List of Imperial Japanese Navy fleets
This is a list of fleets of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the navy of the Empire of Japan. This navy existed from 1868 to 1945, when it was replaced by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.These fleets were under the command of the Ministry of the Navy, Imperial General Headquarters or Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff.
- Northern Expeditionary Fleet
- Small Fleet
- Medium Fleet
- Eastern Fleet
- Western Fleet
- Combined Fleet
- China Area Fleet
- General Escort Command
Medium rank fleets
These fleets were under the command of a higher rank fleet, and themselves commanded one or more lower rank fleets.
- Southwest Area Fleet
- Southeast Area Fleet
- Northeast Area Fleet
- 1st Mobile Fleet
- Central Pacific Area Fleet
- 10th Area Fleet
Lower rank fleets
These did not in general have any other fleets under their command.
- Standing Small-Fleet
- Standing Fleet
- Guard Fleet
- Western Sea Fleet
- 1st Fleet
- 2nd Fleet
- 3rd Fleet
- 4th Fleet
- 5th Fleet
- 6th Fleet
- 7th Fleet
- 8th Fleet
- 9th Fleet
- 1st Air Fleet
- List of Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy#2nd Air Fleet
- List of Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy#3rd Air Fleet
- List of Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy#5th Air Fleet
- List of Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy#10th Air Fleet
- List of Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy#11th Air Fleet
- List of Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy#12th Air Fleet
- List of Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy#13th Air Fleet
- List of Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy#14th Air Fleet
- China Area Fleet #Southern Qing Fleet
- China Area Fleet #China Expeditionary Fleet
- China Area Fleet #1st Expeditionary Fleet
- China Area Fleet #2nd Expeditionary Fleet
- China Area Fleet #1st China Expeditionary Fleet
- China Area Fleet #2nd China Expeditionary Fleet
- China Area Fleet #3rd China Expeditionary Fleet
- Southern Expeditionary Fleet
- Southern Expeditionary Fleet #Southern Expeditionary Fleet/1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet
- Southern Expeditionary Fleet #2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet
- Southern Expeditionary Fleet #3rd Southern Expeditionary Fleet
- Southern Expeditionary Fleet #4th Southern Expeditionary Fleet
- '''General Escort Command #1st Escort Fleet
Temporary fleets
- Special Task Fleet
- Training Fleet
- Serving Fleet
- British Expeditionary Fleet
- 1st Special Task Fleet
- 2nd Special Task Fleet
- 3rd Special Task Fleet'''
Battle order of Imperial Japanese Navy fleets
These diagrams cover only fleets, omitting naval districts, guard districts, divisions, flotillas, squadrons, detachments, and other elements.
- 9 March 1869
- 28 July 1870
- 18 May 1872
- 28 October 1875
- 28 January 1877
- 28 December 1885
- 29 July 1889
- 29 July 1894
- 6 February 1905
- 13 April 1917
- 10 October 1937
- 10 December 1941
- 1 April 1944
- 29 May 1945