Japanese cruiser Nagara

Japanese light cruiser Nagara
History
Empire of Japan
Name:	Nagara
Ordered:	1919 Fiscal Year
Builder:	Sasebo Naval Arsenal
Laid down:	9 September 1920
Launched:	25 April 1922
Commissioned:	21 April 1922
Struck:	10 October 1944
Fate:	Sunk 7 August 1944 torpedoed by submarine USS Croaker (SS-246) off Amakusa Islands, East China Sea 32°09′N 129°53′E / 32.150°N 129.883°E / 32.150; 129.883Coordinates: 32°09′N 129°53′E / 32.150°N 129.883°E / 32.150; 129.883
General characteristics
Class and type:	Nagara-class cruiser
Displacement:	5,570 long tons (5,659 t)
Length:	162.1 m (532 ft)
Beam:	14.2 m (47 ft)
Draft:	4.8 m (16 ft)
Installed power:	90,000 shp (67,000 kW)
Propulsion:	4 shaft Gihon geared turbines 12 Kampon boilers (oil-burning 10, mixed 2)
Speed:	36 kn (67 km/h)
Range:	5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 36 kn (67 km/h)  (9,000 km at 67 km/h)
Complement:	450
Armament:	(as built) 7 × 14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns 2 × 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval guns 8 × 61 cm torpedo tubes (12 x Type 91 torpedoes) (2x4) (final) 5 × 14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns 2 × 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval guns 22 Type 96 25-mm AA guns (2 triple + 6 twin + 14 single) 10 × Type 93 13.2 mm machine guns 8 × 61 cm torpedo tubes (8 x Type 93 torpedoes) (2 quad)
Armor:	62 mm (belt) 30 mm (deck)
Aircraft carried:	1 × floatplane
Aviation facilities:	1 aircraft catapult

Nagara (長良^?) 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.

Nagara, as with the other vessels of her class, was intended for use as the flagship of a destroyer flotilla, and it was in that role that she participated in the invasions of the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The Nagara-class vessels were essentially identical to the earlier Kuma-class cruisers, using the same hull design, powerplant and layout of armament. The main differences were in the design of the bridge, which was raised to allow for an aircraft hangar and launch platform above the No.2 gun in front of the bridge. Another change was the installation of the new, larger Type 93 torpedoes, which required an extension of the main deck.

All vessels in the class were modified extensively during their operational lives, with no two vessels modified in the same way.

Nagara was laid down on 9 September 1920, launched on 25 April 1922 and completed at Sasebo Naval Arsenal, and commissioned on 21 April 1922. Soon after commissioning, Nagara was assigned to the Japanese naval base at Port Arthur, from where she patrolled the China coast to Tsingtao. She was commanded by Captain Takeo Takagi from November 1933 to November 1934 and by Captain Sadamichi Kajioka from November 1935 to December 1936. As the Second Sino-Japanese War continued to escalate, Nagara was assigned to provide cover 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, Nagara participated in the Hainan Island Operation in February 1939 under Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō. 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.