Nobutake Kondo

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Nobutake Kondō (近藤 信竹 Kondō Nobutake, September 25, 1886 - February 19, 1953) was an Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Second Sino-Japanese Warand World War II.

Kondo graduated from the Japanese Naval Academy in 1907. His career included extensive service at sea and ashore. He was President of the Japanese Naval Staff College during the 1930s and Chief of Staff of the Combined Fleet in 1935.

He commanded the 5th Fleet in South China during the the Second Sino-Japanese War. He was involved in the Hainan Island Operation and Swatow Operation.

During the first part of World War II, he commanded the Japanese Second Fleet, participating in the invasions of Malaya, the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies. During the Battle of Midway, he commanded the Midway Occupation Force and Covering Group. Subsequently, his forces played a leading role during the Guadalcanal campaign, seeing combat in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons (August 23–August 25, 1942) the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands (October 26–October 27, 1942) and the battleship action in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (November 15, 1942). Kondo was appointed Deputy Commander of the Combined Fleet in October 1942.

Vice-Admiral(later Admiral) Nobutake Kondo was appointed to the Supreme War Council in May 1945.

Promotions

Midshipman - 20 November 1907

Ensign - 25 December 1908

Sublieutenant - 1 December 1910

Lieutenant - 1 December 1913

Lieutenant Commander - 1 December 1919

Commander - 1 December 1923

Captain - 1 December 1927

Rear Admiral - 15 November 1933

Vice Admiral - 15 November 1937

Admiral - 29 April 1943