1st China Expeditionary Fleet
| China Area Fleet | |
|---|---|
| Active | 20 October 1937 – 9 September 1945 |
| Country |  |
| Branch |
 Imperial Japanese Navy
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Shigetarō Shimada Mineichi Koga |
The China Area Fleet (支那方面艦隊 Shina Hōmen Kantai?) was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy organized after the Battle of Shanghai. It reported directly to the Imperial General Headquarters and had the same organizational level as the Combined Fleet. This article handles their predecessor fleet the Southern Qing Fleet (南清艦隊 Nanshin Kantai?), China Expeditionary Fleet (遣支艦隊 Kenshi Kantai?) and 1st/2nd Expeditionary Fleet (第一/第二遣外艦隊 Daiichi/Daini Kengai Kantai?) also.
The 1st China Expeditionary Fleet (第一遣支艦隊 Dai-Ichi Kenshi Kantai?) was reorganized from the 3rd Fleet on 15 November 1939. Their role was the guard of the coast in China at first, however, it changed for the guard in the down stream area of the Yangtze River. Describe 3rd Fleet, 1st China Expeditionary Fleet and successor unit the Yangtze River Area Base Force (揚子江方面根拠地隊 Yōsukō Hōmen Konkyochitai?) in this section.
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