Japanese battleship Haruna
Haruna in 1934, following her second reconstruction
| |
History | |
---|---|
Japan | |
Name | Haruna |
Namesake | Mount Haruna |
Ordered | 1911 |
Builder | Kawasaki Shipyards |
Laid down | 16 March 1912 |
Launched | 14 December 1913 |
Commissioned | 19 April 1915 |
Fate | Sunk at her moorings on 28 July 1945; raised and scrapped in 1946[1] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Kongō-class battlecruiser |
Displacement | 36,600 long tons (37,187 t) |
Length | 222 m (728 ft 4 in)[1] |
Beam | 31 m (101 ft 8 in)[1] |
Draft | 9.7 m (31 ft 10 in) |
Installed power | 64,000 kW ) |
Propulsion | |
Speed | |
Complement | 1,360[1] |
Armament |
|
Armor | |
Aircraft carried | 3 × reconnaissance floatplanes[3] |
Notes | Unless otherwise noted, all statistics apply to after the second reconstruction. |
Haruna (榛名) was a warship of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War I and World War II. Designed by the British naval engineer George Thurston and named after Mount Haruna, she was the fourth and last battlecruiser of the Kongō class, amongst the most heavily armed ships in any navy when built. Laid down in 1912 at the Kawasaki Shipyards in Kobe, Haruna was formally commissioned in 1915 on the same day as her sister ship, Kirishima. Haruna patrolled off the Chinese coast during World War I. During gunnery drills in 1920, an explosion destroyed one of her guns, damaged the gun turret, and killed seven men.
During her career, Haruna underwent two major reconstructions. Beginning in 1926, the Imperial Japanese Navy rebuilt her as a
Haruna fought in almost every major naval action of the
In 1945, Haruna was transferred to
Design and construction
Haruna was the fourth and last of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Kongō-class battlecruisers, a line of capital ships designed by the British naval engineer George Thurston.[3] The class was ordered in 1910 in the Japanese Emergency Naval Expansion Bill after the commissioning of HMS Invincible in 1908.[5] The four battlecruisers of the Kongo class were designed to match the naval capabilities of the other major powers at the time; they have been called the battlecruiser versions of the British (formerly Turkish) battleship HMS Erin.[1][2] Their heavy armament and armor protection (which contributed 23.3 percent of their displacement) were greatly superior to those of any other Japanese capital ship afloat at the time.[1][2]
The
Armament
Haruna's main battery consisted of eight 14 in (36 cm) heavy-caliber main guns in four twin turrets (two forward, two aft).[3] The turrets were noted by the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence to be "similar to the British 15-inch turrets",[6] with improvements made in flash-tightness. Each of her main guns could fire high-explosive or armor-piercing shells a maximum of 38,770 yd (19.14 nmi; 35.45 km) at a firing rate of two shells per minute.[7] In keeping with the Japanese doctrine of deploying more powerful vessels before their opponents, Haruna and her sister ships were the first vessels in the world equipped with 14 in (36 cm) guns.[8] The main guns carried ammunition for 90 salvoes, and had an approximate barrel life of 250 to 280 rounds.[6] In 1941, separate dyes (used to distinguish between shells fired from multiple ships) were introduced for the armor-piercing shells of the four Kongo-class battleships, with Haruna's armor-piercing shells using black dye.[6]
Her
Operational history
1915–1926: Battlecruiser
On 19 April 1915, Haruna was formally commissioned at Kobe. On 13 December 1915, after eight months of trials, she was assigned to the 3rd Battleship Division of the
On 12 September 1920, Haruna was involved in gunnery drills off
With the conclusion of World War I and the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty, the size of the Imperial Japanese Navy was significantly lessened, with a ratio of 5:5:3 required between the capital ships of the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan.[11] The treaty also banned Japan from building any new capital ships until 1931, with no capital ship permitted to exceed 35,000 long tons (35,562 t).[12] Provided that new additions did not exceed 3,000 long tons (3,048 t), existing capital ships were allowed to be upgraded with improved anti-torpedo bulges and deck armor.[12] By the time the Washington Treaty had been fully implemented in Japan, only three classes of World War I-era capital ships remained active: the Ise-class battleships, the Kongō-class battlecruisers, and one of the Fusō-class battleships (Yamashiro).[13]
1926–1933: Reconstruction into battleship
Unable to construct new capital ships until 1931, Japan resorted to upgrading battleships and battlecruisers. In July 1926, Haruna became the first of Japan's vessels to undergo extensive modernization and modification, in drydock at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal.[1] Over the next two years, her horizontal armor near her ammunition magazines was strengthened, and the machinery spaces within the hull were increased.[5] Anti-torpedo bulges were added along the waterline, as permitted by the Washington Treaty.[1] She was refitted to accommodate three Type 90 Model 0 floatplanes.[5] To increase her speed and power capacities, all 36 Yarrow boilers were removed and replaced with 16 newer boilers, and Brown-Curtis direct-drive turbines were installed.[1] Haruna's forward funnel was removed, and her second funnel was enlarged and lengthened. The modifications to her hull increased her armor weight from 6,502 to 10,313 long tons, directly violating the terms of the Washington Treaty.[1] In July 1928, Haruna—now capable of speeds of 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph)—was reclassified as a battleship.[4]
Following new sea trials, Haruna was assigned on 10 December 1928 to the 4th Battleship Division of the 2nd Fleet as the Emperor's special ship.
On 22 April 1930, Japan signed the
In September 1931, Japan
1933–1941: Fast battleship
Haruna was reactivated and assigned to the 1st Battleship Division on 20 May 1933.[5] However, on 1 August 1933, Haruna was drydocked at Kure Naval Arsenal in preparation for upgrades that would enable her to escort Japan's growing fleet of aircraft carriers.[5] Her stern was lengthened by 26 ft (7.9 m), and her bridge was completely reconstructed according to Japan's pagoda mast style of forward superstructure.[4] Her 16 older boilers were removed and replaced with 11 oil-fired Kampon Boilers and newer geared turbines.[1] Catapults and rails were added to support three Nakajima E8N or Kawanishi E7K reconnaissance and spotter floatplanes.[16]
Haruna's armor was also extensively upgraded. Her main belt was strengthened to a uniform thickness of 8 inches (up from varying thicknesses of 6 to 8 inches), while diagonal bulkheads of depths ranging from 5 to 8 in (127 to 203 mm) now reinforced the main armored belt.[17] The turret armor was strengthened to 10 inches (254 mm), while 4 in (102 mm) were added to portions of the deck armor.[17] Her ammunition magazine protection was also strengthened to 4.0 inches (10 cm).[1] The reconstruction was finished on 30 September 1934.[2] Capable of more than 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) despite the significant increase in hull displacement, Haruna was now reclassified as a fast battleship.[4]
On 28 October 1935, Captain Jisaburō Ozawa assumed command of Haruna. On 1 June 1936, she was assigned to the 3rd Battleship Division of the 1st Fleet.[5] Throughout 1937, Haruna conducted extensive gunnery drills and patrols off the coast of China, primarily in the vicinity of Qingdao. On 7 July 1937, Japan officially declared war on China, thus beginning the Sino-Japanese War.[18] One month later, Haruna transported Japanese Army forces to mainland China in preparation for campaigns into Chinese Nationalist territory. On 1 December 1937, she was again placed in reserve.[5] On 2 April 1940, she was transferred from Sasebo to Taiwan. She was redesignated as a "special service ship" on 15 November 1940, and five months later was attached to the 3rd Battleship Division of the 1st Fleet, based in Hashirajima.[5]
1941–1942: Early war service
Haruna and Kongō departed the
On 11 December 1941, an erroneous report was published in the U.S. media that an American B-17 heavy bomber had bombed and mortally damaged Haruna during battle off Lingayen Gulf off the Philippines. No Japanese battleships were present, and Haruna was 1,500 nmi (2,800 km; 1,700 mi) away in the Gulf of Siam at the time.[21][22]
On 18 January 1942, Kondō's Main Force arrived in
On 29 May 1942, Haruna joined her sister ship Kirishima as part of Vice-Admiral Chūichi Nagumo's carrier strike force during the Battle of Midway.[25] On 4 June, she was attacked in multiple airstrikes by American torpedo bombers, but she took no hits and succeeded in shooting down five American aircraft.[5] On 5 June, she took on survivors from the four destroyed Japanese aircraft carriers before returning to Japan.[19] She remained in Japan until September 1942, undergoing minor refits in August of that year.[1] On 6 September, Haruna transferred to Truk Lagoon alongside the rest of the 3rd Battleship Division, and on 10 September the ship sortied as part of Admiral Kondō's 2nd Fleet into the Solomon Islands.[26] On 20 September, the fleet was ordered to return to Truk.
In the aftermath of the Battle of Cape Esperance, the Japanese Army opted to reinforce their positions on Guadalcanal. To protect their transport convoy from enemy air attack, Admiral Yamamoto sent Haruna and Kongō, escorted by one light cruiser and nine destroyers, to bombard Henderson Field. Because of their high speed, the two battleships could bombard the field and withdraw before being subjected to air attack from aircraft carriers.[27] On the night of 13–14 October, the two battleships shelled Henderson Field from a distance of 16,000 yards (15,000 m), firing 973 14-inch shells. In the most successful Japanese battleship action of the war,[19] the bombardment heavily damaged both runways, destroyed almost all available aviation fuel, incapacitated 48 of the airfield's 90 aircraft, and killed 41 men.[28] The Japanese troop convoy reached the island the next day.[27]
During the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942, Haruna was attacked by a PBY Catalina flying boat but received no damage. In mid-November, the battleship and other warships provided distant cover for the ultimately unsuccessful efforts to bombard Henderson Field again and land reinforcements on Guadalcanal. On 15 November 1942, following the Japanese defeat and loss of Hiei and Kirishima during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, the 3rd Battleship Division returned to Truk, where it remained for the rest of 1942.[5]
1943: Movement between bases
Haruna engaged no enemy targets during 1943.[1] In late January 1943, she participated in "Operation Ke", as part of a diversionary force and distant cover supporting Japanese destroyers that were evacuating personnel from Guadalcanal.[29] During 15–20 February 1943, the 3rd Battleship Division transferred from Truk to Kure Naval Base. From 23 February to 31 March 1943, Haruna was drydocked in Kure Naval Arsenal for upgrades, receiving additional Type 96 25 mm (0.98 in) antiaircraft guns and armor. On 17 May 1943, in response to the American invasion of Attu Island, Haruna sortied alongside Musashi, the 3rd Battleship Division, two fleet carriers, two cruisers and nine destroyers. Three days later, the submarine USS Sawfish discovered the task group, but was unable to attack. On 22 May 1943, the task force arrived in Yokosuka, where it was joined by an additional three fleet carriers and two light cruisers; the force was disbanded when Attu fell before the necessary preparations were finished. Throughout June 1943, Haruna was refitted at Yokosuka. On 18 September 1943, Haruna left Truk as part of a counterattack force in response to American raids on the Brown Islands in Micronesia, but no contact was made and the ship returned to the base.[5]
On 17 October 1943, Haruna again left Truk as part of an even larger force—five battleships, three fleet carriers, eight heavy cruisers, three light cruisers and numerous destroyers—in response to American raids on Wake Island. When no contact was made the force returned to Truk on 26 October 1943. On 16 December 1943, she arrived at Sasebo for refits and inland-sea training.[1]
1944: Final combat actions
On 25 January 1944, Captain Kazu Shigenaga assumed command of Haruna while the ship was stationed at Kure. The 3rd Battleship Division departed Kure on 8 March 1944. Arriving at Lingga on 14 March 1944, the division remained for training until 11 May 1944.[5] On 11 May 1944, Haruna and Admiral Ozawa's Mobile Fleet departed Lingga for Tawi-Tawi, where they were joined by Vice-Admiral Takeo Kurita's "Force C". On 13 June, Ozawa's Mobile Fleet departed Tawitawi for the Mariana Islands.[30] During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Haruna escorted Japanese fast carriers, and was hit by two 500 lb (230 kg) armor-piercing bombs on 20 June 1944 from U.S. carrier aircraft.[31] On 24 June, she was drydocked in Kure for repairs and refitting. In August 1944 she transferred to Lingga.[5]
In October 1944, Haruna departed Lingga in preparation for "Operation Sho-1", Japan's counterattack during the
Following the Japanese Navy's defeat at Leyte Gulf, Haruna returned to Brunei and Lingga for repairs. On 22 November 1944, she ran aground on a coral reef near Lingga, suffering serious damage to her watertight compartments and forcing her to return to Sasebo, where the hull was patched and repaired.[5] On 2 December 1944, while returning to Japan from Southeast Asia as part of a task group, she evaded torpedoes fired by an American submarine. On 9 December, three more American submarines intercepted the task group; USS Sea Devil, Plaice, and Redfish damaged the carrier Junyō and multiple destroyers with torpedoes. Unharmed, Haruna arrived at Sasebo the following day. At the end of 1944, she transferred to Kure for full repairs and upgrading, having survived a year in which four other Japanese battleships had been lost.[34]
1945: Loss
On 1 January 1945, Haruna was removed from the deactivated 3rd Battleship Division and transferred to the 1st Battleship Division of the 2nd Fleet. On 10 February, Haruna was assigned to the
On 24 July 1945, the U.S. Navy's
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Haruna's fitting-out at Kôbe in October 1914
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Haruna at her moorings near Kure, Japan, under attack by U.S. Navy carrier aircraft, 28 July 1945
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Under attack by U.S. Navy carrier aircraft, 28 July 1945 at close range.
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Haruna sunken at her moorings, 8 October 1945
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Wreck of Haruna partially scrapped, with her superstructure and guns removed, 19 May 1947
Explanatory notes
- ^ The Emperor's Special Ship was designated as his official means of naval transport throughout the Japanese Empire.
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Jackson (2008), p. 27.
- ^ a b c d e f g Gardiner and Gray (1980), p. 234.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Parshall, Jon; Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp, & Allyn Nevitt (2010). "Combined Fleet – Kongo class battle cruiser". Retrieved 11 February 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h Stille, p. 16.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Parshall, Jon; Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp, & Allyn Nevitt (2010). "Combined Fleet – tabular history of Haruna". Retrieved 11 February 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c DiGiulian, Tony (2009). "Japanese 14"/45 (35.6 cm) 41st Year Type". Navweaps.com. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
- ^ Parshall, Jon; Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp, & Allyn Nevitt (2010). "Combined Fleet – 14"/45 Naval Gun". Retrieved 11 February 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Jackson (2000), p. 48.
- ^ DiGiulian, Tony (2010). "Japanese 6"/50". Navweaps.com. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
- ^ a b DiGiulian, Tony (2008). "Japanese 5"/40". Navweaps.com. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
- ^ Jackson (2000), p. 67.
- ^ a b Jackson (2000), p. 68.
- ^ Jackson (2000), p. 69.
- ^ a b c Jackson (2000), p. 72.
- ^ Willmott (2002), p. 35.
- ^ Stille, p. 18.
- ^ a b McCurtie, p. 185.
- ^ Willmott (2002), p. 23–24.
- ^ a b c d Stille, p. 19.
- ^ Willmott (2002), p. 56.
- John Toland, The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936–1945, Random House NY, 1970. pp. 307–308
- Plainfield Courier-News. 11 December 1941. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ Boyle (1998), p. 368.
- ^ a b Boyle (1998), p. 370.
- ^ Willmott (2002), p. 93.
- ^ Willmott (2002), p. 100.
- ^ a b Schom, p. 382.
- ^ Swanston, p. 220.
- ^ Swanston, p. 223.
- ^ Willmott (2002), p. 141.
- ^ Swanston, p. 352.
- ^ Steinberg (1980), p. 49.
- ^ Boyle (1998), p. 508.
- ^ Jackson (2000), p. 127.
- ^ a b Reynolds (1982), p. 160.
- ^ Reynolds (1968), p. 338.
- ^ Jackson (2000), p. 128.
- ^ a b Jackson (2000), p. 129.
- ^ a b Stille, p. 20.
General references
- Boyle, David (1998). World War II in Photographs. London. Rebo Productions. ISBN 1-84053-089-8
- Jackson, Robert (2000). The World's Great Battleships. Brown Books. ISBN 1-897884-60-5
- Jackson, Robert (editor) (2008). 101 Great Warships. London: Amber Books. ISBN 978-1-905704-72-9
- Lengerer, Hans & Ahlberg, Lars (2019). Capital Ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1868–1945: Ironclads, Battleships and Battle Cruisers: An Outline History of Their Design, Construction and Operations. Vol. I: Armourclad Fusō to Kongō Class Battle Cruisers. Zagreb, Croatia: Despot Infinitus. ISBN 978-953-8218-26-2.
- McCurtie, Francis (1989) [1945]. Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II. London: Bracken Books. ISBN 1-85170-194-X
- Parshall, Jon; Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander; Nevitt, Allyn (1997–2009). "Imperial Japanese Navy Page".
- ISBN 1-55750-701-5.
- Reynolds, Clark G (1982). The Carrier War. Time-Life Books. ISBN 0-8094-3304-4
- Schom, Alan (2004). The Eagle and the Rising Sun: The Japanese-American War, 1941–1943. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-32628-4
- Steinberg, Rafael (1980) Return to the Philippines. Time-Life Books Inc. ISBN 0-8094-2516-5
- Stille, Cdr Mark (2008). Imperial Japanese Navy Battleships 1941–1945. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-280-6
- Swanston, Alexander and Swanston, Malcolm (2007). The Historical Atlas of World War II. London: Cartographica Press Ltd. ISBN 0-7858-2200-3
- Willmott, H.P. and ISBN 1-58834-192-5