Nobutake Kondō
As the Second Sino-Japanese War continued to escalate, "Nagara" was assigned to provide cover for Japanese transports during the Battle of Shanghai, and remained on station patrolling the China coast and the Yangtze River through 1939. With the heavy cruisers and , "Nagara" participated in the Hainan Island Operation in February 1939 under Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō. From 30 January 1941 to 8 April 1941, "Nagara" assisted in the Invasion of French Indochina. From 10 June 1941 to 9 September 1941, "Nagara" provided coverage for the landings of Japanese troops in southern China.