Historical Formations

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This page is a listing of a number of historical naval formations containing ships that appear in KanColle. Note that many of these formations had multiple 'generations', that ships were often part of multiple formations at a time, and that accurate historical records of these units are very difficult to ascertain. Multiple reorganizations occurred over the course of the war as losses took their toll.

For a complete listing of all IJN ships at the time of the Pearl Harbor attacks, please see the IJN Order of Battle.

Battle Squadrons

 
Battleship Yamato, at one point the Combined Fleet flagship.

In Japanese, there is no distinction drawn between Battleship and Cruiser divisions, they are simply called "squadrons" (sentai).

Japanese English Units
第一戦隊 First Battleship Division : BatDiv 1 Nagato (Flagship), Mutsu, Later: Yamato (Flagship), Musashi
第二戦隊 Second Battleship Division: BatDiv 2 Ise (Flagship), Hyuuga, Yamashiro, Fusou
第三戦隊 Third Battleship Division: BatDiv 3 Kongou (Flagship), Hiei, Haruna, Kirishima
第四戦隊 Fourth Cruiser Division: CruDiv 4 Atago (Flagship), Takao, Maya, Choukai
第五戦隊 Fifth Cruiser Division: CruDiv 5 Myoukou (Flagship), Nachi, Haguro
第六戦隊 Sixth Cruiser Division: CruDiv 6 Aoba (Flagship), Furutaka, Kako, Kinugasa
第七戦隊 Seventh Cruiser Division: CruDiv 7 Kumano (Flagship), Mogami, Mikuma, Suzuya
第八戦隊 Eighth Cruiser Division: CruDiv 8 Tone, Chikuma
第九戦隊 Ninth Cruiser Division: CruDiv 9 Kitakami, Ooi
第十六戦隊 Sixteenth Cruiser Division: CruDiv 16 Ashigara (Flagship), Nagara, Kuma
第十八戦隊 Eighteenth Cruiser Division: CruDiv 18 Tenryuu, Tatsuta
第二十一戦隊 Twenty-First Cruiser Division: CruDiv 21 Tama, Kiso

Carrier Divisions

The Carrier Divisions (Kōkū sentai) were part of a different fleet system than the Battlegroups and Torpedo Squadrons, though they often had Destroyer Divisions attached to them to act as escorts.  The Japanese names of the Carrier divisions are often shortened by the shipgirls, for instance 第一航空戦隊, "Dai-ichi Kōkū Sentai" is shortened to 一航戦, "Ikkōsen".  In most translations, this is written as abbreviating "First Carrier Division" to "CarDiv1".

English Name Japanese  Unit Members
First Carrier Division: CarDiv 1 航空戦隊 Akagi (Flagship), Kaga, Seventh Destroyer Division
Seventh Destroyer Division: DesDiv 7 第七駆逐隊 Ushio (Flagship), Akebono, Sazanami
Second Carrier Division: CarDiv 2 第二航空戦隊 Souryuu (Flagship), Hiryuu, Twenty-Third Destroyer Division
Twenty-Third Destroyer Division: DesDiv 23 駆逐隊 Kikuzuki (Flagship), Uzuki also Mutsuki-class Yuzuki
Third Carrier Division:  CarDiv 3 航空戦隊 Zuihou, Houshou, Mikazuki (Escort)
Fourth Carrier Division: CarDiv 4 航空戦隊 Ryuujou, Later Ise and Hyuuga
Fifth Carrier Division: CarDiv 5 第五航空戦隊 Shoukaku, Zuikaku, Oboro (Escort)

Torpedo Squadrons

Torpedo Squadrons (Suirai sentai) and their sub-components, Destroyer Divisions (Kuchikutai), were created as part of the Japanese plan to slowly wear down American forces as they came across the Pacific with superior night-fighting and long-range torpedo bombardment tactics. They were led by a single Light Cruiser flagship supervising a number of Destroyer Divisions. Destroyer Divisions who have no members implemented in KanColle are not mentioned. Some sources translate 'Torpedo Squadron' as 'Destroyer Squadron', it is this that is abbreviated to 'Desron'

English Name Japanese  Unit Members
First Torpedo Squadron: Desron 1 第一水雷戦隊 Abukuma (Flagship), Sixth Destroyer Division, Twenty-First Destroyer Division, Twenty-Seventh Destroyer Division, Seventeenth Destroyer Division
     Sixth Destroyer Division:  DesDiv 6 第六駆逐隊 Hibiki (Flagship), Akatsuki, Inazuma, Ikazuchi
     Seventeeth Destroyer Division: Desdiv 17 七駆逐隊 Urakaze (Flagship), Isokaze, Hamakaze, Tanikaze
     Twenty-First Destroyer Division:  DesDiv 21 十一駆逐隊 Wakaba (Flagship), Hatsuharu, Nenohi, Hatsushimo
     Twenty-Seventh Destroyer Division:  DesDiv 27 第二十七駆逐隊 Shigure (Flagship), Shiratsuyu, Also Hatsuharu-class Ariake and Yugure
Second Torpedo Squadron: Desron 2 水雷戦隊 Jintsuu (Flagship), later Noshiro (Flagship), Sixteenth Destroyer Division, Fifteenth Destroyer Division, Eighteenth Destroyer Division, Eighth Destroyer Division, Thirty-First Destroyer Division
     Eighth Destroyer Division: DesDiv 8 第八駆逐隊 Ooshio, Asashio, Michishio, Arashio
     Fifteenth Destroyer Division: DesDiv 15 第十駆逐隊 Kuroshio, also Kagerou-class Oyashio, Natsushio (Flagship), Hayashio, later Kagerou
     Sixteenth Destroyer Division: DesDiv 16 第十駆逐隊 Yukikaze (Flagship), Amatsukaze, Hatsukaze, Tokitsukaze
     Eighteenth Destroyer Division: DesDiv 18 第十駆逐隊 Shiranui (Flagship), Kagerou, Arare, Kasumi
     Thirty-First Destroyer Division: Desdiv 31 駆逐隊 Naganami (Flagship), also Yuugumo-class Makinami

   Second Destroyer Division:  Desdiv 2  (1944)

駆逐隊 Hayashimo (Flag), Kiyoshimo, also Yuugumo-class Akishimo
Third Torpedo Squadron: Desron 3 水雷戦隊 Sendai (Flagship), Eleventh Destroyer Division, Ninteenth Destroyer Division, Twelfth Destroyer Division
     Eleventh Destroyer Division: DesDiv 11 第十一駆逐隊 Hatsuyuki (Flagship), Fubuki, Shirayuki
     Twelfth Destroyer Division: DesDiv 12 駆逐隊 Murakumo, also Fubuki-class Shirakumo (Flagship), Shinonome
     Nineteenth Destroyer Division: DesDiv 19 第十九駆逐隊 Ayanami, Shikinami, Isonami, also Fubuki-class Uranami (Flagship)
Fourth Torpedo Squadron: Desron 4 四水雷戦隊 Naka (Flagship), Second Destroyer Division, Fourth Destroyer Division, Twenty-Fourth Destroyer Division
     Second Destroyer Division: DesDiv 2 駆逐隊 Murasame (Flagship), Yuudachi, Harusame, Samidare
     Fourth Destroyer Division: DesDiv 4 四駆逐隊 Maikaze, also Kagerou-class Arashi (Flagship), Nowaki, Hagikaze
     Ninth Destroyer Division:  DesDiv 9 第九駆逐隊 Asagumo, also Asashio-class Yamagumo, Natsugumo, Minegumo
     Twenty-Fourth Destroyer Division: DesDiv 24 駆逐隊 Suzukaze, also Shiratsuyu-class Umikaze (Flagship), Yamakaze, Kawakaze
Fifth Torpedo Squadron: Desron 5 水雷戦隊 Natori (Flagship), Twenty-Second Destroyer Division
     Twenty-Second Destroyer Division: DesDiv 22 駆逐隊 Satsuki (Flagship), Fumizuki, Nagatsuki, also Mutsuki-class Minazuki
Sixth Torpedo Squadron: Desron 6 水雷戦隊 Yuubari (Flagship), Thirtieth Destroyer Division
     Thirtieth Destroyer Division: DesDiv 30 駆逐隊 Mutsuki (Flagship), Kisaragi, Yayoi, Mochizuki, later Uzuki
Tenth Torpedo Squadron: Desron 10 十水雷戦隊 Nagara, later Agano (Flagship), later Yahagi (Flagship), Fourth Destroyer Division, Sixteenth Destroyer Division, Seventeenth Destroyer Division, Sixty-First Destroyer Division

The 10th Desron was formed in 1942 somewhat ad-hoc and so contains divisions that were previously members of other squadrons, plus the newly-formed 61st Division.

     Sixty-First Destroyer Division: DesDiv 61 第六十一駆逐隊 Akizuki, also Akizuki-class Teruzuki, later Wakatsuki, Hatsuzuki, Suzutsuki.

Submarine Squadrons

Because there were many, many Submarines and Submarine Tenders which are not represented in Kancolle, this section is a bit sparse.  It is included primarily to show the ships that were part of any Submarine Squadrons or Submarine Divisions.

English Name Unit Members
First Submarine Squadron: Subron 1 Second Submarine Division: I-19
Third Submarine Squadron: Subron 3 Taigei (Flagship), Third Submarine Division: I-8 (Flagship), Twelfth Submarine Division: I-168
Fourth Submarine Squadron: Subron 4 Kinu (Flagship)
Fifth Submarine Squadron: Subron 5 Yura (Flagship)
Eleventh Submarine Squadron: Subron 11 First Submarine Division: I-401, Fifteenth Submarine Division: I-58


Fleets

The IJN had a number of different 'Fleet' units of varying purposes and sizes.  They were primarily administrative formations rather than combat formations.  All were considered part of the "Combined Fleet", which was the primary administrative unit of the IJN.  It is included separately to show the ships and units that were directly attached to it.

English Name Unit Members
Combined Fleet

Yamato (Flagship), First Battleship Division, 4th Submarine Squadron, 5th Submarine Squadron, 11th Seaplane Tender Division: Chitose, Also Directly Attached: Akashi, Chiyoda

Contained as Subdivisions: First Fleet, Second Fleet, Third Fleet, Fourth Fleet, Fifth Fleet, Sixth Fleet, First Air Fleet

First Fleet Second and Third Battleship Divisions, Sixth and Ninth Cruiser Divisions, First and Third Destroyer Squadrons, Third Carrier Division
Second Fleet Atago (Flagship), Fourth, Fifth, Seventh and Eighth Cruiser Divisions, Second and Fourth Destroer Squadrons
Third Fleet Ashigara (Flagship), Sixteenth Cruiser Division, Fifth Destroyer Squadron
Fourth Fleet Eighteenth Cruiser Division, Sixth Destroyer Squadron
Fifth Fleet Twenty-First Cruiser Division
Sixth Fleet First Submarine Squadron, Second Submarine Squadron, Third Submarine Squadron
Eighth Fleet

Choukai (Flagship), Sixth Cruiser Division, Eighteenth Cruiser Division, Yuubari

Also known as the Mikawa fleet, after its Admiral, Mikawa Gunichi.

First Air Fleet First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Carrier Divisions

Battle Participants

Here are the ships (present in KanColle) that participated in a number of famous battles, both successfully and unsuccessfully.

Battle Name Unit Members
Operation AI - (The Attack on Pearl Harbor)

Akagi, Kaga, Ushio, SazanamiSouryuu, HiryuuShoukaku, Zuikaku, Akigumo
Hiei, KirishimaTone, Chikuma
Abukuma, Hamakaze, Urakaze, Tanikaze, Isokaze, Shiranui, Kagerou, Arare, Kasumi
I-168

Battle of Wake Island

Yuubari, Tenryuu, Tatsuta, Mochizuki, Yayoi, Mutsuki, Kisaragi (sunk)
Later reinforced by: Souryuu, Hiryuu, Tone, Chikuma

Battle of Badung Strait Asashio, Ooshio, Michishio, Arashio
Battle of the Java Sea

Nachi, Haguro
Jintsuu, Yukikaze, Tokitsukaze, Amatsukaze, HatsukazeNaka, Yuudachi, Samidare, Murasame, HarusameSazanami, Ushio

Battle of Sunda Strait

Mogami, Mikuma, Natori
Fubuki, Shirayuki, Hatsuyuki, Murakumo, Shikinami
Also present but not involved in battle: Suzuya, Kumano, Ryuujou, Chiyoda, Isonami

Second Battle of the Java Sea

Myoukou, Nachi, Ashigara, Haguro
Inazuma, Akebono

Battle of the Coral Sea

Myoukou, Haguro, Zuikaku, Shoukaku, Shouhou (sunk), Ushio, Akebono, Shiratsuyu, Shigure, Kikuzuki (sunk)
Tenryuu, Tatsuta, Kako, Aoba, Kinugasa, Furutaka, Uzuki, Mutsuki, Mochizuki, Yayoi, Sazanami

Indian Ocean Raid

Akagi, Hiryuu, Souryuu, Shoukaku, Zuikaku, Ryuujou, Akigumo
Kongou, Hiei, Kirishima, Haruna
Tone, Chikuma, Choukai, Kumano, Mikuma, Mogami, Suzuya
Abukuma, Yura, Hamakaze, Isokaze, Tanikaze, Urakaze, Kagerou, Shiranui, Kasumi, Arare, Maikaze, Fubuki, Shirayuki, Hatsuyuki, Murakumo

Battle of Midway

(Operation MI)

Akagi (sunk), Kaga (sunk), Souryuu (sunk), Hiryuu (sunk), Tone, Chikuma, Haruna, Kirishima, Nagara, Nowaki, Maikaze, Yuugumo, Makigumo, Urakaze, Tanikaze, Hamakaze, Isokaze, Akigumo
Yamato, Mutsu, Nagato, Houshou, Chiyoda, Sendai, Fubuki, Shirayuki, Hatsuyuki, Murakumo, Isonami, Shikinami, Ayanami
Kongou, Hiei, Atago, Choukai, Myoukou, Haguro, Yura, Murasame, Yuudachi, Harusame, Samidare, Asagumo, Zuihou, Mikazuki, Akashi
Jintsuu, Kuroshio, Yukikaze, Tokitsukaze, Amatsukaze, Hatsukaze, Shiranui, Kagerou, Arare, Kasumi, Chitose
Kumano, Mogami, Mikuma (sunk), Suzuya, Asashio, Arashio
I-168

Aleutian Islands Invasion

(Operation AL)

Nachi, Inazuma, Ikazuchi
Ryuujou, Junyou, Takao, Maya, Akebono, Ushio, Sazanami
Hyuuga, Fusou, Ise, Yamashiro, Kitakami, Ooi, Suzukaze, Shigure, Shiratsuyu
Abukuma, Hatsuharu, Nenohi, Wakaba, Hatsushimo
Kiso, Tama
I-19

Battle of Savo Island Choukai, Aoba, Kako, Furutaka, Kinugasa, Yuubari, Tenryuu

Battle of the Eastern Solomons

(Second Battle of the Solomon Islands)

Ryuujou (sunk), Tone, Amatsukaze, Tokitsukaze

Shoukaku, Zuikaku, Mutsuki (sunk)

Many other ships present but no others had any real part in the battle.

Battle of Cape Esperance

Aoba, Kinugasa, Furutaka (sunk), Hatsuyuki, Fubuki (sunk), Murakumo (sunk), Akizuki, Asagumo, Shirayuki

Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands

Akizuki (damaged before the battle), Yura (sunk before the battle)
Atago, Takao, Myoukou, Maya, Isuzu, Suzukaze, Naganami, Junyou, Kuroshio
Shoukaku, Zuikaku, Zuihou, Kumano, Hatsukaze, Yukikaze, Maikaze, Hamakaze, Amatsukaze, Tokitsukaze
Hiei, Kirishima, Tone, Chikuma, Suzuya, Nagara, Makigumo, Akigumo, Urakaze, Tanikaze, Isokaze, Nowaki

First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal

Hiei (sunk), Kirishima, Nagara, Samidare, Murasame, Asagumo, Amatsukaze, Yukikaze, Ikazuchi, Inazuma, Akatsuki (sunk), Harusame, Yuudachi (sunk)

Shigure, Shiratsuyu (rear guard, did not engage in combat)

Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal

Kinugasa (sunk the morning before the battle)

Kirishima (sunk), Takao, Atago, Nagara, Sendai, Shikinami, Ayanami (sunk), Asagumo, Samidare, Hatsuyuki, Shirayuki, Inazuma

Battle of the Komandorski Islands Nachi, Maya, Tama, Abukuma, Wakaba, Hatsushimo, Inazuma, Ikazuchi

Battle of Tassafaronga

(Battle at Lunga Point)

Naganami, Suzukaze, Kuroshio, Kagerou
Battle of Kolombangara Jintsuu (sunk), YukikazeMikazuki, Hamakaze, Satsuki
Battle of Vella Lavella Fumizuki, Akigumo, Isokaze, Yuugumo (sunk), Shigure, Samidare
Battle of Empress Augusta Bay

Myoukou, Haguro, Agano, Naganami, Hatsukaze (sunk), Sendai (sunk), Shigure, Samidare, Shiratsuyu

Battle of the Bismarck Sea Shirayuki (sunk), Arashio (sunk), Asashio (sunk), Tokitsukaze (sunk), Yukikaze, Shikinami
Batle of Leyte Gulf

Northern Force:  Zuikaku (sunk), Zuihou (sunk), Chitose (sunk), Chiyoda (sunk), Ise, Hyuuga, Akizuki (sunk), Isuzu, Ooyodo, Tama (sunk)

Center Force:  Yamato, Musashi (sunk), Nagato, Kongou, Haruna, Atago (sunk), Takao, Maya (sunk), Choukai (sunk), Myoukou, Haguro, Kumano, Suzuya (sunk), Tone, Chikuma (sunk), Noshiro (sunk), Shimakaze, Hayashimo (sunk), Naganami, Yahagi, Nowaki (sunk), Kiyoshimo, Urakaze, Yukikaze, Hamakaze, Isokaze

Southern Force (Nishimura Fleet): Yamashiro (sunk), Fusou (sunk), Mogami (sunk), Shigure, Michishio (sunk), Asagumo (sunk)

Second Striking Force: Nachi, Ashigara, Abukuma (sunk), Akebono, Ushio, Kasumi, Shiranui (sunk), Wakaba (sunk), Hatsuharu, Hatsushimo

Troop Transport Unit:  Aoba, Kinu (sunk)

Operation Ten-Go Yamato (sunk), Yahagi (sunk), Yukikaze, Hatsushimo, Hamakaze (sunk), Isokaze (sunk), Kasumi (sunk)

Credit

User:headlessnewt constructed this article and furnished most of it.