Nagara (ship, 1922)
 Light cruiser Nagara around 1932 with a departure platform in front of the bridge
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The Nagara ( Japanese 長 良 ) was a light cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy , which was used in the Pacific theater of war during World War II before it was sunk on August 7, 1944. The ship was the type ship of the Nagara class consisting of a total of six ships . The cruiser was named after the Nagara River in Chūbu on Honshū .
Technique and modifications
Between 1929 and 1934, all ships in the class were converted. The Nagara received a new platform on the main mast, on which a range finder with a base length of 4.5 meters stood. Additional observation platforms were placed on the bridge tower and the impractical departure platform on the forecastle was removed, new searchlights were installed and an enlargement of the radio area was welded between the mast supports on the weather deck. In 1936, like most light Japanese cruisers of similar design, the hull was structurally reinforced.
In April 1942, two 13-mm twin machine guns were retrofitted in Maizuru . In August to October 1943 it received a Type 21 radar and four 25 mm L / 60 twin automatic cannons Type 96 .
In January 1944, two 140 mm guns were removed and replaced with a 12.7 cm L / 40 type 89 cannon . All twin torpedo tubes were removed and replaced with two sets of quadruple tubes. Instead of the catapult, two 25 mm L / 60 triple automatic cannons type 96 were installed. The ship was launched rails for depth charges . In July 1944, another radar system, a Type 22 for searching for surface targets, and ten additional 25 mm L / 60 type 96 automatic cannons were added.
China
After the commissioning, the completion of the test drives as well as guard and training tasks , the Nagara was initially used in Chinese waters in 1937. On August 14, 1937, they fired on land targets on Pudong . On May 10, 1938, they supported the landing of special landing forces of the Imperial Navy with artillery fire at the Chinese defenders .
Second World War
Battle of the Philippines
After the attack on Pearl Harbor and Japan's entry into World War II, the Nagara was used in support of landings at Legazpi in the Philippines . She carried out other missions as part of the Battle of the Philippines , secured landings on Luzon , Mindanao , Kema and Celebes in December 1941 and January 1942 . The cruiser was slightly damaged in a collision with the Hatusharu on January 25th.
Occupation of the Dutch Indies
The Nagara supported the landing of the Japanese troops in the Dutch East Indies . At the beginning of February, a US submarine sighted the cruiser on its way to Makassar and attempted an attack, which however failed. Troops were landed in Makassar on February 11, and the Japanese landed in Bali on February 19 . On February 24th, the cruiser was sighted again by a submarine. The Truant dropped a torpedo fan on the Nagara and scored two hits, both of which were duds .
On March 29, 1942, she was part of the Japanese fleet that carried out the landing on the Christmas Islands. On April 10, 1942, she became the flagship of the 10th destroyer flotilla under Rear Admiral Kimura Susumu .
Battle for Midway
In the Battle of Midway in the summer of 1942, her flotilla escorted the Japanese aircraft carriers. After attempting to attack the Nautilus submarine , one of the flotilla's destroyers caught the attention of American bombers who followed it to the carrier group. After the Akagi was badly damaged by them on June 4th, Admiral Nagumo switched to the Nagara . After the battle, the ship transported more than 600 wounded to appropriate supply facilities.
Guadalcanal
In August 1942, the Nagara was used in the course of the battles for Guadalcanal . She secured aircraft carriers during the Battle of Eastern Solomon Islands and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October.
During the naval battle of Guadalcanal on November 13th, she was shelled by the San Francisco , suffered minor damage and lost six sailors. During the second battle on November 15, she unsuccessfully fired Type 93 torpedoes on the battleship USS South Dakota .
From the Truk Atoll she was involved in the evacuation of 11,700 Japanese soldiers from the island of Guadalcanal in February 1943.
Further missions in 1943
On July 15, 1943, she ran into a sea mine and was slightly damaged. In Maizuru it was repaired and upgraded by October.
In early December 1943 she was the target of American air raids by carrier aircraft near Kwajalein . Some sailors were killed and the cruiser moved to Truk for emergency repairs. The ship was later ordered back to Japan for thorough repairs and further upgrading of the air defense system.
Downfall
In the summer of 1944 she carried out several supply trips around the Japanese islands. On August 5, she dropped soldiers and materials on Naha . On August 7, 1944, she was discovered by the Croaker and attacked with four torpedoes.
The Nagara was hit by a torpedo to starboard aft. The rudder was destroyed and the engine rooms quickly filled up. The list reached 22 °, but could be reduced to 15 ° by counter-flooding. The ship had but taken too much water and finally sank over the stern at 32 ° 9 ' N , 129 ° 53' O . 348 sailors were killed, 235 were rescued.
literature
- Eric Lacroix, Linton Wells: Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War. Publisher Naval Institute Press, Annapolis 1997.