Imperial Cruisers

JUNYOKAN!

HIJMS NACHI: Tabular Record of Movement

© 1997-2007 Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp
Revision 5

26 November 1924:
Kure Navy Yard. Laid down.
10 September 1928:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Niiyama Yoshiyuki (32)(former CO of TATSUTA) assumes command.
26 November 1928:
Under construction. Designated NACHI. Work remains to be accomplished on her superstructure and main armament systems. A political decision is made that NACHI will be present for the Emperor Hirohito's (Showa) upcoming Coronation Naval Review to be attended by warships from Great Britian and other countries. NACHI is "completed" and registered in the Sasebo Naval District.
4 December 1928:
Yokohama. NACHI attends the Coronation Review with AOBA, FURUTAKA, KAKO and KINUGASA and other IJN warships. After the review, NACHI is put back into work.
April 1929:
NACHI is finally completed.
28-29 May 1929:
The Emperor cruises aboard NACHI on an inspection tour of industries in the Kansai district (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nagoya) to encourage domestic production.
1 November 1929:
Captain Niiyama assumes command of MYOKO as an additional duty.
30 November 1929:
An unknown officer assumes command.
1 December 1930:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Hirata Noboru (34)(former CO of KARASAKI) assumes command.
1 December 1931:
An unknown officer assumes command.
15 November 1934:
Captain (later Vice Admiral), the Marquis, Komatsu Teruhisa (37) (former CO of KISO) assumes command.
2 December 1935:
Captain (later Vice Admiral), Totsuka Michitaro (38) (former CO of TAMA) assumes command.
29 June 1936:
Sasebo Navy Yard. NACHI's first reconstruction is completed.
16 November 1936:
Captain (later Vice Admiral), Fukuda Ryozo (38) (former CO of HOKAZE) assumes command.
1 December 1937:
Sasebo. NACHI's second reconstruction is completed. An unknown officer assumes command.
15 November 1939:
Captain (Vice Admiral, posthumously), Yatsushiro Sukeyoshi (40)(former CO of KUMANO) assumes command.
15 November 1940:
Captain (later Vice Admiral), Takama Tamotsu (41) assumes command.
20 August 1941:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Kiyota Takahiko (former CO of KINUGASA) assumes command.
2 December 1941:
NACHI is in Rear Admiral (Admiral, posthumously) Takagi Takeo's (former CO of MUTSU) CruDiv 5 with MYOKO and HAGURO.
CruDiv 5 receives the coded signal "Niitakayama nobore (Climb Mt. Niitaka) 1208" from the Combined Fleet. This signifies that X-Day hostilities will commence on 8 December (Japan time).
6 December 1941: Operation "M" - The Attack on the Southern Philippines:
CruDiv 5's NACHI and MYOKO depart Palau to provide cover for the planned landings at Davao and Legaspi in Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo's (former CO of KIRISHIMA) Third Fleet, Southern Force, Philippine Seizure Force.
The Covering Force includes light carrier RYUJO with destroyer SHIOKAZE, Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Tanaka Raizo's (former CO of KONGO) DesRon 2's light cruiser JINTSU and DesDiv 15's HAYASHIO, NATSUSHIO, OYASHIO and KUROSHIO and DesDiv 16's YUKIKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE and AMATSUKAZE.
CruDiv 5 supports Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kubo Kyuji's (former CO of MIKUMA) Fourth Surprise Attack Force: seaplane tenders CHITOSE and MIZUHO, the light cruisers NAGARA (F) and NAKA, five destroyers and seven transports.
11 December 1941:
Covers the landings at Legaspi.
15 December 1941:
Returns to Palau.
17 December 1941:
CruDiv 5 departs Palau with Rear Admiral Tanaka's Southern Philippines Attack Force's RYUJO, CHITOSE, NAGARA, DesRon 2 and twelve transports.
19-20 December 1941:
Supports the invasion landings at Davao.
24 December 1941:
Supports the invasion landings at Jolo. Returns to Palau.
29 December 1941:
Departs Palau.
31 December 1941:
Arrives in the Davao Gulf.
4 January 1942:
CruDiv 5 is with the Attack Force at the former U.S. Navy anchorage at Malalag Bay, Davao Gulf. They are bombed by B-17D "Flying Fortresses" from Java while anchored. MYOKO is hit by one bomb. Rear Admiral Takagi's flag is transferred from MYOKO to NACHI.
9 January 1942: Operation "H" - The Invasion of the Celebes:
At Davao. NACHI and HAGURO provide close support.
11-14 January 1942:
NACHI and HAGURO cover the landings at Menado and Kema.
24 January 1942:
NACHI and HAGURO cover the landings at Kendari.
26 January 1942:
S of Davao. LtCdr (later Captain) Richard G. Voge's USS SAILFISH (SS-192) sights what they identify as a "NACHI-class cruiser" and a destroyer. Voge sets up and makes a submerged daylight attack. At about noon, he fires four Mark -14 torpedoes at the cruiser and hears an explosion. Voge's soundman thinks he hears the target's propellers stop. Although Voge is credited with damaging a cruiser, postwar neither NACHI or HAGURO are found to have been damaged at that time and place.
29-31 January 1942:
NACHI and HAGURO depart Davao for Bangka Roads, Celebes. Supports the seizure of Ambon.
5-10 February 1942:
Departs Bangka for Staring Bay, Celebes. Supports the landings at Makassar.
17-20 February 1942:
Supports the landings at Dili and Kupang, Timor.
24 February 1942:
CruDiv 5 departs Staring Bay.
27 February 1942: The Battle of the Java Sea:
At 1547, NACHI and HAGURO, DesRon 2's light cruiser JINTSU with DesDiv 16's YUKIKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE and HATSUKAZE and DesDiv 7's USHIO, SAZANAMI, YAMAKAZE and KAWAKAZE engage Dutch Rear Admiral Karel W. F. M. Doorman's Strike Force's light cruiser HNMS DE RUYTER, cruisers HMS EXETER, USS HOUSTON (CA-30), light cruisers HMAS PERTH, HNMS JAVA, destroyers HMS ELECTRA, ENCOUNTER, JUPITER, HNMS KORTENAER and WITTE de WITH and old destroyers USS ALDEN (DD-211), JOHN D. EDWARDS (DD-216), JOHN D. FORD (DD-228) and PAUL JONES (DD-230).
At 1603, DesRon 4's light cruiser NAKA with DesDiv 9's ASAGUMO, MINEGUMO, MURASAME, HARUSAME, SAMIDARE and YUDACHI launch their Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes at Doorman's force. At 1638, EXETER is hit in her boilers by HAGURO. At 1640, HNMS KORTENAER hit by a torpedo from HAGURO, blows up and sinks.
At 1746, HMS ELECTRA and ASAGUMO engage in a gun battle. ELECTRA is sunk. At 2000, HMS JUPITER hits a Dutch mine and sinks.
At 2305, the Allied flagship HNMS DE RUYTER is hit by a torpedo from HAGURO, explodes and sinks about three hours later. Rear Admiral Doorman and 344 crewmen are killed. At 2309, JAVA is hit by torpedo. A large explosion breaks off her stern and she sinks within 15 minutes. HOUSTON and PERTH retire to Batavia (Djakarta), Java. [2]
28 February 1942:
At 1900, after refueling, HOUSTON and PERTH sortie for Tjilatjap via the Sunda Strait. At 2215, they attack Japanese troop transports that are screened only by destroyers HARUSAME, HATAKAZE and FUBUKI. The destroyers make smoke to mask the transports. FUBUKI charges and launches a salvo of torpedoes at HOUSTON and PERTH.
At 2300, the Western Support Force's MIKUMA and MOGAMI, destroyer SHIKINAMI, Third Escort Force's light cruiser NATORI and e destroyers SHIRAKUMO, MURAKUMO, SHIRAYUKI, HATSUYUKI and ASAKAZE arrive and engage HOUSTON and PERTH with gunfire and torpedoes.
During the battle, the Japanese fire about 90 torpedoes. Post-battle analyses indicate that MOGAMI's and FUBUKI's torpedoes probably sank five Japanese transports including RYUJO MARU carrying the commander of the invading 16th Army, LtGen Imamura Hitoshi. Imamura jumps into the sea, but survives.
At 2308, torpedoes strike both HOUSTON and PERTH. At 2342, PERTH sinks.
1 March 1942:
At 0030, HOUSTON sinks.
At 0850, CruDiv 5's NACHI and HAGURO with destroyers YAMAKAZE and KAWAKAZE sight damaged cruiser HMS EXETER, destroyers HMS ENCOUNTER and USS POPE (DD-225) that are enroute to the Sunda Strait from Surabaya. At 1150, the Support Force's ASHIGARA and MYOKO with destroyers AKEBONO and IKAZUCHI also sight and exchange fire with the EXETER group. At 1245, NACHI and HAGURO also open fire on EXETER.
At 1250, EXETER is hit by shells, set afire and goes dead in water. AKEBONO and IKAZUCHI launch 18 torpedoes. At 1330, EXETER sinks.
MYOKO and ASHIGARA damage LtCdr E. V. St. J. Morgan's destroyer HMS ENCOUNTER by a near miss from an 8-inch salvo. ENCOUNTER's Chief Engineer reports that repairs will take two hours. Surrounded and motionless with only one gun firing, Morgan orders his ship scuttled and her crew to abandon ship. At 1335, ENCOUNTER rolls over and sinks.
Old destroyer POPE escapes the engagement with the cruisers, only to be sunk at 1540 in attacks by aircraft from CHITOSE, MIZUHO and RYUJO.
That same day, LtCdr W. G. Chapple’s USS PERMIT (SS-178) sights “a heavy cruiser, two light cruisers and several destroyers” N of Surabaya. In fact, this may be NACHI and HAGURO. Chapple makes an approach and fires three torpedoes at a destroyer from only 600 yards – but misses.
NACHI and HAGURO depart the area.
3 March 1942:
NACHI arrives at Kendari, then departs for Makassar.
13 March 1942:
NACHI, HAGURO and MYOKO depart Makassar for Sasebo.
17 March 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo. Detaches from CruDiv 5. Refit and equipped as a flagship to operate in northern waters.
7 April 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
11 April 1942:
Arrives at Akkeshi Bay, Hokkaido.
15 April 1942:
Departs Akkeshi.
16 April 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
18 April 1942:
Departs Muroran with HOKAZE.
25 April 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
29 April 1942:
NACHI is reassigned from CruDiv 5 to Vice Admiral Hosogaya Boshiro's (former CO of MUTSU) Fifth Fleet as his flagship. Departs Yokosuka.
3 May 1942:
Arrives at Akkeshi.
6 May 1942:
Departs Akkeshi. Cruises E of the Kuriles. NACHI and light cruiser TAMA tow damaged oiler SHIRIYA.
12 May 1942:
Arrives at Akkeshi, departs that day.
15 May 1942:
Arrives at Ominato. Refit.
26 May 1942: Operation "MI" - The Battle of Midway:
The NACHI departs Ominato for the Aleutians as flagship of Vice Admiral Hosogaya's Main Body with destroyers INAZUMA and IKAZUCHI, oilers FUJISAN MARU and NISSAN MARU and three cargo ships. Accompanies Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kakuta Kakuji's (former CO of NAGATO) Second Mobile Force, Carrier Striking Force's CarDiv 4's JUNYO and RYUJO, CruDiv 4's TAKAO and MAYA and destroyers AKEBONO, USHIO, SHIOKAZE and SAZANAMI. NACHI covers a convoy bound for the invasion of Kiska and later supports attacks against Attu Island.
2 June 1942:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
3 June 1942: Operation "AL" - The Invasion of the Aleutians:
Departs Paramushiro. The Second Mobile Force detaches and launches air attacks against American installations in the Aleutians at Dutch Harbor and Unalaska Island.
6 June 1942:
The Second Mobile Force rejoins the Northern Force to cover the invasion of Attu and Kiska Islands. BatDiv 3/1's HIEI and KONGO, carrier ZUIHO, seaplane carrier KAMIKAWA MARU detach from the Midway Force with Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Abe Hiroaki's (former CO of FUSO) CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA. Joins the Second Mobile Force SW of Aleutians. NACHI cruises S of Attu.
23 June 1942:
Returns to Ominato.
28 June 1942:
Departs Ominato. Covers a second reinforcement convoy to Kiska, Aleutians. Patrols SW of Kiska in anticipation of American counter-attack with CarDiv 4, CruDiv 5's HAGURO and MYOKO, CruDiv 21's KISO and TAMA, light cruiser ABUKUMA with DesDiv 4's ARASHI, MAIKAZE, HAGIKAZE and NOWAKI, DesDiv 7's USHIO and SAZANAMI, DesDiv 9's ASAGUMO, MINEGUMO and NATSUGUMO, DesDiv 10's AKIGUMO, KAZAGUMO, MAKIGUMO and YUGUMO and DesDiv 17's URAKAZE. Cruises S of Attu with CruDiv 5 until 7 July.
14 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Refit. That day, NACHI is reassigned to the Fifth Fleet's CruDiv 21 with KISO and TAMA.
24 July 1942:
Drydocked.
30 July 1942:
Undocked.
2 August 1942:
Departs Yokosuka for Paramushiro.
6 August 1942:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
12 August 1942:
Departs Paramushiro.
16 August 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
29 August 1942:
Departs Ominato.
2 September 1942:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
3 September 1942:
Departs Paramushiro.
18 September 1942:
Arrives at Ominato. ABUKUMA and KISO also arrive at Ominato.
30 September 1942:
Sorties from Ominato after an erroneous report is received of the presence of American forces. The mission is aborted.
2 October 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
22 October 1942:
Departs Ominato.
26 October 1942:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
6 November 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
11 November 1942:
Captain Kiyota is promoted to Rear Admiral.
16 November 1942:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Sone Akira (former CO of MOGAMI) assumes command. Rear Admiral Kiyota is reassigned as ComCruDiv 14.
13 January 1943:
Departs Ominato.
17 January 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
29 January 1943:
Departs for Sasebo.
1 February 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
3 February 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
5 February 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo. Refit.
27 February 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
4 March 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
7 March 1943:
Departs Kashiwabara, Paramushiro with MAYA, light crusiers ABUKUMA, TAMA and KISO, destroyers IKAZUCHI, INAZUMA, USUGUMO, HATSUSHIMO and WAKABA to escort converted cruiser ASAKA MARU and transport SAKITO MARU.
10 March 1943:
Arrives at Attu. KISO and the transports land supplies, while the other units patrol.
13 March 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro.
23 March 1943:
Departs Paramushiro for Attu escorting a three-ship reinforcement convoy with MAYA, TAMA and ABUKUMA, DesDiv 6's IKAZUCHI and INAZUMA, DesDiv 21's HATSUSHIMO and WAKABA and the Fifth Fleet's USUGUMO.
26 March 1943: The Battle of the Komandorski Islands:
North Pacific, off the Kamchatka Peninsula, Siberia. Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Charles H. McMorris (former CO of SAN FRANSCISCO, CA-38) Task Group 16.6's USS RICHMOND (CL-9)(F), SALT LAKE CITY (CA-25) and destroyers BAILEY (DD-492), DALE (DD-353), MONAGHAN (DD-354) and COGHLAN (DD-606) engage Vice Admiral Hosogaya's Fifth Fleet cruisers NACHI (F), MAYA, TAMA and ABUKUMA and two destroyers that are escorting Convoy "D" carrying troops and supplies for the isolated garrison on Attu.
One of NACHI's three planes had been left behind for overhaul and MAYA had none of her three planes with her. On contact with the Americans, NACHI's two planes are ordered launched. At 0540, before they can be catapulted, NACHI's main battery opens fire. The gun blast damages the two-seat Type 0 spotter plane on the starboard catapult, probably a Nakajima E8N2 "Dave". It has to be jettisoned. The remaining three-seat E13A1 "Jake" on the port catapult is launched. It carries out spotting duties throughout the action and then flies to Attu, but crashes on landing. About a month later, its crew returns to Japan by submarine.
NACHI launches Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes at McMorris' force, but scores no hits. In a four-hour running gun battle, SALT LAKE CITY and BAILEY are damaged by gunfire. The other American destroyers are not damaged. Five shells hit and damage NACHI. Fourteen crewmen are killed. MAYA's No. 1 gun turret is knocked out. More importantly, McMorris succeeds in causing the Japanese to abort their resupply mission.
28 March 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro with the convoy. Disgraced, Hosogaya is relieved of command and forced to retire. Vice Admiral Kawase Shiro (former XO of KIRISHIMA) assumes command of the Fifth Fleet.
31 March 1943:
Departs Paramushiro for Yokosuka with MAYA, DesDiv 21's WAKABA and HATSUSHIMO.
3 May 1943:
At Yokosuka. Battle damage repairs. Eight additional Type 96 25-mm AA guns are installed.
11 May 1943: American Operation "Landcrab" - The Invasion of Attu, Aleutians:
Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Thomas C. Kinkaid's (former CO of INDIANAPOLIS, CA-35) Task Force 16, covered by Rear Admiral Francis W. Rockwell's (former CO of THATCHER , DD-162) Task Force 51, lands elements of the Army's 4th and 7th Infantry Divisions under the command of Maj Gen Eugene M. Landrum at Holtz Bay and Massacre Bay that later capture the island.
Departs Yokosuka.
15 May 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro. Remains there for the next three months.
21 May 1943: Operation "KE" - The Evacuation of Kiska:
The Imperial General Headquarters decides to evacuate the garrison at Kiska Island, Aleutians.
10-15 July 1943:
Sorties with MAYA to support the Kiska withdrawal.
15 July 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
13 August 1943:
Departs Paramushiro.
13 August 1943:
Refit at Ominato. A Type 21 air-search radar is installed.
6 September 1943:
Departs Ominato. That night, LtCdr (later Admiral) I. J. Galantin's USS HALIBUT (SS-232) makes a radar contact astern at 9,500 yards. Galantin goes to full speed. HALIBUT is making 18 knots, but the contact continues to close the range. Galantin assumes his target is a destroyer. He crash-dives to radar depth and makes a setup. At 2125, at a range of 2,000 yards he fires his four stern tubes. One of the torpedoes hits NACHI, but it is a dud.
9 September 1943:
Arrives safely at Paramushiro.
10 September 1943:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Shibuya Shiro (former CO of ABUKUMA) assumes command. Captain (later Rear Admiral) Soji is reassigned as the Chief of the IJN's Meteorological Service.
25 October 1943:
Departs Paramushiro.
27 October 1943:
Arrives at Akkeshi Bay.
1 November 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
20 November 1943:
Departs Ominato with DesDiv 9's USUGUMO.
22 November 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo. Refit. A new Type 21 air-search radar is installed.
22-23 January 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
23 January 1944:
Arrives at Hashirajima-Kure.
7-9 February 1944:
Departs Tokuyama for Ominato with USUGUMO.
2 April-19 June 1944:
Guardship duty at Ominato with ASHIGARA.
19-21 June 1944:
Departs Ominato with ASHIGARA, DesDiv 7's AKEBONO, KASUMI and USHIO and DesDiv 18's SHIRANUI.
21-29 June 1944:
Refit at Yokosuka.
29 June-1 July 1944:
Departs Yokosuka for Ominato with ASHIGARA and DesDiv 7.
1-31 July 1944:
Resumes guardship duty with ASHIGARA at Ominato.
31 July 1944:
Departs Ominato for Kure with ASHIGARA, DesDiv 7 and DesDiv 18.
2 August 1944:
Arrives at Kure. Training.
20 August 1944:
At Kure. Captain Kanooka Enpei (former naval aide to Prime Minister Tojo) assumes command. Captain (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Shibuya is later assigned as the Commander 101st Escort Group and KIA aboard KASHII on 12 Jan '45.
15 September 1944:
At Kure. Two twin-mount and 20 single-mount Type 96 25-mm AA guns are installed bringing NACHI's total 25-mm AA suite to 48 barrels.
14 October 1944:
A Type 13 air-search radar is fitted.
14 October 1944:
Departs Kure in Vice Admiral Shima Kiyohide's (former CO of OI) CruDiv 21 with ASHIGARA and Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Masatomi Kimura's (former CO of SUZUYA) DesRon 1's light cruiser ABUKUMA and DesDiv 7's AKEBONO, KASUMI and the USHIO, DesDiv 18's SHIRANUI and Des21's WAKABA, HATSUSHIMO and HATSUHARU.
15 October 1944:
Bungo Straits. Cdr Thomas L. Wogan's USS BESUGO (SS-321) spots Shima's fast moving force at 7,500 yards, but is unable to close. Wogan reports the sighting to COMSUBPAC.
16 October 1944:
Shima's force arrives at Amami-O-Shima.
18 October 1944:
Departs Amami-O-Shima with CruDiv 21 and DesRon 1.
W of Okinawa. At about 1030, Shima's force is sighted by LtCdr Orme C. Robbins' USS STERLET (SS-392) at 15 miles. Robbins closes to four miles, but is unable to get closer in the daylight. He reports the sighting to COMSUBPAC.
S of Okinawa. That evening, Shima's force is sighted by LtCdr Frederick J. Harlfingers' USS TRIGGER (SS-392) at nine miles. Harlfinger closes to five miles, but is driven off by an aircraft and a Japanese submarine that fires a torpedo at TRIGGER.
20 October 1944:
Formosa Strait. At 0400, LtCdr Richard H. O'Kane's USS TANG (SS-306) picks up Shima's zigzagging force now making 19 knots. O'Kane tracks the force until dawn, but cannot close.
Shima's force arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
21 October 1944:
Shima's force departs Mako for Manila, but is diverted to Coron, Philippines.
22 October 1944:
Luzon Strait. At about 0100, LtCdr James H. Ashley’s USS SEADRAGON (SS-194) sights Shima's force at 30,000 yards. Ashley misidentifies the force as "a carrier, two light cruisers and six destroyers." Ashley signals the sighting to Cdr Edward N. Blakely in SHARK (SS-314), commander of the wolf pack, and LtCdr Robert F. Sellars' BLACKFISH (SS-221). Ashley closes to 3,000 yards on the surface and fires his four stern tubes by radar bearings at the "carrier" and an overlapping cruiser at 21-57N, 118-14E. Ashley then takes SEADRAGON deep and evades. Later, he claims hiots on both ships, but postwar these are substantiated.
At 0855, LtCdr Richard W. Peterson's submerged USS ICEFISH (SS-367) spots a destroyer, then sights a task force of two NACHI-class heavy cruisers, escorted by three destroyers, bearing 064 T, course 160 T, speed 16 to 18 knots. ICEFISH cannot gain a position closer than 8,000 yards and is unable to attack. In heavy seas, Peterson surfaces to get off a contact report, but is forced under by Japanese planes before he can get off a report. Later that night, he tries again and is successful.
23 October 1944:
Arrives safely at Coron.
24 October 1944 - Operation "SHO-I-GO"(Victory) - The Battle of Leyte Gulf:
Departs Coron to support Vice Admiral Nishimura Shoji's (former CO of HARUNA) First Raiding Force's BatDiv 2's YAMASHIRO, FUSO, cruiser MOGAMI.
Surigao Strait. At about 0420 that night, ASHIGARA and NACHI pick up two targets on their surface-search radars. Vice Admiral Shima orders a torpedo attack and the cruisers turn to starboard to bring their tubes to bear. At 0427, each cruiser launches eight torpedoes by radar, but they obtain no hits.
At 0429, NACHI collides with MOGAMI that is retiring southward. MOGAMI is holed starboard side above the waterline. The NACHI's bow is rent portside and as she pulls clear, she begins to flood. Shima orders his force to retire.[3]/P> 25 October 1944:
Arrives at Coron and refuels with ASHIGARA.
27 October 1944:
Departs Coron for Manila with ASHIGARA, DesDiv 7. ASHIGARA detaches for Palawan.
28 October 1944:
Arrives at Manila Bay. Drydocked at No. 103 Repair Facility at Cavite for repair of her bow plates.
29 October 1944:
Attacked by Task Force 38's carrier planes. A bomb hits NACHI on her aircraft deck and 53 crewmen are killed in a straffing attack.
2 November 1944: Repairs to the bow are completed. Undocked. Provides distant cover for Operation "TA" troop reinforcement runs to Ormoc Bay, Leyte.
5 November 1944:
Off Cavite Naval Base. Vice Admiral Shima is ashore when Task Force 38 hits Manila with four successive waves of strike aircraft. After the second wave, undamaged NACHI gets underway for the safety of the open sea, but she is attacked by about 60 planes.
Off Corregidor Island. At 1250, NACHI is attacked by a third wave of Task Group 38.3's aircraft from USS TICONDEROGA (CV-14) and LEXINGTON (CV-16) About five bombs hit her and two, possibly three, torpedoes hit her in the starboard boiler rooms. NACHI is immobilized. Destroyer AKEBONO is dispatched to assist her.
At 1400, NACHI, on an even keel, is making preparations to get underway. She is joined by AKEBONO for a possible tow.
At 1445, another wave from LEXINGTON hits NACHI with up to five torpedoes in the port side that blast her into three pieces. One torpedo blows off her bow that sinks at once, another sets off her aft magazine that severs her stern. It upends but remains floating. The other three torpedoes hit her amidships. Twenty bombs and 16 rockets also hit her. Vice Admiral Shima watches from ashore as his flagship is blown apart.
At 1450, the central portion of NACHI sinks in 102 feet of water about twelve nautical miles NE of Corregidor at approximately 14-31N, 120-44E. 807 crewmen are killed including Captain Kanooka and 74 men of the Fifth Fleet's staff. 220 men survive the blasts and the strafing. KASUMI and USHIO rescue NACHI's survivors. USHIO tows damaged destroyer AKEBONO, hit by two bombs and set afire, to shore.
Captain Kanooka is promoted to Rear Admiral, posthumously.
20 January 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
March 1945:
Divers from USS CHANTICLEER (ASR-7) explore the wreck and salvage several radar consoles, secret documents, maps of Japanese fortifications on Luzon, as well as some two million yen. In all 296 dives are made.

Authors' Notes:
[1] Mt. Niitaka, located in Formosa (now Taiwan), is the highest point in the Japanese Empire at the time.
[2] On 1 December 2002, a group of divers operating off MV EMPRESS out of Singapore using side-scan sonar discover DeRUYTER and JAVA at a depth of about 225 feet off Bawean Island in the Java Sea.
[3] Readers interested in more detail about this collision should see "The NACHI ~ MOGAMI Collision: A Study in the Fragility of History"
Special thanks for assistance in researching the IJN officers mentioned in this TROM go to Mr. Jean-François Masson of Canada. Thanks also go to Randy Stone of the United States, Andrew Obluski of Poland and "Adm. Gurita" of the Netherlands.
- Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.

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