Jisaburō Ozawa
Vice-Admiral Jisaburō Ozawa (小沢 治三郎, Ozawa Jisaburō, October 2, 1886 – November 9, 1966) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Ozawa held several important commands at sea throughout the duration of the conflict (Southern Expeditionary Fleet, 3rd Fleet, 1st Mobile Fleet and the Combined Fleet).
Jisaburō Ozawa | |
|---|---|
Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburō (1940-45) | |
| Native name | 小沢 治三郎 |
| Nickname(s) | "Gargoyle" (Onigawara) |
| Born | October 2, 1886 Koyu District, Miyazaki, Japan |
| Died | November 9, 1966 (aged 80) Japan |
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
| Service/ | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Years of service | 1909–1945 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral (refused a promotion to full Admiral) |
| Commands held | Take, Shimakaze, Destroyer No. 3, 1st Destroyer Division, 4th Destroyer Division, 11th Destroyer Division, Maya, Haruna, 8th Squadron, Naval Torpedo School, 1st Carrier Division, 3rd Squadron, Naval War College, 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet, 3rd Fleet, 1st Mobile Fleet, Vice-chief of Navy General Staff, Combined Fleet, Maritime Escort Fleet |
| Battles/wars |
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Ozawa was noted for his innovative ideas in the employment of aircraft carriers. However, he could not in his most important commands from 1943 onward, succeed in overcoming the superiority of American carrier aviation. In terms of the quantity and quality of aircraft and in terms of pilot training and experience, the Americans had outmatched the Japanese carrier forces under Ozawa's command. Ozawa commanded Japanese carrier forces during some of the most significant naval battles that took place in the Pacific Theatre: the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He was the last Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet.
Ozawa has been noted for his unusual height for a Japanese man of his time period, measuring in at over 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, although his exact height has not been reliably reported.