Light Cruiser Naka

Naka

Country	Japan
Ship Class	Sendai-class Light Cruiser
Builder	Mitsubishi Yokohama Dock Company, Yokohama, Japan
Laid Down	10 Jun 1922
Launched	24 Mar 1925
Commissioned	30 Nov 1925
Sunk	17 Feb 1944
Displacement	5,195 tons standard; 7,100 tons full
Length	534 feet
Beam	48 feet
Draft	16 feet
Machinery	Parsons geared turbines, 10 Kampon boilers, four shafts
Power Output	90,000 shaft horsepower
Speed	35 knots
Range	5,000nm at 14 knots
Crew	452
Armament	7x140mm guns, 2x80mm guns, 4x2x610mm torpedo tubes, 48 mines
Armor	64mm belt, 29mm deck
Aircraft	1 floatplane
Catapult	1

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseNaka was ordered by Japan in 1920 and was completed at the Mitsubishi yard at Yokohama, Japan in 1925. In the opening chapters of the Pacific War, she supported the invasion of the Philippine Islands as a part of the Japanese Navy Third Fleet, during which she was slightly damaged by US aircraft. In Jan and Feb 1942, she supported various landings in the Dutch East Indies, engaging in the Battle of the Java Sea on 27 Feb 1942. On 1 Apr, US submarine USS Seawolf fired two torpedoes at her while she was off eastern Java, hitting her with one on the starboard side; cruiser Natori towed her to Bantam Bay, Java for temporary repairs, and then she sailed under her own power to Singapore for further temporary repairs, before finally reaching Japan for final repairs. She would not return to service until Apr 1943. She transported troops largely in the Central Pacific until early 1944. On 17 Feb 1944, while escorting damaged light cruiser Agano out of Truk, Caroline Islands, the Japanese base was raided by US carrier aircraft. The aircraft found and attacked Naka 65 kilometers from the port, hitting her with one torpedo and one bomb, breaking her in two. About 240 were killed in the sinking; 210 survivors were rescued by patrol boats.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Jan 2013

Light Cruiser Naka Interactive Map

Photographs

Sendai-class light cruiser retouched photo, circa 1924-25

Light cruiser Naka prior to her commissioning, Nov 1925

Naka Operational Timeline

10 Jun 1922	The keel of Naka was laid down by Mitsubishi-owned Yokohama Dock Company in Yokohama, Japan.
24 Mar 1925	Naka was launched at Yokohama, Japan.
15 Apr 1925	Commander Choji Inoue was named the chief equipping officer of Naka.
30 Nov 1925	Naka was commissioned into service; chief equipping officer Commander Choji Inoue was named her commanding officer.
1 Dec 1925	Commander Choji Inoue, commanding officer of Naka, was promoted to the rank of captain.
1 Dec 1926	Captain Kamezaburo Nakamura was named the commanding officer of Naka.
5 Apr 1927	Naka received a new commanding officer.
30 Nov 1929	Captain Chuichi Nagumo was named the commanding officer of Naka.
1 Dec 1930	Naka received a new commanding officer.
1 Dec 1931	Captain Koki Yamamoto was named the commanding officer of Naka.
1 Dec 1932	Captain Shigeru Sonoda was named the commanding officer of Naka.
15 Nov 1933	Naka received a new commanding officer.
15 Nov 1934	Captain Kasuke Abe was named the commanding officer of Naka.
25 May 1935	Captain Tadashige Daigo was named the commanding officer of Naka.
15 Nov 1935	Captain Aritomo Goto was named the commanding officer of Naka.
1 Dec 1936	Captain Koso Abe was named the commanding officer of Naka.
2 Aug 1937	Naka received a new commanding officer.
1 Dec 1937	Captain Chimaki Kono was named the commanding officer of Naka.
15 Nov 1938	Captain Shutoku Miyazato was named the commanding officer of Naka.
15 Dec 1938	Captain Tamotsu Takama was named the commanding officer of Naka.
15 Nov 1939	Captain Teruo Akiyama was named the commanding officer of Naka.
15 Oct 1940	Captain Matsuji Ijuin was named the commanding officer of Naka.
11 Aug 1941	Captain Yoshioki Tawara was named the commanding officer of Naka.
26 Nov 1941	Naka became the flagship of Rear Admiral Shoji Nishimura of Japanese 4th Destroyer Squadron; she departed the Terashima Strait near Sasebo, Japan.
28 Nov 1941	Naka arrived at Mako, Pescadores islands.
7 Dec 1941	Naka departed Mako, Pescadores islands to escort the Philippine Islands invasion force.
10 Dec 1941	While guarding transports which disembarked troops on Luzon, Philippine Islands, Naka was attacked by US B-17 bombers, P-35A fighters, and P-40B fighters, receiving slight damage from strafing.
12 Dec 1941	Naka departed Vigan, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
14 Dec 1941	Naka arrived at Mako, Pescadores islands.
18 Dec 1941	Naka departed Mako, Pescadores islands.
22 Dec 1941	Naka guarded transports as they disembarked 7th Tank Regiment and an infantry regiment of the Japanese 48th Infantry Division at Caba, Luzon, Philippine Islands; she departed for Mako, Pescadores islands later on the same day.
24 Dec 1941	Naka arrived at Mako, Pescadores islands.
29 Dec 1941	Naka departed Takao, Taiwan.
2 Jan 1942	Naka arrived at Davao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
7 Jan 1942	Naka departed Davao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
10 Jan 1942	Naka arrived at Tarakan, Dutch Borneo.
11 Jan 1942	Naka disembarked troops at Tarakan, Dutch Borneo.
21 Jan 1942	Naka departed Tarakan, Dutch Borneo.
23 Jan 1942	Naka protected transports during the invasion of Balikpapan, Dutch Borneo.
24 Jan 1942	Dutch submarine K XVIII fired four torpedoes at Japanese cruiser Naka off Borneo, Dutch East Indies, all of which missed; Naka gave pursue to the submarine unsuccessfully.
30 Jan 1942	Naka departed Balikpapan, Dutch Borneo.
19 Feb 1942	Naka departed Jolo, Philippine Islands.
25 Feb 1942	Naka departed Makassar, Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
2 Mar 1942	Naka patrolled off Kragan, Java, Dutch East Indies.
8 Mar 1942	Naka departed Kragan, Java, Dutch East Indies.
12 Mar 1942	Naka arrived at Makassar, Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
14 Mar 1942	Naka was named the flagship for the Christmas Island invasion force.
18 Mar 1942	Naka was assigned to the Seizure Force for the invasion of Christmas Island.
26 Mar 1942	Naka departed Makassar, Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
29 Mar 1942	Naka departed Bantam Bay, Java, Dutch East Indies.
31 Mar 1942	Naka supported the landing on Christmas Island as the invasion force's flagship; submarine USS Seawolf attempted a torpedo attack on Naka at 0949 hours but failed to score hits.
1 Apr 1942	Japanese cruiser Naka was hit by a torpedo from US submarine USS Seawolf (of three fired) off Christmas Island, causing serious damage. She would be towed to Bantam Bay, Java, Dutch East Indies for repairs.
2 Apr 1942	Natori towed Naka toward Bantam Bay, Java, Dutch East Indies.
3 Apr 1942	Naka arrived at Bantam Bay, Java, Dutch East Indies under tow by Natori.
6 Apr 1942	Naka completed her temporary repairs at Bantam Bay, Java, Dutch East Indies and departed for Singapore.
10 Apr 1942	Naka arrived at Seletar Naval Base, Singapore.
28 Apr 1942	Naka departed Seletar Naval Base, Singapore and arrived at Keppel Harbour, Singapore.
29 Apr 1942	Naka entered the drydock at Keppel Harbour, Singapore.
2 Jun 1942	Naka exited the drydock at Keppel Harbour, Singapore.
3 Jun 1942	Naka departed Singapore.
8 Jun 1942	Naka arrived at Mako, Pescaore islands.
9 Jun 1942	Naka departed Mako, Pescaore islands.
12 Jun 1942	Naka arrived at Yokosuka, Japan.
15 Jun 1942	Naka was named a special reserve vessel; she departed Yokosuka, Japan.
21 Jun 1942	Naka arrived at Maizuru, Japan.
26 Jun 1942	Naka entered drydock at Maizuru, Japan.
6 Jul 1942	Naka exited drydock at Maizuru, Japan.
7 Jul 1942	Captain Ryuji Nakazato was named the commanding officer of Naka while the ship was at Maizuru, Japan.
1 Oct 1942	Captain Banjiro Takagi was named the commanding officer of Naka while the ship was at Maizuru, Japan.
25 Feb 1943	Captain Yoshijiro Imaizumi was named the commanding officer of Naka while the ship was at Maizuru, Japan.
1 Apr 1943	Naka was assigned to Japanese 14th Cruiser Division while the ship was at Maizuru, Japan.
5 Apr 1943	Naka completed her repairs at Maizuru, Japan and departed the port.
6 Apr 1943	Naka arrived at Hashirajima, Japan.
20 Apr 1943	Naka departed Hashirajima, Japan.
22 Apr 1943	Naka arrived at Yokosuka, Japan.
25 Apr 1943	Naka departed Yokosuka, Japan.
30 Apr 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
15 May 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
18 May 1943	Naka arrived at Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands.
15 Jun 1943	Naka departed Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands.
18 Jun 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
21 Jun 1943	Ryuho, Yukikaze, Naka, and Yugure arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands. Yugure would begin a period of maintenance and refitting at Truk.
22 Jun 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
25 Jun 1943	Naka arrived at Nauru and disembarked 412 troops of No. 2 Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force; she departed later in the day.
28 Jun 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
19 Jul 1943	Naka arrived at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
20 Jul 1943	Naka arrived at Mili Atoll, Marshall Islands.
21 Jul 1943	Naka arrived at Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands.
24 Jul 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
3 Sep 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
8 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
9 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Taroa, Maloelap Atoll, Marshall Islands and disembarked troops.
10 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
12 Sep 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands, escorting oiler Shiretoko and damaged aircraft transport Fujikawa Maru.
15 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
19 Sep 1943	Naka departed Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
20 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Mili Atoll, Marshall Islands.
21 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands.
24 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
25 Sep 1943	Naka departed Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
26 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands.
29 Sep 1943	Naka departed Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands.
3 Oct 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
11 Oct 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
18 Oct 1943	Naka arrived at Shanghai, China.
21 Oct 1943	Naka departed Shanghai, China with 485 troops of Japanese 17th Division.
28 Oct 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
1 Nov 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
3 Nov 1943	Naka was slightly damaged by near misses by B-24 Liberator bombers 111 kilometers north of Kavieng, New Ireland at 1129 hours; 7 were killed, 20 were wounded.
4 Nov 1943	Naka received 166 troops and anti-tank guns from transport Kiyosumi Maru and then disembarked them at Kavieng, New Ireland at 1700 hours.
5 Nov 1943	Naka arrived at Rabaul, New Britain; later that day, she was slightly damaged by near misses by US carrier aircraft.
6 Nov 1943	Naka departed Rabaul, New Britain.
9 Nov 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
21 Nov 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
22 Nov 1943	Naka arrived at Ponape, Caroline Islands and embarked about 700 troops intended for Tarawa, Gilbert Islands.
23 Nov 1943	Naka departed Ponape, Caroline Islands.
25 Nov 1943	Naka arrived at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
30 Nov 1943	Naka departed Kwajalein, Marshall Islands.
1 Dec 1943	Naka arrived at Mili Atoll, Marshall Islands, disembaked troops, and departed.
2 Dec 1943	Naka departed Kwajalein, Marshall Islands.
1 Jan 1944	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands and took damaged transport Kiyozumi Maru in tow southwest of Truk.
7 Jan 1944	Captain Yoshimasa Sutezawa was named the commanding officer of Naka.
8 Jan 1944	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands with damaged transport Kiyozumi Maru in tow.
17 Feb 1944	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands. She was discovered, attacked, and sunk by the third attack wave of SB2C Helldiver and TBF Avenger carrier aircraft 65 kilometers west of Truk; about 240 were killed, 210 survived including commanding officer Captain Yoshimasa Sutezawa.
31 Mar 1944	Naka was struck from the Japanese Navy list.

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