Kongo

History of Service:

November 1941
Formed part of the Main Body BatDiv 3/2.

December 1941
Sailed to South China sea to support distant invasion force.

9 December 1941
Pursuited of the Royal Navy Force Z that comprised of Repulse & Prince of Wales.

July 1942 - August 1943z
NAGATO conducted exercise & mostly travelled between Hashirajima & Kure during this period. But two ships were later sunk by torpedo-bombers "Nells" off Kuantan, Malaya.

December 1941
Covered the invasion landings at5 Lingayen Gulf, Philippines.

January 1942
Provided distant support for the Dutch East Indies invasion force.

Provided distant support for air attacks on Ambon Island.

February 1942
Supported air attacks on Java, part of the invasion of the Netherlands East Indies.

March 1942
Bombarded Christmas Island.

March - April 1942
"Operation C" - the raids in the Indian Ocean. KONGO escorted & supported the Carrier Strike Force..

April - May 1944
New anti-air guns were installed.

7 -12 June 1942
"Operation AL" - participated in the the invasion of the Aleutians.

July 1942
Became the flagship of BatDiv 3 with HARUNA.

August 1942
Overhaul & refit at Kure. A new radar was installed.

September 1942
Attacked by seven enemy heavy bombers when sorties in the north of the Solomon Island. But no damage.

Provided distant support for operations in the Solomon Islands.

13 Octobr 1942
Bombards Henderson Field with HARUNA, Guadalcanal. Destroyed nearly 40 aircraft in the airfield.

26 October 1942
The Battle of Santa Cruz - attacked by four "Avenger" from USS Enterprise. No damage received.

30 January 1943
"Operation KE" - the Evacuation of Guadalcanal. Covered the evacuation of Japanese troops from Guadalcanal.

February - March 1943
At Sasebo, Concrete protection was installed in the steering gear. Watertight bulkheads & emergency fuel pump was installed. Additional anti-air guns were also installed.

September 1943
Sorties to Brown Island in response to the raid on Tarawa, Makin & Abemama Atolls by Task Force 15. But no contact was made.

October 1943
Sorties to eniwetok in response to the raid from Task Force 14 on Wake Island. But no contact was made.

January - February 1944
Some anti-air guns were replaced by new ones at Sasebo.

18 -20 June 1944
"Operation A-GO"- the Battle of Phillipine Sea. Kongo received no damage in this battle.

June - July 1944
New radar set & more anti-air guns were installed.

19 July 1944
A unknown submarine fired at KONGO, but all missed.

August 1944
More anti-air guns were installed in Singapore.

22 October 1944
"Operation SHO-I-GO" - The Battle of Leyte Gulf. KONGO served as flagship of Second Section of Force A of Admiral Kurita's First Striking Force.

23 October 1944
The Battle of Palanwan Passage- the KONGO was not damaged.

24 October 1944
The Battle of the Sibuyan Sea - the KONGO was not damaged.

24 October 1944
The Battle off Samar - the KONGO was unable to use her main guns due to the rangefinder was disabled by enemy planes. She was repeatly hit by shells from destroyer USS Hoel, but the Hoel was also hit by 14 inch shells from the KONGO. The KONGO avoided all torpedos fired from the Hoel. The KONGO then scored a number of hits on the carrier USS Gambier Bay. Two hours later, her rangefinder was made functional again & immediately took on the already damaged destroyer USS Roberts, that sank after hit by a salvo from the KONGO.

Four hours later, while the force reversed course and headed north towards Leyte Gulf, the KONGO was damaged by 5 near miss when attacked by 20 dive-bombers from Task Force 38.1.

November 1944
Attacked by 40 B-24 at Brunei, but not damaged.

21 November 1944
While heading back to Kure with YAMATO & the NAGATO. The KONGO was hit by 3 torpedos from submarine USS Sealion outside the Formosa Strait. However, the KONGO was still able to make 16 knots. But two & a half hours later, the KONGO slowed down & eventually stopped. Four minutes later, she suddenly exploded & sank. Only 237 crews were saved by two destroyers.

January 1945
Scrapped from navy list.