Naganami was the fourth of the Yuugumo-class destroyers, she was laid down on April 5, 1941, in Fujinagata Shipbuilding Yard. She was launched on March 5, 1942 and commissioned on June 30, 1942. She is equipped with three Kampon water tube boilers and two Kampon shaft geared turbines capable of producing 52,000 horsepower. Her speed is 35.5 knots, her initial armament is three twin 5 inch 50 cal. Type 3 'Type D' naval guns, four 25 mm Type 96 Anti-Aircraft guns, and two quadruple 24 inch torpedo tubes. She carries 18 depth charges for anti-submarine warfare.
Upon commissioning, she was stationed at Yokosuka Naval Yard and patrolled Sagami Bay, she escorted the transport ship Hakusan Maru for several troop transport missions between Yokosuka and Kiska Island. By August, she was assigned to DesDiv 31 under DesRon 2, 2nd Fleet together with destroyer Makinami. She escorted battleships Kongou and Haruna of BatDiv 3 from Kure to Truk, she joined a fleet patrolling the area between Truk and the northern part of Solomon Islands afterwards. On October, destroyer Takanami was assigned to DesDiv 31, DesDiv 31 escorted and assisted Kongou and Haruna to bombard Henderson Field during the night of October 13 to 14, 1942. She escorted also heavy cruisers heavy cruisers Myoukou from CruDiv 5 and Maya from CruDiv 4 for another Henderson Field bombardment mission. During the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, DesDiv 31 escorted Vice Admiral Kondo's advance force which composed of heavy cruisers Takao, Atago, Maya and Myoukou, light cruiser Isuzu, flagship of DesRon 2, and destroyers Kawakaze, Suzukaze and Umikaze from DesDiv 24. She escorted heavy cruisers Suzuya and Kumano of CruDiv 7 from Truk to Shortland and escorted the Tokyo Express to Guadalcanal, DesDiv 31 was attacked by land-base aircraft from Guadalcanal, she takes minor damage due to near misses with 17 casualties together with Takanami.
During the first naval battle of Guadalcanal, she was escorting another troop convoy to Guadalcanal, several transport ships from the convoy were under attack and sunk afterwards, she rescued 570 survivors from Shinanogawa Maru on November 14, 1942. On November 16, 1942, she becomes commander of DesRon 2's flagship. She leaded supply-drum transport to Guadalcanal on November 30, 1942, and ambushed by enemy vessels in the battle of Battle of Tassafaronga, despite that they were ambushed, they immediately reacted and fired their torpedoes at the USN ships, Naganami was accredited for damaging USS Pensacola CA-24 and sunk USS Northampton CA-26, Takanami was sunk by enemy gunfire during the engagement, her group managed to deliver the drum-supply in Guadalcanal and scored a tactical victory against the USN.
On December, she was assigned for another drum-supply transport mission with Makinami and Yuugure, they guarded 7 destroyers which were carrying the drum-supplies. The guard force were attacked by land-base aircraft, Naganami took minor damage from a near-miss. She was once again assigned for another drum-supply transport but it was cancelled due to PT-boat attacks, she towed the damaged Nowaki back to Shortland afterwards. For the fourth time, She was assigned for another drum-supply transport mission, she rescued survivors from Teruzuki, Teruzumi was torpedoed by PT-boats during the run, she rescued 57 survivors including Rear Admiral Tanaka, she reassigned as commander of DesRon 2's flagship. She leaded a troop transport to Munda, she steamed from Shortland to Rabaul, and assisted the damaged Uzuki and transport ship Nankai Maru. By the end of December, she becomes the flagship for the new commander of DesRon 2.
On early January, she escorted her last drum-supply transport mission, she was excluded for another drum-supply transport mission due to engine troubles, the flag was transferred to Kuroshio, she steamed from Shortland to Truk for temporary repairs. She escorted a convoy from Truk to Maizuru then she was docked for full repairs. On late-April, she escorted escort carriers Unyou and Chuuyou from Yokosuka to Truk with destroyers Ushio, Shigure and Ariake. She escorted battleship Yamato, escort carriers, Chuunyou and Unyou, and heavy cruisers Myoukou and Haguro from Truk to Yokosuka with destroyers Ushio, Samidare and Yuugure. She escorted Myoukou and Hagure from Yokosuka to Paramushiro, she escorted a convoy from Paramushiro to Maizuru, and steamed back to Paramushiro for engine repairs. On July, she was assigned to screen transport ships to evacuate troops in Kiska Island with Wakaba, Hatsuharu, Samidare and Shimakaze, it was cancelled due to bad weather. By late-July, they were assigned again for another evacuation attempt, she took minor damage from a collision with Hatsuharu while Shimakaze collided with Wakaba because of heavy fog, the evacuation somehow successful on July 29, 1943. She was sent to Maizuru for repairs.
By September, she escorted Maya and Choukai from Yokosuka to Truk then escorted Myouko and Haguro from Truk to Rabaul but returned to Truk afterwards. She escorted a fleet from Truk to Eniwetok, she returned to Truk afterwards. She transported aircrew from Truk to Rabaul, she participated in the battle of Empress Augusta Bay, they managed to sink 1 destroyer and damaged 1 light cruiser, Sendai was sunk during the engagement, she participated to cover a troop transport run to Bougainville afterwards. She was heavily damaged during the air raid on Rabaul, a torpedo destroyed her stern abaft No. 3 turret and left dead on water, she was towed by Makinami to Rabaul, she towed by Yuubari from Rabaul to Truk and was towed by Nagara from Truk to Tokuyama, she was docked at Kure for repairs and refitting.
During her refitting, they increased the number of her anti-aircraft guns to 28 and she now carries 36 depth charges which cut her speed from 35.5 knots to 35 knots. She undergone training within Western Inland Waters. She once again assigned to another troop transport from Kure to Okinawa and to Lingga, she escorted another fleet to Brunei. She escorted the Vice Admiral Kurita's Center Force together with 14 destroyers, she rescued Maya's crew from the sinking Musashi while Shimakaze rescued Musashi's crew, she was detached from Center Force to escort a damaged Takao to Brunei, she quickly returned to Palawan and found the abandoned submarine USS Darter SS-227 and sent a boarding party. She equipped a 12.7 mm AA gun, which she salvaged from Darter. After the battle, she steamed within Coron and found the damaged Myoukou, she escorted Myoukou to Brunei afterwards.
On October 31, 1944, she arrived at Manila for a troop transport mission to Leyte, she escorted 3 transport ships from convoy Ta-4 carrying 10,000 troops and 3,500 tons of munitions along with Kasumi, Ushio, Akashimo, Asashimo, and Wakatsuki, the convoy arrived at Ormoc on the early evening of November 9, 1944. During unloading, TA-4 came under attacked by 32 B-25 bombers, the bombers sank 2 transport and 2 escort patrol craft, 1 transport was disabled, the escorts managed to shoot down 7 of the attacking bombers. Naganami along with Kasumi and Asashimo rescued survivors from the sunken ships. The 3 destroyers immediately leave to caught up with the convoy but Akashimo was attacked by P-38 fighters, Akashimo was badly damaged. Along the way, Naganami's group meet up with convoy TA-3 leaded by Shimakaze, Kasumi decided to return to Manila while Wakatsuki joined them afterwards. When the convoy arrived at Ormoc, they encountered 350 aircraft from Task Force 38. Despite of overwhelming presence of enemy aircraft, the destroyers decided to proceed. Naganami was directly hit by a bomb which triggered an explosion amidships that breaks her into two, she sunk rapidly. 156 of her crew were killed while 72 of her survivors were rescued including Lt. CO. Tobita.
Naganami sunk on November 11, 1944, at Ormoc Bay, west of Leyte Island. On 1981, a memorial in Kyoto Ryozen Gokoku Shrine was erected by ten of her original crew to honor the late destroyer, Naganami.
* About Tokyo Express
Because Japan lost air and naval superiority, supply to the Guadalcanal Island can't be done with slow supply ships. Washed drum cans are half filled with food are then tied to rope and then rolled to the sea for the land troops to retrieve. Japan called the operation as Rat Transportation, while Allied called it Tokyo Express.because she's the flagship, she actually doesn't carry any drumAfter the end of Japanese Navy in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Naganami is assigned on transport escort duty. She met attack from airplane and fight to the last bullet she have. But despite all the resistance, she finally sunk in Ormoc Bay on 1944 together with her flagship Shimakaze.Naganami then spend her life full of ups and down. Collided with Hatsushimo in Kiska Island evacuation operation, doing transport with Hibiki, damaged in bombing of Rabaul and towed by Minazuki to Truk, towing Nagara back to Kure, and found the abandoned remain of the submarine (USS Darter) who sunk Atago and damaged Takao.Ship #119 of the 4th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme, built in Fujinagata shipyard and named as the 4th ship of Yuugumo class.
She's finished in June 30th 1942, in the midst of the war.
Naganami, together with the other Yuugumo class destroyers are modification of the Kagerou class. In total, 19 ships are built.
Akigumo is "complicated", she's Kagerou class but assigned with Yuugumo at first.Although she participated in many battles, Naganami's most important action would be the Battle of Lunga Point. Because of the Henderson Airfield, Japan has lost not only air superiority but also naval superiority. Without being able to resupply food to their troops, Guadalcanal Island starts to get the nickname "Gatou" (Hunger Island).
Because supply ships will just get sunk as they approach the island, supply are done by fast destroyers through the night, in the operation known as "Tokyo Express".
During this operation, the destroyer squadron are always on watch and in the Battle of Tassafaronga they managed to damage two cruisers. The flagship at that time is Naganami.
USS Pensacola (CA-24) damaged. USS Northampton (CA-26) sunk.