Laid down on the 15th of March 1912 and launched on the 14th of December 1914, Haruna was the forth of the four-ship Kongō-class battlecruisers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her three sisters were Kirishima, Hiei and Kongō. Commissioned into the fleet on the 19th of April 1915, she saw no action during the First World War, although she undertook patrols off the Chinese coast.
During gunnery drills in 1920, an explosion destroyed one of her guns, damaged the gun turret, and killed seven men.
In 1926 Haruna underwent a reconstruction to transform her into a battleship. Additional armour was added and her speed increased. In 1933 a more extensive reconstruction was undertaken, with her superstructure completely rebuilt, aircraft facilities added and her machinery upgraded. She was redesignated a fast battleship and primarily used to escort Japan’s fast aircraft carriers.
During the Second World War, she provided support for the invasion of the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and in the Indian Ocean raid of April 1942. During the Battle of Midway, she provided escort to Nagumo’s four carriers, before redeploying to the Solomon Islands during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Haruna participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944 (22–23 October).
In 1945, Haruna was transferred to Kure Naval Base, where she was sunk by aircraft of Task Force 38 on 28 July 1945.
Haruna at Kobe, Japan one week after commissioningHaruna undergoing sea trials in 1915Haruna 4 April 1916Haruna coaling 21 Oct 1915Haruna at Yokosuka, Japan 1916Haruna undergoes trials after reconfiguration from a battlecruiser to a battleship 1928Haruna 3 Nov 1931Haruna underway, 1931Haruna Feb 1 1933Haruna 1933Haruna Running trials 28 Aug 1934Haruna Running trials 28 Aug 1934Haruna seen in the mid 1930sHaruna undergoes trials after her second reconstructionHaruna off Yokosuka, Japan in 1935Fuso, (background), and Yamashiro, (foreground), Haruna is in the distant backgroundHarunaHaruna looking aft at forward main armament late 1930s
Explosion in Turret No. 1
Sep 20 1920 following explosion in No 1 turretSep 20 1920 following explosion in No 1 turret
Aircraft
Launching Nakajima E8NNakajima E5N 1937Nakajima E5N with a Kawanishi E7K1 in the background
Under Attack in Kure
July 28, 1945 Haruna under attack by U.S. Aircraft at Kure, JapanJuly 28, 1945 Haruna under attack by U.S. aircraft at Kure, Japan
Post-War Wreck
Wreck of HarunaHaruna wreck post warHaruna Sunk at her moorings following the Kure raids on July 28th, 1945. Taken after the war, these late 1945Haruna Sunk at her moorings following the Kure raids on July 28th, 1945. Taken after the war, these late 1945October 1945 the sunken hulk of the Haruna at Kure, JapanHaruna wreck post warHaruna wreck post warHaruna Sunk at her moorings following the Kure raids on July 28th, 1945Haruna wreck post warHaruna wreck post war