IJN Hiei: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2000 Bob Hackett
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11 October 1940: Imperial Naval Review: :
Off Yokohama. Seventy to eighty warships are spread across Tokyo Bay. Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku (former CO of CV AKAGI), the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, welcomes the Emperor Hirohito (Showa) aboard the HIEI for his annual review of the fleet. The HIEI, escorted by the cruisers TAKAO, KAKO and the FURUTAKA, then passes among the fleet's ships.
10 September 1941: Initial World War II Command Structure:
Captain Nishida Masao (former CO of CA TONE) assumes command of the HIEI from Captain (later Rear Admiral) Arima Kaoru who is reassigned as the Equipping Officer (later Captain) for the MUSASHI under construction at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding at Nagasaki.
The HIEI is assigned to Vice Admiral Takasu Shiro's (former CO of CL ISUZU) First Fleet at the Combined Fleet's anchorage at Hashirajima in Hiroshima Bay in Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi's (former CO of KIRISHIMA) BatDiv 3 with the HARUNA, KONGO and the KIRISHIMA.
17 November 1941:
Departs Kisarazu Naval Base on Tokyo Bay
21 November 1941:
Arrives at Hitokappu (Tankan) Bay, Etorofu Island in the Kuriles.
26 November 1941:
BatDiv 3, Section 1: HIEI and KIRISHIMA departs the Kuriles with Vice Admiral Mikawa's Support Force: CruDiv 8: TONE, CHIKUMA, DesRon 1: light cruiser ABUKUMA, destroyers, Midway Bombardment Unit, Supply Groups Nos. 1 and 2. Mikawa's Force accompanies Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi's (former CO of YAMASHIRO) First Air Fleet Striking Force ("Kido Butai"): CarDiv 1: AKAGI, KAGA, CarDiv 2: HIRYU, SORYU, CarDiv 5: SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU.
The HIEI serves as the task force's communications center, but to prevent accidental signals the HIEI's radio transmission equipment is dismantled. The HIEI and her sister the KIRISHIMA take up position to the rear of the "Kido Butai" and steam eastward at 13 knots.
2 December 1941:
940 miles north of Midway Island. The HIEI receives the signal "Niitakayama nobore (Climb Mt. Niitaka) 1208" from the Combined Fleet. It signifies that X-Day hostilities will commence on 8 December (Japan time). (Note: Mt. Niitaka, located in Formosa (now Taiwan), was then the highest point in the Japanese Empire.)
7 December 1941: The Attack on Pearl Harbor:
At 0630, BatDiv 3/1 launches Type 95 Nakajima E8N "Dave" two-seat reconnaissance floatplanes to patrol south of the Striking Force. CruDiv 8 also launches picket floatplanes.
At 0755, the Striking Force's first wave of 189 aircraft (90 Type 97 Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" attack planes, 54 Type 99 Aichi D3A1 "Val" dive-bombers and 45 Type 0 Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zeke" fighters led by Cdr (later Captain) Fuchida Mitsuo attack the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor and other military installations on Oahu, Hawaiian Islands.
About 0840, they are followed by a second wave of 171 aircraft (54 "Kates", 81 "Vals" and 36 "Zekes") led by LtCdr Shimazaki Shigekazu. By 0945, they retire towards their carriers.
During the attacks, the Striking Force sinks the battleships USS ARIZONA (BB-39), OKLAHOMA (BB-37) and CALIFORNIA (BB-43) and damage the NEVADA (BB-36), PENNSLYVANIA (BB-38), TENNESSEE (BB-43), MARYLAND (BB-46), WEST VIRGINIA (BB-49) and other smaller ships. 2,335 American servicemen die in the attack, most on the ARIZONA. After recovering all but 29 of its aircraft lost in the attack, the Striking Force departs Hawaiian waters towards Japan.
16 December 1941: The Second Invasion of Wake Island:
CarDiv 2, CruDiv 8, and the destroyers URAKAZE and TANIKAZE detach from the Striking and Support forces to participate in the second invasion.
23 December 1941:
The HIEI and the remainder of the Striking Force arrive at Hashirajima.
8 January 1942:
BatDiv 3/1 departs Hashirajima for Truk with the Carrier Striking Force: CarDivs 1, 5, CruDiv 8 and DesRon 1: light cruiser ABUKUMA and destroyers.
14 January 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
17 January 1942: - Operation R - The Invasions of Rabaul and Kavieng:
BatDiv 3/1 departs Truk with the Carrier Striking Force, CruDiv 8 and DesRon 1 for an area north of New Ireland. BatDiv 3/1 provides cover for the Striking Force's air attacks and distant support of the invasion forces.
23 January 1942:
Departs New Ireland area.
29 January 1942:
Returns to Truk. CarDiv 5's SHOKAKU detaches for Japan.
31 January 1942:
BatDiv 3/1 departs Truk with the Carrier Striking Force: CarDiv 1, CarDiv 5's ZUIKAKU, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and DesRon 1 in pursuit of Vice Admiral (later Fleet Admiral) William F. "Bull" Halsey's Task Force 8 (USS ENTERPRISE, CV-6) and Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Frank J. Fletcher's Task Force 17 (USS YORKTOWN, CV-5) reported to be attacking Wotje, Kwajalein, Jaluit, Makin, and Mili in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands.
4 February 1942:
BatDiv 3/1 and the Carrier Striking Force group are ordered to Palau. CarDiv 5's ZUIKAKU detaches via Truk for Japan to join the SHOKAKU.
8 February 1942:
BatDiv 3/1, CarDiv 1, CHIKUMA and DesRon 1 arrive at Palau.
15 February 1942:
Bat Div 3/1 departs Palau with the Carrier Striking Force: CarDivs 1, 2: HIRYU, SORYU, CruDiv 8: CHIKUMA, TONE, DesRon 1: light cruiser ABUKUMA with DesDiv 17: URAKAZE, ISOKAZE, TANIKAZE and the HAMAKAZE, DesDiv 18: KASUMI, SHIRANUHI and the ARIAKE.
19 February 1942:
Bat Div 3/1 supports the Striking Force's raid on Port Darwin, Australia. Seventy-one "Kate" attack planes, 81 "Val" dive-bombers and 36 "Zeke" fighters led by Cdr Fuchida (of Pearl Harbor) attack the base. They destroy 15 aircraft including 9 American Curtiss P-40 "Kittyhawk" fighters, sink eight ships including the destroyer USS PEARY (DD-226) and the large Army transport GENERAL M.C. MEIGS, damage nine ships including the seaplane tender (WW1 destroyer conversion) USS WILLIAM B. PRESTON (AVD-7). The carrier strike is followed by a strike of 54 twin engine land-based bombers (G3M2 "Nells" and G4M1 "Bettys") of the Takao and the 1st Kokutai's of the 1st Air Attack Force) from Kendari on the island of Sulawesi, Celebes. 243 Australians and Americans are killed in the raids.
21 February 1942:
Bat Div 3/1 and the Striking Force arrive at Staring (Teluk) Bay, near Kendari and refuel. Vice Admiral Kondo (former CO of KONGO) also arrives from Palau with BatDiv 3/2: KONGO, HARUNA, CruDiv 4: ATAGO, MAYA and the TAKAO and six destroyers.
25 February-1 March 1942:
BatDiv 3 departs Staring Bay in support of the Carrier Striking Force's attacks on Java.
1 March 1942: The Battle of the Java Sea: At 1750, Bat Div 3/1 and CruDiv 8 engage the destroyer USS EDSALL (DD-219) that has already been damaged by carrier aircraft. BatDiv 3/1 fires 297 14-inch, 132 6-inch shells, CruDiv 8 expends 844 8-inch and 62 5-inch rounds at the old destroyer. At 1900 hours, the battered EDSALL sinks at 13-45S, 106-47E.
9 March 1942:
Bat Div 3 returns to Staring Bay after the surrender of the Dutch East Indies.
26 March 1942:
BatDiv 3 sorties from Staring Bay via Timor Sea into Indian Ocean with Nagumo's Carrier Striking Force: CarDiv 1's AKAGI, CarDiv 3: SORYU, HIRYU, CarDiv 5: SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU, CruDiv 8: TONE, CHIKUMA, Supply Units Nos. 1 and 2, DesRon 1: light cruiser ABUKUMA and destroyers.
1 April 1942:
South of Sumatra.
5 April 1942: Operation C - The Raids in the Indian Ocean:
BatDiv 3 supports the Striking Force's attack on Columbo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). At 0800, 315 of the "Kido Butai's" aircraft led by Cdr Fuchida (of Pearl Harbor) attack the British naval base. They wreck the base's facilities, destroy 27 aircraft and sink the destroyer HMS TENEDOS and the armed merchant cruiser HMS HECTOR. Five hundred sailors are killed. A floatplane from the cruiser TONE finds Vice Admiral James Somerville's British Eastern Fleet's cruisers HMS CORNWALL and the HMS DORSETSHIRE at sea - without air cover. Between 1338-1400, 88 aircraft from the AKAGI, the HIRYU and the SORYU sink both ships. After the attack, BatDiv 3 and the Striking Force withdraw to the SE and search unsuccessfully for the rest of Somerville's fleet.
6 April1942:
At 0500, Vice Admiral Nagumo orders the Striking Force with BatDiv 3 to reverse course to the NW.
9 April 1942:
At 0600, the Striking Force launches 91 "Val" dive-bombers and 41 "Zeke" fighters, led by Cdr Fuchida, to attack the British naval base at Trincomalee, Ceylon. They find the harbor empty, but wreck the base's facilities and shoot down nine planes. The HARUNA launches a "Dave" floatplane that spots an enemy carrier 65 miles south of the base. At 0900, the Striking Force launches 90 aircraft that sink the old light carrier HMS HERMES and the Australian destroyer HMAS VAMPIRE. Nagumo's aircraft also find and sink the corvette HMS HOLLYHOCK, depot ship HMS ATHELSTANE and the oiler BRITISH SERGEANT. BatDiv 3 and the Striking Force depart the Indian Ocean through the Straits of Malacca for Singapore.
11 April 1942:
The fleet arrives at Singapore.
23 April 1942:
The fleet arrives at Hashirajima.
19 May 1942:
Departs Hashirajima with the First and Third Fleets for maneuvers at sea.
23 May 1942:
Returns to Hashirajima.
27 May 1942: Operation MI - The Battle of Midway:
Departs Hashirajima in Vice Admiral Kondo's Main Body: Bat Div 3/1: KONGO, HIEI, CruDiv 4/1: ATAGO, CHOKAI, CruDiv 5: MYOKO, HAGURO, DesRon 4: light cruiser YURA and seven destroyers.
7-12 June 1942: Operation AL - The Invasion of the Aleutians:
Bat Div 3/1, light carrier ZUIHO, seaplane tender KAMIKAWA MARU and three destroyers detach from the Second Fleet to join Vice Admiral Hosogaya Boshiro's (former CO of CHOKAI) Fifth Fleet. CruDiv 8: TONE and CHIKUMA also joins the detached group. Together, they patrol 600 miles southwest of Kiska in anticipation of an American counter-attack that does not materialize.
June 1942:
Bat Div 3/1 returns to Hashirajima.
10 July 1942:
Departs Hashirajima.
11 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Refit and drydocked. Remains at Yokosuka for a month.
14 July 1942: The HIEI (F) and the KIRISHIMA are reassigned from the First Fleet to Vice Admiral Nagumo's Third Fleet in Rear Admiral Abe Hiroaki's (former CO of FUSO) new BatDiv 11.
18 August 1942:
Departs Yokosuka towards Truk with a task group: CarDiv 1: SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU, CarDiv 2's light carrier RYUJO, BatDiv 11, CruDiv 8: TONE, CHIKUMA, DesRon 10: light cruiser NAGARA and 11 destroyers.
20-23 August 1942:
Admiral Yamamoto cancels the fleet's planned stop at Truk. Refuels at sea from oilers enroute towards Guadalcanal.
24 August 1942: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons:
BatDiv 11 cruises northeast of Guadalcanal with the Carrier Strike Force, Mobile Force, Main Body: CarDiv 1, CruDiv 7: KUMANO, SUZUYA, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA, Desron 10. The detached light carrier RYUJO is sunk by aircraft from Task Group 11's USS SARATOGA (CV-3). CarDiv 1 launches an air attack against Task Force 16's USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6) which is hit by three bombs but is not sunk. Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" bomb CarDiv 1. The SHOKAKU is slightly damaged by bomb fragments. The HIEI is not damaged.
28 August 1942:
BatDiv 11 departs for Truk with the Carrier Strike Force.
30 August 1942:
BatDiv 11 arrives at Truk. Refuels from the oiler TATEKAWA MARU.
10 September 1942:
BatDiv 11 sorties from Truk with Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi's Third Fleet: CarDiv 1: SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU, ZUIHO, CruDiv 7: KUMANO, SUZUYA, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA, DesRon 10: light cruiser NAGARA and 11 destroyers. The Third Fleet accompanies Vice Admiral Kondo's Second Fleet: Bat Div 3: KONGO, HARUNA, CruDiv 4: ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA, CruDiv 5: HAGURO, MYOKO and DesRon 2 to an area north of the Solomon Islands.
15-17 September 1942:
At sea. The fleet refuels destroyers.
18-20 September 1942:
The Second and Third Fleets sortie towards the Solomons.
20 September 1942:
The fleets are ordered to return to Truk.
23 September 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
11 October 1942:
BatDiv 11 departs Truk to attack U.S. forces off Guadalcanal with Rear Admiral Abe's Vanguard Force: CruDiv 7's SUZUYA, CruDiv 8: TONE and CHIKUMA, DesRon 10: light Cruiser NAGARA and eight destroyers. The Vanguard Force accompanies Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kakuta Kakuji's (former CO of NAGATO) Air Group Force: CarDiv 2's HIYO, JUNYO, destroyers HAYASHIO, KUROSHIO. Abe and Kakuta's forces are followed by Nagumo's Carrier Strike Force, Main Body: CarDiv 1: SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO, cruiser KUMANO and eight destroyers.
12-15 October 1942:
East of the Solomon Islands. BatDiv 11: HIEI and KIRISHIMA and the Second and Third Fleets take up position to provide distant cover for Vice Admiral Kurita Takeo's Kurita's BatDiv 3: KONGO, HARUNA which detaches with DesRon 2's light cruiser ISUZU and destroyers and proceeds to Guadalcanal.
14-15 October 1942:
BatDiv 11 maintains distant cover while the KONGO and the HARUNA bombard Henderson Field. The next night, Vice Admiral Mikawa's Eighth Fleet cruisers CHOKAI and KINUGASA bombard the airfield again.
23 October 1942:
650 miles north of Espirtu Santo. The Vanguard Force is sighted by a PBY "Catalina" patrol plane based in the Santa Cruz Islands.
25 October 1942:
0940: The Vanguard Force is sighted by another PBY that attacks a battleship with two 500-lb. depth charges. Both miss. The KIRISHIMA launches two Mitsublishi Type F1M2 "Pete" floatplanes that attack the PBY. The patrol plane is damaged but escapes.
1450: The Vanguard Force is sighted heading north at 25 knots by six B-17s of the 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) based at Espirtu Santo.
1510. The six B-17s bomb the KIRISHIMA but score no hits.
26 October 1942: The Battle of Santa Cruz:
0630: The Vanguard Force making 20 knots is reported by two Douglas "Dauntless" SDB dive-bombers of Air Group 10 from the USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6).
0740: Kondo orders Abe's Vanguard Force to forego screening Nagumo's Carrier Striking Force and to close on an American carrier force sighted earlier by a Nakajima B5N "Kate" from the ZUIKAKU.
The Vanguard Force is attacked by dive-bombers and torpedo planes from the ENTERPRISE and the USS HORNET (CV-8). Three Douglas "Dauntless" SDB dive-bombers attack the KIRISHIMA. She is not damaged, but several 1,000-lb. bombs hit the CHIKUMA.
Nagumo and Kakuta launch air attacks that mortally damage the HORNET. They also damage the ENTERPRISE and the light anti-aircraft cruiser USS SAN JUAN (CLAA-54). A 550-lb bomb hits the new battleship USS SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57). It jams her No. 1 turret in train and disables two of the three 16-inch rifles in her No. 2 turret.
27 October 1942:
The Vanguard Force returns to Truk. That same day, BatDiv 11 departs for the Shortland Islands.
1 November 1942:
BatDiv 11's Rear Admiral Abe Hiroaki is promoted to Vice Admiral.
2 November 1942:
Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo (former CO of HARUNA) assumes command of the Third Fleet. Vice Admiral Nagumo is reassigned as the Commandant of the Sasebo Naval Station.
10 November 1942:
BatDiv 11 and DesDiv 27: SHIGURE, SHIRATSUYU and YUGURE depart the Shortland anchorage to execute Vice Admiral Kondo's planned landing of the IJA's 38th Division on Guadalcanal. The twelve destroyers of Rear Admiral Tanaka Raizo's (former CO of KONGO) DesRon 2 will escort an 11-ship high-speed reinforcement convoy. The landing is to be preceded by another bombardment of Henderson Field. Part of Kondo's plan calls for DesDiv 27's destroyers to act as picket ships between Guadalcanal and the Russell Islands.
12 November 1942:
In the early morning, Rear Admiral Kimura Susumu's (former CO of HARUNA) DesRon 10: light cruiser NAGARA (F) and the destroyers AKATSUKI, AMATSUKAZE, IKAZUCHI, INAZUMA, TERUZUKI and the YUKIKAZE arrive from Truk and join BatDiv 11 enroute to Guadalcanal.
1030: A B-17 heading towards Savo Island spots Abe's force. Two covering Mitsubishi A6M "Zeke" fighters, launched from a holding position north of Malaita Island by Vice Admiral Kakuta's carrier JUNYO, attempt unsuccessfully to intercept the bomber.
1530: Abe's force rendezvous with Rear Admiral Takama Tamotsu's (former CO of HARUNA) DesRon 4 sweeping unit: ASAGUMO (F), HARUSAME, MURASAME, SAMIDARE and YUDACHI. Abe orders the destroyers to form a tight double half-ring formation as an anti-submarine measure. The NAGARA follows with BatDiv 11 in column behind. The force proceeds south down the "Slot" at 18 knots.
The HIEI catapults a floatplane. A storm begins that lasts several hours. The plane reports more than a dozen enemy warships off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal. The floatplane is unable to return to the HIEI because of the blinding rain, but lands safely at Bougainville.
2400: Abe orders his force to reverse course and slow to 12 knots because of the weather.
13 November 1942: The First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal:
0040: The rain squall finally ends. Abe orders his force to again reverse course and proceed towards Savo Island, Guadalcanal.
0110: Abe orders BatDiv 11 to make their 14-inch main batteries ready to fire thousand pound HE Type 3 shells. Each shell contains 470 individual incendiary submunitions.
0142: Off Savo Island. The lead destroyer YUDACHI and the HIEI's lookouts report sighting enemy warships only 9,000 meters away. Abe quickly orders BatDiv 11's gunnery officers to replace the Type 3 incendiary shells with Type 0 armor piercing shells.
0150: The HIEI and the destroyer AKATSUKI switch on their searchlights and illuminate the light cruiser USS ATLANTA (CL-51). Abe's force commences a night gun battle with U.S. cruisers and destroyers.
0153: The destroyer LAFFEY (DD-459) launches five torpedoes at the HIEI. The destroyer CUSHING (DD-376) also launches six torpedoes at the HIEI. One torpedo hits the HIEI and explodes, but the others are either too close to arm and fail to explode or miss. Vice Admiral Abe is wounded and his Chief of Staff, Captain Suzuki Masakane, is killed when the HIEI's bridge is machine-gunned by the LAFFEY. Then the HIEI sinks the LAFFEY.
During the battle, the HIEI suffers thirty 8-inch shell hits from the cruisers USS SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38) and the PORTLAND (CA-33). She is also hit by many 5-inch shells from the destroyer STERETT (DD-407) that launches four more torpedoes at the HIEI and claims two hits. The HIEI's fire control systems for her main and secondary batteries are knocked out and her superstructure is set afire.
Abe's force sinks the ATLANTA and kills Rear Admiral Norman Scott. The destroyers CUSHING, MONSSEN, (DD-436) and the BARTON (DD-599) are also sunk. The KIRISHIMA damages the SAN FRANCISCO and kills her skipper Captain Cassin Young (MOH at Pearl Harbor) and Rear Admiral Daniel T. Callaghan (a former naval aide to President Roosevelt), Commander, Task Group 67.4. Both Callaghan and Scott are awarded Medals of Honor (MOH) posthumously.
The PORTLAND, light cruisers HELENA (CL-50) and the JUNEAU (CL-52) and the destroyer STERETT are also damaged by the Japanese. Later, the JUNEAU, retiring towards Espiritu Santo, is sunk by the submarine I-26.
The Americans sink the destroyers AKATSUKI and the YUDACHI and damage the AMATSUKAZE, IKAZUCHI and the MURASAME.
0154: Abe orders the KIRISHIMA to detach from the HIEI and head northward.
0200: Abe abandons his bombardment mission and withdraws from battle.
During the night, the KIRISHIMA takes the HIEI in tow and retires westward around Savo Island with the NAGARA and DesRon 10's destroyers. The HIEI's aft steering compartment floods and her port rudder jams in the "full starboard" position.
0610: The HIEI's spotters sight the damaged destroyer USS AARON WARD (DD-483) 14 miles away under tow by tug BOBOLINK. The HIEI fires several 14-inch shells but does not hit the WARD.
0615: The HIEI, unsteerable and circling at 5 knots, is attacked repeatedly by Marine Grumman "Avenger" TBF torpedo planes of VMSB-131 from Henderson Field and TBFs and Douglas "Dauntless" SBD dive-bombers from the USS ENTERPRISE (CV-2). The HIEI uses "sanshiki-dan" AA shells to fire on the attacking aircraft. The HIEI is hit by 1, 000-lb bombs and torpedoes and takes on more water.
0815: Vice Admiral Abe signals the KIRISHIMA to tow the HIEI to Shortland that night and orders the rest of the Attack Force to retire. Then he transfers his flag to the destroyer YUKIKAZE.
1110: The HIEI is hit by one of fifty-six 500-lb bombs dropped by 14 USAAF B-17 bombers of the 11th Heavy Bombardment Group from Espirtu Santo. Abe abandons his towing plan and orders the HIEI beached at Camimbo, Guadalcanal.
1120: Six Marine "Dauntless" SBD dive-bombers from VMSB-132 at Henderson Field attack the HIEI. Three 1,000-lb bombs hit her.
1130: The HIEI is attacked by four "Avenger" TBF torpedo planes from the USS SARATOGA's (CV-3) Torpedo Squadron 8 and by two Marine TBFs from VMSB-131 at Henderson Field. Two torpedoes hit the HIEI - one amidships and one on the port bow.
1235: Captain Nishida, rather than following Abe's beaching order, instead tries to save the HIEI. Later, Abe cancels the order, but orders Nishida to send the HIEI's crew off.
1435: The HIEI is attacked by four "Avenger" TBF torpedo planes from the ENTERPRISE. One torpedo hits the HIEI amidships on the starboard side and another hits her in the stern and floods the HIEI's steering gear.
1530: During the day, the HIEI suffers 70 American sorties and takes on a list to starboard and is down at the stern. Vice Admiral Abe orders Captain Nishida to Abandon Ship. Nishida reluctantly orders the HIEI scuttled. The Emperor's portrait is removed. Nishida and other survivors are rescued by DesDiv 27's SHIGURE, SHIRATSUYU, YUGURE and DesDiv 61's TERUZUKI.
1838: Admiral Yamamoto orders Abe not to scuttle the HIEI, but the message is received too late.
1900-0100: Sunk: The HIEI sinks by the stern at 09-00S, 159-00E. 188 crewmen are lost.
14 November 1942:
Vice Admiral Abe is relieved of command. On their return to Japan, both he and Captain Nishida face a Board of Inquiry into the loss of the HIEI.
20 December 1942:
Vice Admiral Abe is reassigned to the Naval General Staff and retires on 20 March 1943. Captain Nishida is placed on the Reserve List. (He is recalled and later serves as the Commander of the 256th and 951st NAGs but is not promoted and never again serves on a warship.) BatDiv 11 is deactivated and the HIEI is removed from the Navy List.
Author’s Note: Special thanks for assistance in researching the IJN officers mentioned in this TROM go to Mr. Sander Kingsepp of Estonia, Mr. Yutaka Iwasaki, Mr. Hiroshi Nishida and Mr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan and Mr. Jean-François Masson of Canada – Bob Hackett.