Combined Fleet 1943

Battle Order
1943/05 - Response to US landing on Attu - move from Truk to Jokosuka
1943/07 - 08 - Movements from Japan to Truk
1943/07 Rabaul Reinforcement
1943/09 Response to US raids on Makin & Tarawa
1943/10 Response to US raids on Wake Is.
Rabaul reinforcement - Operation RO
1943/11 - Movements between Japan and Truk
Response to US Tarawa landing

1943 Battle Order

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Northern District Force - 5th Fleet

SubRon1

SS	SubDiv7: I-2, I-5, I-6, I-7

1943/05 - Response to US landing on Attu - move from Truk to Jokosuka
see in Aleutian operations

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1943/07 - 08 - Movements from Japan to Truk

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CV	CarDiv1:Shokaku, Zuikaku, Zuiho
CA	CruDiv8: Cikuma, Tone
CL	Agano, Ojodo
AV	Nisshin

DesRon10

DesDiv4: Arashi, Hagikaze
DesDiv17: Isokaze
DesDiv61: Suzucuki, Hacuzuki

43/07/09	departed Kure
43/07/15	arrived Truk

BB	Jamato, Nagato, Fuso
CVE	Taijo
CA	Atago, Takao
DD	DesDiv7: Ushio DesDiv10: Akigumo, Jugumo DesDiv16: Amacukaze, Hacukaze

43/08/16	departed Kure on troop transport run to Truk
43/08/23	arrived Truk

1943/07 Rabaul Reinforcement

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CA	CruDiv8: Cikuma, Tone Mogami
CL	Ojodo, Agano
DD	DesRon10: DesDiv4: Arashi, Hagikaze DesDiv17: Isokaze DesDiv61: Suzucuki, Hacuzuki
AV	Nisshin

43/07/19	departed Truk with troops to Rabaul
43/07/21	arrived Rabaul - DesDiv4 and Nisshin detached to Shortland
43/07/24	departed Rabaul for Truk
43/07/26	arrived Truk

1943/09 Response to US raids on Makin & Tarawa

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VAdm Dzisaburo Ozawa (CinC 3rdFlt)

BB	Jamato, Fuso
CV	CarDiv1: Shokaku, Zuikaku, Zuiho
CA	CruDiv8: Cikuma, Tone

DD	DesRon2	Tamanami DesDiv24: Suzukaze, Umikaze
	DesRon10	DesDiv4: Maikaze, Nowaki DesDiv10 (till 09/21): Kazagumo DesDiv16: Hacukaze DesDiv17: Urakaze

Refueling Group

DD	Amacukaze
AO	Hojo Maru

43/09/18	departed Truk as reaction on TF 50 strikes on Gilberts
43/09/21	arrived Eniwetok Kazagumo detached to Rabaul
43/09/23	departed Eniwetok
43/09/25	arrived Truk

1943/10 - Response to US raids on Wake Is.

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Adm Mineici Koga (COMINCH Combined Fleet)

CV	CarDiv1:Shokaku, Zuikaku, Zuiho
BB	BatDiv1: Nagato, Jamato, Musashi BatDiv2: Fuso BatDiv3: Kongo, Haruna
CA	CruDiv8: Cikuma, Tone CruDiv4 : Atago, Maja, Cokai, Takao CruDiv7: Suzuja, Mogami
CL	Agano, Noshiro, Ojodo

DD	DesRon2	Shimakaze II DesDiv31: Makinami, Naganami, Onami DesDiv24: Suzukaze, Umikaze
	DesRon10	DesDiv10: Akigumo, Kazegumo DesDiv61: Hacuzuki, Suzucuki DesDiv17: Isokaze, Tanikaze, Urakaze
	Wakacuki

Refueling Group

DD	Amacukaze
AO	Hojo Maru

43/10/17	departed Truk in response to US raids on Wake Is., also carry troops
43/10/19	arrived Eniwetok - disembark troops
43/10/23	departed Eniwetok to area W of Wake - no contact with USN
43/10/26	arrived Truk
43/10/31	Tone detached to Kure for repairs

1943/10 - 11 Rabaul reinforcement - Operation RO

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3rd Fleet - 1st Striking Force

CV	CarDiv1: Shokaku, Zuikaku, Zuiho
CL	Agano
DD

2nd Fleet

VAdm Takeo Kurita

CA	CruDiv4: Atago, Cokai, Maja, Takao CruDiv7: Suzuja, Mogami CruDiv8: Cikuma

DesRon2

CL	Noshiro/SF
DD	4: Tamanami DesDiv32: Fudzinami, Hajanami, Suzunami

Transport Group

DD	Shimakaze II
AO	Nichei Maru
AP	Nissho Maru

43/10/30	StrFor1 departed Truk towards Rabaul - start launching planes to reinforce Rabaul land based units
43/11/02	TranGrp departed Truk
43/11/03	2ndFlt departed Truk for Admiralties > Rabaul
43/11/04	2ndFlt: Cokai and Suzunami detached to escort damaged AO Nichiei M., AP Nissho M. back to Truk sighted by USAF plane of St. George Strait
43/11/05	2ndFlt arrived Rabaul TF 38 strikes on Rabaul: disabled Maja, damage Atago, Takao, Mogami, Kumano, Cikuma, Agano, Noshiro, Fudzinami, Wakacuki, Amagiri
43/11/06	2ndFlt departed Rabaul to Truk without Maja, Noshiro, DesDiv32
43/11/07	2ndFlt arrived Truk
43/11/11	Maja, Fudzinami departed Rabaul for Truk
43/11/13	StrFor1 arrived back to Truk
43/11/15	Maja, Fudzinami arrived Truk

1943/11 - Movements between Japan and Truk

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1st Striking Force - StrFor1

CV	Zuiho
CVE	Cujo, Unjo (from 11/16)
BB	Haruna
CA	Maja (from 11/30)
DD	Ushio, Urakaze Akigumo (till 11/21) DesDiv7: Akebono, Sazanami

43/11/05	departed Truk for Jokosuka
43/11/10	arrived Jokosuka
43/11/16	departed Jokosuka for Truk
43/11/21	arrived Truk
43/11/30	departed Truk for Jokosuka - attacked by Skate 115 nm N of Truk (09-10N, 151-30E)
43/12/03	attacked by Sailfish SE of Jokosuka: Cujo sunk - Urakaze & Sazanami pick up survivors
43/12/05	arrived Jokosuka
43/12/12	departed Jokosuka to Truk
43/12/17	arrived Truk

1943/11 - 12 Response to US Tarawa landing

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2nd Fleet

CA	CruDiv4: Cokai CruDiv7: Kumano, Suzuja
DD	DesRon2/DesDiv32: Fudzinami, Hajanami DesRon10/DesDiv61: Suzucuki

Refueling Group - RefGrp

DD	DesDiv4: Maikaze, Nowaki, Jamagumo Kazegumo, Akigumo
AO	Nippon Maru, Toa Maru (sunk 11/25)

43/11/24	departed Truk
43/11/25	RefGrp - Toa Maru sunk by Searaven - Akigumo rescued survivors, then returned to Truk
43/11/26	arrived Kwajalein
43/11/27	departed Kwajalein for Eniwetok
43/11/28	arrived Eniwetok
43/11/29	departed Eniwetok for Roi
43/11/30	arrived Roi
43/12/03	departed Roi
43/12/05	arrived Truk
43/12/07	RefGrp arrived Truk