Have you been here Hivers? I'm guessing probably not.
The IJN Nagato is another of the bigger wrecks in Bikini Atoll.
The IJN Nagato is a true battleship in every sense of the word. 216m long and a beam of 29m with a displacement of nearly 33 thousand tonnes it was a monster, with main guns of 4 twin 16-inch turrets that could hurl a shell over 1tonne shell nearly 23 miles, with a host of other armaments from 5.5 inch deck guns, anti-aircraft guns, and torpedos there was plenty to keep the crew of over 1300 officers and men busy.
Photo from Kure Maritime City Historical Museum
Launched in November 1919 it was classed as Super dreadnaught during WW2 it saw service at Pearl Harbour and the Battle of Midway but like most of the IJN military fleet left Chuuk Lagoon on the 4th of February 1944 before Operation Hailstone on the 17th and 18th. At the end of the war, she was the only Japanese battleship left afloat and handed over to the Americans who decided to use her as a target ship for the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll.
From the US Library of Congress.
For the Able air burst blast on July 1st, 1946, she was 1500m from ground zero and suffered little damage. On July 25th she was 870m from ground zero for the Baker underwater detonation test and survived the tsunami from the explosion but with a slight starboard list over the next 5 days the list increased and the shop finally capsized and sank on the July 30th
IJN Nagato in the left from the US Library of Congress.
The ship now sits upside down in around 55m of water and is far too big to cover in one or two dives.
All the dives start by dropping down onto the huge props at around 35m
The 16-inch guns on one of the aft turrets are an interesting feature.
And a chance for lots of photo opportunities.
Part of one of the gun-ranging periscopes I think.
Speaking tubes on the bridge wing.
Divers returning to the prop to face over an hour and a half of deco stops before returning to the dive boat
These 16inch shells left on the Yamagiri Maru in Truk Lagoon were destined for the Nagato.
In case you are wondering my profile photo was taken next to the barrel on the Nagatos Aft turret, Thanks to Pete Mesley for that shot.
All, for now, Hivers I hope you enjoyed that look at the Japanese battleship the IJN Nagato.