2nd Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)

The 2nd Fleet (第二艦隊) was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) created as a mobile strike force in response to hostilities with Russia, and saw action in every IJN military operation until the end of World War II.

History
Established on 27 October 1903, the 2nd Fleet was created by the Imperial General Headquarters as a mobile strike force of cruisers and destroyers to pursue the Imperial Russian Navy's Vladivostok-based cruiser squadron while the remaining bulk of the Japanese fleet (the IJN 1st Fleet) continued to blockade Port Arthur in hopes of luring the battleships of the Russian Pacific Fleet into an open sea classic line of battle confrontation. As the main mobile force in the IJN, the 2nd Fleet saw the bulk of all future IJN combat operations from the time of its inception until IJN dissolution at the end of World War II.

Order of Battle at time of Pearl Harbor
Based at Samah, Hainan Island

4th Division
 * CA Takao (fleet flagship)
 * CA Atago
 * CA Chōkai
 * CA Maya

5th Division
 * CA Haguro (flagship)
 * CA Myōkō
 * CA Nachi

7th Division
 * CA Kumano (flagship)
 * CA Mikuma
 * CA Mogami
 * CA Suzuya

8th Division
 * CA Tone (flagship)
 * CA Chikuma

Other
 * AD Kamikaze Maru

2nd Destroyer Squadron
 * CL Jintsū (flagship)


 * 8th Destroyer Division
 * DD Arashio
 * DD Asashio
 * DD Michishio
 * DD Ōshio


 * 15th Destroyer Division
 * DD Hayashio
 * DD Kuroshio
 * DD Natsushio
 * DD Oyashio


 * 16th Destroyer Division
 * DD Amatsukaze
 * DD Hatsukaze
 * DD Tokitsukaze
 * DD Yukikaze


 * 18th Destroyer Division
 * DD Arare
 * DD Kagerō
 * DD Kasumi
 * DD Shiranuhi

4th Destroyer Squadron
 * CL Naka (flagship)


 * 2nd Destroyer Division
 * DD Harusame
 * DD Murasame
 * DD Samidare
 * DD Yudachi


 * 4th Destroyer Division
 * DD Arashi
 * DD Hagikaze
 * DD Maikaze
 * DD Nowaki


 * 9th Destroyer Division
 * DD Asagumo
 * DD Minegumo
 * DD Natsugumo
 * DD Yamagumo


 * 24th Destroyer Division
 * DD Kawakaze
 * DD Suzukaze
 * DD Umikaze
 * DD Yamakaze