiral Kazu Matsumoto (1 December 1913 – 25 March 1914)
- Admiral Motaro Yoshimatsu (25 March 1914 – 23 September 1915)
- Vice-Admiral Suetaka Ijichi (23 September 1915 – 1 December 1916)
- Admiral Baron Sadakichi Kato (1 December 1916 – 1 December 1919)
- Admiral Kakuichi MurakamiMurakami Kakuichi- Notes :...
(1 December 1919 – 27 July 1922) - Admiral Baron Kantaro SuzukiKantaro SuzukiBaron was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, member and final leader of the Taisei Yokusankai and 42nd Prime Minister of Japan from 7 April-17 August 1945.-Early life:...
(27 July 1922 – 27 January 1924) - Admiral Isamu TakeshitaIsamu Takeshitawas an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy. He was also a diplomat whose accomplishments included helping end the Russo-Japanese War favorably for Japan and obtaining former German possessions in the Pacific for Japan following World War I...
(27 January 1924 – 15 April 1925) - Admiral Baron Kiyokazu AboKiyokazu Abo- Notes :...
(15 April 1925 – 10 December 1926) - Admiral Saburo Hyakutake (10 December 1926 – 10 December 1928)
- Vice-Admiral Koshiro Otani (10 December 1928 – 11 November 1929)
- Admiral Saburo Hyakutake (11 November 1929 – 11 June 1930)
- Admiral Kichisaburo NomuraKichisaburo Nomura-External links:...
(11 June 1930 – 1 December 1931) - Admiral Katsunoshin Yamanashi (1 December 1931 – 1 December 1932)
- Admiral Ryozo Nakamura (1 December 1932 – 10 May 1934)
- Admiral Hisanori Fujita (10 May 1934 – 1 December 1936)
- Admiral Takayoshi Kato (1 December 1936 – 15 November 1938)
- Admiral Shigetaro ShimadaShigetaro Shimadawas an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He also served as Navy Minister-Biography:A native of Tokyo, Shimada graduated from the 32nd class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1904...
(15 November 1938 – 15 April 1940) - Vice-Admiral Masaharu Hibino (15 April 1940 – 18 September 1941)
- Admiral Soemu Toyoda (18 September 1941 – 10 November 1942)
- Vice-Admiral Ibo TakahashiIbo Takahashi- Books :...
(10 November 1942 – 21 June 1943) - Admiral Chuichi NagumoChuichi Nagumowas a Japanese admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II and one time commander of the Kido Butai . He committed suicide during the Battle of Saipan.-Early life:...
(21 June 1943 – 20 October 1943) - Admiral Naokuni Nomura (20 October 1943 – 17 July 1944)
- Admiral Yorio Sawamoto (17 July 1944 – 1 May 1945)
- Vice-Admiral Masao Kanazawa (1 May 1945 – 30 November 1945)
Chief of Staff
- Rear-Admiral Shizuo Sato (1 April 1889 – 13 May 1890)
- Fleet Admiral Marquis Heihachiro Togo (13 May 1890 – 14 December 1891)
- Rear-Admiral Tokiyasu Yoshijima (14 December 1891 – 20 May 1893)
- Rear-Admiral Fukusaburo Hirao (20 May 1893 – 11 May 1895)
- Rear-Admiral Katsumi Miyoshi (11 May 1895 – 27 December 1897)
- Vice-Admiral Baron Masamichi Togo (27 December 1897 – 23 March 1899)
- Captain Isamu Yajima (23 March 1899 – 6 December 1900)
- Rear-Admiral Hisamaro Oinoue (6 December 1900 – 3 February 1904)
- Vice-Admiral Baron Tokutaro Nakamizo (3 February 1904 – 10 May 1905)
- Rear-Admiral Ichiro Nijima (10 May 1905 – 2 February 1906)
- Admiral Motaro Yoshimatsu (2 February 1906 – 22 November 1906)
- Rear-Admiral Shinjiro Uehara (22 November 1906 – 27 December 1907)
- Rear-Admiral Heitaro Takeuchi (27 December 1907 – 22 May 1910)
- Admiral Matahichiro Nawa (22 May 1910 – 20 April 1912)
- Admiral Kaneo Nomaguchi (20 April 1912 – 10 January 1913)
- Rear-Admiral Kishichiro Osawa (10 January 1913 – 1 December 1913)
- Vice-Admiral Naoe Nakano (1 December 1913 – 17 April 1914)
- Admiral Kenji Ide (17 April 1914 – 13 December 1915)
- Vice-Admiral Shibakichi Yamanaka (13 December 1915 – 13 July 1917)
- Vice-Admiral Junichi Matsumura (18 July 1917 – 1 December 1918)
- Vice-Admiral Shichigoro Saito (1 December 1918 – 1 December 1920)
- Vice-Admiral Yoshimoto Masaki (1 December 1920 – 1 December 1922)
- Vice-Admiral Naomoto Komatsu (1 December 1922 – 6 November 1923)
- Vice-Admiral Naotaro Nagasawa (6 November 1923 – 1 December 1924)
- Rear-Admiral Bekinari Kabayama (1 December 1924 – 16 December 1924)
- Vice-Admiral Tokujiro Tateno (16 December 1924 – 1 December 1926)
- Vice-Admiral Kiyohiro Ijichi (1 December 1926 – 10 December 1928)
- Admiral Koshirō OikawaKoshiro Oikawawas an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and Naval Minister during World War II.-Biography:Oikawa was born into a wealthy family in rural Koshi County, Niigata Prefecture, but was raised in Morioka city, Iwate prefecture in northern Japan....
(10 December 1928 – 10 June 1930) - Vice-Admiral Giichi Suzuki (10 June 1930 – 1 December 1931)
- Vice-Admiral Choji Inoue (1 December 1931 – 15 November 1932)
- Vice-Admiral Tokutaro Sumiyama (15 November 1932 – 15 November 1934)
- Vice-Admiral Umataro Tanimoto (15 November 1934 – 15 November 1935)
- Vice-Admiral Masaichi NiimiMasaichi Niimiwas an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during the World War II.-Biography:Niimi was born in what is now Asakita Ward, Hiroshima city. Hiroshima prefecture, as the second son to a farming and soy sauce producing family. He was a graduate of the 36th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy...
(15 November 1935 – 1 April 1936) - Vice-Admiral Ichiro Sato (1 April 1936 – 1 December 1936)
- Vice-Admiral Takamoto Togari (1 December 1936 – 15 December 1938)
- Vice-Admiral Toshihisa Nakamura 15 December 1938 – 10 October 1939)
- Vice-Admiral Matome Ugaki (10 October 1939 – 20 August 1941)
- Vice-Admiral Torahiko Nakajima (20 August 1941 – 6 January 1943)
- Vice-Admiral Kengo Kobayashi (6 January 1943 – 11 June 1943)
- Vice-Admiral Shinzo Onishi (11 June 1943 – 9 September 1944)
- Vice-Admiral Shozo Hashimoto (10 September 1944 – 15 October 1945)
- Rear-Admiral Tametsugu Okada (15 October 1945 – 30 November 1945)
See also
- Maizuru Naval DistrictMaizuru Naval Districtwas one of four main administrative districts of the pre-war Imperial Japanese Navy. Its territory included the entire Sea of Japan coastline from northern Kyūshū to western Hokkaidō.-History:...
- Sasebo Naval DistrictSasebo Naval Districtwas the third of five main administrative districts of the pre-war Imperial Japanese Navy. Its territory included the western and southern coastline of Kyūshū, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan and Korea, as well as patrols in the East China Sea and the Pacific...
- Yokosuka Naval DistrictYokosuka Naval Districtwas the first of four main administrative districts of the pre-war Imperial Japanese Navy. Its territory included Tokyo Bay and the Pacific coasts of central and northern Honshū from the Kii Peninsula to Shimokita Peninsula.-History:...
- Ōminato Guard DistrictOminato Guard DistrictThe was the major navy base for the Imperial Japanese Navy in northern Honshu before and during World War II. Located in Mutsu Bay, The was the major navy base for the Imperial Japanese Navy in northern Honshu before and during World War II. Located in Mutsu Bay, The was the major navy base for...