Japanese cruiser Natori
Encyclopedia
was a Nagara-class
light cruiser
in the Imperial Japanese Navy
. It was named after the Natori River in Miyagi prefecture
, Japan
.
flotilla.
's Nagasaki shipyard on September 15, 1922. Soon after commissioning, Natori was assigned to patrols off the China
coast. From 1938, it was based in Taiwan
, and helped cover the landings of Japanese troops in southern China.
In 1940, a border dispute between Siam and French Indochina
erupted into armed conflict. A Japanese-sponsored "Conference for the Cessation of Hostilities" was held at Saigon and preliminary documents for a cease-fire between the governments of General Philippe Pétain
's Vichy France
and the Kingdom of Siam were signed aboard Natori on January 31, 1941.
Kenzaburo Hara
's Destroyer Squadron 5 under Vice Admiral
Ibo Takahashi
's Third Fleet
and was assigned to the No.1 Surprise Attack Unit of the Philippine Seizure Force. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor
, Natori was escorting six transports carrying elements of the IJA's 48th Infantry Division from Mako
, Pescadores
to Aparri, northern Luzon
. The landing force was attacked by three USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of the 14th Squadron on December 10, 1941, which slightly damaged Natori and its escorting destroyer Harukaze
with near misses. After minor repairs at Mako, Natori ferried 27 transports with the 47th Infantry Regiment of the 48th Infantry Division and the 4th Tank Regiment to Lingayen Gulf
in late December.
On December 26, 1941, Natori was reassigned to the No. 2 Escort Unit with the light cruiser Kashii
, and tasked with escorting 43 transports of the Third Malaya Convoy to Singora.
, and participated in the Battle of Sunda Strait
on February 28, 1942.
Natori with Destroyer Division 5's Asakaze, Destroyer Division 11's Shirayuki
, Hatsuyuki
, Destroyer Division 12's Shirakumo
and Murakumo
and Destroyer Division 27's Shiratsuyu
with Cruiser Division 7's Mikuma
and Mogami
deployed north and west of the landing areas. The light cruisers USS Houston
and HMAS Perth
sortied for Tjilatjap via the Sunda Strait
and attacked Japanese troop transports screened only by Harukaze
, Hatakaze
and Fubuki
. The destroyers made smoke to mask the transports. Fubuki charged the Houston and Perth and launched torpedoes.
At 2300, the Third Escort Force's Natori and her destroyers arrived with the Western Support Force's Mogami, Mikuma and Shikinami
. Shiratsuyu opened fire on the Allies. Natori, with Hatsuyuki and Shirayuki, then opened fire and rapidly closed the range. At 2308, the Allied cruisers turned NE and Natori and her destroyers headed SE in three columns. Between 2310 and 2319 they launched 28 torpedoes at the Allies
. The Perth's gunfire damaged the Harukaze's rudder and the Shirayuki's bridge.
At 2319, Mikuma and Mogami each fired six Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes at the Perth from about 9300 yards (8,503.9 m) and opened main battery fire from about 12000 yards (10,972.8 m), assisted by searchlights on their destroyers. At 2327, Mogami fired six Long Lances at the Houston. They missed, but hit the Army transports Sakura Maru, Horai Maru, Tatsuno Maru and the Commander-in-Chief of the invading Japanese 16th Army, Lieutenant General
Hitoshi Imamura
's transport Ryujo Maru.
At 2326, Harukaze and Hatakaze launched torpedoes. At 2330, Shirakumo and Murakumo also launched torpedoes. Altogether, the Japanese launched about 90 torpedoes in the engagement. The Perth, low on ammunition, was making 28 knots (55 km/h) when the first torpedo hit her forward engine room. Two more torpedoes hit her forward magazine and aft under "X" turret, and she sank 3 nautical miles (6 km) ENE of St. Nicholas Point at 05°48′42"S 106°07′52"E after a fourth torpedo hit. At 0045, Houston sank at 05°48′45"S 106°07′55"E.
On March 10, 1942, Natori was assigned to Cruiser Division 16 with the light cruiser Nagara
. After the occupation of Java
, Natori participated in the Battle of Christmas Island
. At Christmas Island
on April 1, 1942 USS Seawolf (SS-197)
fired three torpedoes at Natori, but all missed. The cruiser Naka
which was hit starboard near her No. 1 boiler was not so lucky, and had to be towed back to Bantam Bay by Natori.
In April, Natori was assigned to patrols of the Java Sea
, which continued into June. After a refit back at Maizuru, Natori returned to the Java Sea
and Timor Sea
until December, with occasional calls at Mergui
in Burma, Penang
, Singapore
and Davao
.
On December 21, 1942, Natori embarked a Special Naval Landing Force, which it disembarked at Hollandia
, New Guinea
.
On January 9, 1943, 18 nautical miles (33 km) southeast of Ambon
, Natori was sighted by USS Tautog
at about 3000 yards (2,743.2 m). Tautog fired two torpedoes which hit Natori in the stern. It broke off and carried away her rudder. In the next few minutes, as Natori got underway at reduced speed, Tautog fired two more torpedoes, but they either missed or were duds and Natori managed to escape.
, Natori was damaged by a near-miss starboard side by a 500-lb. bomb dropped by a Consolidated Aircraft
B-24 Liberator
bomber of the 90th Bomb Group's 319th Bomb Squadron. The bomb opened plates and caused the No. 2 boiler room to flood. Natori departed Ambon that day for repairs at Makassar
, but repair proved impossible, so Natori continued on to Seletar Naval Base
, Singapore
. Repairs were not completed until May 24, 1943, but by then a decision was made to send Natori back to Japan for further repairs and modernization
At Maizuru Naval Arsenal
, Natori's No. 5 and No.7 140 mm guns were removed as were her catapult and derrick. A twin Type 89 127 mm HA gun was fitted, as were two triple mount Type 96 25 mm AA guns. This brought Natori's 25 mm AA suite to fourteen barrels (2x3, 2x2, 4x1). A Type 21 air-search radar
was fitted and hydrophone
s were installed at her bow. Repairs and modernization were completed on April 1, 1944, and Natori was assigned as the flagship of the Central Pacific Fleet's Destroyer Squadron 3.
detachment from Kure
to Davao
, Mindanao
where it disembarked the Army detachment and embarked other troops for Palau
, arriving on June 17, 1944 (the day before the Battle of the Philippine Sea
. Natori remained at Davao in late June through August as a guard ship.
On July 20, 1944, the USS Bluegill
patrolling off Davao spotted Natori making 26 knots (51 km/h), but was unable to gain a favorable firing position. Natori arrived in Palau July 21, 1944 to help evacuate 800 Japanese and Korean "comfort women
" to Davao.
On August 18, 1944, 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) east of Samar
, Natori was accompanying the transport T.3 to Palau when it was spotted by USS Hardhead
east of San Bernardino Strait
. USS Hardhead identified the target as a battleship
and closed for a surface attack. One torpedo of its first salvo of five Mark 23 Torpedoes fired at 2800 yards (2,560.3 m) hit the Natori portside in a boiler room. She stopped dead in the water and was hit starboard amidships with one of a second salvo of four Mark 18 Torpedo
es.
At 0704, Natori sank at 12°29′N 128°49′E, taking 330 crewmen including Captain Kubota with her. The destroyers Uranami
and Kiyoshimo
rescued 194 survivors, and the USS Stingray
recovered four more survivors in a rubber raft. On September 12, 1944, almost a month after her sinking, USS Marshall
captured a lifeboat
with another 44 survivors of the Natori aboard.
Natori was removed from the Navy List on October 10, 1944.
Nagara class cruiser
-External links: *...
light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
in the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
. It was named after the Natori River in Miyagi prefecture
Miyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Background
Natori was the fourth vessel completed in the Nagara-class of light cruisers. Like other vessels of her class, she was intended for use as the flagship of a destroyerDestroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
flotilla.
Early career
Natori was completed MitsubishiMitsubishi Heavy Industries
, or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale...
's Nagasaki shipyard on September 15, 1922. Soon after commissioning, Natori was assigned to patrols off the China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
coast. From 1938, it was based in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, and helped cover the landings of Japanese troops in southern China.
In 1940, a border dispute between Siam and French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
erupted into armed conflict. A Japanese-sponsored "Conference for the Cessation of Hostilities" was held at Saigon and preliminary documents for a cease-fire between the governments of General Philippe Pétain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
's Vichy France
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
and the Kingdom of Siam were signed aboard Natori on January 31, 1941.
Early stages of the Pacific War
On November 26, 1941, Natori became flagship of Rear AdmiralRear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Kenzaburo Hara
Kenzaburo Hara
Kenzaburo Hara Former House of Representatives of Japan Speaker Kenzaburo Hara, who had served as a legislator for 54 years until he retired in 2000, died of heart failure in Tokyo Saturday, his family said...
's Destroyer Squadron 5 under Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
Ibo Takahashi
Ibo Takahashi
- Books :...
's Third Fleet
IJN 3rd Fleet
The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, which was created on six separate occasions.-Russo-Japanese War:First established on 28 December 1903, the IJN 3rd Fleet was created by the Imperial General Headquarters as an administrative unit to manage various vessels considered too obsolete for...
and was assigned to the No.1 Surprise Attack Unit of the Philippine Seizure Force. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, Natori was escorting six transports carrying elements of the IJA's 48th Infantry Division from Mako
Mako Guard District
The was the major navy base for the Imperial Japanese Navy in Taiwan before and during World War II. Located in at Mako ), , the Mako Guard District was responsible for control of the strategic Straits of Taiwan and for patrols along the Taiwan and China coastlines and in the South China Sea...
, Pescadores
Pescadores
The Penghu Islands, also known as Pescadores are an archipelago off the western coast of Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait consisting of 90 small islands and islets covering an area of 141 square kilometers....
to Aparri, northern Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
. The landing force was attacked by three USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of the 14th Squadron on December 10, 1941, which slightly damaged Natori and its escorting destroyer Harukaze
Japanese destroyer Harukaze (1922)
was the second of nine Kamikaze-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War....
with near misses. After minor repairs at Mako, Natori ferried 27 transports with the 47th Infantry Regiment of the 48th Infantry Division and the 4th Tank Regiment to Lingayen Gulf
Lingayen Gulf
The Lingayen Gulf is an extension of the South China Sea on Luzon in the Philippines stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central...
in late December.
On December 26, 1941, Natori was reassigned to the No. 2 Escort Unit with the light cruiser Kashii
Japanese cruiser Kashii
was the third and final vessel completed of the three light cruisers in Katori class, which served with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It is named after a noted Shinto shrine in Fukuoka, Japan.-Background:...
, and tasked with escorting 43 transports of the Third Malaya Convoy to Singora.
Battle of the Sunda Strait
Natori was later assigned escort duties to cover the invasion force for the Dutch East IndiesDutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, and participated in the Battle of Sunda Strait
Battle of Sunda Strait
The Battle of Sunda Strait was a naval battle which occurred during World War II. On the night of 28 February – 1 March 1942, the Australian light cruiser and the American heavy cruiser faced a major Imperial Japanese Navy task force. After a fierce battle of several hours duration, both Allied...
on February 28, 1942.
Natori with Destroyer Division 5's Asakaze, Destroyer Division 11's Shirayuki
Japanese destroyer Shirayuki
was a Fubuki classwas the second of twenty-four destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world...
, Hatsuyuki
Japanese destroyer Hatsuyuki
was a Fubuki class was the third of twenty-four destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world...
, Destroyer Division 12's Shirakumo
Japanese destroyer Shirakumo
was a destroyer and the eighth in a class of twenty-four vessels built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world...
and Murakumo
Japanese destroyer Murakumo
was a Fubuki class was the fifth of twenty-four destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world...
and Destroyer Division 27's Shiratsuyu
Japanese destroyer Shiratsuyu
was the lead ship of ten destroyers, and first of six to be built for the Imperial Japanese Navy under the Circle One Program .-History:...
with Cruiser Division 7's Mikuma
Japanese cruiser Mikuma
was the second vessel in the four-vessel Mogami-class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was named after the Mikuma river in Oita prefecture, Japan.-Background:...
and Mogami
Japanese cruiser Mogami
was the lead ship in the four-vessel Mogami-class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was named after the Mogami River in Tohoku region of Japan. The Mogami class ships were constructed as "light" cruisers with 5 triple 6.1" DP guns...
deployed north and west of the landing areas. The light cruisers USS Houston
USS Houston (CA-30)
USS Houston , nicknamed the "Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast", was a Northampton-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy...
and HMAS Perth
HMAS Perth (D29)
HMAS Perth was a Modified Leander class light cruiser operated by the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. She was constructed for the Royal Navy , and commissioned as HMS Amphion in 1936...
sortied for Tjilatjap via the Sunda Strait
Sunda Strait
The Sunda Strait is the strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean...
and attacked Japanese troop transports screened only by Harukaze
Japanese destroyer Harukaze (1922)
was the second of nine Kamikaze-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War....
, Hatakaze
Japanese destroyer Hatakaze
was one of nine Kamikaze-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolete by the start of the Pacific War....
and Fubuki
Japanese destroyer Fubuki
was the lead ship of twenty-four destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into services, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world. They served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, and remained formidable weapons systems well...
. The destroyers made smoke to mask the transports. Fubuki charged the Houston and Perth and launched torpedoes.
At 2300, the Third Escort Force's Natori and her destroyers arrived with the Western Support Force's Mogami, Mikuma and Shikinami
Japanese destroyer Shikinami
was the 12th of 24 destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world...
. Shiratsuyu opened fire on the Allies. Natori, with Hatsuyuki and Shirayuki, then opened fire and rapidly closed the range. At 2308, the Allied cruisers turned NE and Natori and her destroyers headed SE in three columns. Between 2310 and 2319 they launched 28 torpedoes at the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
. The Perth's gunfire damaged the Harukaze's rudder and the Shirayuki's bridge.
At 2319, Mikuma and Mogami each fired six Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes at the Perth from about 9300 yards (8,503.9 m) and opened main battery fire from about 12000 yards (10,972.8 m), assisted by searchlights on their destroyers. At 2327, Mogami fired six Long Lances at the Houston. They missed, but hit the Army transports Sakura Maru, Horai Maru, Tatsuno Maru and the Commander-in-Chief of the invading Japanese 16th Army, Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Hitoshi Imamura
Hitoshi Imamura
-External links:...
's transport Ryujo Maru.
At 2326, Harukaze and Hatakaze launched torpedoes. At 2330, Shirakumo and Murakumo also launched torpedoes. Altogether, the Japanese launched about 90 torpedoes in the engagement. The Perth, low on ammunition, was making 28 knots (55 km/h) when the first torpedo hit her forward engine room. Two more torpedoes hit her forward magazine and aft under "X" turret, and she sank 3 nautical miles (6 km) ENE of St. Nicholas Point at 05°48′42"S 106°07′52"E after a fourth torpedo hit. At 0045, Houston sank at 05°48′45"S 106°07′55"E.
On March 10, 1942, Natori was assigned to Cruiser Division 16 with the light cruiser Nagara
Japanese cruiser Nagara
was the lead ship of her class of light cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was named after the Nagara River in the Chūbu region of Japan.-Background:...
. After the occupation of Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, Natori participated in the Battle of Christmas Island
Battle of Christmas Island
The Battle of Christmas Island, was a small engagement which began on 31 March 1942, during World War II. Because of a mutiny by Indian soldiers against their British officers, Japanese troops were able to occupy Christmas Island without any resistance...
. At Christmas Island
Christmas Island
The Territory of Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. It is located northwest of the Western Australian city of Perth, south of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, and ENE of the Cocos Islands....
on April 1, 1942 USS Seawolf (SS-197)
USS Seawolf (SS-197)
USS Seawolf , a Sargo-class submarine, was the second submarine of the United States Navy named for the seawolf.Her keel was laid down on 27 September 1938 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. She was launched on 15 August 1939 sponsored by Mrs. Edward C. Kalbfus and commissioned on 1...
fired three torpedoes at Natori, but all missed. The cruiser Naka
Japanese cruiser Naka
was a Sendai-class light cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy, named after the Naka River in the Tochigi and Ibaraki prefectures of eastern Japan.-Background:...
which was hit starboard near her No. 1 boiler was not so lucky, and had to be towed back to Bantam Bay by Natori.
In April, Natori was assigned to patrols of the Java Sea
Java Sea
The Java Sea is a large shallow sea on the Sunda Shelf. It was formed as sea levels rose at the end of the last ice age. The Java Sea lies between the Indonesian islands of Borneo to the north, Java to the south; Sumatra to the west, and Sulawesi to the east...
, which continued into June. After a refit back at Maizuru, Natori returned to the Java Sea
Java Sea
The Java Sea is a large shallow sea on the Sunda Shelf. It was formed as sea levels rose at the end of the last ice age. The Java Sea lies between the Indonesian islands of Borneo to the north, Java to the south; Sumatra to the west, and Sulawesi to the east...
and Timor Sea
Timor Sea
The Timor Sea is a relatively shallow sea bounded to the north by the island of Timor, to the east by the Arafura Sea, to the south by Australia and to the west by the Indian Ocean....
until December, with occasional calls at Mergui
Mergui
Myeik is a city in Tanintharyi Division in Myanmar , located in the extreme south of the country on the coast of an island on the Andaman Sea. the estimated population was over 209,000. The area inland from the city is a major smuggling corridor into Thailand.-History:Myeik was the southernmost...
in Burma, Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Davao
Davao
Davao refers to several closely related places in Mindanao in the Philippines. The term is used most often to refer to the city.*Davao Region, an administrative region*Davao del Norte province*Davao del Sur province*Davao Oriental province...
.
On December 21, 1942, Natori embarked a Special Naval Landing Force, which it disembarked at Hollandia
Jayapura
Jayapura City is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It is situated on Yos Sudarso Bay . Its approximate population in 2002 was 200,000....
, New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
.
On January 9, 1943, 18 nautical miles (33 km) southeast of Ambon
Ambon Island
Ambon Island is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The island has an area of , and is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon Island consists of 2 territories: The main city and seaport is Ambon , which is also the capital of Maluku province and Maluku Tengah Ambon Island is part of the...
, Natori was sighted by USS Tautog
USS Tautog (SS-199)
', a Tambor-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the tautog, a small edible sport fish, which is also called a blackfish....
at about 3000 yards (2,743.2 m). Tautog fired two torpedoes which hit Natori in the stern. It broke off and carried away her rudder. In the next few minutes, as Natori got underway at reduced speed, Tautog fired two more torpedoes, but they either missed or were duds and Natori managed to escape.
Refitting
On January 21, 1943, while at AmbonAmbon Island
Ambon Island is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The island has an area of , and is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon Island consists of 2 territories: The main city and seaport is Ambon , which is also the capital of Maluku province and Maluku Tengah Ambon Island is part of the...
, Natori was damaged by a near-miss starboard side by a 500-lb. bomb dropped by a Consolidated Aircraft
Consolidated Aircraft
The Consolidated Aircraft Corporation was founded in 1923 by Reuben H. Fleet, the result of the Gallaudet Aircraft Company's liquidation and Fleet's purchase of designs from the Dayton-Wright Company as the subsidiary was being closed by its parent corporation, General Motors. Consolidated became...
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
bomber of the 90th Bomb Group's 319th Bomb Squadron. The bomb opened plates and caused the No. 2 boiler room to flood. Natori departed Ambon that day for repairs at Makassar
Makassar
Makassar, is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the largest city on Sulawesi Island. From 1971 to 1999, the city was named Ujung Pandang, after a precolonial fort in the city, and the two names are often used interchangeably...
, but repair proved impossible, so Natori continued on to Seletar Naval Base
Seletar
Seletar is an area of Singapore within its North-East Region. Seletar commonly refers to the areas south of Yishun and west of Sungei Punggol, covering Yio Chu Kang near Jalan Kayu , the Lower Seletar Reservoir and part of Upper Thomson .The Seletar Planning Area, an urban planning zone under the...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Repairs were not completed until May 24, 1943, but by then a decision was made to send Natori back to Japan for further repairs and modernization
At Maizuru Naval Arsenal
Maizuru Naval Arsenal
was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Maizuru Naval District was established at Maizuru, Kyoto in 1889, as the fourth of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands. After the establishment of the...
, Natori's No. 5 and No.7 140 mm guns were removed as were her catapult and derrick. A twin Type 89 127 mm HA gun was fitted, as were two triple mount Type 96 25 mm AA guns. This brought Natori's 25 mm AA suite to fourteen barrels (2x3, 2x2, 4x1). A Type 21 air-search radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
was fitted and hydrophone
Hydrophone
A hydrophone is a microphone designed to be used underwater for recording or listening to underwater sound. Most hydrophones are based on a piezoelectric transducer that generates electricity when subjected to a pressure change...
s were installed at her bow. Repairs and modernization were completed on April 1, 1944, and Natori was assigned as the flagship of the Central Pacific Fleet's Destroyer Squadron 3.
Actions in the Philippines
On June 5, 1944, Natori embarked an Imperial Japanese ArmyImperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
detachment from Kure
Kure, Hiroshima
is a city in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 240,820 and a population density of 681 persons per km². The total area is 353.74 km².- History :...
to Davao
Davao
Davao refers to several closely related places in Mindanao in the Philippines. The term is used most often to refer to the city.*Davao Region, an administrative region*Davao del Norte province*Davao del Sur province*Davao Oriental province...
, Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
where it disembarked the Army detachment and embarked other troops for Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
, arriving on June 17, 1944 (the day before the Battle of the Philippine Sea
Battle of the Philippine Sea
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was a decisive naval battle of World War II which effectively eliminated the Imperial Japanese Navy's ability to conduct large-scale carrier actions. It took place during the United States' amphibious invasion of the Mariana Islands during the Pacific War...
. Natori remained at Davao in late June through August as a guard ship.
On July 20, 1944, the USS Bluegill
USS Bluegill (SS-242)
, a Gato-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the bluegill, a freshwater sunfish of the Mississippi River basin and Great Lakes....
patrolling off Davao spotted Natori making 26 knots (51 km/h), but was unable to gain a favorable firing position. Natori arrived in Palau July 21, 1944 to help evacuate 800 Japanese and Korean "comfort women
Comfort women
The term "comfort women" was a euphemism used to describe women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II.Estimates vary as to how many women were involved, with numbers ranging from as low as 20,000 from some Japanese scholars to as high as 410,000 from some Chinese...
" to Davao.
On August 18, 1944, 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) east of Samar
Samar
Samar, formerly and also known as Western Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catbalogan City and covers the western portion of Samar as well as several islands in the Samar Sea located to the west of the mainland...
, Natori was accompanying the transport T.3 to Palau when it was spotted by USS Hardhead
USS Hardhead (SS-365)
USS Hardhead , a Balao-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the hardhead, a fish of the croaker family. Hardhead received six battle stars for World War II service. All six of her combat patrols were "successful"....
east of San Bernardino Strait
San Bernardino Strait
The San Bernardino Strait is a strait in the Philippines. It separates the Bicol Peninsula of Luzon island from the island of Samar in the south.-Filipinos and San Bernardino Strait:...
. USS Hardhead identified the target as a battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
and closed for a surface attack. One torpedo of its first salvo of five Mark 23 Torpedoes fired at 2800 yards (2,560.3 m) hit the Natori portside in a boiler room. She stopped dead in the water and was hit starboard amidships with one of a second salvo of four Mark 18 Torpedo
Mark 18 torpedo
The Mark 18 torpedo was an electric torpedo used by the US Navy during World War II.The Mark 18 was built in competition to the Bureau of Ordnance electric torpedoes, which had been in development at the Newport Torpedo Station , Newport, Rhode Island, since the 1920s, in particular the Mark II,...
es.
At 0704, Natori sank at 12°29′N 128°49′E, taking 330 crewmen including Captain Kubota with her. The destroyers Uranami
Japanese destroyer Uranami
was the tenth of twenty-four destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world...
and Kiyoshimo
Japanese destroyer Kiyoshimo
was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy.On 26 December 1944, then with San Jose bombardment force, Kiyoshimo was crippled by two direct bomb hits in attacks by U.S. Army bombers during approach to Mindoro, Philippines, then was finished off by a torpedo from U.S. PT-223, 145 miles south of...
rescued 194 survivors, and the USS Stingray
USS Stingray (SS-186)
USS Stingray , a Salmon-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the stingray, which is a large ray with a whiplike tail and sharp spines capable of inflicting severe wounds. Her keel was laid down by the Portsmouth Navy Yard on 1 October 1936. She was launched...
recovered four more survivors in a rubber raft. On September 12, 1944, almost a month after her sinking, USS Marshall
USS Marshall (DD-676)
USS Marshall was a of the United States Navy, named for Lieutenant Commander Thomas W. Marshall, Jr. .Marshall was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J., 29 April 1943; launched 29 August 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Thomas W. Marshall, mother of Lt. Comdr. Marshall; and...
captured a lifeboat
Lifeboat (shipboard)
A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...
with another 44 survivors of the Natori aboard.
Natori was removed from the Navy List on October 10, 1944.
External links
- Tabular record: CombinedFleet.com: Natori history (Retrieved 26 January 2007.)