Aritomo Goto Vice Admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II Date of Birth: 23.01.1888 Country: Japan

1. Early Life and Naval Career
2. World War I and Interwar Period
3. Rise to Vice-Admiral and World War II
4. Pacific War and Death

Early Life and Naval Career

Aritomo Gotō was born in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, in 1888. He attended the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy and graduated as part of the 38th class in 1910, ranking 30th out of 149 students. As a midshipman, he served on the cruiser Kasagi and the battleship Satsuma.

Commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in 1911, Gotō was assigned to the battleship Iwami and then to the tender Toyohashi. After his promotion to lieutenant in 1913, he served on the destroyer Murasame.

World War I and Interwar Period

During World War I, Gotō was dispatched to a radio station in Kusaie in 1915. He later joined the crew of the cruiser Chikuma. Promoted to lieutenant commander in 1917, Gotō served on the battlecruiser Kongo, destroyer Tanikaze, and cruiser Yakumo.

As a captain of the 3rd rank (from 1923), Gotō commanded the destroyers Tsuta, Urakadze, Nokadze, Nadakaze, and Uzuki. After a promotion in 1928, he took command of the Uranami, Matsukaze, 5th Destroyer Division, and 27th Destroyer Division.

Rise to Vice-Admiral and World War II

Gotō was promoted to captain of the 1st rank on November 15, 1933. He was given command of the 10th Destroyer Division, as well as the cruisers Chokai, Atago, Naka, battleship Yamashiro, and battleship Mutsu.

Gotō became a vice admiral on November 15, 1939, and was given command of the 2nd Cruiser Division. On September 10, 1941, he assumed command of the 6th Cruiser Division, which consisted of the heavy cruisers Aoba (flagship), Furutaka, Kinugasa, and Kako.

Pacific War and Death

On December 23, 1941, the 6th Cruiser Division supported Japanese forces during their second offensive on Wake Island, resulting in the capture of the island by Japanese infantry. In May 1942, Gotō's 6th Cruiser Division, along with the aircraft carrier Shoho, provided cover for the invasion force in Operation Mo, which aimed to capture Tulagi and attempt an invasion of Port Moresby, leading to the Battle of the Coral Sea.

During the battle, U.S. aircraft carriers sank Shoho while Gotō's cruisers were too far away to provide anti-aircraft defense for their carrier. From the Papua New Guinea islands of Kavieng and Rabaul, Gotō commanded the 6th Cruiser Division, which supported the Guadalcanal campaign during its early months.

Under the overall command of Gunichi Mikawa, the 6th Cruiser Division participated in the Battle of Savo Island on August 8, 1942, sinking four Allied heavy cruisers. On the return voyage, the heavy cruiser Kako was sunk by a torpedo from a submarine. The remaining three cruisers reached Guadalcanal on October 11 to attack Henderson Airfield and provide support for the "Tokyo Express."

Gotō, who was aboard the heavy cruiser Aoba, was fatally wounded during the Battle of Cape Esperance and died on October 12.