10th Area Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)

The 10th Area Fleet (第十方面艦隊) was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) established during World War II as a result of IJN commands being isolated in the Philippines.

History
The commander in chief of the 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet based in Singapore was named commander in chief of the newly created Tenth Area Fleet on 1 February 1944. As the Southwest Area Fleet command staff was isolated in the Philippines, a new command structure was necessary to direct the 1st and 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet, and the surviving elements of the 5th Fleet. It was supported by the 13th Air Fleet. The 10th Area Fleet had responsibility for the defenses of Indonesia and Indochina. It lost most of its combat capability at the Battle of the Malacca Strait and when Ashigara was sunk by HMS Trenchant and was disbanded at the end of the Pacific War.

The 10th Area Fleet was a theatre command and its name was taken sequentially from the numbered fleets rather than from the area in which it was located.

Commanders of the 10th Area Fleet
Commander in chief

Chief of staff