Mitsumi Shimizu was a vice admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II.
11 Facts About Mitsumi Shimizu
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Mitsumi Shimizu graduated 24th out of 191 cadets from the 36th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, in November 1908.
3.
Mitsumi Shimizu's classmates included future admirals Chuichi Nagumo and Nishizo Tsukahara.
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Mitsumi Shimizu served his midshipman duty on the cruiser Soya, battleship Katori and cruiser Hashidate, and as an ensign on the battlecruiser Ikoma and Sagami.
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Mitsumi Shimizu subsequently served in the Personnel Department of the Navy Ministry, specializing in legal affairs and accounting.
6.
Mitsumi Shimizu was promoted to rear admiral the same year.
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In June 1940, Shimizu was appointed commander in chief of the IJN Training Fleet.
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Mitsumi Shimizu 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.
9.
Enterprise received only minor damage in the Japanese counterattack, and for his failure to sink the aircraft carrier with his submarines, Mitsumi Shimizu was reassigned in July 1942 to take command of the IJN 1st Fleet.
10.
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 Mitsumi Shimizu was removed from front line service.
11.
Mitsumi Shimizu was forced to accept responsibility, and retired from active service on 21 February 1944.