Koga, Mineichi (1885–1943)

Japanese admiral of World War II. He succeeded Yamamoto as commander-in-chief of the Japanese fleet 1943 and followed the same policy of defending the Pacific islands. He frequently suffered defeats at the hands of the US fleets, particularly at Rabaul 1943. He eventually moved to Singapore with the intention of assembling the Japanese fleet there for a final battle with the US fleet, but was killed in an aircraft accident March 1944.