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| IJN Nagara-class Light Cruiser 5,570 Tons (Standard) 531' 10" x 46' 7" x 15' 9" As Built 7 x 14cm/50 guns 2 x 8cm/40 guns 8 x 21" torpedo tubes (4x2) 48 x Sea Mines 1 x Floatplane Final 3x2 12.7cm Type 89 guns 11x3 25mm AA guns Depth Charges 1 x Floatplane |
Ship History Built by Uraga Dock Company at Uraga. Laid down August 10, 1920 as a Nagara-class light cruiser as hull no. 171. Launched October 29, 1921 as Isuzu 五十鈴 named after the Isuzu River, near Ise Jingū (Shrine) in Mie Prefecture of Japan. On June 10, 1923 during speed trials collides with a small fishing boat that is sunk and the crew are rescued. Commissioned August 15, 1923 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) under the command of Captain Takenori Ishiwata attached to Yokosuka Naval District. PARTIAL HISOTRY On April 15, 1927 arrives Yokosuka for training. On December 1, 1927 assigned to Captain Shizuka Shizume. On August 20, 1928 assigned to Captain Isoroku Yamamoto. On December 10, 1928 assigned to Captain Rokuro Hani. During March 1929 tests a new Kayaba spring-powered catapult. PARTIAL HISTORY On October 11, 1942 departs Truk bound for the Solomon Islands. On October 12, 1942 in the northern Solomon Islands, Isuzu and destroyers escort Battleships Kongō and Haruna proceed southward overnight to Guadalcanal. On October 14, 1942 at 1:33am floatplanes release flares to mark Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. At 1:37am Kongō and Haruna commence a shore bombardment of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Meanwhile, Isuzu and destroyers provide covering firing targeting shore batteries. The force steams eastward passing Lunga Point firing to starboard, then made a 180 degree turn and fires to port while departing. On the ground, the shelling damaged the two runways, burned fuel and destroyed 48 parked planes and resulted in 41 KIA. Although PT Boats attempt to intercept, they are driven away by Naganami. At 2:30am the force retires northward up "The Slot" at 29 knots. PARTIAL HISTORY On October 20, 1944 at 5:00pm departs Yashima bound for the Philippines for Operation Sho-1-Go (Victory) against the U.S. invasion force off Leyte and results in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Assigned to the Northern Mobile Force under the command of Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa that will serve as a decoy to divert American aircraft carriers. The Northern Mobile Force includes Carrier Division 1 Zuikaku and Zuihō, Chitose and Chiyoda screened by Isuzu with destroyers Kuwa, Sugi, Maki, Kiri, Akizuki, Hatsuzuki, Wakatsuki and Shimotsuki. Carrier Division 4 Hyuga and Ise screened by light cruiser Oyodo and Tama. On October 25, 1944 during the Battle off Cape Engaño attacked by carrier planes including TBM Avengers from VT-21 from USS Belleau Wood and TBM Avengers from VT-51 from USS San Jacinto (CVL-30). At 8:35am the planes score a hit on Chitose that floods, lost power and develops a list. At 9:25am Isuzu unsucessfully attempts to tow the damaged carrier before it rolls over and sinks twelve minutes later. Afterwards, Isuzurescues 480 crew and Shimotsuki rescues 121 crew before they withdraw with black smoke on the horizon as U.S. warships approach. PARTIAL HISTORY On April 4, 1945 departs Surabaya (Surabaja) with an Army detachment aboard to transport them to Bima on Sumbawa Island escorted by torpedo boat Kari and minesweeper W-12 and minesweeper W-34. Off Paternoster Island, the group is spotted by by a U.S. Navy submarine wolf pack including USS Charr (SS-328), USS Besugo (SS-321) and USS Gabilan (SS-252) and two days later are joined by HMS Spark. The presences of Japanese planes force the submarines to dive and are unable to attack. Afterwards, shadowed by a RAAF Mosquito from No. 87 Squadron until spotted by a Japanese plane and driven off. On April 6, 1945 bombed by NEIAF B-25 Mitchells from No. 18, Squadron that scored a near miss off her starboard bow. Later in the day, she disembarked the Army soliders at Bima Bay on Sumbawa Island then withdrew into the Java Sea. Next, bombed off Flores Island by RAAF B-24J Liberators from No. 21 Squadron an No. 24 Squadron that score a direct hit on the bow but the bomb was a dud and two near misses around 9:40am that disable steering and require manual steering. During the strike, two Liberators were shot down by Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) fighters. Later, USS Besugo (SS-321) fired nine torpedoes at the convoy and hit an escorting minesweeper. Sinking History On April 7, 1945 while in the Java Sea off Sumbawa Island hit by a torpedo in the port side causing flooding as one of five fired by USS Gabilan (SS-252). The damage caused her speed to drop to below 10 knots and began to list to port and settle by the bow. As her crew attempted emergency repairs, USS Charr (SS-328) fired torpedoes with two hitting the port side near the aft engine room then fired two more torpedoes that hit the bow causing it to break off and sink at roughly sank at roughly Lat 7°38′S Long 118°09′E. A total of 190 crew were lost in the attacks and sinking. Officially removed from the Navy list on June 20, 1945. Rescue Afterwards, 450 of the crew were rescued including the Captain. References Combined Fleet - IJN Light Cruiser Isuzu Tabular Record of Movement Australia's Liberators page 104 (photo) Contribute
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