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 ready for launchHaruna being launchedHaruna fitting out at Kawasaki in Kobe, Japan14 inch gun being installed (in the turret at left) on Haruna
Haruna in Service
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
Laid down on the 17th of January 1911 and launched on the 18th of May 1912, Kongō was the first of the four-ship Kongō-class battlecruisers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her three sisters were Kirishima, Hiei and Haruna. Commissioned into the fleet on the 16th of August 1913, she saw no action during the First World War, although she undertook patrols off the Chinese coast.
In 1929 Kongō underwent a reconstruction to transform her into a battleship. Additional armour was added and her speed increased. In 1935 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. Kongō participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944 (22–23 October), engaging and sinking American vessels in the latter. Kongō was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Sealion while transiting the Formosa Strait on 21 November 1944. She was the only Japanese battleship sunk by a submarine in the Second World War.
Kongo on the ways, showing two of the propellers and the port rudderKongo under constructionKongo being launchedKongo being launchedKongo just after being launchedIJN Kongo alongside HMS Princess Royal under construction possibly at the Buccleuch Dock, BarrowKongo fitting outKongo fitting out mid-January 1913Kongo almost complete April 1913
Kongō in Service
Kongo seen on sea trials in 1913Kongo undergoing builder’s trials 19 April 1913Kongo undergoing builder’s trials 19 April 1913Photograph of Kongo printed on a postal card. It was taken between 1925 and 1928Kongo in 1926Kongo in 1928Kongo seen in 1929 before reconstructionKongo seen after her reconstruction in 1931Kongo immediately after reconstructionKongo seen after her reconstruction in 1931Kongo Nov 14 1936 running trials after refitKongō on sea trials 14 November 1936 off the coast of TateyamaKongo in 1937Kongo in 1937Kongo off Amoy, China, in October 1938KongoKongo
First Reconstruction
Kongo Oct 21 1929Kongo Nov 29 1930Kongo Jan 20 1931Kongo Feb 20 1931Kongo seen in drydock first major reconstructionKongo March 1931 with dry dock being flooded to commence trialsKongo May 22 1933 in drydock to have bottom cleaned
Kongō During World War Two
Kongo early 1942. Soryu and Hiryu in the backgroundKongo Feb 25 1942Kongo Feb 25 1942Kongo May 1942Kongo back of bridge Oct 13 1942Kongo or Haruna Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 1944
Laid down on 6 May 1915 and launched on 27 January 1917, Hyuga was the second ship of the Ise-class of dreadnought battleships. Although commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy on 30 April 1918, she did not participate in the First World War. During the late 1920s and early 1930s, Hyuga was modernised in two stages, which added aviation facilities, upgraded her anti-aircraft armament and her superstructure was enlarged to a pagoda mast.
From 24 October 1934 until 7 September 1936, Ise underwent a major reconstruction to improve her machinery and armor. Despite this, she was considered obsolete at the start of the Second World War, and played no significant part in the early stages. However, with the loss of four fleet carriers at the Battle of Midway, Hyuga and her sister Ise were rebuilt as partial aircraft carriers. This entailed the removal of the rear two turrets and the installation of a flight deck. A complement of 22 to 24 aircraft could be carried, although due to a lack of trained pilots, she never operated aircraft in combat.
She participated in the Battle off Cape Engaño in late 1944, where she was one of the ships that decoyed the American carrier fleet supporting the invasion of Leyte away from the landing beaches. Afterwards the ship was transferred to Southeast Asia. In early 1945 Hyuga participated in Operation Kita, where she transported petrol and other strategic materials to Japan. The ship was then reduced to reserve until American airstrikes in July sank her. After the war Hyuga was scrapped in 1946–1947.
Under Construction
Hyuga under constructionHyuga under constructionHyuga under constructionHyuga under constructionHyuga under constructionInstallation of 14-inch gun in Hyūga’s No. 4 gun turretHyuga fitting out 1917
Hyuga in Service
Hyuga shortly after completionHyuga with her original armamentHyuga on 11 Feb 1934Hyuga in 1936Hyuga in 1940Hyuga on 4 December 1940Hyūga burns after being attacked during the bombing of Kure on July 24, 1945HyugaHyugaHyugaHyuga 14″ gunsThe forward main battery on HyugaCaptain (later Rear Admiral) Machida Shinichiro with subordinates on the deck of Hyuga
The Wreck of Hyuga Post-War
Hyuga Sunk off Kure, Japan, October 1945Hyūga sunk in the shallow waters of Hiroshima Bay, 1945, KureHyūga sunk in the shallow waters of Hiroshima Bay, 1945, KureHyūga sunk in the shallow waters of Hiroshima Bay, 1945, KureHyūga sunk in the shallow waters of Hiroshima Bay, 1945, KureDamage to Hyuga’s bridgeDamage to Hyuga
