Nagara-class cruiser

Japanese light cruiser Nagara
Class overview
NameNagara class
Builders
Operators Imperial Japanese Navy
Preceded byKuma class
Succeeded by
Built1920–1924
In service1922–1944
In commission1920–1945
Planned6
Completed6
Lost6
General characteristics
TypeLight cruiser
Displacement5,570 long tons (5,659 t) normal (7203 t deep load)
Length
  • 162.1 m (531 ft 10 in) o/a
  • 158.6 m (520 ft 4 in) w/l
Beam14.2 m (46 ft 7 in)
Draft4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
Installed power154kW 110V electrical[1]
Propulsion
  • 4 shaft Gihon geared turbines
  • 12 Kampon boilers
  • 90,000 shp (67,000 kW)
Speed36 knots (41 mph; 67 km/h)
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km) at 14 kn (26 km/h)
Complement450
Armament
Armor
  • Belt: 60 mm (2.4 in)
  • Deck: 30 mm (1.2 in)

The six Nagara-class light cruisers (長良型軽巡洋艦, Nagaragata keijun'yōkan) were a class of six light cruisers built for and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Nagara-class cruisers proved useful in combat operations ranging from the Aleutian Islands to the Indian Ocean throughout World War II. Most served as flagships for destroyer or submarine squadrons, and were deployed for transport or local defense missions. Towards the end of the war, the surviving vessels were increasingly obsolete and were retained as second-line units.[2]

The Nagara class was followed by the very similar Sendai class.

  1. ^ Lacroix/Wells p. 37
  2. ^ Stille, Imperial Japanese Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45, page 22