Hyūga: The Last of the Ise-Class Battleships
Imagine a majestic ship, towering over the waves with its imposing silhouette and powerful engines. This is Hyūga, the second and last battleship in the Ise-class built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the 1910s. Laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Nagasaki on May 6, 1915, she was destined to play a significant role in Japan’s naval history.
From Construction to World War II
Hyūga’s journey began with the promise of greatness. She completed her construction on April 30, 1917, but missed the chaos and destruction of World War I. Instead, she supported Japanese forces during the Siberian intervention in the Russian Civil War and assisted survivors of the Great Kantō earthquake.
Modernization and Rebuild
In the early 1920s, Hyūga underwent partial modernization to keep up with evolving naval technology. By the late 1930s, she was rebuilt as a hybrid carrier, sacrificing her traditional armament for a flight deck capable of operating floatplanes. However, this transformation came too late; she never saw combat due to a lack of aircraft and pilots.
Hyūga in World War II
When full-scale war started on December 8, 1941, Hyūga was part of the 2nd Battleship Division. She participated in the Battle off Cape Engaño in late 1944 and later served as a training ship until February 25, 1944. The division was transferred to the Third Fleet and Fourth Carrier Division on May 1, along with the newly formed 634th Naval Air Group. Additional anti-aircraft guns and surface-search radars were installed in June.
The Battle of Leyte Gulf
During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Hyūga was positioned near light carriers Chitose and Chiyoda to protect them with her anti-aircraft guns. Despite being protected by Hyūga, Chiyoda was set afire and her engines disabled.
The Final Days
On November 18, the conversion of Hyūga into a hybrid carrier was completed. She conducted catapult training in June and July and became the flagship of the Fourth Carrier Division by September. However, her fate was sealed when American airstrikes hit Kure on March 19, 1945, damaging the ship severely.
Hyūga’s Demise
On July 24, 1945, Hyūga was struck by 10 bombs that blew off part of her stem and started major fires. Over 200 sailors were killed, including Rear Admiral Kiyoshi Kusakawa, and 600 wounded. The ship sank in shallow water over the next several days, and her crew was ordered to remove all easily accessible weapons. Hyūga was abandoned three days later by her crew and raised from the sea on July 2, 1946, before being broken up by Kure Dockyard of the Harima Zōsen Corporation.
Hyūga’s story is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of naval technology in the face of changing warfare. From her initial construction to her final days, she embodied the spirit of innovation and determination that characterized Japan’s Imperial Navy during World War II.
Will Hyūga ever be remembered as more than just a footnote in history? Or will her legacy live on through the lessons learned from her transformation into a hybrid carrier?
You want to know more about Japanese battleship Hyūga?
This page is based on the article Japanese battleship Hyūga published in Wikipedia (retrieved on January 19, 2025) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
