The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrender in [World War II. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) was formed between 1952 and 1954 after the dissolution of the IJN.
The IJN was the third largest navy in the world by 1920, behind the Royal Navy and the United States Navy (USN). The IJN was directly inspired by the Royal Navy in particular, and during the pre-ww2 period coped, licensed and duplicated RN equipment, doctrine and culture. The Kongou-class battleships were designed in Britain; the lead ship Kongou was built there.
It was supported by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service for reconnaissance and airstrike operations from the fleet. It was the primary opponent of the Western Allies in the Pacific War. The IJN additionally fielded limited land-based forces, including professional marines, marine paratrooper units, anti-aircraft defense units, installation and port security units, naval police units, and ad-hoc formations of sailors pressed into service as naval infantry. Special Naval Landing Force (Imperial Japanese Navy)
Due to a quirk of Imperial Japan's Meiji constitution, both the Army and the Navy had an enormous degree of autonomy in Japan. In fact, the Army and Navy were equal to, not subordinate to, the Prime Minister. Imperial Japan also lacked a commander-in-chief. This led to an intense interservice rivalry, and to both great innovation and great inefficiency.
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