View source for Japanese cruiser Noshiro

{{short description|Agano-class cruiser}}
{{other ships|Japanese ship Noshiro}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
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{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Japanese cruiser Noshiro in 1943.jpg
| Ship caption = ''Noshiro'' in Tokyo Bay, July 1943
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{{Infobox ship career
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| Ship country = [[Empire of Japan]]
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Empire of Japan|naval}}
| Ship name = ''Noshiro''
| Ship namesake = 
| Ship ordered = 1939 Fiscal Year
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| Ship builder = [[Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]]
| Ship original cost = 
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| Ship laid down = 4 September 1941
| Ship launched = 19 July 1942
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| Ship commissioned = 30 June 1943<ref>Lacroix, ''Japanese Cruisers'', p. 794.</ref>
| Ship recommissioned = 
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| Ship struck = 20 December 1944
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| Ship fate = *Sunk 26 October 1944 by [[USN]] aircraft south of [[Mindoro]] [[Sulu Sea]]
*{{coord|11|42|N|121|41|E}}
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}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|Agano|cruiser}}
| Ship displacement = {{convert|6652|t|LT|lk=on|abbr=on}} (standard); {{convert|7590|t|LT|lk=on|abbr=on}} (loaded)
| Ship length = {{convert|162|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|15.2|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = {{convert|5.6|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship power = 
| Ship propulsion = *4 shaft Gihon geared turbines
*6 Kampon boilers
*{{convert|100,000|shp|kW|abbr=on|lk=in}}
| Ship speed = {{convert|35|kn|km/h|0}}
| Ship range = {{convert|6300|nmi|km|-1}} at {{convert|18|kn|km/h|0}}
| Ship complement = 726
| Ship sensors = 
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| Ship armament = *6 × [[15 cm/50 41st Year Type|152 mm Type 41 guns (3×2)]]
*4 × [[8 cm/60 98th Year Type|76 mm Type 98 DP guns]] (2x2),
*2 × triple [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|Type 96 25 mm AA guns]],
*2 × twin [[Hotchkiss M1929 machine gun|13 mm machine guns]]
*8 × 610 mm [[torpedo tube]]s (2x4)
*48 [[naval mine]]s
| Ship armour = 
| Ship armor = *[[Belt armor|Belt]] {{convert|60|mm|in|abbr=on}}
*[[Deck (ship)|Deck]] {{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| Ship aircraft = 2 x [[floatplane]]s
| Ship aircraft facilities = 1 aircraft [[Aircraft catapult#Interwar and World War II|catapult]]
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

{{nihongo|'''''Noshiro'''''|能代 |}} was an {{sclass|Agano|cruiser}} which served with the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] (IJN) during [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Jentsura  | first = Hansgeorg  | year = 1976 | title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945  | publisher = Naval Institute Press  | isbn = 0-87021-893-X }} page 111-112</ref> She was named after the Noshiro River in [[Akita Prefecture]] in northern Japan.

==Background==
''Noshiro'' was the second of the four vessels completed in the ''Agano'' class of [[light cruiser]]s, which were intended to replace increasingly obsolete light cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Funding was authorized in the [[4th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme]] of 1939, although construction was delayed due to lack of capacity in Japanese shipyards. Like other vessels of her class, ''Noshiro'' was intended for use as the flagship of a [[destroyer]] flotilla.<ref name=Stille>Stille, '' Imperial Japanese Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45 '', pages 34-39;</ref>

==Design==
The design for the ''Agano'' class was based on technologies developed by the experimental cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Yūbari||2}}, resulting in a graceful and uncluttered deck line and single smokestack.<ref name="Stille" />

''Noshiro'' was armed with six [[15 cm/50 41st Year Type|152 mm Type 41 guns]] in three [[gun turret]]s.<ref name="Stille" /> Secondary armament included four [[8 cm/60 98th Year Type|76 mm Type 98 DP guns]] designed specifically for the class, in two twin turrets amidships. Anti-aircraft weapons included two triple [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|25 mm AA guns]] in front of the bridge, and two twin [[Hotchkiss M1929 machine gun|13 mm mounts]] near the mast.<ref name="Stille" /> ''Noshiro'' also had two quadruple torpedo launchers for [[Type 93 torpedo]]es located below the flight deck, with eight reserve torpedoes.<ref name="Stille" /> The torpedo tubes were mounted on the centerline, as was more common with destroyers, and had a rapid reload system with eight spare torpedoes. Being mounted on the centerline allowed the twin launchers to fire to either port or starboard, meaning that a full eight-torpedo broadside could be fired, whereas a ship with separate port and starboard launchers can only fire half of its torpedoes at a time. Two [[depth charge]] rails and 18 depth charges were also installed aft. ''Noshiro'' was also equipped with two [[Aichi E13A]] aircraft and had a flight deck with a 26-foot catapult.

The engines were a quadruple-shaft geared turbine arrangement with six boilers in five boiler rooms, developing {{convert|100000|shp|abbr=on}} for a maximum speed of {{convert|35|kn|km/h}}.

==Service career==

===Early career===
''Noshiro'' was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] at [[Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]] on 19 July 1942 and completed less than a year later on 30 June 1943.<ref name="Nishida">{{cite web |first= Hiroshi |last= Nishida |url= http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0336.htm |title= Agano-class light cruisers |year= 2002 |work= Imperial Japanese Navy |access-date= 21 September 2014 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20121208192843/http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0336.htm |archive-date= 8 December 2012 |url-status= dead }}</ref>  On completion, she was initially assigned to the [[IJN 1st Fleet]] for training off of [[Hashirajima]]. On 15 August 1943, she was reassigned to [[Vice Admiral]] [[Takeo Kurita]]'s [[IJN 2nd Fleet|Second Fleet]] as the [[flagship]] of DesRon 2, replacing the cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Jintsū||2}}, which had been sunk a month earlier at the [[Battle of Kolombangara]]<ref name="combinedfleet">{{cite web | last = Parshall | first = Jon |author2=Bob Hackett |author3=Sander Kingsepp |author4=Allyn Nevitt  | url = http://combinedfleet.com/ship.php?q=agano_c.htm  | title = Imperial Japanese Navy Page (Combinedfleet.com): ''Agano'' class  | access-date = 2006-06-14}} tabular record:  [http://www.combinedfleet.com/noshiro_t.htm   CombinedFleet.com: ‘‘Noshiro’’  history]</ref>

===Battles in the Gilbert Islands and Solomon Islands===
On 18 September 1943, in reaction to air raids on [[Tarawa]] launched by [[United States Navy]] [[aircraft carrier]]s {{USS|Lexington|CV-16|6}}, {{USS|Princeton|CVL-23|2}} and {{USS|Belleau Wood|CVL-24|2}}, the [[Combined Fleet]] sortied to [[Eniwetok]] with a massive force but failed to make contact and returned to [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]] in the [[Caroline Islands]]. Likewise, from 17 October 1943 – 26 October 1943, the Combined Fleet failed to contact US Task Force 15 after it bombed [[Wake Island]].<ref name="combinedfleet" />

On 1 November 1943, the United States launched the [[Bougainville Campaign]] to retake [[Bougainville Island|Bougainville]] in the [[Solomon Islands]]. The day after the [[Battle of Empress Augusta Bay]] (2 November), ''Noshiro'' departed Truk with ''[[Sentai]]'' 4's {{ship|Japanese cruiser| Atago||2}}, {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Takao|1930|2}} and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Maya||2}}, ''Sentai'' 7's {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Suzuya|1934|2}} and {{ship|Japanese cruiser| Mogami|1934|2}}, ''Sentai'' 8's {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Chikuma|1938|2}} and four destroyers, arriving at [[Rabaul]] on 5 November 1943. While refueling in Simpson Harbor from the oiler ''Kokuyo Maru'' the cruisers were attacked during the [[Bombing of Rabaul (November 1943)|Carrier Raid on Rabaul]] by 97 planes from [[Task Force 38]]'s carriers {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|6}} and ''Princeton''.  ''Noshiro'' was hit by a dud [[Mark 13 torpedo|Mark 13]] [[aerial torpedo]].<ref name="combinedfleet" />

From 12 November 1943, ''Noshiro'' assisted its [[sister ship]], {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Agano||2}}, after the latter was torpedoed by the [[submarine]] {{USS|Scamp|SS-277|6}}, and attempted to tow it back to Truk.

On 20 November 1943, American "[[Operation Galvanic]]" to retake the [[Gilbert Islands]] invaded [[Tarawa]]. The invasion fleet of 200 ships included 13 battleships and 11 carriers. ''Noshiro'' responded by sailing from Truk with ''Suzuya'', {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Kumano||2}}, {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Chōkai||2}}, {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Ōyodo||2}} and several destroyers. The group was attacked on 1 January 1944 by aircraft from the aircraft carriers {{USS|Bunker Hill|CV-17|6}} and {{USS| Monterey|CVL-26|2}}. One of ''Noshiro''{{'}}s [[gun turret]]s was put out of action temporarily by the attack and ten crewmen killed.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

On 19 January 1944, ''Noshiro'' was dispatched from Truk to assist the aircraft carrier {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Un'yō||2}} after it had been torpedoed by the submarine {{USS|Haddock|SS-231|6}} by towing it back to [[Saipan]]. ''Noshiro'' continued on to Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, going into [[dry dock]] for repairs and refit on 1 February 1944. Six triple-mount and eight single-mount [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|Type 96 25 mm AA guns]] were fitted. This brought the ''Noshiro''{{'}}s 25&nbsp;mm total to 32 barrels (8x3) (8x1).<ref name="combinedfleet" />

===Battles in the Philippines===
The retrofit was completed by 28 March 1944, enabling ''Noshiro'' to depart for [[Davao City|Davao]] and [[Lingga Islands|Lingga]] on 5 April 1944 with ''Sentai''  4's ''Atago'', ''Takao'' and ''Chōkai'', ‘‘Sentai’’ 5's {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Myōkō||2}} and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Haguro||2}} and the destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Harusame|1935|2}}. The cruiser group was attacked by the submarine {{USS|Dace|SS-247|6}}, which missed with all six [[Bow (ship)|bow]] torpedoes, and was also sighted by the submarine {{USS|Darter|SS-227|6}}, which failed to achieve an attack vector. Likewise, the cruiser group was sighted coming out of Davao Bay on 7 April 1944 by the submarine {{USS|Scamp|SS-277|6}}, which was also unable to attack, and by the submarine {{USS|Gurnard|SS-254|6}} on 18 May 1944 which fired a full salvo of six bow torpedoes, all of which missed.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

''Noshiro'' was at the [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]] on 19 June 1944, where it was flagship of Rear Admiral [[Mikio Hayakawa]] as part of Vice Admiral Kurita’s Vanguard Force. ''Noshiro'' escaped from the battle undamaged.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

From late June-early July 1944, ''Noshiro'' again was dry docked and refitted at [[Kure Naval Arsenal]]. Two more triple-mount Type 96 25&nbsp;mm AA gun mounts were installed amidships bringing the total number of 25&nbsp;mm guns to 48 barrels (10x3, 18x1). A Type 13 air-search and Type 22 surface-search [[radar]] were also fitted. On 8 July 1944, ''Noshiro'' departed Kure with the destroyers carrying army troops and material to [[Singapore]], and remained in the vicinity for the following three months conducting training.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

On 18 October 1944, ''Noshiro'' was ordered to [[Brunei]], in preparation for the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]], which began on 22 October 1944. ''Noshiro'', as DesRon 2's flagship, sortied with Admiral Kurita's First Mobile Striking Force, Force "A" (Center Force). At the [[Battle of the Sibuyan Sea]] on 24 October 1944, Force A was attacked 11 times by over 250 carrier aircraft from [[Task Force 38]] comprising the aircraft carriers {{USS|Essex|CV-9|6}}, ''Lexington'', {{USS|Intrepid|CV-11|2}}, {{USS|Cabot|CVL-28|2}}, {{USS|Franklin|CV-13|2}} and {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|2}}. Although the [[battleship]]s {{ship|Japanese battleship|Yamato||2}}, {{ship|Japanese battleship|Nagato||2}}, {{ship|Japanese battleship|Haruna||2}}, and the cruisers ''Myōkō'' and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Tone|1937|2}} were damaged, ''Noshiro'' escaped unharmed.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

The following day, at the [[Battle off Samar]], ''Noshiro'' hit the [[escort carrier]] {{USS|White Plains|CVE-66|6}} with several 6-inch shells, but was in turn hit starboard side by a 5-inch shell from an American destroyer. She also participated in the sinking of the carrier {{USS|Gambier Bay|CVE-73|6}}, which was [[HMS Glorious|one of two cases]] of an aircraft carrier being sunk solely by naval gunfire.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

On 26 October 1944, west of [[Panay]], Kurita's force was attacked by 80 [[Grumman TBF Avenger|Grumman TBM-1C Avenger]] torpedo bombers from the aircraft carriers {{USS|Wasp|CV-18|6}} and {{USS|Cowpens|CVL-25|2}}. One bomb exploded in ''Noshiro''{{'}}s AA shell magazine, starting a fire that was quickly extinguished. In the second attack, six more Avengers attacked ''Noshiro'', which dodged their torpedoes, but in the third wave, an Avenger launched a Mark 13 aerial torpedo that hit in the No. 3 boiler room. It instantly flooded, and the No. 1 boiler room flooded shortly thereafter. The inrush of water threw all of ''Noshiro''{{'}}s boilers off line, and she came to a halt with a 16-degree list to port.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

While emergency repairs were carried out and ''Noshiro'' dead in the water, the destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hamanami||2}} came alongside and removed Rear Admiral Hayakawa, who later transferred to ''Yamato''. At 1014, a fourth attack of 28 TBMs and [[Curtiss SB2C Helldiver|Curtiss SB2C-3 Helldiver]] dive bombers from {{USS|Hornet|CV-12|6}} struck with another torpedo to starboard beneath ''Noshiro''{{'}}s No. 2 turret. ''Noshiro''{{'}}s gunners later claimed to have shot down six of the attacking planes. Captain Kajiwara ordered the forward magazines flooded in an attempt to right the ship. Five minutes later, with the forward deck awash and the list steadily increasing, Kajiwara gave the order to abandon ship. At 1113, ''Noshiro'' sank at {{coord|11|42|N|121|41|E|display=inline, title}} south of [[Mindoro]].<ref name="Nishida" /> The destroyers {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Akishimo||2}} and ''Hamanami'' rescued Captain Sueyoshi Kajiwara and 328 survivors.<ref name="combinedfleet" />

''Noshiro'' was removed from the [[navy list]] on 20 December 1944.<ref name="Nishida" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book | last = Brown | first = David | year = 1990 | title = Warship Losses of World War Two | publisher = Naval Institute Press | isbn = 1-55750-914-X}}
*{{cite book | last = Dull | first = Paul S. | year = 1978 | title = A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941-1945 | publisher = Naval Institute Press | location = Annapolis, Maryland | isbn = 0-87021-097-1 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/battlehistoryofi0000dull }}
* {{cite book| last1 = Jentschura| first1 = Hansgeorg| first2 = Dieter |last2=Jung|first3=Peter |last3=Mickel| year = 1977| title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945| publisher = United States Naval Institute| location = Annapolis, Maryland| isbn = 0-87021-893-X|name-list-style=amp}}
*{{cite book|last1=Lacroix|first1=Eric|last2=Wells II|first2=Linton |title=Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|date=1997|isbn=0-87021-311-3 |name-list-style=amp |author-link2=Linton Wells II}}
*{{cite book | last = Roscoe | first = Theodore | year = 1949 | title = United States Submarine Operations in World War II | publisher = Naval Institute Press | location =Annapolis, Maryland | isbn = 0-87021-731-3 }}
*{{cite book | last = Stille | first = Mark | year = 2012 |  title = Imperial Japanese Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45| publisher = Osprey | isbn = 978-1-84908-562-5 }}
*{{cite book | last = Whitley | first = M.J. | year = 1995 | title = Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia | publisher = Naval Institute Press | location =Annapolis, Maryland | isbn = 1-55750-141-6 }}

==External links==
*{{cite web | last = Parshall | first = Jon |author2=Bob Hackett |author3=Sander Kingsepp |author4=Allyn Nevitt  | url = http://combinedfleet.com/ship.php?q=agano_c.htm  | title = Imperial Japanese Navy Page (Combinedfleet.com): ''Agano'' class  | access-date = 2006-06-14}} tabular record:  [http://www.combinedfleet.com/noshiro_t.htm   CombinedFleet.com: ‘‘Noshiro’’  history]
* {{cite web |first= Nishida |last= Nishida |url= http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0336.htm |title= Agano-class light cruisers |year= 2002 |work= Imperial Japanese Navy |access-date= 21 September 2014 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20121208192843/http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0336.htm |archive-date= 8 December 2012 |url-status= dead }}

{{Agano class cruiser}}
{{October 1944 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Noshiro}}
[[Category:Agano-class cruisers]]
[[Category:Ships built by Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]
[[Category:World War II cruisers of Japan]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Sulu Sea]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Cruisers sunk by aircraft]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in October 1944]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by US aircraft]]