It operates ships and aircraft, and responds to maritime defense in the waters around Japan, various situations, and international missions.

[1] It can be said that it is a de facto control unit of the actual combat division, which is equivalent to the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

The headquarters is located in the Funakoshi district (7-73 Funakoshi-cho, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture).

The new government building Marine Operations Center completed on the site of the Kanto Auto Works began full-scale operation on October 1, 2020.

According to the Self-Defense Forces Bill Guidelines decided by the Cabinet on March 2, 1954, after an agreement was reached by the Conservative Three-Party Defense Negotiations of the Liberal Party, the Kaishintō Party, and the Japanese Liberal Party, a coalition self-defense fleet would be formed within the Maritime Self-Defense Force.