The Central Pacific Area Fleet (中部太平洋方面艦隊 Chūbu Taiheiyō Hōmen Kantai) was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy established during World War II.
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The Central Pacific Area Fleet was a short-lived operational headquarters of the Imperial Japanese Navy, established on March 4, 1944. With United States Navy forces having driven the Japanese out of the Marshall Islands and Caroline Islands in late 1943 to early 1944, the remnants of Japanese naval forces from those areas regrouped under the direction of Admiral Chuichi Nagumo. The new Central Pacific Area Fleet was a combined operational command containing air (IJN 14th Air Fleet) and ground (IJA 31st Army) elements, and was tasked with the defense of the Mariana Islands and Palau, from its command center in Saipan.
With the fall of Saipan to American forces on July 8, 1944 and subsequent death of Admiral Nagumo and his staff, the Central Area Fleet ceased to exist. [1]
| Date | Higher unit | Lower unit and vessels |
|---|---|---|
| 4 March 1944 (original) | Combined Fleet | 4th Fleet, 14th Air Fleet, Isuzu, No.5 Special Base Force, No.30 Base Force, No.4 Weather Observation Unit |
| 8 July 1944 | HQ was annihilated. | |
| 18 July 1944 | disbanded | |
Commander in chief [2]
| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vice-Admiral/Admiral | Chūichi Nagumo | 4 March 1944 | Commander of the 14th Air Fleet. KIA on 8 July 1944. Posthumly promoted to Admiral on same day. |
| x | vacant post | 9 July 1944 |
Chief of staff
| Rank | Name | Date | Note, additional post | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear-Admiral/VIce-Admiral | Hideo Yano | 4 March 1944 | Chief of staff of the 14th Air Fleet. KIA on 8 July 1944. Posthumly promoted to Vice-Admiral on same day. |
| x | vacant post | 9 July 1944 |
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