Det Japanske slagskipet Nagato endte sine dager ved Bikini atollen på natten den 30. Juli 1946 etter å ha blitt truffet av atombombe testen Baker. Slagskipet hadde i sin tjeneste for den Japanske marinen deltatt i flere store sjøslag som tok sted i Stillehavet under de siste årene i den andre verdenskrig. Nagato ble skadet ved flere av kamphandligene, og i 1945 ble hun benyttet til å beskytte kystlinjen og gjøre tjeneste som et flytende luftvernbatteri i Yokosuka. Nagato overga seg til amerikanske marinestyrker ved Yokosuka den 30 desember 1945. I begynnelsen av mars 1946 blir det bestemt at Nagato skal sette kursen mot Marshall øyene for å delta som målskip for de amerikanske atombombe testene Abel og Baker som er planlagt der. Den 28 juli 1946 blir undervannsbomben Able fyrt av, og Nagato får kun små skader av denne eksplosjonen. To dager senere blir Baker sluppet og Nagato synker kort tid etter i dypet ved Bikini atollen. Vraket av Nagato hviler i god stand på dypt vann...

The Japanese battleship Nagato ended her days at Bikini atoll in the night 30. July 1946 after being struck by the atomic bomb test Baker. The battleship had in her service for the Japanese navy participated in several of the major naval engagements that took place in the Pacific during the last years of second world war. Nagato was damaged several times during the fighting actions, and in 1945 she was used to protect the coastline and do service as a floating antiaircraft battery in Yokosuka. Nagato surrendered to american naval forces at Yokosuka 30 December 1945. In the beginning of March 1946 it is decided that Nagato shall set course towards the Marshall Islands to participate as a target ship for the american atomic bomb testing Able and Baker planned there. On 28 July 1946 the underwater bomb Able is fired, and Nagato receives only small damages by this explosion. Two days later Baker is released and Nagato sinks shortly after in the deep at the Bikini atoll. The wreck of Nagato rest in a good condition in deep waters...

 

Name:
Former names:
 Material:
Dimensions:
Nagato
  
Steel
221,1x 32,9x 9,5 m.
       
Brt \ Nrt: Built: Homeport: Cargo:
39120 \ ( J ) 1922 ( J )  

 

History of Service: October 1940 Participated in the Imperial review. Nagato was the flagship leding the fleet in the Yokohama Bay. 6 December 1941 A experimental anti-torpedo net was fitted on the starboard side. February 1942 The Combined Fleet flag was transferred to the YAMATO from the Nagato. March 1942 New anemometers were installed. 4 June 1942" Operation MI"- the Battle of Midway. She was part of the BatDiv 1 with YAMATO, MUTSU and light aircraft carrier HOSHO. The following day Nagato took aboard survivors from the carrier KAGA, rescued earlier from some destroyers. July 1942. Both Nagato and MUTSU are transferred to BatDiv 2 with YAMASHIRO, FUSO, ISE and HYUGA. July 1942 - August 1943 Nagato conducted exercise & mostly travelled between Hashirajima & Kure during this period. New radar & more anti-air guns was installed. June 1943 Nagato conducted a towing exercise with destroyers TAMANAMI and WAKASUKI. September 1943 Sorties to Brown Island to intercept Task Force 15, but no contact was made.October 1943 Sorties to intercept the enemy carriers after the Japanese intercept radio communiction that Americans were going to raid on Wake Island for the second time. But no contact was made. The Nagato carried ground personnel & a seaplane unit in this sortie.February - May 1944 Nagato conducted exercises and transported supplies between Lingga and other areas.March 1944 Lignum vitae changed in Singapore.19 June 1944" Operation A-GO"- the Battle of Phillipine Sea. Nagato provided close escort and support for the carriers JUNYO, HIYO and RYUHO. Nagato shot down two Avenger torpedo planes and force other planes to retreat. She later picked up survivors from the HIYO. 27 June 1944 New radar set and more aa- guns were installed. All portholes below the upper deck were covered over.22 October 1944 " Operation SHO-I-GO" ( The Battle of Leyte Gulf ). Nagato's conning tower, compass bridge, casemate guns etc. were protected by hammock mantles. Her engine tanks were covered with judo mats. 23 October 1944 The Batttle of Palanwan Passage- the Nagato was not damaged. 24 October 1944 The Battle of Sibuyan Sea, Nagato is hit by 2 bombs and 4 torpedos during the early attack waves from US aircraft carriers. The boiler was temporary out of action until it was put back on 23 minutes later. The radio room, coding room & canteen were destroyed. 25 October 1944, The Battle off Samar - the first time the Nagato fired on enemy ships. It was with Yamato all the time in this battle. Believed to have achieved some near misses on the USS Saint Lo. After a few hours , she was attacked by Task Force 38 aircrafts. She was then hit by four bombs. Later assigned to BatDiv 3. New aa- guns installed, service as a floating AA battery. Her funnel & main cast were removed. Camouflaged & protected by anti- torpedo nets. She was reassigned as a coastal defense vessel in Yokosuka. She was only remained to be partically activiated since she didn't have enough power because there was not enough fuel. June 1945, most of the anti-air guns were moved to ashore and installed on the nearby Urayama mountain. Her turrets were camouflaged by scaffolding. July 1945, attacked by Task Force 58. Nagato is hit by three bombs. Her remaining anti-air guns were removed after this attack.


Edited 29.06.2007