...the Japanese Battleship Hiei, partly slowed by battle damage, would be sunk by American Aircraft later in the day as she withdrew from the battle area.

@#%$. Attacking a retreating enemy?

Yes. That's how the following ships were sunk:
Battleships:
IJNS Hiei
IJNS Kongo
HMS Prince of Wales
HMS Repulse
Heavy Cruisers:
USS Houston
USS Chicago
IJNS Kako
IJNS Nachi
IJNS Mikuma
IJNS Mogami
IJNS Ashigara

Basically, we sank a lot of Japanese ships as they withdrew or retreated from a Battle. Probaly the greatest number when the Japanese retreated from the Philippines in late 1944. We sank the Kongo, the Nachi, the Mogami, the Abukuma, the Noshiro, the Yura, Basically about 1 Battleship, 10 Cruisers, and about 10 Destroyers.

And let's not forget about the 1942 Java Campaign. The Japanese sank the HMS Exeter, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Repulse, HMS Encounter, HMS Jupiter, USS Houston, USS Pope, HMAS Perth, so on..........as they retreated from a battle.

If you want alternative history stuff Kas, go read stuff by Harry Turtledove.

You'll love it.