View source for Japanese cruiser Nagara

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Nagara.jpg
|Ship caption= Japanese light cruiser ''Nagara''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country= [[Empire of Japan]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Empire of Japan|naval}}
|Ship name=''Nagara''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=1919 Fiscal Year
|Ship builder=[[Sasebo Naval Arsenal]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship laid down=9 September 1920
|Ship launched=25 April 1921
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship commissioned=21 April 1922
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship fate=Torpedoed and sunk by {{USS|Croaker|SS-246|6}}, 7 August 1944
|Ship struck=10 October 1944
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Nagara|cruiser|0}} [[light cruiser]]
|Ship displacement={{convert|5570|LT|t|0|lk=on|abbr=on}}
|Ship length={{convert|162.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|14.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|4.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=*12 [[Imperial Japanese Navy Technical Department|Kampon]] boilers
* {{cvt|90000|shp|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=*4 shafts; geared [[steam turbine]]s
|Ship speed={{convert|36|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=*{{convert|9000|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}}
|Ship complement=450
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*As built
** 7 × single [[14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun|{{cvt|14|cm}} guns]]
** 2 × single [[8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun|{{cvt|7.62|cm|0}}]] [[AA gun]]s
** 2 x twin, 4 × single [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|{{cvt|25|mm|0}} ]] AA guns
** 5 × twin [[Hotchkiss M1929 machine gun|{{cvt|13.2|mm}}]] [[machine gun]]s
** 2 × twin {{cvt|61|cm}} [[torpedo tube]]s
*July 1944
** 5 × single 14 cm guns
** 1 × twin [[12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval gun|{{cvt|12.7|cm|0}}]] [[DP gun]]s
** 2 × single 7.62 cm AA guns
** 2 × triple, 6 × twin, 14 × single 25 mm AA guns
** 10 × 13.2 mm machine guns
** 2 × quadruple 61 cm torpedo tubes
|Ship armor=*{{cvt|62|mm}} (belt)
*{{cvt|30|mm}} (deck)
|Ship aircraft=1 × [[floatplane]]
|Ship aircraft facilities= 1 aircraft [[Aircraft catapult#Interwar and World War II|catapult]]
}}
|}

{{nihongo|'''''Nagara'''''|長良}} was the [[lead ship]] of [[Nagara-class cruiser|her class]] of [[light cruiser]] in the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Jentsura  | first = Hansgeorg  | year = 1976 | title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945  | publisher = Naval Institute Press  | isbn = 0-87021-893-X }} page 107</ref> She was named after the [[Nagara River]] in the [[Chūbu region]] of [[Japan]].

==Background==
''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]].

==Design==
{{Main|Nagara-class cruiser}}
The ''Nagara''-class vessels were essentially identical to the earlier {{sclass|Kuma|cruiser|2}}s, using the same hull design, powerplant and layout of armament. The main differences were in the design of the [[Bridge (nautical)|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 torpedo]]es, which required an extension of the main [[Deck (ship)|deck]].

All vessels in the class were modified extensively during their operational lives, with no two vessels modified in the same way.<ref name=Stille>Stille, '' Imperial Japanese Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45 '', pages 20-27;</ref>

==Service career==
===Early career===
''Nagara'' was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 9 September 1920, [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 25 April 1921 and completed at [[Sasebo Naval Arsenal]], and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 21 April 1922.<ref name="Nishida">{{cite web |first= Hiroshi |last= Nishida |url= http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0326.htm |title= Nagara class light cruisers |year= 2002 |work= Imperial Japanese Navy |access-date= 18 June 2007 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20121204171938/http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0326.htm |archive-date= 4 December 2012 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Soon after commissioning, ''Nagara'' was assigned to the Japanese naval base at [[Lüshunkou|Port Arthur]], from where she patrolled the China coast to [[Qingdao]]. 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]],<ref name="combinedfleet">{{cite web| last = Bob Hackett & Sander Kingsepp |url= http://combinedfleet.com/nagara_t.htm |title= IJN Nagara: Tabular Record of Movement |date=1997–2009 |work= Imperial Japanese Navy Page}}</ref> and remained on station patrolling the China coast and the [[Yangtze River]] through 1939. With the heavy cruisers {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Myōkō||2}} and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Nachi||2}}, ''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.

===Invasion of the Philippines and Dutch East Indies===
On 10 September 1941. ''Nagara'' was assigned to [[Vice Admiral]] [[Ibō Takahashi]]'s 16th Cruiser Division of the [[IJN 3rd Fleet]], together with the heavy cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Ashigara||2}}, [[light cruiser]]s {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Kuma||2}} and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Natori||2}} and the 5th Destroyer Flotilla.<ref name="combinedfleet" />  On 26 November 1941, as flagship of [[Rear Admiral]] [[Kyuji Kubo]]'s Fourth Surprise Attack Unit,<ref>{{cite web|first = Klemen | last = L |url= https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies//kubo.html |title= Rear-Admiral Kyuji Kubo |date=1999–2000 |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942}}</ref> ''Nagara'' was based at [[Palau]] at the time of the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].<ref name="combinedfleet" />

From 11–12 December 1941, ''Nagara'' covered the landings of troops at [[Legazpi, Albay|Legaspi]], [[Luzon]], [[Philippines]], returning again from 24–30 December 1941 to cover additional landings at several points on southeast Luzon.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

In January 1942, ''Nagara'' was tasked with escorting the convoy landing the Sasebo No. 1 [[Special Naval Landing Force]] (SNLF) at [[Battle of Menado|Menado]] and [[Kendari]] in the [[Sulawesi|Celebes]].<ref name="combinedfleet" /> On 25 January 1942, while at Kendari, the destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hatsuharu|1933|2}} collided with ''Nagara'', damaging the cruiser's [[Hull (watercraft)|hull]]. Rear Admiral Kubo transferred his flag to the destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hatsushimo|1933|2}}, and ''Nagara'' withdrew to [[Davao City|Davao]] for repairs.<ref name="combinedfleet" /> Returning to the Celebes on 4 February 1942, Rear Admiral Kubō 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 the [[submarine]] {{USS|Sculpin|SS-191|6}}, which mistook ''Nagara'' for a {{sclass|Tenryū|cruiser|2}} and fired two [[Mark 14 torpedo]]es; one missed and the other prematurely exploded.<ref name="combinedfleet" /> On 17 February 1942, ''Nagara'' provided escort for transports with the [[Imperial Japanese Army]]'s [[48th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|48th Infantry Division]] for the invasion of [[Bali]] and [[Battle of Java (1942)|Java]]. During the operation, the [[Royal Navy]] submarine {{HMS|Truant|N68|6}} fired six torpedoes at ''Nagara'', but all missed.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

On 10 March 1942, the Third Fleet was replaced by the Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet under Vice Admiral Takahashi. ''Nagara'' remained in Rear Admiral [[Kenzaburo Hara (admiral)|Kenzaburō Hara]]'s<ref>{{cite web |first= Klemen |last= L |url= https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/hara.html |title= Rear-Admiral Kenzaburo Hara |work= Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942 |access-date= 30 March 2021 |archive-date= 6 September 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200906085402/https://dutcheastindies.webs.com/hara.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> 16th Cruiser Division with the light cruisers {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Kinu||2}} and ''Natori''.<ref name="combinedfleet" /> On 29 March 1942, ''Nagara'' was part of the force sent to [[Battle of Christmas Island|capture Christmas Island]].<ref>{{cite web |first= Klemen |last= L |url= https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/christmas.html |title= The Mystery of Christmas Island, March 1942 |date= 1999–2000 |work= Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942 |access-date= 30 March 2021 |archive-date= 21 January 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160121080434/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/christmas.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> During the operation, the submarine {{USS|Seawolf|SS-197|6}} fired three torpedoes at ''Nagara'', but all missed.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

''Nagara'' departed for Japan on 2 April 1942, where she was in drydock at [[Maizuru Naval Arsenal]] from 12 to 24 April 1942.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

''Nagara'' was assigned as flagship of Rear Admiral [[Susumu Kimura]]'s 10th Destroyer Flotilla with the destroyers {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Nowaki|1940|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Arashi||2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hagikaze||2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Maikaze||2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Makigumo|1941|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Kazagumo||2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Yūgumo|1941|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Urakaze|1940|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Isokaze|1939|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hamakaze|1940|2}}, and {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Tanikaze|1940|2}} under Admiral [[Chuichi Nagumo]]'s [[IJN 1st Fleet]].<ref name="combinedfleet" />

=== Battle of Midway ===
In the [[Battle of Midway]] ''Nagara'' accompanied Admiral Nagumo's Carrier Striking Force, with the [[aircraft carrier]]s {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Akagi||2}}, {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Kaga||2}}, {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Sōryū||2}}, {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Hiryū||2}}, [[battleship]]s {{ship|Japanese battleship|Haruna||2}} and {{ship|Japanese battleship|Kirishima||2}} and cruisers {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Tone|1937|2}} and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Chikuma|1938|2}}. On 4 June 1942 ''Nagara'' unsuccessfully counter-attacked the submarine {{USS|Nautilus|SS-168|6}} after the latter attempted to torpedo ''Kirishima''. After ''Akagi'' was hit and set afire by [[dive bomber]]s from {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|6}}, Vice-Admiral Nagumo transferred his flag to ''Nowaki'' and then to ''Nagara''.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

''Nagara'' returned safely to Japan on 13 June 1942. She brought about 500 wounded to [[Hashirajima]], where they were transferred to the [[hospital ship]] ''[[Hikawa Maru]]'' on 15 June.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/Hikawa_t.htm |last1=Hackett |first1=Bob |last2=Kingsepp |first2=Sander |last3=Cundall |first3=Peter |title=IJN Hospital Ship Hikawa Maru: Tabular Record of Movement |work=Japanese Hospital Ships |date=1998–2011 |access-date=16 April 2013}}</ref>

===Battle of the Solomon Islands===
On 14 July 1942, the 10th Destroyer Flotilla with ''Nagara'' was reassigned to the Third Fleet, which departed for [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]], [[Caroline Islands]] on 16 August 1942. The fleet included the aircraft carriers {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shōkaku||2}}, {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Zuikaku||2}}, {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Ryūjō||2}}, battleships {{ship|Japanese battleship|Hiei||2}} and ''Kirishima'', cruisers ''Tone'' and ''Chikuma'', and destroyers {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Akigumo|1941|2}}, ''Makigumo'', ''Kazagumo'', ''Yūgumo'', {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Akizuki|1941|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hatsukaze||2}}, ''Nowaki'', {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Amatsukaze|1939|2}}, ''Maikaze'', ''Tanikaze'' and {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Tokitsukaze|1939|2}}.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

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 the Santa Cruz Islands|Battle of Santa Cruz]], and again returned to Truk undamaged.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

=== Naval battle of Guadalcanal ===
On 9 November 1942, Rear Admiral Kimura and the ''Nagara'' squadron was assigned to screen ''Hiei'' and ''Kirishima'' during a reinforcement plan to land 14,500 men, heavy weapons and supplies on [[Guadalcanal]]. The landing was preceded by a bombardment of [[Henderson Field (Guadalcanal)|Henderson Field]] by the battleships. This action became the [[First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal]] on 13 November 1942. During the engagement, ''Akatsuki'' and {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Yūdachi|1936|2}} were sunk, while ''Amatsukaze'', {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Murasame|1935|2}} and {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Ikazuchi|1931|2}} were damaged. Most notably, ''Hiei'' had been struck by two 8-inch (203 mm) shells from the heavy cruiser {{USS|San Francisco|CA-38|6}} which jammed her rudder in a hard turn, unable to maneuver.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stille |first=Mark |title=Imperial Japanese Navy Battleship 1941–1945 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |date=July 22, 2008 |isbn=9781846032806 |edition=Reprint |pages=20 |language=en}}</ref>

For her part, ''Nagara'' combined fire with the destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Yukikaze|1939|2}} to sink the destroyer {{USS|Cushing|DD-376|6}}, but in exchange she was straddled by shells from ''San Francisco'' and took a direct hit by one 5-inch (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 scuttled following attacks by planes from [[Henderson Field (Guadalcanal)|Henderson Field]], USS ''Enterprise'' and [[B-17 Flying Fortress]] bombers from [[Espiritu Santo]].<ref name="combinedfleet" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Long Lancers |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/yukika_t.htm |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=www.combinedfleet.com}}</ref>

Vice Admiral [[Gunichi Mikawa]] sortied from the [[Shortland Islands]] for Guadalcanal in {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Chōkai||2}} with the {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Kinugasa||2}}, light cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Isuzu||2}}, and destroyers {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Arashio||2}} and {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Asashio|1936|2}} to carry out Kondō's original plan and bombard Henderson Field with his cruisers where Abe failed with his battleships. The cruisers {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Maya||2}}, {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Suzuya|1934|2}}, {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Tenryū||2}} and destroyers ''Kazagumo'', ''Makigumo'', {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Michishio||2}} and ''Yūgumo'' accompanied, while ''Kirishima'', {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Atago||2}}, {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Takao|1930|2}}, ''Nagara'' and six destroyers formed a screening unit.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

This led to the [[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal|2nd Naval Battle of Guadalcanal]] on 15 November 1942. ''Nagara'' and her destroyers engaged the Americans with gunfire and [[Long Lance|Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes]], taking part in the initial successful action against US destroyers. ''Nagara'' sank the destroyer {{USS|Preston|DD-379|6}} with gunfire, particularly a hit which detonated ''Preston''{{'}}s 5-inch (127 mm) gun [[Magazine (artillery)#Naval magazines|magazines]], causing a massive explosion. Meanwhile, the destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Ayanami|1929|2}} torpedoed and sank the destroyer {{USS|Walke|DD-416|6}}, while the destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Uranami|1928|2}} sank the destroyer {{USS|Benham|DD-397|6}} with a torpedo, before both ''Ayanami'' and ''Uranami'' combined fire to cripple the destroyer {{USS|Gwin|DD-433|6}}. During the action, more than 30 torpedoes were launched at the battleship {{USS|South Dakota|BB-57|6}}, but all missed. On the Japanese side, the battleship {{USS|Washington|BB-56|6}} surprise attacked ''Kirishima'' at mere point blank range, crippling the ship with seventeen 5-inch shells and twenty 16-inch (406 mm) shells, and crippled ''Ayanami'' but ''Nagara'' was undamaged, and returned to Truk on 18 November 1942.<ref name="combinedfleet" /> ''Kirishima'' succumbed to her damage and sank the next morning after the battle, while ''Ayanami'' was promptly [[Scuttling|scuttled]] by ''Uranami''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USS Preston (DD-379) DANFS History |url=https://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/index.asp?r=37900&pid=37910 |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=destroyerhistory.org}}</ref>

On 20 November 1942, ''Nagara'' became flagship of Rear Admiral Takama's 4th Destroyer Flotilla. The newly commissioned {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Agano||2}} 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.&nbsp;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 [[Operation Ke|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 [[Operation RY|occupation of Nauru]].

===Operations in the South Pacific===
In July 1943, ''Nagara'' was involved in escorting the aircraft carrier {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Jun'yō||2}} while ferrying aircraft to [[Kavieng]], [[New Guinea]]. While mooring, ''Nagara'' detonated a [[naval mine|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.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

On 20 July 1943, the 4th Destroyer Flotilla was deactivated and ''Nagara'' replaced the {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Jintsū||2}} as flagship of Rear Admiral [[Shunji Isaki]]'s 2nd Destroyer Flotilla of the [[IJN 2nd 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 cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Noshiro||2}} on 20 August 1943, and was reassigned to the [[IJN 8th 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 AT/AA Gun|Type 96 25 mm AA guns]].

On 1 November 1943, ''Nagara'' relieved {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Kashima||2}} 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 had been torpedoed by the submarine {{USS|Skate|SS-305|6}}.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

On 22 November 1943, ''Nagara'' sortied from Truk in response to the American [[Battle of Tarawa|invasion of Tarawa]] and the [[Gilbert Islands]], arriving at [[Kwajalein]] on 26 November 1943. It was attacked by [[Grumman TBF Avenger]] torpedo-bombers and [[Douglas SBD Dauntless]] dive bombers from Task Group 50.3's aircraft carriers {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|6}} and {{USS|Essex|CV-9|2}} and damaged enough to justify a return to Japan in January 1944.

At Maizuru Naval Arsenal 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 aircraft [[Aircraft catapult#Interwar and World War II|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.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

On 15 May 1944, ''Nagara'' replaced the cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Tatsuta|1918|2}} as flagship of 11th Destroyer Flotilla, directly under the Combined Fleet. She remained in Japanese home waters training with new destroyers and escorting a convoy to the [[Bonin Islands|Ogasawara Islands]] in June and to [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]] in July. In another refit at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 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.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

[[File:Nagara Sinking.jpg|thumb|Photo of the sinking through ''Croaker''{{'}}s periscope]]
On 7 August 1944, en route from [[Kagoshima]] to [[Sasebo, Nagasaki|Sasebo]], ''Nagara'' was spotted by the submarine {{USS|Croaker|SS-246|6}} on her first war patrol. ''Croaker'' closed to {{convert|1,300|yd|m}} and fired a salvo of four stern torpedoes, with one hitting ''Nagara'' starboard aft. ''Nagara'' sank by the stern off the [[Amakusa|Amakusa Islands]] at {{coord|32|09|N|129|53|E |display=inline,title}}.<ref name="Nishida" /> 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.

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book| last = Jentschura| first = Hansgeorg| first2 = Dieter |last2=Jung|first3=Peter |last3=Mickel| year = 1977| title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945| publisher = United States Naval Institute| location = Annapolis, Maryland| isbn = 978-0-87021-893-4|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite web|first=Klemen |last=L |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/index.html |title=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942 |date=1999–2000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726053035/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/index.html |archive-date=2011-07-26 }}
* {{cite web |first= Nishida |last= Nishida |url= http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0326.htm |title= Nagara class light cruisers |year= 2002 |work= Imperial Japanese Navy |access-date= 18 June 2007 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20121204171938/http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0326.htm |archive-date= 4 December 2012 |url-status= dead }}
*{{cite web | last = Parshall | first = Jon |author2=Bob Hackett |author3=Sander Kingsepp |author4=Allyn Nevitt  | url = http://www.combinedfleet.com/nagara_c.htm  | title = Imperial Japanese Navy Page (Combinedfleet.com) | access-date = 2006-06-14}} tabular record:  [http://www.combinedfleet.com/nagara_t.htm  CombinedFleet.com: ''Nagara'' history]
*{{cite book|last1=Lacroix|first1=Eric|last2=Wells II|first2=Linton |title=Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|date=1997|isbn=0-87021-311-3 |name-list-style=amp |author-link2=Linton Wells II}}
*{{cite book | last = Stille | first = Mark | year = 2012 |  title = Imperial Japanese Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45| publisher = Osprey | isbn = 978-1-84908-562-5 }}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book | last = D'Albas | first = Andrieu | year = 1965 | title = Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II | publisher = Devin-Adair Pub | isbn = 0-8159-5302-X }}
*{{cite book | last = Dull | first = Paul S. | year = 1978 | title = A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941-1945 | publisher = Naval Institute Press | isbn = 0-87021-097-1 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/battlehistoryofi0000dull }}
*{{cite book | last = Howarth | first = Stephen | year = 1983 | title = The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895-1945 | publisher = Atheneum | isbn = 0-689-11402-8 }}
*{{cite journal |last1=Lundgren |first1=Robert|title=Question 39/43: Loss of HIJMS ''Kirishima'' |journal=Warship International |date=2008 |volume=XLV |issue=4 |pages=291–296 |issn=0043-0374}}
*{{cite book | last = Roscoe | first = Theodore | year = 1949 | title = United States Submarine Operations in World War II | publisher = Naval Institute Press | isbn = 0-87021-731-3 }}
*{{cite journal |last1=Tamura|first1=Toshio|title=Correcting the Record: New Insights Concerning Japanese Destroyers and Cruisers of World War II|journal=Warship International |date=2004 |volume=XLI |issue=3 |pages=269–285 |issn=0043-0374}}
*{{cite book | last = Whitley | first = M. J. | year = 1995 | title = Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia | publisher = Naval Institute Press | isbn = 1-55750-141-6|location=Annapolis, Maryland|author-link=Michael J. Whitley }}

{{Nagara class cruiser}}
{{August 1944 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nagara}}
[[Category:Nagara-class cruisers]]
[[Category:Ships built by Sasebo Naval Arsenal]]
[[Category:1921 ships]]
[[Category:Second Sino-Japanese War cruisers of Japan]]
[[Category:World War II cruisers of Japan]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by American submarines]]
[[Category:Ships of the Battle of Midway]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the East China Sea]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in August 1944]]