The 8th Fleet was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy established during World War II.
Japanese heavy cruiser Chōkai, flagship of the 8th Fleet in 1942.
Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa was the first commander of the 8th Fleet and led it throughout the Guadalcanal Campaign.
8th Fleet warships led by Vice Admiral Mikawa dealt a major defeat to Allied naval forces at the Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942 by sinking four heavy cruisers.
Seaplane tender Nisshin was used by the 8th Fleet's Reinforcement Unit as a high-speed transport to resupply Guadalcanal in October 1942.
R-Area Air Force
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The R-Area Air Force was a unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during the Pacific War that was involved in the Guadalcanal Campaign and Solomon Islands Campaign. The unit operated seaplanes
Mitsubishi F1M floatplanes at Rekata Bay.
Aichi E13A was the main long-range reconnaissance aircraft of R-Area Air Force.
R-Area Air Force forward base at Rekata Bay under aerial attack.