The was a fleet of the

Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrender ...

, their roles were invasion and maintenance of the public order in southwestern area the

French Indochina French Indochina (previously spelled as French Indo-China),; vi, Đông Dương thuộc Pháp, , lit. 'East Ocean under French Control; km, ឥណ្ឌូចិនបារាំង, ; th, อินโดจีนฝรั่งเศส, ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

British Malaya The term "British Malaya" (; ms, Tanah Melayu British) loosely describes a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Singapore that were brought under British hegemony or control between the late 18th and the mid-20th century. U ...

and

Dutch East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies ( nl, Nederlands(ch)-Indië; ), was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now Indonesia. It was formed from the nationalised trading posts of the Dutch East India Company, which ...

Organization

Southern Expeditionary Fleet/1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet

The Southern Expeditionary Fleet was organized for

Invasion of French Indochina The was a short undeclared military confrontation between Japan and France in northern French Indochina. Fighting lasted from 22 to 26 September 1940; the same time as the Battle of South Guangxi in the Sino-Japanese War, which was the main ...

on 31 July 1941. Describe the also. Their jurisdiction area was French Indochina, Singapore and westward. *Structure (extract) *Commander in chief *Chief of staff

2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet

The was reorganized from 3rd Fleet on 10 March 1942. Describe 3rd Fleet about predecessor of the 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet. Their jurisdiction area was Dutch East Indies. *Structure (extract) *Commander in chief *Chief of staff

3rd Southern Expeditionary Fleet

The was organized on 3 January 1942 for invasion of the Philippines. *Structure (extract) *Commander in chief *Chief of staff

4th Southern Expeditionary Fleet

The was independent from 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet for maintenance of the public order in western

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea). It is a simplified version of ...

on 30 November 1943. Dissolved on 10 March 1945, their remaining units were unified to 10th Area Fleet. *Structure (extract) *Commander in chief *Chief of staff

Bibliography

Senshi Sōsho The , also called the , is the official military history of Imperial Japan's involvement in the Pacific War from 1937 to 1945. The task of compiling the official account of the Japanese involvement in World War II began in October 1955 with the op ...

, Asagumo Simbun (Japan) ** Vol. 91, ''Combined Fleet #1, "Until outbreak of war"'', 1975 ** Vol. 80, ''Combined Fleet #2, "Until June 1942"'', 1975 ** Vol. 77, ''Combined Fleet #3, "Until February 1943"'', 1974 ** Vol. 39, ''Combined Fleet #4, "First part of the Third step Operations"'', 1970 ** Vol. 71, ''Combined Fleet #5, "Middle part of the Third step Operations"'', 1974 ** Vol. 45, ''Combined Fleet #6, "Latter part of the Third step Operations"'', 1971 ** Vol. 93, ''Combined Fleet #7, "Last part of the War"'', 1976 *Rekishi Dokuhon, Special issue No. 33 ''Overview of admirals of the Imperial Japanese Navy'', Shin-Jinbutsuōraisha, 1999 *The Japanese Modern Historical Manuscripts Association, ''Organizations, structures and personnel affairs of the Imperial Japanese Army & Navy'', University of Tokyo Press, 1971 {{IJN Fleets of the Imperial Japanese Navy Military units and formations established in 1941 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945