Japanese battleship Nagato

Japanese battleship Nagato was a Nagato-class battleship built by the Kure Naval Arsenal and designed by Hiraga Yuzuru, serving as the flagship of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto during the Attack on Pearl Harbor. The battleship was named after Nagato Province, a former province of Japan, and was one of the two Nagato-class battleships, along with her sister ship Mutsu. The construction of the ship was supervised by Vice Admiral Kato Tomosaburo, who later became the Prime Minister of Japan. The Imperial Japanese Navy commissioned the ship in 1920, with Captain Kondo Nobutake as her first commanding officer.

● Design and Construction

The design of the Nagato-class battleship was influenced by the Dreadnought-type battleships, such as the HMS Dreadnought, and was intended to counter the United States Navy's South Carolina-class battleship. The ship was constructed with a treaty battleship design, adhering to the limitations imposed by the Washington Naval Treaty, which was signed by the Empire of Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. The Nagato was built with a main armament of eight 14-inch guns, mounted in four twin turrets, and was powered by Kampon boilers and Gihon geared turbines. The ship's design was also influenced by the Battle of Jutland, which highlighted the importance of fire control and armor plating.

● Career

The Nagato served as the flagship of the Combined Fleet during the 1920s and 1930s, participating in several fleet exercises and naval reviews, including the 1927 Imperial Naval Review and the 1930 Naval Review. The ship was modernized in the 1930s, with the installation of new fire control systems and anti-aircraft guns, such as the Type 89 anti-aircraft gun. The Nagato also played a key role in the Second Sino-Japanese War, serving as a flagship for the Imperial Japanese Navy's China Area Fleet. The ship was commanded by several notable officers, including Admiral Osami Nagano and Admiral Zengo Yoshida.

● World War II

During World War II, the Nagato participated in several key battles, including the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Midway, and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. The ship served as the flagship of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto during the Attack on Pearl Harbor, and was later commanded by Admiral Matome Ugaki. The Nagato was also involved in the Guadalcanal Campaign, providing naval gunfire support to Japanese Army troops during the Battle of Guadalcanal. The ship was damaged during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, but was repaired and returned to service.

● Fate

The Nagato was sunk on July 29, 1946, during the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests, which were conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll. The ship was used as a target for the atomic bomb tests, along with several other Imperial Japanese Navy ships, including the Sakawa and the Haguro. The Nagato was sunk by the Baker shot, a nuclear test that was conducted on July 25, 1946. The ship's sinking was witnessed by several notable individuals, including Admiral Chester Nimitz and General Curtis LeMay.

● Specifications

The Nagato had a displacement of 32,720 tons and was 215.8 meters long, with a beam of 28.96 meters and a draft of 9.08 meters. The ship was powered by 21 Kampon boilers and 4 Gihon geared turbines, which produced 80,000 horsepower and gave the ship a top speed of 26.5 knots. The Nagato was armed with eight 14-inch guns, mounted in four twin turrets, and had a crew of 1,333 officers and men. The ship's armor plating was designed to withstand 14-inch shells, and the ship was equipped with several anti-aircraft guns, including the Type 89 anti-aircraft gun and the Type 96 anti-aircraft gun. The Nagato also carried several Aichi E13A and Nakajima E8N seaplanes, which were used for reconnaissance and spotting duties. Category:Japanese battleships