December 14, 1913 - The Japanese battleship Haruna (right) is launched. Designed in response to the British introduction of the battlecruiser in 1908, the Japanese Kongo-class battlecruiser mounted eight 14-in. guns. The fourth and final ship of the class, Haruna, was launched at Kobe in December 1913. Joining the fleet, it saw some service during World War I until being placed in reserve. Upgraded in the mid-1920s to a battleship, Haruna was further altered a decade later and as re-classified as a fast battleship. With the beginning of World War II, Haruna aided in the invasions of Malaysia, the Philippines, and the Dutch East Indies. A workhorse for the Imperial Japanese Navy, it took part in the Indian Ocean Raid in April 1942 before escorting Japanese carriers during the Battle of Midway two months later. Ordered south to Truk, Haruna fought in the Guadalcanal Campaign and conducted a devastating bombardment of Henderson Field in October. Though largely inactive in 1943, the battleship saw extensive combat in 1944 as it was present at the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Returning to Japan for repairs late that year, Haruna was sunk by American air strikes on July 28, 1945.
Warships of World War II:
Photograph Courtesy of the US Navy History & Heritage Command
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