* 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.
