Ominato Guard District
Encyclopedia
The was the major navy base for the Imperial Japanese Navy
in northern Honshu
before and during World War II
. Located in Mutsu Bay
, (at the present-day city of Mutsu
, Aomori Prefecture
, the Ōminato Guard District was responsible for control of the strategic Tsugaru Strait
between Honshu
and Hokkaidō
and for patrols along the Hokkaidō, Karafuto and Kurile Islands coastlines.
. However, the area was given a low priority in funding, and remained largely a paper organization
under overall command of the Yokosuka Naval District
.
On June 12, 1895, the nominal headquarters of Naval District 5 was transferred from Muroran to the more sheltered port of Ōminato, although facilities and infrastructure were very minimal.
After the Russo-Japanese War
, when the strategic importance of control of the Tsugaru Straits came into focus, and with Japan's acquisition of Karafuto Prefecture, more investment was made in securing Japan's northern frontiers. Ōminato was one of eleven designated third echelon naval ports, or located around Japan. In December 1905 it was made independent of Yokosuka. Although Muroran, Asahikawa and Wakkanai bases reported to Ōminato, it was not raised to full headquarters status, but continued as Ōminato yokobu. A wireless station was completed in 1913.
On October 9, 1913, the Inazuma-class destroyer
Inazuma suffered from an explosion of her No. 3 boiler while at Ōminato. The incident highlighted the need for better facilities at Ōminato, and a ship repair facility and naval hospital were completed by 1923.
On July 19, 1931, the ship repair facilities at Ōminato caught fire and were largely destroyed, and had to be rebuilt a year later. The Ōminato Naval Air Station was opened in November 1933. In September 1936, after the IJN 4th Fleet
Incident (in which the fleet was caught in a typhoon, with loss of several ships and damage to many more), Ōminato received the destroyers Hatsuyuki and Yugiri
for emergency repairs.
On November 20, 1941, Ōminato was finally raised to the status of a Guard District. The In concept, the Guard District was similar to the United States Navy
Sea Frontier
s concept. the Guard District maintained a small garrison
force of ships and Naval Land Forces
which reported directly to the Guard District commander, and hosted detachments of the numbered fleets on a temporary assignment basis.
After the start of the Pacific War, Ōminato became the home port of the IJN 5th Fleet
. The diversionary attack on Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands during the Battle of Midway
was launched from Ōminato.
Ōminato was bombed
several times in the closing days of the war: July 14, July 15 and July 28, followed by a large attack from August 8–10, 1945, which destroyed several ships. American forces landed from the USS Panamint
(AGC-13) to accept the surrender of the base from the Imperial Japanese Navy on September 9, 1945.
The base facilities were used by the United States Navy
during the occupation of Japan, and are currently in use by the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force.
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...
in northern Honshu
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...
before and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Located in Mutsu Bay
Mutsu Bay
is a bay inside Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It includes three bays; Aomori Bay, Noheji Bay and Ōminato Bay. Mutsu Bay covers about 1660 km². The culture of scallops is prosperous in the bay....
, (at the present-day city of Mutsu
Mutsu, Aomori
is a city located in northeastern Aomori in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 61,205 and a density of 70.09 persons per km²...
, Aomori Prefecture
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
, the Ōminato Guard District was responsible for control of the strategic Tsugaru Strait
Tsugaru Strait
is a channel between Honshu and Hokkaido in northern Japan connecting the Sea of Japan with the Pacific Ocean. It was named after the western part of Aomori Prefecture...
between Honshu
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...
and Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
and for patrols along the Hokkaidō, Karafuto and Kurile Islands coastlines.
History
In the organizational structure of the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1886, the Japanese Empire was divided into five operational districts, with the Hokkaidō-Ōshu area forming Naval District 5, with its nominal headquarters in Muroran, HokkaidōMuroran, Hokkaido
is a city and port located in Iburi, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the capital city of Iburi Subprefecture.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 96,724 and a density of 1,210 people per km². The total area is 80.65 km².- History :...
. However, the area was given a low priority in funding, and remained largely a paper organization
Paper organization
A paper organization is any group which exists more in theory than reality. The term "paper organization" is used in two different contexts, that of the military and that of the labor movement.-Military:...
under overall command of the Yokosuka Naval District
Yokosuka Naval District
was 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:...
.
On June 12, 1895, the nominal headquarters of Naval District 5 was transferred from Muroran to the more sheltered port of Ōminato, although facilities and infrastructure were very minimal.
After the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
, when the strategic importance of control of the Tsugaru Straits came into focus, and with Japan's acquisition of Karafuto Prefecture, more investment was made in securing Japan's northern frontiers. Ōminato was one of eleven designated third echelon naval ports, or located around Japan. In December 1905 it was made independent of Yokosuka. Although Muroran, Asahikawa and Wakkanai bases reported to Ōminato, it was not raised to full headquarters status, but continued as Ōminato yokobu. A wireless station was completed in 1913.
On October 9, 1913, the Inazuma-class destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
Inazuma suffered from an explosion of her No. 3 boiler while at Ōminato. The incident highlighted the need for better facilities at Ōminato, and a ship repair facility and naval hospital were completed by 1923.
On July 19, 1931, the ship repair facilities at Ōminato caught fire and were largely destroyed, and had to be rebuilt a year later. The Ōminato Naval Air Station was opened in November 1933. In September 1936, after the IJN 4th Fleet
IJN 4th Fleet
The was a fleet designation of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Fourth Fleet designation was used during three separate periods. The initial designation was for a group of ships that were assigned to work together during the Russo-Japanese conflict and the period of its immediate aftermath...
Incident (in which the fleet was caught in a typhoon, with loss of several ships and damage to many more), Ōminato received the destroyers Hatsuyuki and Yugiri
Japanese destroyer Yugiri
was the fourteenth of twenty-four destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world...
for emergency repairs.
On November 20, 1941, Ōminato was finally raised to the status of a Guard District. The In concept, the Guard District was similar to the 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...
Sea Frontier
Sea Frontier
Sea Frontiers were established by the United States Navy from 1 July 1941 during World War II as areas of defense against enemy vessels, especially submarines, along the American coasts...
s concept. the Guard District maintained a small garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
force of ships and Naval Land Forces
Imperial Japanese Navy Land Forces
Imperial Japanese Navy Land Forces of World War II originated with the Special Naval Landing Forces, and eventually consisted of the following:...
which reported directly to the Guard District commander, and hosted detachments of the numbered fleets on a temporary assignment basis.
After the start of the Pacific War, Ōminato became the home port of the IJN 5th Fleet
IJN 5th Fleet
The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, active during the early portions of the Second Sino-Japanese War, and again in World War II, primarily in the Battle of the Aleutian Islands.-China Expeditionary Fleet:...
. The diversionary attack on Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands during the Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
was launched from Ōminato.
Ōminato was bombed
Air raids on Japan
During World War II the Allied forces conducted many air raids on Japan which caused extensive destruction to the country's cities and killed over 300,000 people. These attacks began with the Doolittle Raid in mid-April 1942, but did not resume until June 1944 when United States Army Air Forces ...
several times in the closing days of the war: July 14, July 15 and July 28, followed by a large attack from August 8–10, 1945, which destroyed several ships. American forces landed from the USS Panamint
USS Panamint (AGC-13)
USS Panamint was a Mount McKinley-class amphibious force command ship named after the Panamint Range of mountains in California...
(AGC-13) to accept the surrender of the base from the Imperial Japanese Navy on September 9, 1945.
The base facilities were used by the 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...
during the occupation of Japan, and are currently in use by the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force.
Order of Battle at time of the attack on Pearl Harbor
- Ōminato Guard District
- Escort shipKaibokanAn 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....
IshigakiJapanese escort Ishigakiwas an escort ship of the in the service of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Based in the Kuriles, she patrolled and escorted convoys and ships there.... - Escort ship Kunashiri
- Escort ship
- Ōminato Air Group
- 8 × Mitsubishi A5MMitsubishi A5MThe Mitsubishi A5M, Japanese Navy designation was "Type 96 carrier-based fighter" was a Japanese carrier-based fighter aircraft. It was the world's first monoplane shipboard fighter and the direct ancestor of the famous Mitsubishi A6M 'Zero'...
Claude - 8 × Mitsubishi B5MMitsubishi B5M-See also:-Bibliography:*Francillon, René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam, 1970. ISBN 370 00033 1.*Francillon, René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-30251-6....
Mabel - 8 × Kawanishi E7KKawanishi E7K-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Francillon, Ph.D., Réne J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970 . ISBN 0-370-30251-6....
Alf - Destroyer Division 1
- KamikazeJapanese destroyer Kamikaze (1922)was the lead ship of nine Kamikaze-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy 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:Construction of the...
- NumakazeJapanese destroyer Numakazewas third and final vessel in the Nokaze sub-class, an improvement to the 1st class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I...
- NokazeJapanese destroyer Nokazewas the lead ship of the Nokaze sub-class, an improvement to the 1st class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I...
- NamikazeJapanese destroyer Namikazewas the second ship of the Nokaze sub-class, an improvement to the 1st class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I...
- Kamikaze
- Minesweeper Division 27
- Auxiliary minesweeper No. 1 Tamazono Maru
- Auxiliary minesweeper No. 2 Tamazono Maru
- Auxiliary minesweeper Sonobe Maru
- Auxiliary minesweeper Yoshino Maru
- Auxiliary minesweeper Chōyō Maru
- Auxiliary minesweeper No. 2 Chōyō Maru
- 8 × Mitsubishi A5M
- Ōminato Local Defense Squadron
- Destroyer OkikazeJapanese destroyer Okikazewas 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:...
- Escort ship HachijōJapanese escort Hachijowas an escort ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.Like her sister ship Ishigaki, Hachijo spent most of her early career in the Kuriles escorting ships. On 19 February 1943, Hachijo barely missed meeting her doom when she was detached from escorting Akagane Maru to Attu in the...
- Auxiliary gunboat Chitose Maru
- Auxiliary minelaying gunboat No.2 Shinkō Maru
- Auxiliary submarine chaser Zuikō Maru
- Icebreaker ŌtomariJapanese icebreaker ŌtomariThe was a icebraker of the Imperial Japanese Navy serving during the 1920s through World War II, the only ship of her class. She was an only icebreaker as warship in the IJN.-Background:...
- Destroyer Okikaze
Commanding Officer
- Vice-Admiral Baron Heiji Mochihara (12 Dec 1905 - 12 Mar 1907)
- Rear-Admiral Hokizo Okubo (12 Mar 1907 - 15 May 1908)
- Vice-Admiral Kunikane Taketomi (15 May 1908 - 28 Aug 1908)
- Vice-Admiral Chikakata Tamari (28 Aug 1908 - 1 Dec 1909)
- Vice-Admiral Tokuya Kamiizumi (1 Dec 1909 - 1 Sep 1911)
- Vice-Admiral Hideshiro Fujimoto (1 Sep 1911 - 9 Jul 1912)
- Vice-Admiral Tamotsu Tsuchiya (9 Jul 1912 - 24 May 1913)
- Admiral Sojiro Tochinai (24 May 1913 - 1 Dec 1913)
- Rear-Admiral Tsunekichi Uemura (1 Dec 1913 - 17 Dec 1914)
- Rear-Admiral Ichitaro Nakajima (17 Dec 1914 - 1 Apr 1916)
- Vice-Admiral Baron Mitsukane Tsuchiya (1 Apr 1916 - 1 Dec 1917)
- Vice-Admiral Toshitake Iwamura (1 Dec 1917 - 1 Dec 1919)
- Vice-Admiral Keizaburo Moriyama (1 Dec 1919 - 1 Oct 1920)
- Vice-Admiral Mitsuzo Nunome (1 Oct 1920 - 1 Dec 1921)
- Vice-Admiral Kōzō SatōKozo Satowas an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during the World War I.-Biography:Satō was born in Hanamaki city, Iwate prefecture. He was a graduate of the 18th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1891, ranking 6th out of 61 cadets. His classmates included future admiral Abo Kiyokazu.As...
(1 Dec 1921 - 1 Dec 1922) - Vice-Admiral Koshiro Otani (1 Dec 1922 - 1 Jun 1923)
- Rear-Admiral Shokichi Oishi (1 Jun 1923 - 5 Feb 1924)
- Vice-Admiral Kosuke Shikama (5 Feb 1924 - 1 Dec 1925)
- Vice-Admiral Takashi Kanesaka (1 Dec 1925 - 1 Dec 1927)
- Vice-Admiral Yukichi Shima (1 Dec 1927 - 30 Nov 1929)
- Vice-Admiral Saburo Yasumi (30 Nov 1929 - 1 Mar 1931)
- Vice-Admiral Kiyohiro Ijichi (1 Mar 1931 - 1 Dec 1931)
- Vice-Admiral Togo Kawano (1 Dec 1931 - 15 Nov 1932)
- Vice-Admiral Hiroshi Ono (15 Nov 1932 - 15 Nov 1933)
- Vice-Admiral Choji Inoue (15 Nov 1933 - 15 Nov 1934)
- Rear-Admiral Chonan Yamaguchi (15 Nov 1934 - 7 Oct 1935)
- Rear-Admiral Katsuji Masaki (7 Oct 1935 - 16 Mar 1936)
- Vice-Admiral Teijiro Sugisaka (16 Mar 1936 - 1 Dec 1936)
- Rear-Admiral Haruma Izawa (1 Dec 1936 - 1 Dec 1937)
- Vice-Admiral Shosuke Shimomura (1 Dec 1937 - 15 Nov 1938)
- Vice-Admiral Shuichi Hoshino (15 Nov 1938 - 15 Nov 1940)
- Vice-Admiral Masakichi Okuma (15 Nov 1940 - 15 Sep 1942)
- Vice-Admiral Shiro Kawase (15 Sep 1942 - 1 Apr 1943)
- Vice-Admiral Yasuo Inoue (1 Apr 1943 - 15 Feb 1945)
- Vice-Admiral Eiji Goto (15 Feb 1945 - 15 Mar 1945)
- Vice-Admiral Kanji Ugaki (15 Mar 1945 - 30 Nov 1945)
Chief of Staff
- Rear-Admiral Kiyozo Oda (12 Dec 1905 - 22 Nov 1906)
- Vice-Admiral Junkichi Yajima (22 Nov 1906 - 20 Feb 1908)
- Vice-Admiral Tadamichi Kamaya (20 Feb 1908 - 7 Apr 1908)
- Rear-Admiral Shigetada Hideshima (7 Apr 1908 - 4 Mar 1909)
- Rear-Admiral Tsunematsu Kondo (4 Mar 1909 - 1 Dec 1910)
- Vice-Admiral Yasujiro Nagata (1 Dec 1910 - 22 Dec 1911)
- Rear-Admiral Teiichiro Shitsuda (1 Apr 1913 - 27 May 1914)
- Rear-Admiral Yushichi Kanno (27 May 1914 - 17 Jul 1915)
- Vice-Admiral Kenzo Kobayashi (17 Jul 1915 - 6 Nov 1916)
- Rear-Admiral Meiji Tojo (6 Nov 1916 - 18 Oct 1918)
- Rear-Admiral Kanichi Taketomi (18 Oct 1918 - 2 Dec 1919)
- Rear-Admiral Teiji Sakamoto (15 Mar 1922 - 6 Nov 1923)
- Rear-Admiral Kichisuke Komori (6 Nov 123 - 20 Aug 1926)
- Rear-Admiral Katsuji Masaki (10 Dec 1928 - 1 Dec 1931)
- Rear-Admiral Tokujiro Yokoyama (1 Dec 1931 - 15 Nov 1933)
- Rear-Admiral Takeo Sakura (15 Nov 1933 - 15 Nov 1935)
- Vice-Admiral Jiro Matsunaga (15 Nov 1935 - 1 Apr 1937)
- Rear-Admiral Namizo Sato (1 Apr 1937 - 15 Dec 1938)
- Rear-Admiral Tokuji Mori (15 Dec 1938 - 28 Nov 1940)
- Rear-Admiral Keishi Ishii (28 Nov 1940 - 10 Feb 1942)
- Vice-Admiral Takeo Kaizuka (10 Feb 1940 - 1 Jul 1943)
- Rear-Admiral Zensuke Kanome (1 Jul 1943 - 30 Nov 1945)
See also
- Kure Naval DistrictKure Naval Districtwas 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 prefectures, eastern and northern Kyūshū and Shikoku....
- 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:...