The Southeast Area Fleet was an operational command of the Imperial Japanese Navy combining the remaining surface elements of the
IJN 8th Fleet with the
IJN 11th Air Fleet, the No.5 Special Base Unit. The Southeast Area Fleet was established on December 24, 1942, during the waning weeks of the
Guadalcanal campaign and was headquartered in
Rabaul,
New Britain. In February 1944, after heavy losses in the
Solomon Islands campaign, most surviving Japanese surface and naval aircraft forces withdrew from Rabaul to
Truk in the
Caroline Islands. However, lacking transport, most of the headquarters staff of the Southeast Area Fleet was left abandoned on Rabaul, together with surviving elements of the
Imperial Japanese Army IJA 8th Area Army, and was isolated until the end of the war. ==Commanders of the IJN Southeast Area Fleet==