Wikipedia

Nagara-class cruiser

The sixNagara-class light cruisers(Trường lương hình khinh tuần dương hạm,Nagaragata keijun'yōkan)were a class of sixlight cruisersbuilt for and operated by theImperial Japanese Navy.TheNagara-class cruisers proved useful in combat operations ranging from theAleutian Islandsto theIndian Oceanthroughout World War II. Most served asflagshipsfor destroyer or submarine squadrons, and were deployed for transport or local defense missions. Towards the end of the war, the surviving vessels were increasingly obsolete and were retained as second-line units.[2]

Japanese light cruiserNagara
Class overview
NameNagaraclass
Builders
OperatorsImperial Japanese Navy
Preceded byKumaclass
Succeeded by
Built1920–1924
In service1922–1944
In commission1920–1945
Planned6
Completed6
Lost6
General characteristics
TypeLight cruiser
Displacement5,570long tons(5,659 t) normal (7203 t deep load)
Length
  • 162.1 m (531 ft 10 in)o/a
  • 158.6 m (520 ft 4 in)w/l
Beam14.2 m (46 ft 7 in)
Draft4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
Installed power154kW 110V electrical[1]
Propulsion
  • 4 shaft Gihon geared turbines
  • 12Kamponboilers
  • 90,000 shp (67,000 kW)
Speed36knots(41 mph; 67 km/h)
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km) at 14 kn (26 km/h)
Complement450
Armament
Armor
  • Belt:60 mm (2.4 in)
  • Deck:30 mm (1.2 in)

TheNagaraclass was followed by the very similarSendaiclass.

Background

edit

A final three 5,500 ton class light cruisers authorized under the8-4 Fleet Programwere ordered by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1920. Due to minor changes in design, primarily due to advances in torpedo technology, these three vessels were initially designated as "modifiedKuma-class ", or" 5500-ton class Type II ", before being re-designated after the lead vessel,Nagara.A second set of three vessels was authorized in late 1920.[3]These final three vessels were initially to be namedSuzuka,Otonase,andMinaseuntil November 1921.[4]

Design

edit

TheNagaraclass was the second class of light cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy based on a standardized 5,500 ton displacement. In terms of dimensions and performance, it is almost identical to the previousKuma-classcruisers; however, it was the first class of cruisers to be equipped with the new 610-millimetre (24 in)Type 93 Long Lance Torpedoes,which required a larger launcher.[4]

TheNagaraclass used the same hull, engine, and armaments layout as theKumaclass. TheNagara-class hull design was based on a 5,500 ton nominaldisplacement,with a high freeboard and light bridge structure, behind which was a tripod mast with the fire control platform and two searchlights, the same as theKumaclass.[3]

The propulsion system for theNagaraclass was based on four axial deceleration turbines with 12 boilers, providing 90,000hp(67,000 kW). Ten boilers were designed to burnheavy oil,and the remaining two burned a mixture ofcoaland oil. TheNagara-class vessels were capable of 36knots(67 km/h; 41 mph), and a range of 9,000nmi(17,000 km) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph).[4]

The main battery consisted of seven14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gunsin individualgun turrets,(two fore, three after and one on either side of the bridge). The positioning meant that only six of the guns could be brought to bear in a broadside.[4]As with theKumaclass, theNagaraclass remained highly deficient in anti-aircraft protection, with only two8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gunsand two 6.5 mm machine guns. Provision was made for 48naval mines.[3]

A major difference from theKumaclass was in the configuration of thebridge,which incorporated an aircraft hangar. Initially, a 33-foot (10 m) platform was mounted above the No.2 turret, extending over the forward superstructure below the bridge. This was later replaced by anaircraft catapult.Even so, the arrangement proved unwieldy, and the catapult was moved to the rear of each ship, between the No.5 and No.6 turrets during retrofits in 1929-1934. The silhouette of the bridges varied somewhat from ship to ship, asAbukumahas a 20-foot (6.1 m)rangefinderlocated on top of the bridge, whereasNagaraandIsuzuhad 15-foot (4.6 m) instruments,Natorihad a 13-foot (4.0 m), andYuraandKinuwere equipped with 12-foot (3.7 m) instruments.[3]

In service modifications

edit

Near the start of World War II,AbukumaandKinuwere scheduled to be fitted as flagships for destroyer squadrons, with the new Type 93 torpedoes. However, due to shortages, onlyAbukumareceived the twin quadruple-mount launcher as planned, and her forward launchers were removed. After the start of the war, each of the vessels in theNagaraclass was modified and upgraded, especially to enhance anti-aircraft capabilities, but no two vessels were modified in the same way.

ONI drawing of theNagaraclass (here designated as theNatoriclass)

To keep weight within design limits, the catapults were removed, and on almost all vessels, the No.5 and No.7 turrets were replaced by a twin-mount12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval gunand additional single and triple-mountType 96 25 mm AA guns,wherever room permitted, supplemented by 13-mm machine guns.[5]

From 1943-1944, the five surviving ships in the class receivedradar.

Isuzuwas the only cruiser which underwent conversion into a dedicated anti-aircraft/anti-submarine cruiser. From May–September 1944, all of her main guns were removed and replaced by a total of three Type 89 twin-mounted anti-aircraft guns, with a Type 94 fire-control system added to the foremast. Her Type 96 25 mm AA guns were increased to a total of 11 triple-mounts and 17 single-mounts. Her torpedo launchers were replaced by two quadruple launchers mounted in the stern, along with two depth charge rails. She was given a complete set of the latest radar,hydrophonesandsonar.

Ships in class

edit

Six vessels were built in theNagaraclass. None survived the Pacific War.

Nagara(Trường lương)
Built by theSasebo Naval Arsenaland commissioned on 22 April 1922,Nagaraserved in the initial battles of theSecond Sino-Japanese War,including theBattle of Shanghaiand theInvasion of French Indochina.After theattack on Pearl Harbor,Nagaracovered the landings of Japanese troops inMalayaand theDutch East Indies.She accompaniedAdmiral Nagumo's Carrier Striking Force during theBattle of Midway,at the end of which she took over from the destroyerNowakias the flagship of Admiral Nagumo after the loss of his flagshipAkagi.Afterwards, she participated in the battles of theEastern Solomons,Santa Cruz,and theNaval Battle of Guadalcanal(where she is credited with sinking the destroyerUSSPreston). She was sunk by thesubmarineUSSCroakeren route betweenKagoshimaandSaseboon 7 August 1944.[6]
Isuzu(Ngũ thập linh)
Built by theUraga Dock Company,and commissioned on 15 August 1923,Isuzucovered the landings of Japanese troops inChina,and the seizure ofHong Kongin earlyWorld War II.Afterwards assigned to the Dutch East Indies, during the Solomon Islands campaign she was active at the Battle of Santa Cruz and Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Suffering severe damage in air attacks in late 1943, she was forced to return to Japan, where she underwent an extensive conversion into an anti-aircraft/anti-submarine cruiser. She survived theBattle of Leyte Gulf,but was sunk by awolfpackof four submarines (three American and one British) offSumbawaon 7 April 1945.[7]
Natori(Danh thủ)
Completed byMitsubishiNagasakion 15 September 1922,Natoricovered the landings of Japanese troops in thePhilippinesand the Dutch East Indies. During the Battle of Sunda Strait, she contributed to sinking the cruisersUSSHoustonandHMASPerth.Subsequently assigned to patrols in the Dutch East Indies, she returned to Japan to repair damage from air attack in June 1943, and was only able to resume duties in April 1944. She was sunk offSamarby the submarineUSSHardheadon 19 August 1944.[8]
Yura(Do lương)
Commissioned at Sasebo Naval Arsenal on 20 March 1923,Yurawas involved in thesinking ofPrince of WalesandRepulse,and covered the landings of Japanese troops in Malaya andSarawak.Afterwards, she participated in theIndian Ocean raid,the Battle of Midway, and the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. She was fatally damaged byUnited States NavyandUnited States Army Air Forcesaircraft in theSolomon Islandsandscuttledon 25 October 1942.[9]
Kinu(Quỷ nộ)
Completed atKawasaki Shipbuilding CorporationinKobeon 10 November 1922,Kinuwas involved in the sinking ofPrince of WalesandRepulse,and covered the landings of Japanese troops in Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. She was involved in various operations in the Solomon Islands and the Philippines, but was sunk by U.S. Navy aircraft in theVisayan Seaon 26 October 1944.[10]
Abukuma(A võ ôi)
Completed by the Uraga Dock Company on 26 May 1925,Abukumatook part in the attack on Pearl Harbor. She was later involved in theBattle of the Komandorski Islands,and remained active in northern waters under the IJN 5th Fleet until October 1944. However, when sent south to counter the American invasion of the Philippines, she was severely damaged by an AmericanPT boatat theBattle of Surigao Straiton 25 October, and a subsequent attack by American land-based bombers fatally damaged her, causing her to bescuttledon 26 October 1944.[11]

References

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^Lacroix/Wells p. 37
  2. ^Stille,Imperial Japanese Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45,page 22
  3. ^abcdStille, p. 20.
  4. ^abcdFriedman, p. 238
  5. ^Stille, p. 21.
  6. ^[1]CombinedFleet.com:NagaraTabular Record of Movement.
  7. ^[2]CombinedFleet.com:IsuzuTabular Record of Movement.
  8. ^[3]CombinedFleet.com:NatoriTabular Record of Movement.
  9. ^[4]CombinedFleet.com:YuraTabular Record of Movement.
  10. ^[5]CombinedFleet.com:KinuTabular Record of Movement.
  11. ^[6]CombinedFleet.com:AbukumaTabular Record of Movement.

Books

edit
  • Brown, David (1990).Warship Losses of World War Two.Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-914-X.
  • Dull, Paul S. (1978).A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941-1945.Naval Institute Press.ISBN0-87021-097-1.
  • Evans, David (1979).Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941.Naval Institute Press.ISBN0-87021-192-7.
  • Friedman, Norman(1985). "Japan". In Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (eds.).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921.Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.ISBN0-87021-907-3.
  • Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977).Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945.Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute.ISBN978-0-87021-893-4.
  • Lacroix, Eric &Wells II, Linton(1997).Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN0-87021-311-3.
  • Roscoe, Theodore (1949).United States Submarine Operations in World War II.Naval Institute Press.ISBN0-87021-731-3.
  • Stille, Mark (2012).Imperial Japanese Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45.Osprey.ISBN978-1-84908-562-5.
  • Tamura, Toshio (2004). "Correcting the Record: New Insights Concerning Japanese Destroyers and Cruisers of World War II".Warship International.XLI(3):269–285.ISSN0043-0374.
  • Whitley, M. J.(1995).Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-141-6.
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related toNagara class cruiser.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nagara-class_cruiser&oldid=1252949365"