the Maizuru Naval District. He was then promoted to rear admiral, and spent the next three years as commandant of the Maizuru Naval Arsenal . In May 1911, Katō became commander of the Training Fleet and in April 1912 became commander of the Sasebo Naval Arsenal, followed in December 1912 by promotion to vice admiral and the post of commander of the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal. In December 1913, Katō returned to sea as commander-in-chief of the Second Fleet. With the start of World War I, the IJN 2nd Fleet was deployed to the Siege of Tsingtao. At Tsingtao, Katō commanded a fleet of four battleships, two cruisers, 15 destroyers along with submarines, torpedo boats and other auxiliary vessels. In July 1916, Katō was elevated to the kazoku peerage with the title of baron (danshaku). He was also awarded the Order of the Golden Kite, 2nd class and the Order of the Rising Sun. That December, he was appointed commander of the Kure Naval District and in July 1918 was promoted to full admiral. In December 1919, he was appointed a naval councilor and entered the reserves from January 1923. As a naval councilor, Katō spoke out frequently in politics, and was a strong advocate of the “big guns and big battleships” clique within the Navy. Despite his experiences at Tsingtao, he derided the development of naval aviation as of only minor importance. Katō was especially vehement in his opposition to the Washington Naval Treaty and was thus a prominent member of the Fleet Faction within the Imperial Japanese Navy. Katō collapsed while in a meeting with Prince Fushimi in September 1927 and died shortly afterwards. References Notes External links 1860s births 1943 deaths People from Tokyo Kazoku Japanese military personnel of the Russo-Japanese War Japanese military personnel of World War I Imperial Japanese Navy admirals Recipients of the Order of the Golden Kite Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Japanese military personnel of the Boxer Rebellion