The high speed transport USS Horace A. Bass APD-124 can be seen alongside in some of the pictures.One of the first questions asked of the Nagato’s Captain & crew was the whereabouts of Nagato’s sister-ship Mutsu.
On June 8, 1943, Mutsu had sunk in the Hashirajima fleet anchorage when the magazine of her No. 3 turret exploded.Mutsu's sinking was declared a state secret, surviving crew were sent to locations away from Japan and sworn to secrecy, US Navy Intelligence did not learn of Mutsu’s sinking until after the war.
The visible damage on Nagato came from an air raid on July 18, 1945 by USN aircraft from TF38, Nagato was hit by two 500 lb bombs, one of which scored a direct hit on the pilot house & compass bridge, killing Captain Otsuka, the XO, & several others.
Afterwards Nagato was disarmed and her ballast tanks were flooded to give the impression she had sank at her moorings, the visible battle damage was also left unrepaired, adding to the impression of a derelict ship sunk at the dock.
Captain Sugino Shuichi was assigned as the new commanding officer and the saddened but still determined crew of Nagato set about removing the bodies and commencing what repairs they could do without altering her damaged appearance.
Despite the bomb hits, the damage proved relatively light. A later USN report stated:
As could be determined, there was no internal damage or flooding, the two bomb hits had little effect on Nagato’s fighting efficiency.
On August 1, 1945, Allied Ships were reportedly sighted offshore and Nagato was ordered to rearm and refuel.
Reloading of shells and propellant charges started immediately and lasted until daybreak on Aug 2.
Early that morning a fuel barge arrived and Nagato was fueled and the water from the ballast tanks was pumped out.
As the day progressed the sortie orders were canceled as the sighting had been a false alarm.
On August 15, Nagato’s crew assembled on the afterdeck to listen to the Emperor's live radio transmission of the surrender announcement.
Sometime afterwards, Captain Shuichi gave orders to remove the wooden chrysanthemum crest from Nagato’s bow and had it burned on the afterdeck.
It took nearly all day for the large crest to burn, its pyre a mute testimony to the reality of defeat.
Towards the end of August, Nagato shoved off from the docks and moved to a spot near the harbor entrance but still inside the main breakwater.
Nagato was swung around so she held a commanding view of the sea and effectively “Crossed the T” of any approaching ships.
On August 29, 1945 USS Missouri & USS Iowa in company with numerous minesweepers and destroyers, entered Tokyo Bay and moved toward Yokosuka.
As Missouri rounded the peninsula entering Tokyo Bay, she was confronted by a disconcerting sight: there commanding the approaches, loomed the ominous Nagato, in the perfect position to “Cross the T” in an ambush.
Yet after a few seconds of wariness, it was realized that Nagato's main gun turrets were trained fore and aft. She would not contest the entrance into Tokyo Bay, but was only bearing witness.
The US and Japanese crews eyed each other warily as USS Missouri moved slowly past Nagato.
Onlookers could see that Nagato’s pagoda foremast was damaged, with the pilothouse & compass bridge completely wrecked.
Nevertheless, she still looked menacing and remained manned, but there was no incident and soon afterwards Missouri's anchor splashed into the waters of Tokyo Bay.
After USN crews boarded Nagato, it was found that 918 16.1” / 41cm shells were aboard and the main turrets were still operable, as were the main engines and boilers.
In the small arms magazine was found twenty-five rifles and six pistols. Nagato was Japan’s last battleship still afloat on August 30, 1945….
Tests at Bikini and slowly sank & capsized four days after the "Baker" test on the night of July 29, 1946.
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