22 September 1937:
In the morning the combined Japanese assault to destroy the Chinese fleet begins with KAGA launching her strikes from a position off Hangchou Bay. At 1030 the first of three raids by by 2nd Combined Air Flotilla's 12th Air Group (Captain Imamura Osamu) falls upon the ships. Twelve Type 92 escorted by six Type 95 attack first. They make bomb runs, concentrating on the two big cruisers; but only score one hit on each and one near-miss with 60kg bombs. Flagship PING HAI is hit forward on the starboard side, causing slight flooding, but her captain Gao Xianshen is badly wounded in the waist and left arm, but continues to fight his ship until relieved. NING HAI receives one hit in the bow. YIXIAN is also hit.
At noon, another wave of Japanese bombers comes in from the west and drops bombs from moderate altitude. This causes minor damage to PING HAI. But during the afternoon seven Type 96 from KAGA attack, scoring near-misses on both cruisers and one direct hit on PING HAI at 1630. One hour later the last attack of the day is made by six Type 92 and three type 95 of the 12th Air Group, which driven away by NING HAI's gunfire, concentrate instead on YING RUI, scoring four hits. Five Japanese a/c are hit by AA-fire. Despite six hours of combat, PING HAI's casualties are light; 5 killed and 23 wounded. In this action, PING HAI fires 265 8-cm rounds and more than 4,000 mg bullets. PING HAI claims five Japanese aircraft shot down. The attacks for the day are over, and the Chinese Fleet survives the first round of attacks. But none can doubt that the next day would bring another. [2]
23 September 1937:
The Japanese follow-up raid takes its time in coming. Morning brought no air raid, but at 1100 two Japanese recon planes are sighted overflying the Chinese fleet. They depart after about a half-hour. It is obvious that a large scale Japanese air attack will be inbound at last. All hands clear for action.
At 1400, the expected attack arrives overhead in the form of nine Type 92 escorted by three Type 95 from 12th Air Group. However, they did not attack the ships, but instead descended upon Jiangyin, bombing to draw fire of the defenses while the second wave hit the ships. This was comprised of twelve Type 94 of the 12th Air Group and now joined by fourteen Type 96 of the 13th Air Group (Captain Senda Sadatochi.) These score two hits each and several near-misses on both PING HAI and NING HAI. A last attack is made by eight type 94 bombers and eight Type 96 carrier attack bombers escorted by four Type 96 fighters from KAGA. These attack in two waves and went after the primary target, the First Fleet flagship PING HAI. They scored three hits with 60kg bombs in the engine room and magazine. This was more than the modest vessel could withstand; PING HAI settles by the bow, and heeling over, bottoms with steep 45 degree port list and forecastle awash. Reportedly just 5 were killed, with 50 wounded (remark: but suspiciously, NING HAI also lists 5 killed). Four Japanese aircraft are claimed shot down in turn.
With PING HAI down, the Japanese swarm over her cousin ship NING HAI. At 1400, as many as thirty-eight planes pounce on the small cruiser from three directions. She receives two hits on the bow and observation post, and several near-misses. Captain Chen Hongtai is wounded in the legs, but remains at post, and gets his ship underway despite a magazine flooded. NING HAI moves upstream away from her stranded sister, but she doesn't get very far before has to halt. NING HAI had suffered 62 casualties of dead and injured, and had fired more than 700 rounds of her 8-cm and 5,000 rounds of mg bullets. Following the loss of PING HAI, the injured CinC transfers his flag to YIXIAN (western YI HSIEN or YAT SEN)
PING HAI, flagship of Gao Xianshen and Chinese First Fleet, was first damaged by air attacks on 22 Sep '37, then sunk in shallow water on 23 Sep '37 by planes from KAGA. View from starboard quarter. Sister NING HAI outlived her by only two more days.(Axis History)
25 September 1937:
The hapless NING HAI outlasts her sister by only forty-eight hours. Six Type 92 carrier attack bombers with three Type 95 fighters from the 12th Air Group make another attack on the Koin area. Barely afloat, NING HAI is helpless and unable to move. Two 60kg direct hits and two near-misses are scored on the cruiser. This does for her, and listing slightly to starboard, she settles by the stern 'til she bottoms upright near Bawei Harbor with after deck submerged to the mainmast and base of the stack. Her starboard beam parallels the nearby shore. Fortunately only five were wounded. Attacked by sixteen planes from KAGA.