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fighting ships of the world

IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY (JAPAN)

CRUISERS

NAGARA light cruisers (1922-1925)

Kinu 1926

Nagara 1943

Isuzu 1944

Project history: They were built under FY1917 (Nagara, Natori and Isuzu) and FY1918 (Kinu, Yura and Abukuma) Programmes and represented advanced variant of Kuma class. Their basic difference consisted in transition to new torpedo calibre (610mm instead of 533mm). Besides, in the design of Nagara class aviation armament was provided: before fore superstructure (over No2 gun) the short aircraft launching platform was arranged. Because of it bridge should be lifted a little above, than on previous cruisers. First three ships were built within the limits of "8-4" Programme, remaining under already modified "8-8".

After collision in 1930 Abukuma during repair received new S-shaped stem, as Naka. After incident with torpedo boat Tomozuru for stability raise in 1934-1935 a number of works on reduction of the upper weight is conducted, besides, 120-200t of a solid ballast (more 160-200t of a liquid ballast were received into double bottom space). Full displacement has come nearer to 8000t, and maximal speed has decreased to 32kts.

Ship protection: Main belt (7.32m high) protected only machinery, its upper part (73.2x3.00m) was 51mm thick and lower part (68.3x4.32m) 63mm. 29mm flat deck connected with upper edge of belt. CT had 51mm sides and 25mm roof.

Modernizations: 1929, Yura; 1931, Kinu: + 1 catapult (over guns No 1 & 2)

1932, Natori; 1933, Nagara, Isuzu; 1934, Abukuma: + 1 x 4 - 13.2/76, 1 catapult (between No 6 & 7 guns)

1934, Kinu, Yura: catapult was moved to position between No 6 & 7 guns; + 1 x 4 - 13.2/76

1932 - 1934, all: - 2 x 1 - 6.5/115; + 2 x 1 - 7.7/80

1932 - 1937, all: - 2 x 1 - 76/40; + 2 x 1 - 13.2/76

1934 - 1935, all: solid and liquid ballasts were added, full displacement increased to 8000t and speed fell to 32kts.

1935 - 1936, all: boilers were converted to oil only, fuel stowage was 1600t of oil

1937, Natori: - 1 x 4 - 13.2/76; + 1 x 2 - 40/62 HI 91-shiki (temporarily for tests)

1937, Yura: + 1 x 1 - 12.7/62 (temporarily for 1 year)

1938 - 1940, all: - 2 x 1 - 13.2/76; + 2 x 2 - 25/60 96-shiki

1941, Abukuma: - 4 x 2 - 610 TT; + 2 x 4 - 610 TT

1941 - 1942, all: - 2 x 1 - 7.7/80

4/1942, Nagara: - 1 x 4 - 13.2/76; + 2 x 2 - 13.2/76

1/1943, Nagara: - 1 x 1 - 140/50 (No 5); + 4 x 2 - 25/60 96-shiki

1/1943, Abukuma: - 1 x 1 - 140/50 (No 5), 1 x 4 - 13.2/76; + 2 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 1 x 2 - 13.2/76

5/1943, Isuzu: - 2 x 1 - 140/50 (No 5, 7); + 1 x 2 - 127/40 89-shiki, 2 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 1-shiki 2-go radar

5/1943, Abukuma; 10.1943, Nagara: + 1-shiki 2-go radar

10/1943, Kinu: - 2 x 1 - 140/50 (No 5, 7), catapult and seaplane; + 1 x 2 - 127/40 89-shiki, 2 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 2 DCR (36), 1-shiki 2-go radar

11/1943, Abukuma: - 1 x 1 - 140/50 (No 7); + 1 x 2 - 127/40 89-shiki, 1 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 4 x 1 - 25/60 96-shiki, 3 x 1 - 13.2/76

3/1944, Natori: - 2 x 1 - 140/50 (No 5, 7), catapult and seaplane; + 1 x 2 - 127/40 89-shiki, 2 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 4 x 1 - 25/60 96-shiki, 2 DCR (36), 1-shiki 2-go radar

3/1944, Abukuma: - catapult and seaplane; + 1 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki

4/1944, Nagara: - 1 x 1 - 140/50 (No 7), 4 x 2 - 610 TT, catapult and seaplane; + 1 x 2 - 127/40 89-shiki, 2 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 4 x 1 - 25/60 96-shiki, 2 x 4 - 610 TT, 2 DCR (36)

6/1944, Nagara: - 1 x 2 - 13.2/76; + 10 x 1 - 25/60 96-shiki, 8 x 1 - 13.2/76, 2-shiki 2-go radar

7/1944, Abukuma: + 10 x 1 - 25/60 96-shiki, 5 x 1 - 13.2/76, 2-shiki 2-go radar

9/1944, Isuzu: - 5 x 1 - 140/50, 2 x 2 - 25/60, 1 x 4 - 13.2/76, 4 x 2 - 610 TT, catapult and seaplane; + 2 x 2 - 127/40 89-shiki, 9 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 17 x 1 - 25/60 96-shiki, 2 x 4 - 610 TT, 2 DCR (36), 2-shiki 2-go, 3-shiki 1-go radars, 93-shiki 3-gata sonar

10/1944, Kinu: + 2-shiki 2-go, 3-shiki 1-go radars

10/1944, Abukuma: + 10 x 1 - 25/60 96-shiki

Naval service: Abukuma at night 24-25.10.1944 was damaged by a torpedo from US MTB РТ137 in Surigao Strait. 26.10.1944 she was sunk by US carrier aircraft at Los Negros Island. Isuzu in June, 1943 was damaged by a mine and repaired till September. 4.12.1943 she was damaged by US carrier aircraft, repair (combined with conversion to AA ship) lasted till late September, 1944. 19.11.1944 she was damaged by US carrier aircraft and this day received additional damages from torpedo hit from US submarine Hake. 6.4.1945 she was damaged by Dutch and British aircraft and next day sunk in Java sea by torpedoes from US submarines Charr and Gabilan. Kinu 24.10.1944 was damaged by US carrier aircraft and 26.10.1944 sunk by US carrier aircraft in Sibuyan sea. Nagara 15.7.1943 was damaged by a mine (laid by US submarine Silversides). 4.12.1943 she was damaged by US carrier aircraft. 7.8.1944 she was sunk in 35nm S off Nagasaki by US submarine Croaker. Natori 9.1.1943 was hard damaged by torpedo from US submarine Tautog. 18.8.1944 in 200nm E off Samar she was sunk by US submarine Hardhead. Yura during battle at Santa Cruz was hard damaged by US land-based aircraft and sunk by destroyers Yudachi and Harusame N off Sawo.

Yura 1937

Kinu

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-14