10th Area Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)

The IJN 10th Area Fleet (第十方面艦隊 (日本海軍)) was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy established during World War II.

History
The commander in chief of the 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet based in Singapore was named commander in chief of the newly created Tenth Area Fleet on 1 February 1944. As the Southwest Area Fleet command staff was isolated in the Philippines, a new command structure was necessary to direct the 1st and 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleets and surviving elements of the IJN 5th Fleet. It was supported by the IJN 13th Air Fleet. The 10th Area Fleet had responsibility for the defenses of Indonesia and Indochina. It lost most of its combat capability at the Battle of the Malacca Strait and when Ashigara was sunk by HMS Trenchant and was disbanded at the end of the Pacific War.

The Tenth Area Fleet was a theatre command; however, its name was taken sequentially from the numbered fleets rather than from the area in which it was located.

Commanders of the IJN 10th Area Fleet
Commander in chief

Chief of staff