Heavy Cruiser Nachi

Nachi

Country	Japan
Ship Class	Myoko-class Heavy Cruiser
Builder	Kure Naval Arsenal
Laid Down	26 Nov 1924
Launched	15 Jun 1927
Commissioned	28 Nov 1928
Sunk	5 Nov 1944
Displacement	13,500 tons standard
Length	662 feet
Beam	21 feet
Draft	21 feet
Machinery	Twelve boilers, four geared steam turbines, four shafts
Power Output	130,000 shaft horsepower
Speed	36 knots
Range	8,000nm at 14 knots
Crew	773
Armament	5x2x203mm guns, 6x120mm guns (pre-1935) or 8x127mm guns (post-1935), 2x13mm machine guns, 12x610mm torpedo tubes
Armor	100mm main belt, 37mm main deck, 25mm turrets, 75mm barbettes
Aircraft	2 floatplanes

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe construction for heavy cruiser Nachi was ordered in 1923 and was commissioned into service in Nov 1928. In 1929, she hosted Emperor Showa as he toured the Kansai region of Japan, which was meant to encourage industrial production in Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nagoya areas. She underwent a reconstruction in 1936. She indirectly participated in the Second Battle of Shanghai in Aug 1937 by transporting troops of Japanese Army 3rd Division to the Shanghai region in China. In late 1937, she underwent her second reconstruction. In the opening chapters of the Pacific War, she supported the invasion of the Philippine Islands, supported the invasion of Dutch East Indies and Portuguese Timor, and saw action in the Dutch East Indies, the latter included firing on HMS Exeter and HMS Encounter which led to their sinkings. In Mar 1943, the convoy she was escorting was engaged by an American force in the North Pacific, resulting in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands; in this battle, she lost a floatplane (concussion damage from her own guns) and suffered five hits, the latter of which caused 14 deaths. She spent most of the remaining part of 1943 and most of 1944 in home waters. In Oct 1944, she departed Kure, Japan for the Philippine Islands on a major counter offensive to halt the advancing Americans, but was turned back during the Battle of Surigao Strait after colliding with cruiser Mogami. Shortly after receiving repairs at Cavite, Philippine Islands for the collision damage, on 5 Nov, Manila Bay came under a US Navy carrier strike, during which Nachi attempted to flee the bay only to be found by USS Ticonderoga and USS Lexington aircraft off Corregidor Island, disabling her at 1250 hours. At 1445 hours, another strike arrived to finish her. Blown into three parts, she sank, killing 807 of the 1027 officers and men aboard, including the commanding officer Captain Enpei Kanoka. Vice Admiral Kiyohide Shima, whose flagship at the time was Nachi, was ashore at a conference at the time of the attack and witnessed the sinking from the shore. USS Lexington aircraft were reported to have strafed at Nachi's survivors in the water after the sinking.

ww2dbaseSources:
CombinedFleet.com
Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Dec 2014

Heavy Cruiser Nachi Interactive Map

Photographs

Cruiser Nachi shortly before completion, Japan, circa early Nov 1928

See all 7 photographs of Heavy Cruiser Nachi

Nachi Operational Timeline

26 Nov 1924	The keel of Nachi was laid down at the Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan.
15 Jun 1927	Nachi was launched at the Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan.
10 Sep 1928	Captain Yoshiyuki Niiyama was named the commanding officer of Nachi.
28 Nov 1928	Nachi was commissioned into service and was assigned to the Sasebo Naval District, Japan.
4 Dec 1928	Nachi attended Emperor Showa's Coronation Naval Review at Yokohama, Japan.
28 May 1929	Emperor Showa boarded Nachi for his tour of the Kansai region, Japan.
29 May 1929	Emperor Showa disembarked Nachi.
30 Nov 1929	An unknown officer assumed command of Nachi.
1 Dec 1930	Captain Noboru Hirata was named the commanding officer of Nachi.
1 Dec 1931	An unknown officer assumed command of Nachi.
15 Nov 1934	Captain Marquis Teruhisa Komatsu was named the commanding officer of Nachi.
2 Dec 1935	Captain Michitaro Totsuka was named the commanding officer of Nachi.
29 Jun 1936	Nachi completed her first reconstruction at Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Japan.
16 Nov 1936	Captain Ryozo Fukuda was named the commanding officer of Nachi.
20 Aug 1937	Nachi departed Nagoya, Japan with the headquarters company and 1st company of 6th Infantry Regiment of Japanese Army 3rd Division aboard.
21 Aug 1937	Nachi transferred the headquarters company and 1st company of 6th Infantry Regiment of Japanese Army 3rd Division to cruiser Jintsu and eight destroyers off Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, China.
1 Dec 1937	Nachi completed her first reconstruction; an unknown officer assumed command of the cruiser.
15 Nov 1939	Captain Sukeyoshi Yatsushiro was named the commanding officer of Nachi.
15 Nov 1940	Captain Tamotsu Takama was named the commanding officer of Nachi.
23 Nov 1940	Nachi arrived at Sasebo, Japan.
26 Nov 1940	Nachi departed Sasebo, Japan for Pescadores Islands, Taiwan.
20 Aug 1941	Captain Takahiko Kiyota was named the commanding officer of Nachi.
6 Dec 1941	Nachi departed Palau Islands.
11 Dec 1941	Nachi provided support for the landing at Legaspi, Philipine Islands.
15 Dec 1941	Nachi arrived in the Palau Islands.
17 Dec 1941	Nachi departed Palau Islands.
19 Dec 1941	Nachi provided support for the landings at Davao, Philippine Islands.
20 Dec 1941	Nachi provided support for the landings at Davao, Philippine Islands.
24 Dec 1941	Nachi provided support for the landings at Jolo, Philippine Islands. She departed Philippine waters later in the day for Palau Islands.
29 Dec 1941	Nachi departed Palau Islands.
31 Dec 1941	Nachi arrived in Davao Gulf, Philippine Islands.
4 Jan 1942	Nachi received light shrapnel damage in the searchlight (wounding one officer) in Malalag Bay, Davao Gulf, Philippine Islands from US B-17D bombers. Later in the day, Rear Admiral Takeo Takagi transferred his flag from Myoko to Nachi; Myoko had received a direct hit during the same attack.
9 Jan 1942	Nachi departed Davao, Philippine Islands.
11 Jan 1942	Nachi provided support for the landings at Menado, Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
12 Jan 1942	Nachi arrived at Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan at 0715 hours.
24 Jan 1942	Nachi provided support for the landings at Kendari, Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
29 Jan 1942	Nachi departed Davao, Philippine Islands for Bangka Roads, Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
5 Feb 1942	Nachi departed Bangka Roads, Celebes, Dutch East Indies to support the landings at Makassar, Celebes.
17 Feb 1942	Nachi provided support for the landings at Dili, Portuguese Timor.
24 Feb 1942	Nachi departed Staring Bay, Celebes, Dutch East Indies with Cruiser Division 5.
27 Feb 1942	American seaplane tender USS Langley with 32 P-40 fighters aboard, en route to Java, was sunk by Japanese Navy land-based aircraft. On the same day, at the Battle of the Java Sea, Japanese cruisers Haguro and Nachi sank Dutch cruisers HNLMS Java and De Ruyter along with destroyer HNLMS Kortenaer and two other Dutch destroyers with Type 93 torpedoes without any Japanese losses.
27 Feb 1942	At the Battle of the Java Sea, Nachi launched scouting missions with her two floatplanes. She was surprised by the Allied Striking Force in the evening, but was able to escape without damage.
1 Mar 1942	At the Battle of the Java Sea, slightly damaged cruiser HMS Exeter, destroyer HMS Encounter, and destroyer USS Pope at 0850 hours. At 1245 hours, Nachi fired once again on HMS Exeter by gunfire. She departed the area at the end of the day with 90 Allied prisoners of war on board.
3 Mar 1942	Nachi arrived at Kendari, Celebes, Dutch East Indies. She departed for Makassar, Celebes later on the same day.
10 Mar 1942	Nachi departed Makassar, Celebes, Dutch East Indies for Mako, Pescadores Islands, Taiwan.
15 Mar 1942	Nachi arrived at Mako, Pescadores Islands, Taiwan. She departed later on the same day.
17 Mar 1942	Nachi arrived at Sasebo, Japan and was detached from Cruiser Division 5.
7 Apr 1942	Nachi departed Sasebo, Japan.
11 Apr 1942	Nachi arrived at Akkeshi Bay, Hokkaido, Japan.
15 Apr 1942	Nachi departed Akkeshi Bay, Hokkaido, Japan.
16 Apr 1942	Nachi arrived at Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan.
18 Apr 1942	Nachi departed Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan.
25 Apr 1942	Nachi arrived at Yokosuka, Japan.
29 Apr 1942	Nachi was made the flagship of Vice Admiral Boshiro Hosogaya of the 5th Fleet. She departed Yokosuka, Japan later in the day.
3 May 1942	Nachi arrived at Akkeshi, Hokkaido, Japan.
6 May 1942	Nachi departed Akkeshi, Hokkaido, Japan.
12 May 1942	Nachi arrived at Akkeshi, Hokkaido, Japan.
15 May 1942	Nachi arrived at Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan for a scheduled refit.
26 May 1942	Nachi departed Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan as the flagship of Vice Admiral Boshiro Hosogaya, providing support for the convoy carrying troops of the Aleutian Islands invasion force.
2 Jun 1942	Nachi arrived at Paramushiro (Paramushir) Kurile Islands.
3 Jun 1942	Nachi departed Paramushiro (Paramushir) Kurile Islands.
6 Jun 1942	Nachi provided support for the landings at Attu, Aleutian Islands.
23 Jun 1942	Nachi arrived at Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
28 Jun 1942	Nachi departed Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan to cover a convoy bound for Kiska, Aleutian Islands.
14 Jul 1942	Nachi arrived at Yokosuka, Japan for refitting. She was assigned to Cruiser Division 21 of the 5th Fleet.
24 Jul 1942	Nachi entered the drydock at Yokosuka, Japan.
30 Jul 1942	Nachi exited the drydock at Yokosuka, Japan.
2 Aug 1942	Nachi departed Yokosuka, Japan.
6 Aug 1942	Nachi arrived at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
12 Aug 1942	Nachi departed Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
16 Aug 1942	Nachi arrived at Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
29 Aug 1942	Nachi departed Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
2 Sep 1942	Nachi arrived at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
3 Sep 1942	Nachi departed Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
18 Sep 1942	Nachi arrived at Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
30 Sep 1942	Nachi departed Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan in search of a nearby US task force (which was faulty intelligence).
2 Oct 1942	Nachi arrived at Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
22 Oct 1942	Nachi departed Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
26 Oct 1942	Nachi arrived at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
6 Nov 1942	Nachi arrived at Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
11 Nov 1942	Captain Takahiko Kiyota, commanding officer of Nachi, was promoted to the rank of rear admiral in preparation for assignment as a cruiser division commander.
16 Nov 1942	Captain Akira Sone was named the commanding officer of Nachi.
19 Nov 1942	Nachi arrived at Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan at 1745 hours.
20 Nov 1942	Nachi departed Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan at 0840 hours.
23 Nov 1942	Nachi arrived at Kakumabetsu, Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands at 0620 hours and departed at 1400 hours.
28 Nov 1942	Nachi arrived at Kakumabetsu, Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands in the morning and departed at 1200 hours.
13 Jan 1943	Nachi departed Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan at 0715 hours.
17 Jan 1943	Nachi arrived at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
24 Jan 1943	Nachi refueled from oiler Teiyo Maru at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
29 Jan 1943	Nachi departed Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
1 Feb 1943	Nachi arrived at Yokosuka, Japan.
3 Feb 1943	Nachi departed Yokosuka, Japan.
5 Feb 1943	Nachi arrived at Sasebo, Japan and began a period of refitting.
27 Feb 1943	Nachi departed Sasebo, Japan.
4 Mar 1943	Nachi arrived at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
5 Mar 1943	Nachi refueled from oiler Teiyo Maru at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
7 Mar 1943	Nachi departed Kashiwabara, Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands to escort a convoy to Attu, Aleutian Islands.
10 Mar 1943	Nachi arrived at Attu, Aleutian Islands.
13 Mar 1943	Nachi arrived at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
17 Mar 1943	Nachi refueled from oiler Teiyo Maru at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
23 Mar 1943	Nachi departed Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
26 Mar 1943	During the Battle of the Komandorski Islands, Japanese cruisers Nachi, Maya, Tama, and Abukuma with destroyers Wakaba, Hatsushimo, Ikazuchi, Inazuma, and Usugumo plus three transport ships engaged United States Navy cruisers Salt Lake City and Richmond escorted by destroyers Coghlan, Bailey, Dale, and Monaghan in one of the very few pure naval surface battles of World War II involving long-range guns. Nachi was forced to push one of her floatplanes overboard (concussion damage from her own guns), fired several Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes at the US forces (none of which hit), and received five hits (killing 14). Salt Lake City sustained moderate damage and was dead in the water for a short time. Bailey, Coghlan, and Monaghan made a bold torpedo attack that became known as the Charge of the Irish Destroyers.
28 Mar 1943	Nachi arrived at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
31 Mar 1943	Nachi departed Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
3 May 1943	Nachi arrived at Yokosuka, Japan for repairs.
11 May 1943	Nachi departed Yokosuka, Japan.
15 May 1943	Nachi arrived at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
16 May 1943	Nachi refueled from oiler Teiyo Maru in Kataoka Bay, Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
10 Jul 1943	Nachi departed Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands to cover the Japanese withdraw from Kiska, Aleutian Islands.
15 Jul 1943	Nachi arrived at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
13 Aug 1943	Nachi arrived at Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan for a refitting; she would receive a Type 21 air search radar.
6 Sep 1943	Nachi departed Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. After dark, about 50 miles northeast of Ominato, she was detected by US submarine USS Halibut (which mis-identified Nachi as a destroyer) and was struck by one of Halibut's spread of four torpedoes; the torpedo failed to detonate.
9 Sep 1943	Nachi arrived at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
10 Sep 1943	Captain Shiro Shibuya was named the commanding officer of Nachi while the ship was at Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
22 Sep 1943	Nachi arrived at Sasebo, Japan for refitting; she would receive a new Type 21 air search radar.
25 Oct 1943	Nachi departed Paramushiro (Paramushir), Kurile Islands.
27 Oct 1943	Nachi arrived at Akkeshi Bay, Hokkaido, Japan.
1 Nov 1943	Nachi arrived at Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
20 Nov 1943	Nachi departed Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
22 Jan 1944	Nachi departed Sasebo, Japan.
23 Jan 1944	Nachi arrived at Hashirajima, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
6 Feb 1944	Nachi refueled at Tokuyama Fuel Depot, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
7 Feb 1944	Nachi departed Tokuyama, Japan.
29 Feb 1944	Nachi refueled from oiler Teiyo Maru in Mutsu Bay, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
4 Mar 1944	Nachi refueled from oiler Teiyo Maru in Mutsu Bay, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
10 Mar 1944	Nachi arrived at Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan and refueled from oiler Teiyo Maru.
2 Apr 1944	Nachi began a period of guard ship duty at Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
2 May 1944	Nachi refueled from oiler Teiyo Maru at Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
8 May 1944	Nachi refueled from oiler Teiyo Maru in Kawauchi Bay, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
29 May 1944	Nachi refueled from oiler Teiyo Maru in Kawauchi Bay, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
19 Jun 1944	Nachi deprated Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
21 Jun 1944	Nachi arrived at Yokosuka, Japan for refitting.
29 Jun 1944	Nachi departed Yokosuka, Japan.
1 Jul 1944	Nachi began a period of guard ship duty at Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
31 Jul 1944	Nachi departed Ominato Guard District, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
2 Aug 1944	Nachi arrived at Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan.
20 Aug 1944	Captain Enpei Kanoka was named the commanding officer of Nachi while the ship was at Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan.
15 Sep 1944	Nachi received 2 twin-mount and 20 single-mount Type 96 25-millimeter anti-aircraft guns at Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan.
14 Oct 1944	Nachi received a Type 13 air search radar at Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan.
14 Oct 1944	Nachi departed Kure, Japan with Cruiser Division 21.
16 Oct 1944	Nachi arrived at Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan with Cruiser Division 21.
18 Oct 1944	Nachi departed Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan with Cruiser Division 21 and Destroyer Squadron 1.
20 Oct 1944	Nachi arrived at Mako, Pescadores Islands with Cruiser Division 21.
21 Oct 1944	Nachi departed Mako, Pescadores Islands with Cruiser Division 21.
23 Oct 1944	Nachi arrived at Coron, Palawan, Philippine Islands.
24 Oct 1944	Nachi departed Coron, Palawan, Philippine Islands. At 0427, she fired eight torpedoes at a radar target in Surigao Strait, scoring no hits. Two minutes later, she collided with cruiser Mogami, forcing the force to retire.
25 Oct 1944	Nachi arrived at Coron, Palawan, Philippine Islands.
26 Oct 1944	Nachi refueled from oiler Nichiei Maru at Coron, Palawan, Philippine Islands.
27 Oct 1944	Nachi departed Coron, Palawan, Philippine Islands.
28 Oct 1944	Nachi arrived at Manila Bay, Philippine Islands and entered drydock at No. 103 Repair Facility at Cavite for repairs.
29 Oct 1944	While in the drydock at No. 103 Repair Facility at Cavite, Philippine Islands, she was hit by a bomb and was strafed by a US Navy carrier aircraft, killing 53.
29 Oct 1944	Damaged cruisers Kumano and Nachi are attacked by American carrier aircraft while in Manila Bay, Philippines.
2 Nov 1944	Nachi's repairs in the drydock at No. 103 Repair Facility at Cavite, Philippine Islands was completed.
5 Nov 1944	While in Manila Bay, Philippine Islands, Nachi survived the first two waves of a US Navy carrier attack, but was caught by about 60 aircraft from a third wave from USS Ticonderoga and USS Lexington at 1250 hours. She was disabled by five bombs and two or three torpedoes. At 1400 hours, she was able to even her list and prepared to be towed away by destroyer Akebono. At 1445 hours, another wave from USS Lexington hit Nachi with five torpedoes, twenty bombs, and sixteen rockets. Nachi sank at 1450 hours. 807, including Captain Enpei Kanoka, were killed; 220 survived.
20 Jan 1945	Nachi was struck from the Japanese Navy list.

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