World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseHaguro, was the fourth and last of the Myoko-class heavy cruisers. She served with the Fourth Sentai (Squadron) between 1929 and 1933 and later the Fifth Sentai. During the precursors to WW2, she carried troops to China in 1932. In late 1935, she was modified with torpedoes and modern anti-aircraft weaponry.

ww2dbaseAfter WW2 began in Asia, Haguro carried troops to China in 1937 and then remained in the region to provide her guns for blockade and naval gunfire support missions. At the start of the Pacific War, she participated in the landings at the Philippines and also participated in the Battle of the Java Sea where she played a part in the sinking of HMS Exeter and HMS Encounter. She also participated in actions off Borneo on 1 Mar 1942, Battle of Coral Sea on 7 May 1942, Battle of Midway on 4 Jun 1942, Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 Aug 1942, Battle of Empress Augusta Bay on 2 Nov 1943, Battle of the Philippine Sea on 19 Jun 1944, and then Battle of Sibuyan Sea and Battle off Samar in the Leyte Campaign in Oct 1944.

ww2dbaseIn 1945, Haguro was stationed at Singapore escorting logistics missions under Vice Admiral Shigeru Fukudome. In May 1945, she was the target of the British Operation Dukedom. Five British destroyers of the 26th Destroyer Flotilla intercepted Haguro and destroyer Kamikaze in the Bay of Bengal off the northern tip of Sumatra. The two Japanese ships were headed for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with food and other supplies. Despite Haguro being overloaded with supplies which restricted half of her main guns from being operational, she scored three hits on a British destroyer, though only causing non-critical damage. She eventually was damage by gunfire and then critically wounded by three Mark IX torpedoes. She suffered a 30-degree list to port, which quickly turned for the worse within the hour. At 0232 on 16 May 1945, she sank in the Malacca Strait off Penang with only 320 survivors. The captain of Haguro, Vice Admiral Hashimoto, and Rear Admiral Shiguira were among the 900 men who were lost.

Heavy Cruiser Haguro Interactive Map

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Haguro Operational Timeline

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