Mitsumi Shimizu

Mitsumi Shimizu
Mitsumi Shimizu
Born	March 16, 1888 Nagano prefecture, Japan
Died	May 5, 1971(1971-05-05) (aged 83)
Allegiance	Empire of Japan
Service/branch	Imperial Japanese Navy
Years of service	1908-1943
Rank	Vice Admiral
Battles/wars	World War II

In this Japanese name, the family name is "Shimizu".

Mitsumi Shimizu (清水 光美, Shimizu Mitsumi^?, March 16, 1888 – May 5, 1971) was a Vice Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II.

Biography

Shimizu was a native of Nagano prefecture. He graduated 24th out of 191 cadets from the 36th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, in July 1908. His classmates included future admirals Chuichi Nagumo and Nishizō Tsukahara.^[1] He served his midshipman duty on the cruiser Soya, battleship Katori and cruiser Hashidate, and as an ensign on the battlecruiser Ikoma and Sagami. He subsequently served in the Personnel Department of the Navy Ministry, specializing in legal affairs and accounting. However, realizing that the key to promotion in the navy was via command of a vessel, he requested a transfer as a lieutenant commander in 1925 to a submarine tender, and was appointed XO of the commander in 1929, and became captain of the cruiser Tama in 1931. In November 1934, he received command of the battleship Ise, and in 1935 became Chief of staff of the Sasebo Naval District.^[3] He was promoted to rear admiral the same year. He became a vice admiral in 1939.

In June 1940, Shimizu was appointed commander in chief of the IJN Training Fleet. However, in July 1941, he was transferred to take command of the IJN 6th Fleet, which consisted of the Japanese submarine forces. He was serving in this capacity during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and authorized the midget submarine force which attempted to penetrate American defenses at the start of the attack.^[4]

On 1 February 1942, an American task force raided Kwajalein, Wotje, and Maloelap in the Marshall Islands, sinking three ships, damaging eight, and destroying numerous airplanes and ground facilities. Enterprise received only minor damage in the Japanese counterattack, and for his failure to sink the aircraft carrier with his submarines, Shimizu was re-assigned in July 1942 to take command of the IJN 1st Fleet. The IJN 1st Fleet consisted of the Japanese battleship fleet, and was held in reserve waiting for the "decisive battle" under the Japanese kantai kessen doctrine, so the transfer meant that Shimizu was removed from front line service. However, on 8 June 1943, while anchored in Kure harbor, the Japanese battleship Mutsu exploded and sank in an accident. Shimizu was forced to accept responsibility, and retired from active service on 21 February 1944.^{[citation needed]}

References

Books

• D'Albas, Andrieu (1965). Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II. Devin-Adair Pub. ISBN 0-8159-5302-X. 
• Ito, Masanori (1986 (reissue)). The End of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Jove. ISBN 0515086827. 
• Boyd, Carl (2002). The Japanese Submarine Force and World War II. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1557500150. 

External links

• Nishida, Hiroshi. "Imperial Japanese Navy, Shimizu Mitsumi". http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/px36.htm#v005. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
• Pacific War Online Encyclopedia

Notes

1. ^ http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/px36.htm#v005
2. ^ http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/S/h/Shimizu_Mitsumi.htm Pacific War Online Encyclopedia
3. ^ http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=7856
4. ^ Boyd, The Japanese Submarine Force and World War II pages 61-80

Persondata
Name	Shimizu, Mitsumi
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1888-03-16
Place of birth	Nagano prefecture, Japan
Date of death	1971-05-05
Place of death