Japanese cruiser Nagara
Encyclopedia
was the lead ship
of her class
of light cruiser
in the Imperial Japanese Navy
. She was named after the Nagara River
in the Chūbu region
of Japan
.
of a destroyer
flotilla, and it was in that role that she participated in the invasions of the Philippines
and the Netherlands East Indies after the attack on Pearl Harbor
.
, from where it patrolled the China coast to Tsingtao. As the Second Sino-Japanese War
continued to escalate, Nagara was assigned to provide coverage for Japanese transports during the Battle of Shanghai
, and remained on station patrolling the China coast and the Yangtze River
through 1939. With the heavy cruisers Myōkō and Nachi, the Nagara participated in the Hainan Island Operation
in February 1939 under Vice Admiral Kondo Nobutake. From 30 January 1941 to 8 April 1941, Nagara assisted in the Invasion of French Indochina. From 10 June 1941 to 9 September 1941, Nagara provided coverage for the landings of Japanese troops in southern China.
Ibo Takahashi
's Third Fleet, together with the light cruiser
s Ashigara
, Kuma
and Natori
and the 5th Destroyer
Flotilla. On 26 November 1941, as flagship of Rear Admiral
Kyuji Kubo's Fourth Surprise Attack Unit, Nagara was based at Palau
at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor
.
From 11–12 December 1941, Nagara covered the landings of troops at Legaspi, Luzon
, Philippines
, returning again from 24–30 December 1941 to cover additional landings at several points on southeast Luzon.
In January 1942, Nagara was tasked with escortinf the convoy landing the Sasebo No. 1 Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) at Menado, Kema and Kendari
in the Celebes
. On 25 January 1942, while at Kendari, the destroyer Hatsuharu
collided with Nagara, damaging the cruiser's hull. Rear Admiral Kubo transferred his flag to the Hatsushimo, and Nagara withdrew to Davao
for repairs.
Returning to the Celebes on 4 February 1942, Rear Admiral Kubo transferred his flag back to Nagara, which then covered the invasion of Makassar
. In the middle of the night of 6 February 1942, the invasion force was sighted by USS Sculpin (SS-191)
, which mistook the Nagara for a Tenryu-class cruiser
and fired two Mark 14 torpedo
es; one missed and the other prematurely exploded.
On 17 February 1942, Nagara provided escort for transports with the IJA's 48th Infantry Division for the invasion of Bali
and Java
. During the operation, the Royal Navy
submarine
HMS Truant
fired six torpedoes at Nagara, but all missed.
On 10 March 1942, the Third Fleet was disbanded and replaced by the Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet under Vice Admiral Takahashi. Nagara remained in Rear Admiral Kenzaburo Hara
's 16th Cruiser Division with light cruisers Kinu
and Natori.
On 29 March 1942, the Nagara was part of the force sent to capture Christmas Island
. During the operation, USS Seawolf (SS-197)
fired three torpedoes at Nagara, but all missed.
Nagara departed for Japan on 2 April 1942, where she is in drydock at Maizuru
from 12 to 24 April 1942.
Nagara was assigned as flagship of Rear Admiral Susumu Kimura
's 10th Destroyer Flotilla with the destroyers Nowaki
, Arashi
, Hagikaze
, Maikaze
, Makigumo
, Kazagumo
, Yugumo, Urakaze
, Isokaze
, Hamakaze
, Tanikaze
under the Admiral Chuichi Nagumo
's First Fleet.
, Nagara accompanied Admiral Nagumo's Carrier Striking Force, with the aircraft carrier
s (Akagi
, Kaga
, Soryu
, Hiryū
, cruisers Tone, Chikuma, and battleships Haruna
and Kirishima
. On 4 June 1942 Nagara unsuccessfully counter-attacked the USS Nautilus (SS-168)
after the latter attempted to torpedo Kirishima. After Akagi was hit and set afire by dive-bombers from USS Enterprise (CV-6)
, Vice Admiral Nagumo transferred his flag to the Nowaki and then the Nagara. Nagara returned safely to Japan on 13 June 1942.
on 16 August 1942. The fleet included the aircraft carriers Shokaku
, Zuikaku
, Ryujo
, battleships Hiei
and Kirishima, cruisers Tone and Chikuma, and destroyers Akigumo
, Makigumo
, Kazagumo
, Yugumo
, Akizuki
, Hatsukaze
, Nowaki
, Amatsukaze
, Maikaze
, Tanikaze
and Tokitsukaze
.
On 25 August 1942, Nagara participated in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons
, which it survived without damage, arriving at Truk on 5 September 1942. From Truk, Nagara made a number of sorties towards the Solomon Islands
in September.
On 25–26 October 1942, Nagara participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz
, and again returned to Truk undamaged.
On 9 November 1942, Rear Admiral Kimura and the Nagara squadron was assigned to screen the Hiei and Kirishima during a reinforcement plan to land 14,500 men, heavy weapons and supplies on Guadalcanal
. The landing was to be preceded by a bombardment of Henderson Field
by the battleships. This action becomes the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942. During the engagement, Akatsuki and Yudachi were sunk, and Hiei, Amatsukaze, Murasame and Ikazuchi were damaged. Nagara was straddled by shells from the USS San Francisco (CA-38)
taking a direct hit by one 5 inches (127 mm) shell which killed six crewmen but which caused only minor hull damage. Nagara retired westward around Savo Island
escorting Kirishima with Hiei in tow, but Hiei was later sunk by planes from Henderson Field, USS Enterprise and B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from Espiritu Santo
.
Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa
sortied from the Shortland Islands
for Guadalcanal in Chōkai with the Kinugasa
, light cruiser Isuzu
, and destroyers Arashio
and Asashio
to carry out Kondo's original plan and bombard Henderson Field with his cruisers where Abe failed with his battleships. The cruisers Maya
, Suzuya, Tenryu and destroyers Kazagumo, Makigumo, Michishio
and Yugumo accompanied, while the Kirishima, Atago
, Takao
, Nagara and six destroyers formed a screening unit.
This led to the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
on 15 November 1942. Nagara and her destroyers engaged the Americans with gunfire and Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes. During the action, more than 30 torpedoes were launched at the USS South Dakota (BB-57)
, but all missed. However, the USS Preston (DD-379)
and USS Walke (DD-416)
were sunk and the USS Benham (DD-397)
was so badly damaged that she was scuttled the next evening. On the Japanese side, Kirishima and destroyer Ayanami were lost, but Nagara was undamaged, and returned to Truk on 18 November 1942.
On 20 November 1942, Nagara became flagship of Rear Admiral Takama's 4th Destroyer Flotilla. The newly commissioned Agano
replaced Nagara as flagship of 10th Destroyer Flotilla. The 4th Destroyer Flotilla consisted of three divisions of nine destroyers: 2nd Destroyer Division with three destroyers, 9th Destroyer Division with two and 27th Destroyer Division with four.
After returning to Maizuru for refit at the end of 1942, Nagara's No. 5 140-mm gun was removed. During gunnery exercises off Saipan
, Nagara sustained minor superstructure damage after an accidental shell explosion. Nagara returned to Truk on 25 January 1943.
In early February, Nagara participated in the evacuation of Guadalcanal, recovering 11,700 surviving Imperial Japanese Army
troops.
In June 1943, Nagara transported the Yokosuka No. 2 Special Naval Landing Force for the occupation of Nauru
.
, to ferrying aircraft to Kavieng
, New Guinea
. While mooring, Nagara detonated a mine
laid at night by Australian PBY Catalina
flying boat
s. The mine slightly damaged her bottom under the stern, and she was able to operate.
On 20 July 1943, the 4th Destroyer Flotilla was deactivated and Nagara replaced the Jintsu
as flagship of Rear Admiral Shunji Isaki
's 2nd Destroyer Flotilla of the Second Fleet, consisting of Destroyer Divisions 24, 27, 31, plus three attached destroyers. Nagara was relieved as flagship of 2nd Destroyer Flotilla by the newly commissioned Noshiro on 20 August 1943, and was re-assigned to the Eighth Fleet under Vice Admiral, Baron
Tomoshige Samejima
. Nagara also returned to Maizuru for refit with a Type 21 air-search radar
and four twin-mount Type 96 25-mm AA guns.
On 1 November 1943, Nagara relieved Kashima
as flagship of the Fourth Fleet under Vice Admiral Masami Kobayashi. On 14 November 1943, she assisted in towing the light cruiser Agano
back to Truk after it has been torpedoed by the USS Skate (SS-305)
.
On 22 November 1943, Nagara sortied from Truk in response to American invasion of Tarawa and the Gilbert Islands
, arriving at Kwajalein
on 26 November 1943. It was attacked by TBF Avenger
torpedo-bombers and SBD Dauntless
dive-bombers from Task Group 50.3's USS Enterprise (CV-6)
and USS Essex (CV-9)
and damaged enough to justify a return to Japan in January 1944.
At Maizuru from 26 January 1944, Nagara was again modified. The No. 7 140-mm gun mount was removed and replaced by a 127-mm unshielded HA gun mount. The fore and aft twin torpedo tubes were removed and replaced by two quadruple mounts aft. The catapult was removed and replaced by two triple-mount Type 96 25-mm AA gun mounts bringing the Nagara's 25-mm total to 22 barrels (2x3, 6x2, 4x1). Depth charge
rails were installed in the stern and a Type 93 hydrophone
set was fitted in the bow.
On 15 May 1944, Nagara replaced Tatsuta as flagship of 11th Destroyer Flotilla, directly under the Combined Fleet
. It remained in Japanese home waters training with new destroyers and escorting a convoy to the Ogasawara Islands in June and to Okinawa in July. In another refit at Yokosuka on 2 July 1944, ten single mount Type 96 25-mm AA guns were installed bringing Nagara's 25-mm total to 32 barrels (2X3, 6x2, 14x1). A Type 22 surface-search radar
was fitted.
On 7 August 1944, in route from Kagoshima to Sasebo
, Nagara was spotted by USS Croaker (SS-246)
on her first war patrol. Croaker closed to 1,300 yards and fired a salvo of four stern torpedoes, hitting Nagara starboard aft with one. Nagara sank by the stern off the Amakusa islands
at 32°09′N 129°53′E. The captain and 348 crewmen went down with the ship, but 235 crewmen were rescued.
Nagara was removed from the Navy List on 10 October 1944.
Lead ship
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...
of her class
Nagara class cruiser
-External links: *...
of light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
in the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
. She was named after the Nagara River
Nagara River
The has its source in the city of Gujō, Gifu Prefecture, and its mouth in the city of Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Along with the Kiso River and Ibi River, the Nagara River is one of the Kiso Three Rivers of the Nōbi Plain. Previously, the river was named Sunomata River . With a length of , it...
in the Chūbu region
Chubu region
The is the central region of Honshū, Japan's main island. Chūbu has a population estimate of 21,886,324 as of 2008.Chūbu, which means "central region", encompasses nine prefectures : Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, Yamanashi, and often Mie.It is located directly...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Background
The Nagara was the first vessel completed in the Nagara-class, and like other vessels of her class, she was intended for use as the flagshipFlagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of a destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
flotilla, and it was in that role that she participated in the invasions of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and the Netherlands East Indies after the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
.
Early career
Nagara was completed at Sasebo Navy Yard, and commissioned on 21 April 1922. Soon after commissioning, Nagara was assigned to the Japanese naval base at Port ArthurLüshunkou
Lüshunkou is a district in the municipality of Dalian, Liaoning province, China. Also called Lüshun City or Lüshun Port, it was formerly known as both Port Arthur and Ryojun....
, from where it patrolled the China coast to Tsingtao. As the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
continued to escalate, Nagara was assigned to provide coverage for Japanese transports during the Battle of Shanghai
Battle of Shanghai
The Battle of Shanghai, known in Chinese as Battle of Songhu, was the first of the twenty-two major engagements fought between the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China and the Imperial Japanese Army of the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
, and remained on station patrolling the China coast and the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
through 1939. With the heavy cruisers Myōkō and Nachi, the Nagara participated in the Hainan Island Operation
Hainan Island Operation
The Hainan Island Operation, or in Japanese was part of a campaign by the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War to blockade the Republic of China and prevent it from communicating with the outside world as well as to prevent imports of much-needed arms and materials.Control of Hainan...
in February 1939 under Vice Admiral Kondo Nobutake. From 30 January 1941 to 8 April 1941, Nagara assisted in the Invasion of French Indochina. From 10 June 1941 to 9 September 1941, Nagara provided coverage for the landings of Japanese troops in southern China.
Invasion of the Philippines and Dutch East Indies
On 10 September 1941 Captain Naoi Toshio assumes command. Nagara was assigned to Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo's 16th Cruiser Division of Vice AdmiralVice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
Ibo Takahashi
Ibo Takahashi
- Books :...
's Third Fleet, together with the light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
s Ashigara
Japanese cruiser Ashigara
Ashigara was a Myōkō class heavy cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The other ships of her class were Myōkō , Nachi , and Haguro...
, Kuma
Japanese cruiser Kuma
was a Kuma-class light cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy, named after the Kuma River in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan.-Background:Kuma was the lead ship of the five vessels in the Kuma-class of light cruisers and was intended for use both as a long-range, high speed scout ship, and also as a...
and Natori
Japanese cruiser Natori
was a Nagara-class light cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was named after the Natori River in Miyagi prefecture, Japan.-Background:Natori was the fourth vessel completed in the Nagara-class of light cruisers...
and the 5th Destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
Flotilla. On 26 November 1941, as flagship of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Kyuji Kubo's Fourth Surprise Attack Unit, Nagara was based at Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
.
From 11–12 December 1941, Nagara covered the landings of troops at Legaspi, Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, returning again from 24–30 December 1941 to cover additional landings at several points on southeast Luzon.
In January 1942, Nagara was tasked with escortinf the convoy landing the Sasebo No. 1 Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) at Menado, Kema and Kendari
Kendari
Kendari is the capital of the Indonesian province of South East Sulawesi. The city lies along Kendari Bay. Moramo Waterfall is located 65 km east of Kendari. Kendari is divided into four subdistricts: Kendari, Mandonga, Baruga, and Poasia...
in the Celebes
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
. On 25 January 1942, while at Kendari, the destroyer Hatsuharu
Japanese destroyer Hatsuharu
was the lead ship of six destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy under the Circle One Program . Three were laid down in JFY 1931 and the next three in JFY 1933...
collided with Nagara, damaging the cruiser's hull. Rear Admiral Kubo transferred his flag to the Hatsushimo, and Nagara withdrew to Davao
Davao
Davao refers to several closely related places in Mindanao in the Philippines. The term is used most often to refer to the city.*Davao Region, an administrative region*Davao del Norte province*Davao del Sur province*Davao Oriental province...
for repairs.
Returning to the Celebes on 4 February 1942, Rear Admiral Kubo transferred his flag back to Nagara, which then covered the invasion of Makassar
Makassar
Makassar, is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the largest city on Sulawesi Island. From 1971 to 1999, the city was named Ujung Pandang, after a precolonial fort in the city, and the two names are often used interchangeably...
. In the middle of the night of 6 February 1942, the invasion force was sighted by USS Sculpin (SS-191)
USS Sculpin (SS-191)
USS Sculpin , a Sargo-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the sculpin.Her keel was laid down on 7 September 1937 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. She was launched on 27 July 1938 sponsored by Mrs. J.R. Defrees, and commissioned on 16 January...
, which mistook the Nagara for a Tenryu-class cruiser
Tenryu class cruiser
-See also:*List of World War II ships...
and fired two Mark 14 torpedo
Mark 14 torpedo
The Mark 14 torpedo was the United States Navy's standard submarine-launched anti-ship torpedo of World War II.This weapon was plagued with many problems which crippled its performance early in the war, and was supplemented by the Mark 18 electric torpedo in the last 2 years of the war...
es; one missed and the other prematurely exploded.
On 17 February 1942, Nagara provided escort for transports with the IJA's 48th Infantry Division for the invasion of Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
and Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
. During the operation, the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
HMS Truant
HMS Truant (N68)
HMS Truant was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow and launched on the 5 May 1939.-Career:...
fired six torpedoes at Nagara, but all missed.
On 10 March 1942, the Third Fleet was disbanded and replaced by the Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet under Vice Admiral Takahashi. Nagara remained in Rear Admiral Kenzaburo Hara
Kenzaburo Hara
Kenzaburo Hara Former House of Representatives of Japan Speaker Kenzaburo Hara, who had served as a legislator for 54 years until he retired in 2000, died of heart failure in Tokyo Saturday, his family said...
's 16th Cruiser Division with light cruisers Kinu
Japanese cruiser Kinu
was a Nagara-class light cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy, named after the Kinu River in Tochigi prefecture Japan.-Background:Kinu was the fifth vessel completed in the Nagara-class of light cruisers, and like other vessels of her class, she was intended for use as the flagship of a destroyer...
and Natori.
On 29 March 1942, the Nagara was part of the force sent to capture Christmas Island
Battle of Christmas Island
The Battle of Christmas Island, was a small engagement which began on 31 March 1942, during World War II. Because of a mutiny by Indian soldiers against their British officers, Japanese troops were able to occupy Christmas Island without any resistance...
. During the operation, USS Seawolf (SS-197)
USS Seawolf (SS-197)
USS Seawolf , a Sargo-class submarine, was the second submarine of the United States Navy named for the seawolf.Her keel was laid down on 27 September 1938 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. She was launched on 15 August 1939 sponsored by Mrs. Edward C. Kalbfus and commissioned on 1...
fired three torpedoes at Nagara, but all missed.
Nagara departed for Japan on 2 April 1942, where she is in drydock at Maizuru
Maizuru, Kyoto
is a city located in Kyōto, Japan, on an inlet of the Sea of Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 89,626 and the density of 264 persons per km². The total area is .The city was founded on May 27, 1943....
from 12 to 24 April 1942.
Nagara was assigned as flagship of Rear Admiral Susumu Kimura
Susumu Kimura
-External links:*-Notes:...
's 10th Destroyer Flotilla with the destroyers Nowaki
Japanese destroyer Nowaki
was a Kagero-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy.On 3 March 1942 the Nowaki help sink the gunboat . In the Battle off Samar on 25 October 1944, Nowaki took part in the torpedo attack on the U.S. escort carriers and assisted in sinking of...
, Arashi
Japanese destroyer Arashi
Arashi was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy.The Arashi ship played a vital role in World War II by inadvertently guiding US attack planes to the Japanese carrier fleet at the Battle of Midway. It had been separated from the fleet during an attack on the USS Nautilus and was steaming to join them...
, Hagikaze
Japanese destroyer Hagikaze
Hagikaze was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Participating at the Battle of Midway, the heavily damaged was scuttled by her two torpedoes, Kaga being fatally damaged by US aircraft of during the battle....
, Maikaze
Japanese destroyer Maikaze
Maikaze was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy.On 17 February 1944, while evacuating convoys to Yokosuka from Truk following Allied attack on Truk, Maikaze, the cruiser , and the auxiliary cruiser Akagi Maru were sunk by gunfire from the cruisers and 40 miles northwest of Truk...
, Makigumo
Japanese destroyer Makigumo
Makigumo was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "Cirrus Clouds" .Following the Battle of Midway in June 1942, downed American aircrew SBD Ensign Frank W. O'Flaherty and AMM1c Bruno P. Gaido were pulled from the water by Makigumo...
, Kazagumo
Japanese destroyer Kazagumo
was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "Clouds Driven by Heaven's Winds".On 8 June 1944, Kazagumo was escorting Myōkō and Haguro from Davao to support Biak troop transport operations. She was torpedoed and sunk by at the mouth of Davao Gulf . rescued 133 survivors.-External...
, Yugumo, Urakaze
Japanese destroyer Urakaze
Urakaze was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy.On 9 June 1944, she rescued 126 survivors from , including her commander Lieutenant Commander Ikeda, which was sunk by , near Tawitawi...
, Isokaze
Japanese destroyer Isokaze
Isokaze was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy. It is the second ship to carry the name after the lead ship from Isokaze-class destroyer.On 7 April 1945, Isokaze escorted the battleship from the Inland Sea on her Operation Ten-Go attack on the Allied forces on Okinawa...
, Hamakaze
Japanese destroyer Hamakaze
was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy.On 7 April 1945, Hamakaze escorted the battleship from the Inland Sea on her Operation Ten-Go attack on the Allied forces on Okinawa. She was sunk by aircraft of Task Force 58 and sank 150 miles southwest of Nagasaki .-External links:**...
, Tanikaze
Japanese destroyer Tanikaze
Tanikaze was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "Wind from the Mountain to the Valley".In June 1942 the ship participated in the battle of Midway where she was damaged by air attacks...
under the Admiral Chuichi Nagumo
Chuichi Nagumo
was a Japanese admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II and one time commander of the Kido Butai . He committed suicide during the Battle of Saipan.-Early life:...
's First Fleet.
Battle of Midway
During the Battle of MidwayBattle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
, Nagara accompanied Admiral Nagumo's Carrier Striking Force, with the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
s (Akagi
Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi
Akagi was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy , originally begun as an . She was converted while still under construction to an aircraft carrier under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty...
, Kaga
Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga
Kaga was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy , named after the former Kaga Province in present-day Ishikawa Prefecture...
, Soryu
Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu
was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. During the Second World War, she took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor, Wake Island, Port Darwin and raids in the Indian Ocean before being sunk at the Battle of Midway.-Design:...
, Hiryū
Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu
was a modified Sōryū-class aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was one of the carriers that began the Pacific War with the attack on Pearl Harbor...
, cruisers Tone, Chikuma, and battleships Haruna
Japanese battleship Haruna
, named after Mount Haruna, was a warship of the Imperial Japanese Navy during :World War I and :World War II. Designed by the British naval engineer George Thurston, she was the fourth and last battlecruiser of the , among the most heavily armed ships in any navy when built...
and Kirishima
Japanese battleship Kirishima
was a warship of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War I and World War II. Designed by British naval engineer George Thurston, she was the third launched of the four Kongō-class battlecruisers, among the most heavily armed ships in any navy when built...
. On 4 June 1942 Nagara unsuccessfully counter-attacked the USS Nautilus (SS-168)
USS Nautilus (SS-168)
USS Nautilus , a and one of the "V-boats", was the third ship of the United States Navy to officially bear that popular ship's name. She was originally named and designated V-6 , but was redesignated and given hull classification symbol SC-2 on 11 February 1925...
after the latter attempted to torpedo Kirishima. After Akagi was hit and set afire by dive-bombers from USS Enterprise (CV-6)
USS Enterprise (CV-6)
USS Enterprise , colloquially referred to as the "Big E," was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the seventh U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. Launched in 1936, she was a ship of the Yorktown class, and one of only three American carriers commissioned prior to World War II to...
, Vice Admiral Nagumo transferred his flag to the Nowaki and then the Nagara. Nagara returned safely to Japan on 13 June 1942.
Battle of the Solomon Islands
On 14 July 1942, the 10th Destroyer Flotilla with the Nagara was reassigned to the Third Fleet, which departed for Truk, Caroline IslandsCaroline Islands
The Caroline Islands are a widely scattered archipelago of tiny islands in the western Pacific Ocean, to the north of New Guinea. Politically they are divided between the Federated States of Micronesia in the eastern part of the group, and Palau at the extreme western end...
on 16 August 1942. The fleet included the aircraft carriers Shokaku
Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku
Shōkaku was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the lead ship of her class. Along with her sister ship , she took part in several key naval battles during the Pacific War, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands...
, Zuikaku
Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku
Zuikaku was a Shōkaku-class aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her complement of aircraft took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor that formally brought the United States into the Pacific War, and she fought in several of the most important naval battles of the war, finally being sunk...
, Ryujo
Japanese aircraft carrier Ryujo
Ryūjō was a light aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was laid down by Mitsubishi at Yokohama in 1929, launched in 1931 and commissioned on 9 May 1933. Her final design resulted in a top-heavy unstable vessel and within a year she was back at Kure Naval Yard for modification...
, battleships Hiei
Japanese battleship Hiei
was a warship of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War I and World War II. Designed by British naval architect George Thurston, she was the second launched of four s, among the most heavily armed ships in any navy when built. Laid down in 1911 at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Hiei was formally...
and Kirishima, cruisers Tone and Chikuma, and destroyers Akigumo
Japanese destroyer Akigumo
Akigumo was a Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer of the .Shortly after the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands during the early hours of 27 October 1942, Akigumo along with the destroyer Makigumo sunk the heavily damaged and abandoned USS Hornet...
, Makigumo
Japanese destroyer Makigumo
Makigumo was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "Cirrus Clouds" .Following the Battle of Midway in June 1942, downed American aircrew SBD Ensign Frank W. O'Flaherty and AMM1c Bruno P. Gaido were pulled from the water by Makigumo...
, Kazagumo
Japanese destroyer Kazagumo
was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "Clouds Driven by Heaven's Winds".On 8 June 1944, Kazagumo was escorting Myōkō and Haguro from Davao to support Biak troop transport operations. She was torpedoed and sunk by at the mouth of Davao Gulf . rescued 133 survivors.-External...
, Yugumo
Japanese destroyer Yugumo
The Yūgumo was the lead ship of her class of destroyer in the Imperial Japanese Navy.On the night of 6–7 October 1943, Yūgumo was on a troop evacuation run to Vella Lavella. In the Battle of Vella Lavella, she charged U.S. destroyers, irreparably damaging with a torpedo...
, Akizuki
Japanese destroyer Akizuki
-External links:*...
, Hatsukaze
Japanese destroyer Hatsukaze
was the seventh vessel to be commissioned in the 19-vessel destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late-1930s under the Circle Three Supplementary Naval Expansion Program...
, Nowaki
Japanese destroyer Nowaki
was a Kagero-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy.On 3 March 1942 the Nowaki help sink the gunboat . In the Battle off Samar on 25 October 1944, Nowaki took part in the torpedo attack on the U.S. escort carriers and assisted in sinking of...
, Amatsukaze
Japanese destroyer Amatsukaze
Amatsukaze was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy. During the first year of the Pacific War, the destroyer was under the command of Tameichi Hara and participated in the Battle of the Java Sea, Battle of the Eastern Solomons, Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, and the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, in...
, Maikaze
Japanese destroyer Maikaze
Maikaze was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy.On 17 February 1944, while evacuating convoys to Yokosuka from Truk following Allied attack on Truk, Maikaze, the cruiser , and the auxiliary cruiser Akagi Maru were sunk by gunfire from the cruisers and 40 miles northwest of Truk...
, Tanikaze
Japanese destroyer Tanikaze
Tanikaze was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "Wind from the Mountain to the Valley".In June 1942 the ship participated in the battle of Midway where she was damaged by air attacks...
and Tokitsukaze
Japanese destroyer Tokitsukaze
was the tenth vessel to be commissioned in the 19-vessel destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late-1930s under the Circle Three Supplementary Naval Expansion Program .-Background:...
.
On 25 August 1942, Nagara participated in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons
Battle of the Eastern Solomons
The naval Battle of the Eastern Solomons The naval Battle of the Eastern Solomons The naval Battle of the Eastern Solomons (also known as the Battle of the Stewart Islands and, in Japanese sources, as the , took place on 24–25 August 1942, and was the third carrier battle of the Pacific campaign...
, which it survived without damage, arriving at Truk on 5 September 1942. From Truk, Nagara made a number of sorties towards the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
in September.
On 25–26 October 1942, Nagara participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Santa Cruz or in Japanese sources as the , was the fourth carrier battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II and the fourth major naval engagement fought between the United States Navy and the Imperial...
, and again returned to Truk undamaged.
On 9 November 1942, Rear Admiral Kimura and the Nagara squadron was assigned to screen the Hiei and Kirishima during a reinforcement plan to land 14,500 men, heavy weapons and supplies on Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
. The landing was to be preceded by a bombardment of Henderson Field
Henderson Field (Guadalcanal)
Henderson Field is a former military airfield on Guadacanal, Solomon Islands during World War II. Today it is Honiara International Airport.-Japanese construction:...
by the battleships. This action becomes the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942. During the engagement, Akatsuki and Yudachi were sunk, and Hiei, Amatsukaze, Murasame and Ikazuchi were damaged. Nagara was straddled by shells from the USS San Francisco (CA-38)
USS San Francisco (CA-38)
USS San Francisco , a New Orleans-class heavy cruiser, was the second ship of the United States Navy named after the city of San Francisco, California. She saw extensive action during World War II....
taking a direct hit by one 5 inches (127 mm) shell which killed six crewmen but which caused only minor hull damage. Nagara retired westward around Savo Island
Savo Island
Savo Island is a volcanic island in the Solomon Islands group in the South Pacific ocean. It is located to the northeast of the northern tip of Guadalcanal Island at . Politically, Savo Island is a part of the Solomons' Central Province. The indigenous language of Savo is the Savosavo language.The...
escorting Kirishima with Hiei in tow, but Hiei was later sunk by planes from Henderson Field, USS Enterprise and B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of . It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia. It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu....
.
Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa
Gunichi Mikawa
was a Vice-Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.Mikawa was the commander of a heavy cruiser force that carried out spectacular I.J.N. victory over the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Navy at the Battle of Savo Island in Ironbottom Sound on the night of August 1942. In...
sortied from the Shortland Islands
Shortland Islands
The Shortland Islands are group of islands belonging to the Western Province of the Solomon Islands, at . Named by John Shortland, they lie in the extreme northwest of the country's territory, close to the island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. The largest island is Shortland Island...
for Guadalcanal in Chōkai with the Kinugasa
Japanese cruiser Kinugasa
was the second vessel in the two-vessel Aoba-class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was named after Mount Kinugasa, located in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan.- Background :...
, light cruiser Isuzu
Japanese cruiser Isuzu
was one of six s in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was named after the Isuzu River, near Ise Shrine in the Chūbu region of Japan.-Background:Isuzu was the second of the six vessels completed in the Nagara-class of light cruisers, and like other vessels of her class, she was intended for use as...
, and destroyers Arashio
Japanese destroyer Arashio
was the fourth of ten destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the mid-1930s under the Circle Two Supplementary Naval Expansion Program .-History:...
and Asashio
Japanese destroyer Asashio
was the lead ship of the ten destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the mid-1930s under the Circle Two Program .-History:...
to carry out Kondo's original plan and bombard Henderson Field with his cruisers where Abe failed with his battleships. The cruisers Maya
Japanese cruiser Maya
was one of four Takao-class heavy cruisers, designed to be an improvement over the previous Myōkō-class design. These ships were fast, powerful and heavily armed, with enough firepower to hold their own against any cruiser in any other navy in the world...
, Suzuya, Tenryu and destroyers Kazagumo, Makigumo, Michishio
Japanese destroyer Michishio
was the third of ten destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the mid-1930s under the Circle Two Supplementary Naval Expansion Program .-History:...
and Yugumo accompanied, while the Kirishima, Atago
Japanese cruiser Atago
was one of four Takao-class heavy cruisers, designed to be an improvement over the previous Myōkō-class design. These ships were fast, powerful, and heavily armed. The Takao-class ships were approved under the 1927 fiscal year budget as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's strategy of the Decisive...
, Takao
Japanese cruiser Takao
was the first of four Takao-class heavy cruisers, designed to be an improvement over the previous Myōkō-class design. The Myōkō had proved to be unstable and required modifications, which were incorporated into the Takao design....
, Nagara and six destroyers formed a screening unit.
This led to the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the Third and Fourth Battles of Savo Island, the Battle of the Solomons, The Battle of Friday the 13th, or, in Japanese sources, as the , took place from 12–15 November 1942, and was the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles...
on 15 November 1942. Nagara and her destroyers engaged the Americans with gunfire and Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes. During the action, more than 30 torpedoes were launched at the USS South Dakota (BB-57)
USS South Dakota (BB-57)
USS South Dakota was a battleship in the United States Navy from 1942 until 1947. The lead ship of her class, South Dakota was the third ship of the US Navy to be named in honor of the 40th state. During World War II, she first served in a fifteen-month tour in the Pacific theater, where she saw...
, but all missed. However, the USS Preston (DD-379)
USS Preston (DD-379)
USS Preston was a in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the fifth Navy ship named for Lieutenant Samuel W. Preston ....
and USS Walke (DD-416)
USS Walke (DD-416)
USS Walke was a World War II-era in the service of the United States Navy, named after Rear Admiral Henry A. Walke USN...
were sunk and the USS Benham (DD-397)
USS Benham (DD-397)
USS Benham was the lead ship of the her class of destroyers and the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Andrew Ellicot Kennedy Benham.-Construction:...
was so badly damaged that she was scuttled the next evening. On the Japanese side, Kirishima and destroyer Ayanami were lost, but Nagara was undamaged, and returned to Truk on 18 November 1942.
On 20 November 1942, Nagara became flagship of Rear Admiral Takama's 4th Destroyer Flotilla. The newly commissioned Agano
Japanese cruiser Agano
|-External links:*Tabular record:...
replaced Nagara as flagship of 10th Destroyer Flotilla. The 4th Destroyer Flotilla consisted of three divisions of nine destroyers: 2nd Destroyer Division with three destroyers, 9th Destroyer Division with two and 27th Destroyer Division with four.
After returning to Maizuru for refit at the end of 1942, Nagara's No. 5 140-mm gun was removed. During gunnery exercises off Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, Nagara sustained minor superstructure damage after an accidental shell explosion. Nagara returned to Truk on 25 January 1943.
In early February, Nagara participated in the evacuation of Guadalcanal, recovering 11,700 surviving Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
troops.
In June 1943, Nagara transported the Yokosuka No. 2 Special Naval Landing Force for the occupation of Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
.
Operations in the South Pacific
In July 1943, Nagara was involved in escorting the aircraft carrier JunyoJapanese aircraft carrier Junyo
was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was laid down at Nagasaki as the passenger liner Kashiwara Maru, but was purchased by the Japanese Navy in 1941 and converted to an aircraft carrier. Completed in May 1942, the ship participated in the invasion of the Aleutian Islands the following month...
, to ferrying aircraft to Kavieng
Kavieng
Kavieng is the capital of the Papua New Guinean province of New Ireland and the largest town on the island of the same name. The town is located at Balgai Bay, on the northern tip of the island. As of 2000, it had a population of 10,600....
, New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. While mooring, Nagara detonated a mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
laid at night by Australian PBY Catalina
PBY Catalina
The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
flying boat
Flying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
s. The mine slightly damaged her bottom under the stern, and she was able to operate.
On 20 July 1943, the 4th Destroyer Flotilla was deactivated and Nagara replaced the Jintsu
Japanese cruiser Jintsu
was a Sendai-class light cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy, named after the Jinzū River in the Gifu and Toyama prefectures of central Japan.-Background:...
as flagship of Rear Admiral Shunji Isaki
Shunji Isaki
- Notes :...
's 2nd Destroyer Flotilla of the Second Fleet, consisting of Destroyer Divisions 24, 27, 31, plus three attached destroyers. Nagara was relieved as flagship of 2nd Destroyer Flotilla by the newly commissioned Noshiro on 20 August 1943, and was re-assigned to the Eighth Fleet under Vice Admiral, Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
Tomoshige Samejima
Tomoshige Samejima
-Notes:...
. Nagara also returned to Maizuru for refit with a Type 21 air-search radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
and four twin-mount Type 96 25-mm AA guns.
On 1 November 1943, Nagara relieved Kashima
Japanese cruiser Kashima
was the second vessel completed of the three light cruisers in Katori class, which served with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It is named after the noted Shinto shrine Kashima Jingu in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan.-Background:...
as flagship of the Fourth Fleet under Vice Admiral Masami Kobayashi. On 14 November 1943, she assisted in towing the light cruiser Agano
Japanese cruiser Agano
|-External links:*Tabular record:...
back to Truk after it has been torpedoed by the USS Skate (SS-305)
USS Skate (SS-305)
USS Skate was a United States Navy Balao-class submarine named for the skate, a type of ray.Skate was laid down at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard of Vallejo, California, 1 August 1942. She was launched on 4 March 1943, sponsored by Mrs. George P. Shamer and commissioned on 15 April with Commander...
.
On 22 November 1943, Nagara sortied from Truk in response to American invasion of Tarawa and the Gilbert Islands
Gilbert Islands
The Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
, arriving at Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
on 26 November 1943. It was attacked by TBF Avenger
TBF Avenger
The Grumman TBF Avenger was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world....
torpedo-bombers and SBD Dauntless
SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was a naval dive bomber made by Douglas during World War II. The SBD was the United States Navy's main dive bomber from mid-1940 until late 1943, when it was largely replaced by the SB2C Helldiver...
dive-bombers from Task Group 50.3's USS Enterprise (CV-6)
USS Enterprise (CV-6)
USS Enterprise , colloquially referred to as the "Big E," was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the seventh U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. Launched in 1936, she was a ship of the Yorktown class, and one of only three American carriers commissioned prior to World War II to...
and USS Essex (CV-9)
USS Essex (CV-9)
USS Essex was an aircraft carrier, the lead ship of the 24-ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name. Commissioned in December 1942, Essex participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning the...
and damaged enough to justify a return to Japan in January 1944.
At Maizuru from 26 January 1944, Nagara was again modified. The No. 7 140-mm gun mount was removed and replaced by a 127-mm unshielded HA gun mount. The fore and aft twin torpedo tubes were removed and replaced by two quadruple mounts aft. The catapult was removed and replaced by two triple-mount Type 96 25-mm AA gun mounts bringing the Nagara's 25-mm total to 22 barrels (2x3, 6x2, 4x1). Depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
rails were installed in the stern and a Type 93 hydrophone
Hydrophone
A hydrophone is a microphone designed to be used underwater for recording or listening to underwater sound. Most hydrophones are based on a piezoelectric transducer that generates electricity when subjected to a pressure change...
set was fitted in the bow.
On 15 May 1944, Nagara replaced Tatsuta as flagship of 11th Destroyer Flotilla, directly under the Combined Fleet
Combined Fleet
The was the main ocean-going component of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Combined Fleet was not a standing force, but a temporary force formed for the duration of a conflict or major naval maneuvers from various units normally under separate commands in peacetime....
. It remained in Japanese home waters training with new destroyers and escorting a convoy to the Ogasawara Islands in June and to Okinawa in July. In another refit at Yokosuka on 2 July 1944, ten single mount Type 96 25-mm AA guns were installed bringing Nagara's 25-mm total to 32 barrels (2X3, 6x2, 14x1). A Type 22 surface-search radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
was fitted.
On 7 August 1944, in route from Kagoshima to Sasebo
Sasebo, Nagasaki
is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 259,800 and the density of 609 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km². The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park...
, Nagara was spotted by USS Croaker (SS-246)
USS Croaker (SS-246)
USS Croaker , a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the croaker, any of various fishes which make throbbing or drumming noises....
on her first war patrol. Croaker closed to 1,300 yards and fired a salvo of four stern torpedoes, hitting Nagara starboard aft with one. Nagara sank by the stern off the Amakusa islands
Amakusa
Amakusa is a series of islands belonging to Japan, off the west coast of Kyushu . The biggest of the Amakusa islands is Shimoshima Island, 26.5 miles long and 13.5 miles in extreme width...
at 32°09′N 129°53′E. The captain and 348 crewmen went down with the ship, but 235 crewmen were rescued.
Nagara was removed from the Navy List on 10 October 1944.