Japanese destroyer Shiranui (1938)

Shiranui (不知火) was the second vessel to be commissioned in the 19-vessel Kagerō-class destroyer destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late-1930s under the Circle Three Supplementary Naval Expansion Program (Maru San Keikaku).

Background
The Kagerō-class destroyers were outwardly almost identical to the preceding light cruiser-sized Asashio-class destroyer, with improvements made by Japanese naval architects to improve stability and to take advantage of Japan’s lead in torpedo technology. They were designed to accompany the Japanese main striking force and in both day and night attacks against the United States Navy as it advanced across the Pacific Ocean, according to Japanese naval strategic projections. Despite being one of the most powerful classes of destroyers in the world at the time of their completion, only one survived the Pacific War.

 Shiranui, built at the Uraga Dock Company, was laid down on August 30, 1937, launched on June 28, 1938 and commissioned on December 20, 1939.

Operational history
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Shiranui, was assigned to Destroyer Division 18 (Desdiv 18), and a member of Destroyer Squadron 2 (Desron 2) of the IJN 2nd Fleet, and had deployed from Etorofu in the Kurile Islands, as part of the escort for Admiral Nagumo’s Carrier Strike Force. She returned to Kure on 24 December.

In January 1942,  Shiranui escorted aircraft carriers JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Shōkaku and JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Zuikaku to Truk, and onwards to Rabaul to cover landings of Japanese forces at Rabaul, Kavieng and Salamaua. In February, she escorted the Japanese carriers in the Bombing of Darwin, and was then based at Staring-baai in Sulawesi, Netherlands East Indies for patrols south of Java.

Shiranui departed Staring-baai on 27 March to escort the carrier force in the Indian Ocean raid on 27 March After the Japanese air strikes on Colombo and Trincomalee in Ceylon, she returned to Kure Naval Arsenal for repairs on 23 April. She deployed from Saipan on 3 June as part of the escort for the troop convoy in the Battle of Midway. Afterwards, she escorted the cruisers JAPANESE CRUISER Kumano and JAPANESE CRUISER Suzuya from Trukback to Kure.

On 28 June, she was assigned to escort JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Chiyoda to Kiska in the Aleutian Islands on a supply mission. On 5 July, while outside Kiska Harbor, she was hit amidships by a torpedo fired by USS Growler (SS-215), which severed her bow, killing three crewmen. Her crew managed to keep her afloat and she took two months to limp back to Maizuru under tow, where she remained under repairs until 15 November 1943. During these repairs, her X-turret was replaced by two additional triple Type 96 25mm AA guns.

On 15 November 1943, Shiranui was assigned to the IJN 9th Fleet, and escorted convoys to Palau, Wewak and Hollandia during January and February 1944. On 1 March, she was reassigned to the IJN 5th Fleet and was assigned to northern waters, making patrols from her base at Ominato Guard District in April, and returning with JAPANESE CRUISER Nachi and JAPANESE CRUISER Ashigara to Kure at the start of August. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf on 24–25 October 1944, Shiranui was assigned to Vice Admiral Shōji Nishimura’s diversionary force at the Battle of Surigao Strait. After the battle, she departed Coron to search for the missing cruiser JAPANESE CRUISER Kinu and destroyer JAPANESE DESTROYER Uranami, and took on survivors from the destroyer JAPANESE DESTROYER Hayashimo. On 27 October she was sunk will all hands by aircraft of United States Navy Task Force 77, 80 miles (150 km) north of Iloilo, Panay (12°N, 122.5°W).

Shiranui  was removed from the navy list on December 10, 1944.

Books

 * Watts, A. J. Japanese Warships of World War II, Ian Allen, London, 1967.
 * Watts, A. J. Japanese Warships of World War II, Ian Allen, London, 1967.
 * Watts, A. J. Japanese Warships of World War II, Ian Allen, London, 1967.
 * Watts, A. J. Japanese Warships of World War II, Ian Allen, London, 1967.
 * Watts, A. J. Japanese Warships of World War II, Ian Allen, London, 1967.
 * Watts, A. J. Japanese Warships of World War II, Ian Allen, London, 1967.
 * Watts, A. J. Japanese Warships of World War II, Ian Allen, London, 1967.