Japanese netlayer Nagara Maru

Nagara Maru (Japanese: 長良丸) was a Japanese cargo ship that was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II and converted into an auxiliary netlayer.^[2][3][4]

History
Empire of Japan
Name	Nagara Maru
Builder	Goshi Kaisha Urabe Zosen Tekkosho
Laid down	25 April 1939
Launched	21 February 1940
Sponsored by	Sankyo Kaiun K.K.
Completed	8 April 1940
Acquired	requisitioned by Imperial Japanese Navy, 12 September 1941
Stricken	10 May 1945
Homeport	Osaka[1]
Identification	46820[1]
Fate	Sunk by USS Sea Robin, 5 March 1945
Notes	Call sign: JZVN[1]
General characteristics
Type	Cargo ship
Tonnage	855 gross register tons[1]
Length	56.4 m (185 ft 0 in) o/a[1]
Beam	9.4 m (30 ft 10 in)[1]
Draught	5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)[1]
Propulsion	Diesel
Sensors & processing systems	sonar
Armament	1 x 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun 1 x 13.2 mm (0.52 in) AA gun 1 x 7 mm machine gun 1 x Type 96 light machine gun 1 x 60 cm searchlight 24 depth charges 2 x type 14 indicator nets

History

She was laid down 25 April 1939 at the Goshi Kaisha Urabe Zosen Tekkosho shipyard for the benefit of Sankyo Kaiun K.K.^[2] She was launched on 21 February 1940, completed on 8 April 1940, and registered in Osaka.^[2] She worked as a cargo ship until 12 September 1941, when she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy.^[4] She was designated as an auxiliary net-layer and her conversion was started on 24 September 1941 at the shipyard of Niigata Iron Works Company Limited.^[2] Her sister ships, Uji Maru and Kumano Maru, were also requisitioned and converted into auxiliary netlayers.^[2] She was assigned to the Third Fleet, as part of the 54th Subchaser Division (along with subchasers Shonan Maru No. 1 and Shonan Maru No. 2).^[5] The division was attached to the 2nd Base Force based at Takao, Formosa.^[5] Her commanding officer was Lieutenant Sadazo Takezawa (竹澤定三).^[2]

Invasion of Batan Island

She was assigned to the Batan Island occupation force which began simultaneously with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor tasked with establishing an air base to support future operations against American forces on Luzon during the invasion of the Philippines.^[6] On 7 December 1941, the 54th Subchaser division along with the 52nd Subchaser Division (Shonan Maru No. 17, Takunan Maru No. 5, Fukuei Maru No. 15) and the 53rd Subchaser Division (Korei Maru, Kyo Maru No. 2, Kyo Maru No.11) left Takao with Imperial Japanese Army transport Teiun Maru carrying part of the 24th Airfield Battalion.^[4] On 8 December 1941, she met with remainder of the occupation force off the coast of Batan Island consisting of transport Kumagawa Maru, destroyer Yamagumo, four Chidori-class torpedo boats (Chidori, Manazuru, Tomozuru, Hatsukari), two W-13-class minesweepers (W-13, W-14), two patrol boats (Patrol Boat No. 1, Patrol Boat No. 2), two Tsubame-class minelayers (Kamome, Tsubame), three converted gunboats (Aso Maru, Koso Maru, Nampo Maru),^[7] and seaplane tender, Sanuki Maru escorted by destroyer Tachikaze.^[8]

Demise

After Batan, she primarily was involved in escort and anti-submarine duties around the islands of the Philippines and Indonesia.^[2] On 1 January 1945, Lieutenant Toru Kato (加藤徹) was named commander.^[9] On 5 March 1945, she was sunk by torpedoes from the submarine USS Sea Robin at (05°23′N 114°00′E) 145 km east-northeast of Borneo.^[2][10][11] On 10 May 1945, she was struck from the Navy List.^[2]