Kongo-class (battleship)

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Kongo-class refers to a modern Japanese-licensed variant of U.S. Burke-class destroyers


Imperial Japanese Navy battleships of the Kongo class were the last class of capital ships not built in Japan itself. IJN Kongo was finished in Britain in 1913, rated as a battlecruiser. The four ships went through major overhauls in 1929-1931, lengthening the hulls and improving protection until they were legitimate fast battleships, which could stay with carriers steaming at full speed.

Their main battery consisted of eight 14" guns.

Ship Date of loss Cause
IJN Kongo, waters off Taiwan 21 Nov 1944 Submarine USS Sealion (SS-315)
IJN Hiei 13 Nov 1942, Naval Battle of Guadalcanal Gunfire and torpedo
IJN Kirishima 15 Nov 1942, Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands Gunfire
IJN Haruna 28 Jul 1945, Kure Naval Base Carrier aircraft