The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Yamaguchi Tamon (original) (raw)
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The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia | |
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Yamaguchi Tamon (1892-1942)
Yamaguchi Tamon was born in Shimane prefecture and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1912. He graduated from the NavalStaff College in 1924 and attended the London Naval Conferenceof 1929-1930. He served as the Japanese naval attaché in the United Statesin 1934-1936, attending Princeton University, and he directed the recruitment of John Farnsworth as aspy. As commander of 1 Combined Air Group, he directed the saturation bombing campaign in central Chinain 1940.
By the time war broke out in the Pacific, Yamaguchi was a rear admiral in command of Carrier Division 2. Though not anaviator, he was probably Japan's best carrieradmiral, and won the respect and friendship of Yamamoto. He was widely regarded in the Imperial Navy as Yamamoto's logical successor.
Yamaguchi was a staunch supporter of the Pearl Harborattack plan. When the initial plan left his carrier division out of the attack force, Yamaguchi got drunk, accosted Nagumoin his cabin, and got him in a headlock until Kusakabroke up the fight. After the attack took place, he pressed for additional raids on thedock facilities, which if successful would have been at least as disastrous for the Americans as the loss of warshipsand aircraft. Later Yamaguchi submitted a plan for the invasionof Oahu.
While returning from the raid, Yamaguchi was dispatched to support the second invasionattempt on Wake. This second attempt was successful, but Yamaguchi avoided a carrier duel with a superior American force only because of vacillation in the American command.
Yamaguchi's flagship, Hiryu _,_escaped the initial disaster at the Battle of Midway and launched the counterattack that crippled Yorktown. However, Hiryu was mortally stricken by a second American strike, and Yamaguchi felt it his duty to go down with the ship.
Yamaguchi was an impulsive and highly aggressive commander who put much stock in rigorous training. He nonetheless quickly won over his aviators. By contrast with Nagumo, he was always careful of his appearance.
Service record
| 1892-8-17 | born | |
|---|---|---|
| 1912-7-17 | Midshipman | Graduates from Naval Academy, standing 2nd in a class of 144. Assigned to CL Soya |
| 1913-5-1 | BB Settsu | |
| 1913-12-1 | Ensign | |
| 1914-5-27 | CL Chikuma | |
| 1915-2-1 | BB Aki | |
| 1915-12-13 | Lieutenant junior grade | GunnerySchool Basic Course |
| 1916-6-1 | Torpedo School Basic Course | |
| 1916-12-1 | Submarine Division 3 | |
| 1918-5-1 | Staff, 2 Special Task Fleet | |
| 1918-7-5 | DD Kashi | |
| 1918-12-1 | Lieutenant | |
| 1919-1-17 | Temporary Submarine Division | |
| 1919-2-1 | AR Kanto | |
| 1919-7-24 | YokosukaGuard Unit | |
| 1919-10-8 | KureGuard Unit | |
| 1919-12-1 | Torpedo School Advanced Course | |
| 1920-12-1 | SaseboGuard Unit | |
| 1921-2-25 | Resident in U.S. | |
| 1923-6-15 | BB Nagato | |
| 1923-12-1 | Instructor, Submarine School | |
| 1924-12-1 | Lieutenant commander | Naval College A-Course |
| 1926-12-1 | Staff, Submarine Squadron 1 | |
| 1927-11-15 | Navy General Staff | |
| 1928-12-10 | Commander | |
| 1929-9-17 | Trip to U.S. | |
| 1929-11-12 | Attendant to Plenipotentiary, London conference | |
| 1930-7-1 | Executive officer, CL Yura | |
| 1930-11-15 | Staff, Combined Fleet | |
| 1932-11-15 | Instructor, Naval College | |
| 1932-12-1 | Captain | |
| 1934-6-1 | Attache, U.S. | |
| 1936-12-1 | CO, Isuzu | |
| 1937-12-1 | Commander, BB Ise | |
| 1938-11-15 | Rear admiral | |
| 1938-12-1 | Staff, 5 Fleet | |
| 1938-12-15 | Chief of staff, 5 Fleet | |
| 1939-11-15 | Staff, 1 Fleet | |
| 1940-1-15 | Commander, 1 Combined Air Flotilla | |
| 1940-11-1 | Commander, Carrier Division 2 | |
| 1942-6-5 | Vice admiral | Killedin action |
References
Materials of IJN (accessed 2008-3-1)
Peattie (2001)
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