Commanders of the 4th Fleet - Katagiri Eikichi - Takasu Shirou - Inoue Narumi

During large scale training in 1941, Hiei misidentified Taigei as Kashima for shooting practice

July 28th 1940, Kashima and Katori sailed a midshipman cruise from Etajima, visiting Ominato, Dalien, Port Arthur and Shanghai

18th Cruiser Division: (flagship) Kashima, Tenryuu, Tatsuta

November 10th 1943, Kashima is relieved from 4th fleet and flagship position is transferred to Nagara