Commander of Battleship Sqn 3 Div 2

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Fatboy Coxy
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Commander of Battleship Sqn 3 Div 2

#1

Post by Fatboy Coxy » 25 Nov 2020, 11:26

Hi all

Does anyone know if there was a commander assigned to Battleship Squadron 3, Division 2, when it was detached and served under Vice Admiral Kondo, as part of the Distant Cover Force, during the Malayan invasion operations early December 1941.

I have Haruna, Capt T Takama, and Kongo, Capt T Koyanagi, but no Rear Adm commanding them, was it just Vice Adm Kondo?

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ijnfleetadmiral
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Re: Commander of Battleship Sqn 3 Div 2

#2

Post by ijnfleetadmiral » 25 Nov 2020, 12:19

It was TAKAMA who was in charge. He was the senior of the two COs, being promoted RADM on 1 May 1942. KOYANAGI wasn't promoted RADM until 1 November of that year.
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cstunts
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Re: Commander of Battleship Sqn 3 Div 2

#3

Post by cstunts » 25 Nov 2020, 21:50

Koyanagi Tomiji (42ki) was also responsible for an extremely valuable collection of postwar interviews w/IJN commanders finally made public in late 2010.


The Koyanagi File -- an extensive collection of testimonies on the Pacific War by former navy ministers and commanding officers of the Imperial Japanese Navy -- will be released to the public for the first time in April.

The file, consisting of some 4,000 pages in 44 volumes, was compiled by the Suiko-kai, an association of retired Japanese naval officials, based on interviews conducted by Vice Admiral Tomiji Koyanagi (1893-1978) with a total of 47 former navy ministers, admirals and other top officials of the Imperial Japanese Navy between 1956 and 1961.

The file had been kept confidential for nearly half a century, and former naval officials had maintained strict silence with the media after the war. However, the association has decided to publish the file this year, hoping that "the valuable materials will contribute to promoting research after most of the witnesses have passed away."

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Re: Commander of Battleship Sqn 3 Div 2

#4

Post by ijnfleetadmiral » 25 Nov 2020, 22:23

cstunts wrote:
25 Nov 2020, 21:50
Koyanagi Tomiji (42ki) was also responsible for an extremely valuable collection of postwar interviews w/IJN commanders finally made public in late 2010.


The Koyanagi File -- an extensive collection of testimonies on the Pacific War by former navy ministers and commanding officers of the Imperial Japanese Navy -- will be released to the public for the first time in April.

The file, consisting of some 4,000 pages in 44 volumes, was compiled by the Suiko-kai, an association of retired Japanese naval officials, based on interviews conducted by Vice Admiral Tomiji Koyanagi (1893-1978) with a total of 47 former navy ministers, admirals and other top officials of the Imperial Japanese Navy between 1956 and 1961.

The file had been kept confidential for nearly half a century, and former naval officials had maintained strict silence with the media after the war. However, the association has decided to publish the file this year, hoping that "the valuable materials will contribute to promoting research after most of the witnesses have passed away."
Is this available in English?!
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cstunts
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Re: Commander of Battleship Sqn 3 Div 2

#5

Post by cstunts » 25 Nov 2020, 23:37

Not available in English, sadly no.

I had a colleague in Japan look into it at the time (years ago) and did not get a v. encouraging impression of the quality of those interviews.

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Re: Commander of Battleship Sqn 3 Div 2

#6

Post by ijnfleetadmiral » 25 Nov 2020, 23:59

cstunts wrote:
25 Nov 2020, 23:37
Not available in English, sadly no.

I had a colleague in Japan look into it at the time (years ago) and did not get a v. encouraging impression of the quality of those interviews.
Thanks for the info...least now I know I'm not missing much. :D
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Fatboy Coxy
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Re: Commander of Battleship Sqn 3 Div 2

#7

Post by Fatboy Coxy » 26 Nov 2020, 13:59

ijnfleetadmiral wrote:
25 Nov 2020, 12:19
It was TAKAMA who was in charge. He was the senior of the two COs, being promoted RADM on 1 May 1942. KOYANAGI wasn't promoted RADM until 1 November of that year.
Thanks ijnfleetadmiral, that makes sense
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Re: Commander of Battleship Sqn 3 Div 2

#8

Post by ijnfleetadmiral » 26 Nov 2020, 14:12

The division was also split up at Midway. KONGO and HIEI went with MIKAWA, while HARUNA and KIRISHIMA were with NAGUMO, under nominal command of TAKAMA aboard HARUNA.
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