17-18 February 1944: American Operation "Hailstone" - The Attack on Truk:
NAKA departs Truk to assist light cruiser AGANO torpedoed the day before by LtCdr William P. Gruner's USS SKATE (SS-305).
After NAKA's departure, Truk is attacked by Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher's Task Force 58's five fleet carriers and four light carriers, supported by six battleships, ten cruisers and 28 destroyers. They launch air attacks on ships in the lagoon, airfields and shore installations and sink 31 transports and 10 naval vessels (two cruisers, four destroyers and four auxiliary vessels), destroy nearly 200 aircraft and damage severely about 100 more. Truk is eliminated as a major fleet anchorage for the IJN.
35 miles W of Truk. NAKA is attacked by three waves of SB2C "Helldivers" and TBF "Avengers" of Rear Admiral (later Admiral) F. C. Sherman's TG 58.3's VB-17 and VT-17 from BUNKER HILL (CV-17) and TBFs of VT-25 of COWPENS (CVL-25). The first two strikes fail to score a hit, but NAKA is hit by a torpedo and a bomb in the third strike and breaks in two.
NAKA sinks at 07-15N, 151-15E. About 240 of her crew are lost, but patrol boats rescue 210 of her crew including Captain Sutezawa.