Japanese light cruisers resembled large destroyers in their emphasis on torpedo attack. Nagara carried eight 24-inch tubes in four twin launchers, compared with six 21-inch tubes in the British and American examples discussed earlier. The larger weapons and more numerous launchers accompanied an increasing reliance on torpedoes as a major surface-ship weapon. This emphasis helps explain the importance of torpedo attack when considering later Imperial Japanese Navy surface doctrine and treaty debates.
Notable Point · 47:58-49:02
Japanese light cruisers emphasized torpedo attack
Nagara and related Japanese light cruisers had a destroyer-like emphasis on torpedoes, with larger weapons and more tubes than the British and American examples discussed.