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
Laid down on 10 May 1915 and launched on 12 November 1916, Ise was the lead ship of her two-ship class of dreadnoughts. Although commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy on 10 December 1917, she did not participate in the First World War. During the late 1920s and early 1930s, Ise was modernised in two stages, which added aviation facilities, upgraded her anti-aircraft armament and her superstructure was enlarged to a pagoda mast.
From 1 August 1935 until 23 March 1937, 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, Ise and her sister Hyuga 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 Ise 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 Ise was scrapped in 1946–1947.
Under Construction
Ise being launchedIse shortly after being launched
Ise in Service
Ise in 1917Ise late 1920sIse after 1921Ise in 1931Ise in 1933Ise in 1933 with an aircraft catapult on turret 5Ise in 1936 after reconstruction with pagoda mast in placeIse after modernisation in 1931Ise after conversion running full power trial on Aug 24, 1943Ise in 1943IseIseIse forward 14″ turretsIseMutsu (left), Ise (center), and Fuso (right) in Line-of-Battle, prior to World War II
Battle off Cape Engano
Ise firing her main guns during the Battle off Cape Engaño, 25 October 1944Ise underway during the Battle off Cape Engano 25 October 1944Ise underway during the Battle off Cape Engano 25 October 1944
Under Attack at Kure
Ise burning at Kure 28 July 1945Ise under attack by U.S. Navy aircraft at the Kure Naval Arsenal on 28 July 1945Ise under attack by U.S. Navy aircraft at the Kure Naval Arsenal on 28 July 1945
The Wreck of Ise Post-War
Wreck of Ise October1945Ise sunk off Kure, 8 October 1945Wreck of Ise October1945Ise sunk off Kure, 8 October 1945Ise sunk at Kure, 8 October 1945Superstructure of the wreck of Ise October1945Ise sunk off Kure, 8 October 1945Ise, which settles on the coast of Tsuboi, Ondo Town. January 1948
