Japanese battleship Hiei

Hiei (??), named for Mount Hiei north-east of Kyoto, was a Kongo-class battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was laid down by the Yokosuka Kaigun Kosho on 4 November 1911, launched on 21 November 1912 and completed on 4 August 1914.

Related Topics:
Mount Hiei - Kyoto - ''Kongo''-class - Battleship - Imperial Japanese Navy - Yokosuka - 4 November - 1911 - 21 November - 1912 - 4 August - 1914

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Following World War I, her boilers were upgraded for speed and bilges were added for better defense against torpedoes. Kongo and Hiei were relatively fast for battleships and because they were able to keep up with the carrier battle groups, both ships often accompanied them. However, their old design meant they were not effective against aircraft and both ships lacked air-search radar.

Related Topics:
World War I - Boiler - Bilge - Torpedo - Carrier battle group - Air-search radar

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Hiei steamed with the Striking Force during the attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, participated in the Battle of the Java Sea in March 1942, took part in the Indian Ocean raid against the British Eastern Fleet with the Carrier Striking Force in April 1942, screened the carriers during the Battle of Midway in June 1942, participated in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons in August 1942, and the Battle of Santa Cruz Island in October 1942.

Related Topics:
Striking Force - Pearl Harbor - 7 December - 1941 - Battle of the Java Sea - 1942 - Indian Ocean raid - British Eastern Fleet - Carrier Striking Force - Battle of Midway - Battle of the Eastern Solomons - Battle of Santa Cruz Island

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During the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942, Hiei, commanded by Captain Nishida Masao, suffered thirty 8-inch shell hits from the cruisers USS San Francisco and Portland, and many 5-inch shells and two torpedoes from the destroyer Sterett. Her fire control systems for her main and secondary batteries were knocked out, her superstructure set afire and 188 of her crew killed. She was attacked repeatedly by Marine Grumman Avenger TBF torpedo planes from Henderson Field, TBFs and Douglas Dauntless SBD dive-bombers from the USS Enterprise and B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of the United States Army Air Force 11th Heavy Bombardment Group from Espiritu Santo and suffered 70 sorties as she attempted to withdraw, and was scuttled by her crew.

Related Topics:
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - 13 November - 1942 - Nishida Masao - USS ''San Francisco'' - ''Portland'' - Destroyer - ''Sterett'' - Fire control system - Grumman Avenger - Henderson Field - Douglas Dauntless - USS ''Enterprise'' - B-17 Flying Fortress - United States Army Air Force - Espiritu Santo

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