Japanese Navy (Surrender at Saratoga)

The Japanese Navy (日本海) is the naval branch of the Japanese Armed Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was officially formed in 1910 after the signing of the Japanese Naval Defense Treaty but navies in various forms had existed for centuries before that point. The Japanese navy contains a large fleet of 363 total ships, the second largest in the world behind the United Kingdom. Japan currently has one of the largest aircraft carrier fleets as well, with six in service currently. The Japanese navy is a blue water navy, meaning it is able to engage in operations on a global scale. The main tasks of the navy are to defend Japan's territorial waters, but more recently the navy has engaged in peacekeeping missions in areas such as Somalia, both for the greater good and partially to extend Japanese influence in the region. The Japanese navy is under the command of Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, who has been the highest-ranking officer of the  Japanese Armed Forces since 2014.

Foundation
Japan has had a long history of naval interaction with the Asian continent, mostly involving the transportation of armies. Following the Mongol attempts at invasion of Japan in 1274 and 1281, the Japanese navy became very active in plundering the coast of China. The Japanese navy was also used in invading Korea as well in the late 1500s. The modern Japanese navy was founded in 1910 after the Japanese Naval Defense Treaty, which set the establishment for what would be the navy of Japan. During this era many ships were renovated to fit the standards of modern European ships for better combat efficiency. During this era the army was heavily reformed as well in order to westernize Japan to an extent where long-held traditions wouldn't be broken. This naval renovation was done just in time for the Bombing of Naha, bringing Japan to war against the much more powerful Chinese Empire.

Era of conflict
Japan entered a long period of constant war after Okinawa, one of Japan's few allies, was bombed, bringing Japan into the War of the Pacific. Japan's navy was vital during this war, as the only way Japan could reach any other nation was via ships. After the crucial Battle of the Yellow Sea and several, more minor naval battles, the Japanese navy destroyed the opposing Chinese fleet, allowing them to send their inferior army to invade the Chinese coast, ultimately winning Japan and her allies the war. The war ended Chinese dominance in eastern Asia and brought Japan, albeit unwillingly, into the world stage.

Japan was at peace for many years until the Indonesian National Revolution broke out as Indonesia declared independence from the Netherlands, one of the only allies of the Japanese. Japan was willing to help due to the proximity of Indonesia to their nation, as well as the Japanese naval superiority compared to all of the surrounding nations. Japan engaged in most of the naval battles in this war, including the Battle of Makassar Strait, a decisive Japanese victory. Thanks to this victory Japan even engaged in a failed invasion of Borneo which did set up a failed puppet state however the invasion was quickly curbed by tactically and numerically superior Indonesian troops. Several other nations joined the war on the side of Indonesians, though, which ultimately lead to the Dutch surrender.



After the emergence of democratic parties across Japan in the late 1950s, the opposition to the Shogunate grew very large and in late 1956 the Republic of Japan was formed, whose main goal was to end the reign of the Shogun. The Japanese navy was far superior to the fledgling republic, however, which at its height had a small fleet of 48 ships compared to the Japanese navy which was almost three times as large as the opposition. Japan gained naval superiority very easily, and easily gained control over the Tsugaru Strait which ultimately cost the republic the war.

Modern era
Most of Japan's few engagements in the modern day have been either patrolling territorial waters or patrolling the notoriously dangerous Somali coasts. Japan has had some interest in the region since the end of colonization, and is even constructing a naval base in Sagallo, which was at one point Russian Somaliland. Japan, along with the many other nations defending the dangerous Somali waters, have managed to stop piracy in the region for the most part. However, in 2009, Somali pirates did manage to sink a Japanese warship however, humiliating the Japanese nation.

Engagements
The Japanese navy has had a long history of naval supremacy in Asia. It successfully defended Japan against nomadic raiders, helped them in an ultimately failed invasion of Korea. Japan's navy is the most powerful branch of its military, and it has helped Japan win many wars in both the ancient and modern era. The Tokugawa navy is the second largest in the world, and is obviously one of Japan's greatest accomplishments, having a large fleet of 363 total boats.

The modern Japanese navy was founded shortly before the War of the Pacific, which was the first of the three conflicts it has engaged in. The Japanese navy essentially won this war, with strategic engagements such as the Blockade of Shanghai and the Battle of the Yellow Sea. paving the way for an eventual invasion of mainland China, which ultimately lead them to their eventual surrender. The Japanese navy was ultimately credited for much of China's defeat as through superior tactics it managed to destroy the Chinese navy, which was nearly on par with that of Japan at that point in time. The Japanese navy was also important in the Indonesian National Revolution as well, as Japan also managed to destroy the Indonesian fleet. As a result of this Japan even managed to invade Borneo - the Indonesians had a slightly larger army located in the army but guerrilla warfare in the jungle is what ultimately halted Japan's advances. The war ended after the United Kingdom threatened to aid the Indonesian rebels, resulting in an almost immediate Dutch surrender. The Japanese navy didn't do much during the civil war - the navy of the Republic of Japan was too weak to put up a valid fight against the more powerful fleet of the Shogunate, but the navy did manage to blockade the Tsugaru Strait, which separated Japan from the Republic's capital in Sapporo.