Imperial Battleships

SENKAN!

IJN HIEI: Tabular Record of Movement

20 March 1908:
Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. The 17,250-ton Dreadnought armored cruiser HMS INVINCIBLE is completed at Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., Ltd's shipyard and commissioned in the Royal Navy. INVINCIBLE mounts eight 12-inch (305-mm) guns (4x2) and can make 26 knots. Britain's new capital ships render all of the Imperial Japanese Navy's warships, both those operational and those under design, obsolete.
1910: Naval Expansion Bill:
Tokyo. The Japanese Diet passes and funds the 1911 Naval Emergency Expansion bill received from the cabinet that authorizes the design and construction of a battleship and four armored cruisers. The battleship is FUSO and HIEI is the second of the four armored cruisers, after KONGO.
4 November 1911:
Yokosuka Naval Yard. The battlecruiser HIEI is laid down. HIEI will be built based on plans for KONGO designed by Sir George Thurston of the British shipbuilding firm of Vickers-Armstrong. Most of the parts used in her construction are imported from England. They are carefully copied and reverse-engineered by the Japanese.
21 November 1912:
Yokosuka. HIEI is launched.
20 Sept 1913:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Takagi Shichitarô (former CO of NISSHIN) is posted as HIEI's Chief Fitting-Out Officer.
3 August 1914:
Germany declares war on France and invades Belgium. Britain then declares war on Germany and Austria.
4 August 1914:
Yokosuka. HIEI is completed and registered (commissioned) in the IJN at the Sasebo Naval Station. Captain Takagi is her first Commanding Officer.
7 August 1914:
Russia invades East Prussia.
8 August 1914:
Attached to BatDiv 3, First Fleet.
15 August 1914:
The Japanese Prime Minister, Count Okuma Shigenobu, issues an ultimatum to Germany. He demands that Kaiser Wilhelm cede Germany’s colonial possessions in China to Japan. The Germans do not reply.
23 August 1914:
Japan declares war on Germany. Thereafter, the IJN occupies the former German colonies (purchased from Spain) in the Carolines, Palau, Marianas and the Marshall Islands.
14 September 1914:
Departs Sasebo and steams for the East China Sea districts because of the outbreak of war.
22 September 1914:
Returns to Sasebo.
15 October 1914:
Steams from the Terajima Channel and operates off Tsingtao, China.
16 October 1914:
Returns.
7 November 1914:
Tsingtao. After a siege of over two months, the outnumbered German garrison surrenders the colony and its harbor to the Japanese.
13 December 1915:
Captain (later Admiral) Katô Hiroharu assumes command. HIEI is attached to BatDiv 3, Second Fleet.
9 April 1916:
Departs Sasebo and operates off the China coast.
18 April 1916:
Returns to Sasebo.
8 November 1916:
Departs Kôbe with HARUNA.
10 November 1916:
Arrives at Sasebo.
1 December 1916:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Hori Terufusa assumes command. HIEI is rerated a Reserve ship.
1 December 1917:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Kuwashima Shôzô assumes command..
6 December 1917:
Attached to BatDiv 3, Second Fleet.
8 January 1918:
The President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, proposes “Fourteen Points” for the end of the war to the Congress that are later communicated to the warring powers.
11 April 1918:
Departs Sasebo and operates off Tsingtao.
17 April 1918:
Arrives at Inchon, Korea.
11 November 1918: Armistice:
An Armistice, based on Wilson’s Fourteen Points, is signed and takes effect at 1100. World War I is over.
1 December 1918:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Yoshikawa Yasuhira assumes command.
25 March 1919:
Departs Shibushi Bay, Japan and operates off the north China coast.
9 April 1919:
Arrives at Sasebo.
28 June 1919: The Treaty of Versailles:
After the defeat of Germany, Japan is given a mandate over the ex-German colonies in the Pacific with the exception of Tsingtao.
1 December 1919:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Shirane Kumazô assumes command.
12 August 1920:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Matsumura Kikuo assumes command.
29 August 1920:
Departs Tateyama for guard duty off the Russian coast.
20 September 1920:
Arrives at Otaru.
13 October 1920:
Rerated a Reserve ship.
20 November 1920:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Sôsa Tanetsugu assumes command.
1 December 1920:
Attached to BatDiv 2, First Fleet.
6 February 1922: The Washington Treaty:
Washington, DC. Japan, United States, Britain, France and Italy agree to limit the displacement and main armament of their capital ships, aircraft carriers and cruisers and to limit the total tonnage and age of their capital ships and carriers. Battleships and aircraft carriers are set at a ratio of 5:5:3 for the navies of Great Britain, the United States and Japan. Japan's Plenipotentiary at the conference is her Minister of the Navy, Admiral (later Fleet Admiral/Prime Minister), the Baron, Kato Tomosaburo.
4 July 1922:
Arrives at Chinhe, Korea.
30 August 1922:
Departs Sasebo and operates off St. Vladimir.
10 September 1922:
Arrives at Otaru.
10 November 1922:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Yokochi Jôji assumes command.
1 December 1922:
Attached to BatDiv 4, Second Fleet.
18 February 1923:
Departs Kure and operates in the South Seas.
15 March 1923:
Arrives at Sasebo.
25 August 1923:
Departs Yokosuka and operates off China.
5 September 1923:
Arrived Kure.
1 December 1923:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Nakajima Susumu assumes command.
1 December 1924:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Murase Teijirô assumes command.
16 June 1925:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Tachi Meijirô assumes command.
29 March 1926:
Departs Tokuyama and operates off Tsingtao and Weihaiwei, China.
9 April 1926:
Arrives at Lushun, China.
20 August 1926:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Okamoto Ikuo assumes command.
27 March 1927:
Departs Saiki and operates off Amoy, China.
5 April 1927:
Arrives at Magong, China.
29 July 1927:
Crown Prince (later Emperor) Hirohito's (Showa) younger brother Prince Nobuhito Takamatsu, a SubLt (later Captain) and graduate of the Etajima Naval Academy, takes up duty aboard HIEI.
1 December 1927:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Ôno Hiroshi assumes command.
29 March 1928:
Departs Ariake Bay and operates off Tsingtao and Qinhuangdao,China.
9 April 1928:
Arrives at Lushun.
4 December 1928:
Off Yokohama. Participates in the Emperor's (Showa) Naval Review
10 December 1928:
Captain (later Admiral) Shimada Shigetarô assumes command.
28 March 1929:
Departs Cheefoo, China.
3 April 1929:
Arrives at Lushun.
15 October 1929: First Reconstruction:
Kure Navy Yard. HIEI is demilitarized and converted to a training ship to avoid having to be scrapped under the limitations imposed by the Washington Naval Treaty. Her aft 14-inch turret and four torpedo tubes are removed. Her armor belt and all of the her 6-inch guns are removed. Twenty-five of her 36 Yarrow boilers are removed. Her speed is reduced to 18 knots. The number of her funnels is reduced from three to two. All of her demilitarized equpment and armament is preserved and carefully stored.
30 November 1929:
Rerated a Reserve ship. Captain Ishii Jirô assumes command.
22 April 1930: The London Treaty:
London. The Treaty for the Limitation and Reduction of Naval Armament is signed by Japan, Great Britain and the United States. It is an extension of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. The signatories agree not to build new capital ships until 1937. A number of existing capital ships are to be scrapped.
24 April 1930:
Reconstruction is stopped because of the London Treaty.
25 April 1930:
Preservation work is started.
1 December 1930:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Wada Senzô assumes command.
31 March 1931:
Preservation work ends.
1 July 1931:
Kure Navy Yard. Reconstruction and restoration work begin again.
September 1931: The Manchurian Incident:
Manchuria. Japan claims Chinese soldiers sabotaged the Japanese-controlled Manchurian railway. The Japanese Kwantung army attacks the Chinese Army and soon conquer all of Manchuria. They set up the puppet state of Manchukuo headed by the former Emperor of China, Henry Pu-Yi. China appeals to the League of Nations. The League sends V. A. G. R. Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton, to Manchuria to lead a Commission to investigate.
1 November 1931:
The HIEI is transferred from Sasebo Naval Station to Yokosuka Naval Station.
10 May 1932:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Tange Kunji assumes command.
1 December 1932:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Maeda Masaichi assumes command.
31 December 1932:
Reconstruction is completed.
1 January 1933:
Training ship.
23 February 1933:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Sata Kenichi assumes command.
25 February 1933:
Geneva, Switzerland. The League of Nations. The Lytton Commission reports that Japan violated Chinese sovereignty and should return Manchuria to China. At a Special Assembly, 40 nations vote that Japan should withdraw. Only Japan votes against it. Instead of returning Manchuria, Japan instructs its representative Yosuke Matsuoka (later Foreign Minister), to walk out of the League. After withdrawing from the League, Japan also decides that she will no longer abide by restrictions such as the Washington of 1922 and the London Treaty of 1930 that impose limitations on the number and size of her warships.
31 May 1933
Yokosuka Navy Yard. Work commences to refit HIEI as the Imperial service ship.
20 July 1933
Work is completed.
31 July 1933
Departs Futami and operates in the South Sea.
13 August 1933
Arrives at Yokosuka.
16 August 1933
Assigned as the supervising ship of the Special Grand Maneuvers and the Imperial Naval Review.
15 November 1933
Captain (later Admiral) Inoue Shigeyoshi assumes command.
26 January 1934:
Yokosuka Navy Yard. Reconstruction of the main armament shell room begins and ballast is loaded into No. 4 turret.
31 March 1935:
Work is completed.
1 August 1935:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Ôkawachi Denshichi assumes command.
6 November 1935:
The HIEI is assigned to the Emperor (Showa) for the Imperial visit to Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures.
21 November 1935:
The Imperial visits are completed.
1 April 1936:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Inagaki Ayao assumes command.
20 October 1936:
The HIEI is assigned as the supervising ship for the Grand Maneuvers.
1 December 1936:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Ochi Kôhei assumes command.
1 April 1937: Second Reconstruction:
Kure. Unfettered by the Washington and London Treaties' restrictions, the IJN decides to remilitarize HlEI and transform her into a fast battleship capable of escorting the IJN's fleet carriers. She receives 11 new oil-fired Kampon boilers and new geared turbines. Her speed is increased to 30 knots. Her aft 14-inch turret is refitted and a new fire-control is installed.
The thickness of the horizontal armor over HlEI’s magazines and machinery spaces is increased. Torpedo-bulges are added to her hull. The elevation of her 14-inch guns is increased to 43 degrees. Her stern is lengthened by 26-feet. She receives a new bridge structure that is a prototype for the YAMATO-class then under design. A catapult and rails for three Nakajima E8N1 Type 95 ("Dave") and Kawanishi E7K1 Type 94 ("Alf") floatplanes are installed aft of her No. 3 turret.
1 December 1937:
Captain (later RearAdmiral) Aoyagi Muneshige assumes command.
15 November 1938:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Hiraoka Kumeichi assumes command.
15 November 1939:
Kure. Captain (later Vice Admiral) Abe Koso (former CO of MYOKO) assumes command of HIEI.
31 January 1940:
Kure. HlEI’s second reconstruction is completed. She is re-rated a battleship.
11 October 1940: Imperial Naval Review:
Yokohama. Seventy to 80 warships are spread across Tokyo Bay. Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku (former CO of AKAGI), the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, welcomes the Emperor Hirohito (Showa) aboard Captain Koso's HIEI for the Emperor's annual review of the fleet. The HIEI, escorted by the cruisers TAKAO, KAKO and FURUTAKA, then passes among the fleet's ships.
15 October 1940:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Arima Kaoru (former CO of KUMANO) assumes command of HIEI from Captain Abe who is reassigned to the Yokosuka Naval District.
15 November 1940:
Attached to BatDiv 3, First Fleet.
3 February 1941:
Departs Kôchi.
4 February 1941:
Arrives at Komatsujima.
13 February 1941:
Departs.
20 February 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
24 February 1941:
Departs.
1 March 1941:
Arrives at Sanduao, China.
2 March 1941:
Departs.
3 March 1941:
Arrives at Magong.
7 March 1941:
Departs.
11 March 1941:
Arrives at Ariake Bay.
28 March 1941:
Departs.
30 March 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
25 April 1941:
Departs.
26 April 1941:
Arrives at Sukumo Bay.
3 June 1941:
Departs.
4 June 1941:
Arrives at Yotsukaichi.
18 June 1941:
Departs.
19 June 1941:
Arrives at Sukumo Bay.
22 June 1941:
Departs.
23 June 1941:
Arrives at Ariake Bay.
27 June 1941:
Departs.
30 June 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
8 July 1941:
Departs.
11 July 1941:
Arrives at Ariake Bay.
16 July 1941:
Departs.
17 July 1941:
Arrives at Komatsujima.
20 July 1941:
Departs and arrives at Sukumo Bay.
27 July 1941:
Departs.
28 July 1941:
Arrives at Beppu Bay.
1 August 1941:
Departs.
2 August 1941:
Arrives at Saeki.
21 August 1941:
Departs Saeki and arrives at Hashirajima.
1 September 1941:
Departs Hashirajima.
4 September 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

10 September 1941:
Captain Nishida Masao (former CO of TONE) assumes command of HIEI from Captain Arima who is reassigned as the Equipping Officer (later CO) of MUSASHI under construction at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding at Nagasaki.

HIEI is assigned to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Takasu Shiro's (former CO of 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 HARUNA, KONGO and KIRISHIMA.
1 October 1941:
Departs.
2 October 1941:
Arrives at Murozumi.
6 October 1941:
Departs.
7 October 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
21 October 1941:
Departs.
22 October 1941:
Arrives at Saeki.
11 November 1941:
Departs.
12 November 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Prepares for the Hawaii operation.

18 November 1941:
Departs Kisarazu Naval Base on Tokyo Bay

22 November 1941:
Arrives at Hitokappu (Tankan) Bay, Etorofu Island, Kuriles.

26 November 1941: Operation "Z":
BatDiv 3, Section 1's HIEI and KIRISHIMA departs the Kuriles with Vice Admiral Mikawa's Support Force: CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA, DesRon 1's light cruiser ABUKUMA and her destroyers and Supply Groups Nos. 1 and 2. Mikawa's Force accompanies Vice Admiral (Admiral, posthumously) Nagumo Chuichi's (former CO of YAMASHIRO) First Air Fleet Striking Force ("Kido Butai"): CarDiv 1's AKAGI and KAGA, CarDiv 2's HIRYU and SORYU and CarDiv 5's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU.

HIEI serves as the task force's communications center, but to prevent accidental signals HIEI's radio transmission equipment is dismantled. HIEI and her sister 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. 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).*

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-44) and damage 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 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 destroyers URAKAZE and TANIKAZE detach from the Striking and Support forces to participate in the second invasion.

23 December 1941:
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's 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.

27 January 1942:
Returns to Truk. CarDiv 5's SHOKAKU is detached for Japan.

1 February 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 (former CO of SARATOGA, CV-3) Task Force 8 (ENTERPRISE, CV-6) and Rear Admiral (MOH '14/later Admiral) Frank J. Fletcher's (former CO of VERMONT, BB-20) Task Force 17 (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 is detached via Truk for Japan to join 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's HIRYU and SORYU, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and TONE, DesRon 1's light cruiser ABUKUMA with DesDiv 17's URAKAZE, ISOKAZE, TANIKAZE and HAMAKAZE and DesDiv 18's KASUMI, SHIRANUHI and 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-40E "Warhawk" 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) 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 (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake (former CO of KONGO) also arrives from Palau with BatDiv 3/2's KONGO and HARUNA, CruDiv 4's ATAGO, MAYA and 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:
250 miles SSE of Christmas Island. The TONE spots Lt J. J. Nix's EDSALL (DD-219) 15 miles to the NW. At 1730, CHIKUMA opens fire with her 8-inch guns at the extremely long range of 11 miles. All of her shots miss. EDSALL, damaged earlier by one of her depth charges while attacking a submarine, lays down a smokescreen and begins evasive maneuvers.
At 1747, HIEI and KIRISHIMA open fire with their 14-inch guns at a range of 14.5 miles. All of their shots also miss. At 1756, Lt Nix turns his ship directly toward CHIKUMA and closes the range so as to fire his 4-inch guns, but his shots fall short. At 1800, CHIKUMA ceases firing when she enters a rain squall.
During the engagement, 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. Finally, at 1824, HIEI scores a direct hit on EDSALL, followed by another from TONE at 1835.
An air strike on EDSALL by the nearby Carrier Striking Force is requested. The SORYU launches nine D3A "Val" dive bombers and AKAGI launches eight. Between 1827 and 1850 they hit the EDSALL with 550-lb and 1,100 -lb. bombs and set her afire. She goes dead in the water. CHIKUMA moves in and destroys stationary EDSALL with her secondary armament. At 1900 hours, the battered old destroyer sinks by the stern at 13-45S, 106-47E.

11 March 1942:
Bat Div 3 returns to Staring Bay after the surrender of the Dutch East Indies. BatDiv 3 refuels, then assumes 'standby alert'. After more than three months of continuous operations, the crews are allowed some rest and relaxation.

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's SORYU and HIRYU, CarDiv 5's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU, CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA, Supply Units Nos. 1 and 2, DesRon 1's light cruiser ABUKUMA and her 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 destroyer HMS TENEDOS and armed merchant cruiser HMS HECTOR. Five hundred sailors are killed.
A floatplane from TONE finds Vice Admiral (later Admiral of the Fleet, Sir) James Somerville's (former CO of NORFOLK) British Eastern Fleet's cruisers HMS CORNWALL and DORSETSHIRE at sea - without air cover. Between 1338-1400, 88 aircraft from AKAGI, HIRYU and 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. HARUNA launches a "Dave" floatplane that spots an enemy carrier 65 miles south of the base.
The fleet swings through 180°, turning SE. At 0900, the Striking Force launches 90 aircraft that sink old light carrier HMS HERMES and Australian destroyer HMAS VAMPIRE. Nagumo's aircraft also find and sink corvette HMS HOLLYHOCK, depot ship HMS ATHELSTANE and oiler BRITISH SERGEANT.

During the day, nine of the Royal Air Force’s No. 11 Squadron’s Bristol "Blenheim" bombers attack KONGO, but score no hits and lose five of their number to Nagumo's Combat Air Patrol’s "Zekes". BatDiv3 and the Striking Force continue heading SE.
10 April 1942:
About midnight, the fleet changes course to the NE. During the next 36 hours, BatDiv 3 and the Striking Force gradually bear southwards again and pass through the Andaman Sea entering the Straits of Malacca
13 April 1942:
By nightfall, the fleet passes Singapore and enters the South China Sea, bound for Japan.
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's KONGO and HIEI, CruDiv 4/1's ATAGO and CHOKAI, CruDiv 5's MYOKO and HAGURO and DesRon 4's light cruiser YURA with her seven destroyers.

6 June 1942: Operation "AL" - The Invasion of the Aleutians:
At 2330, Yamamoto orders Bat Div 3/1, CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA, light carrier ZUIHO, seaplane tender KAMIKAWA MARU, DesDiv 4's ARASHI, NOWAKI, HAGIKAZE and MAIKAZE, DesDiv 10's MAKIGUMO, KAZAGUMO and YUGUMO, SubRon 2 and SubDiv 13 to detach from the Second Fleet and proceed northward to join join Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kakuta Kakuji's (former CO of YAMASHIRO) Second Mobile Force's carriers JUNYO and RYUJO later reinforced by ZUIKAKU. They patrol 600 miles SW of Kiska in anticipation of an American counter-attack that does not materialize.

9 June 1942:
Bat Div 3/1 is reassigned to Hosogaya's Northern Force, Support Group.

24 June 1942:
Bat Div 3/1 arrives at Sendai Bay.

28 June 1942:
Departs Sendai Bay.

10 July 1942:
Bat Div 3/1 is reassigned to the Second Fleet.

11 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka. HIEI is refit and drydocked. She remains at Yokosuka for a month.

14 July 1942: HIEI (F) and KIRISHIMA are reassigned from the First Fleet to Vice Admiral Nagumo's Third Fleet in Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Abe Hiroaki's (former CO of FUSO) new BatDiv 11.

16 August 1942:
Departs Yokosuka towards Truk with a task group: CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU, CarDiv 2's light carrier RYUJO, BatDiv 11, CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA, DesRon 10's 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's KUMANO and SUZUYA, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and Desron 10. 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 ENTERPRISE (CV-6) which is hit by three bombs but is not sunk. Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" bomb CarDiv 1. SHOKAKU is slightly damaged by bomb fragments. 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 oiler TATEKAWA MARU.

10 September 1942:
BatDiv 11 sorties from Truk with Vice Admiral Nagumo's Third Fleet: CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO, CruDiv 7's KUMANO and SUZUYA, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA, DesRon 10's light cruiser NAGARA and 11 destroyers. The Third Fleet accompanies Vice Admiral Kondo's Second Fleet: Bat Div 3's KONGO and HARUNA, CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO and MAYA, CruDiv 5's HAGURO and 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. Maintains standby alert.

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's TONE and CHIKUMA, DesRon 10's 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 and JUNYO and destroyers HAYASHIO and KUROSHIO. Abe and Kakuta's forces are followed by Nagumo's Carrier Strike Force, Main Body: CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO, CruDiv 7's KUMANO and eight destroyers.

12 October 1942:
East of the Solomon Islands. BatDiv 11's HIEI and KIRISHIMA and the Second and Third Fleets take up position to provide distant cover for Vice Admiral Kurita Takeo's (former CO of KONGO) BatDiv 3's KONGO and 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 KONGO and 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. 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 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 SBD "Dauntless" dive-bombers of Air Group 10 from 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 ZUIKAKU.

The Vanguard Force is attacked by dive-bombers and torpedo planes from ENTERPRISE and HORNET (CV-8). Three SDB dive-bombers attack KIRISHIMA. She is not damaged, but several 1,000-lb. bombs hit CHIKUMA.

Nagumo and Kakuta launch air attacks that mortally damage HORNET. They also damage ENTERPRISE and light anti-aircraft cruiser SAN JUAN (CLAA-54). A 550-lb bomb hits new battleship 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.

30 October 1942:
The Vanguard Force returns to Truk, then maintains 'standby alert'.

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. Vice Admiral Kondo, Commander of the Second Fleet, is appointed the Deputy Commander of the Combined Fleet.

9 November 1942:
Departs Truk.

10 November 1942:
BatDiv 11 and DesDiv 27's SHIGURE, SHIRATSUYU and YUGURE depart the Shortland anchorage off Bougainville to execute Vice Admiral Kondo's planned landing of 14,500 men, heavy weapons and supplies of the IJA's 38th "Hiroshima" Infantry Division and the 8th Special Naval Landing Force on Guadalcanal. The twelve destroyers of Rear Admiral (later Vice 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, BatDiv 11 is joined by Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kimura Susumu's (former CO of HARUNA) DesRon 10's light cruiser NAGARA (F) and the destroyers AKATSUKI, AMATSUKAZE, IKAZUCHI, INAZUMA, TERUZUKI and YUKIKAZE that arrive from Truk

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 (later Vice Admiral) Takama Tamotsu's (former CO of HARUNA) DesRon 4 sweeping unit: ASAGUMO (F), HARUSAME, MURASAME, SAMIDARE and the YUDACHI. Abe orders the destroyers to form a tight double half-ring formation as an anti-submarine measure. NAGARA follows with BatDiv 11 in column behind. The force proceeds south down the "Slot" at 18 knots.

HIEI catapults an E8N2 "Dave" reconnaissance floatplane. A heavy rainstorm 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 HIEI because of the blinding rain, but lands safely at Bougainville.

13 November 1942:The First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal:
0000: Abe orders his force to reverse course and slow to 12 knots because of the weather.
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 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: HIEI and 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: Destroyer LAFFEY (DD-459) launches five torpedoes at HIEI. Destroyer CUSHING (DD-376) also launches six torpedoes at HIEI. One torpedo hits HIEI, but fails to explode. The others either miss or are too close to arm and fail to explode. Vice Admiral Abe and skipper Captain Nishida are wounded and Chief of Staff, Captain Suzuki Masakane, killed when HIEI's bridge is machine-gunned by LAFFEY. Then HIEI sinks the LAFFEY.

During the battle, 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 HIEI and claims two hits. HIEI's fire control systems for her main and secondary batteries are knocked out and her superstructure is set afire.

Abe's force sinks ATLANTA and kills Rear Admiral Norman Scott. Destroyers CUSHING, MONSSEN, (DD-436) and BARTON (DD-599) are also sunk. KIRISHIMA damages the SAN FRANCISCO and kills her skipper Captain Cassin Young (MOH at Pearl Harbor) and Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan (a former naval aide to President Roosevelt), Commander, Task Group 67.4. Both Callaghan and Scott are awarded Medals of Honor (MOH) posthumously.

PORTLAND, light cruisers HELENA (CL-50) and JUNEAU (CL-52) and destroyer STERETT are also damaged by the Japanese. Later, JUNEAU, retiring towards Espiritu Santo, is sunk by submarine I-26.

The Americans sink the destroyers AKATSUKI and the YUDACHI and damage AMATSUKAZE, IKAZUCHI and MURASAME.

0154: Abe orders KIRISHIMA to detach from HIEI and head northward.

0200: Abe abandons his bombardment mission and withdraws from battle.

During the night, KIRISHIMA takes HIEI in tow and retires westward around Savo Island with the NAGARA and DesRon 10's destroyers. HIEI's aft steering compartment floods and her port rudder jams in the "full starboard" position.

0610: HIEI's spotters sight damaged destroyer USS AARON WARD (DD-483) 14 miles away under tow by tug BOBOLINK. HIEI fires several 14-inch shells but does not hit the WARD.

0615: HIEI, unsteerable and circling at 5 knots, is attacked repeatedly by Marine Grumman TBF "Avenger" torpedo planes of VMSB-131 from Henderson Field and TBFs and Douglas SBD "Dauntless" dive-bombers from the USS ENTERPRISE (CV-2). HIEI uses "sanshiki-dan" AA shells to fire on the attacking aircraft. HIEI is hit by 1, 000-lb bombs and torpedoes and takes on more water.

0815: Vice Admiral Abe signals KIRISHIMA to tow HIEI to Shortland that night and orders the rest of the Attack Force to retire. Then he transfers his flag to 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 HIEI beached at Camimbo, Guadalcanal.

1120: Six Marine SBD dive-bombers from VMSB-132 at Henderson Field attack HIEI. Three 1,000-lb bombs hit her.

1130: HIEI is attacked by four TBF torpedo planes from USS SARATOGA's (CV-3) Torpedo Squadron 8 and by two Marine TBFs from VMSB-131 at Henderson Field. Two torpedoes hit HIEI - one amidships and one on the port bow.

1235: Captain Nishida, rather than following Abe's beaching order, instead tries to save HIEI. Later, Abe cancels the order, but orders Nishida to send HIEI's crew off.

1435: The HIEI is attacked by four TBF torpedo planes from ENTERPRISE. One torpedo hits HIEI amidships on the starboard side and another hits her in the stern and floods 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 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 HIEI, but the message is received too late.

1900-0100: 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 HIEI.

20 December 1942:
Vice Admiral Abe is reassigned to the Naval General Staff. Captain Nishida is placed on the Reserve List. BatDiv 11 is deactivated and HIEI is removed from the Navy List.**

Authors' Notes:
*Mt. Niitaka, located in Formosa (now Taiwan), was then the highest point in the Japanese Empire.
**Vice Admiral Abe retires on 20 March 1943. Captain Nishida is later recalled and serves as the Commander of the 256th and 951st NAGs, but he is not promoted and never again serves on a warship.
Readers interested in further information on the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal should see "Death of Battleship HIEI: Sunk by Gunfire or Air Attack?"
Special thanks for researching IJN material related to the pre-World War II activities of HIEI contained in this major revision of her TROM go to Lars Ahlberg of Sweden.
Thanks for assistance in identifying the IJN officers mentioned in this TROM go to Yutaka Iwasaki and Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan, Jean-François Masson of Canada, Matthew Jones of the United States and Lars Ahlberg.
– Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.

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