Isoroku Yamamoto

Isoroku Yamamoto (?? ??? Yamamoto Isoroku, April 4, 1884 – April 18, 1943) was the commander of the Japanese Navy for the first four years of World War II. He is generally regarded to be Japan's greatest naval strategist of the war, and among the greatest naval strategists in history.

Early naval career

Yamamoto enrolled at the Naval Academy at Etajima, Hiroshima in 1901, graduating in 1904. In 1905 during the Russo-Japanese War, he saw action as an ensign on the cruiser Nisshin at the Battle of Tsushima against the Russian Baltic Fleet. At that engagement, he lost two fingers on his left hand (see picture on the right). After the war, he went with various ships all over the Pacific.

Related Topics:
Naval Academy - Etajima - Hiroshima - 1901 - 1904 - 1905 - Russo-Japanese War - Nisshin - Battle of Tsushima - Russian Baltic Fleet - Finger - Pacific

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In 1913, he went to the Naval War College at Tsukiji, a sign that he was being groomed for the high command. Upon graduation in 1916, he was appointed to the staff of the Second Battle Squadron and was adopted by the Yamamoto family. From 1919 to 1921 he studied at Harvard University.

Related Topics:
1913 - Naval War College - Tsukiji - 1916 - 1919 - 1921 - Harvard University

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Promoted to Commander upon his return to Japan, he taught at the staff college before being sent to the new air-training centre at Kasumigaura in 1924, to direct it and to learn to fly.

Related Topics:
Kasumigaura - 1924

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