View source for Japanese destroyer Shiranui (1938)

{{Short description|Kagerō-class destroyer}}
{{Other ships|Japanese destroyer Shiranui}}
{{More footnotes|date=October 2024}}
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{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= [[File:Shiranuhi.jpg|300px|Shiranui]]
|Ship caption=''Shiranui'' on 20 December 1939
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[Empire of Japan]] 
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Japan|naval}}
|Ship name= ''Shiranui''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Uraga Dock Company]]
|Ship laid down= 30 August 1937
|Ship launched= 28 June 1938
|Ship completed= 20 December 1939
|Ship commissioned= 
|Ship decommissioned= 
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck= 10 December 1944
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate= Sunk in action, 27 October 1944

|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class= {{sclass|Kagerō|destroyer}}
|Ship displacement= {{convert|2033|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} standard
|Ship length= {{convert|118.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} 
|Ship beam= {{convert|10.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} 
|Ship draft= {{convert|3.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} 
|Ship propulsion=*3 × Kampon water tube boilers
*2 × Kanpon impulse turbines
*2 × shafts, {{convert|52000|shp|MW|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed= {{convert|35.5|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}}
|Ship range=5,000 NM at {{convert|18|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}}
|Ship complement=239
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*(1939)
*6 × [[12.7 cm/50 Type 3 naval gun|12.7 cm/50 Type 3]] [[dual purpose gun|DP]] guns
*2 × [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|Type 96 25&nbsp;mm AA guns]]
*8 × {{convert|610|mm|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s
*18 [[depth charge]]s
*2 × [[Paravane (weapon)|paravane]]s
*(1943)
*6 × [[12.7 cm/50 Type 3 naval gun|12.7 cm/50 Type 3]] [[dual purpose gun|DP]] guns
*8 × [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|Type 96 25&nbsp;mm AA guns]]
*8 × {{convert|610|mm|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s
*18 [[depth charge]]s
|Ship armor=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

{{nihongo|'''''Shiranui'''''|不知火|alternatively '''''Shiranuhi''''',  Phosphorescent Light}}<ref>Nelson. ''Japanese-English Character Dictionary''. Page 39;</ref> was the second vessel to be commissioned in the 19-vessel {{sclass|Kagerō|destroyer|0}} [[destroyer]]s built for the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] in the late 1930s under the [[3rd Naval Armaments Supplement Programme (Japan, 1937)|Circle Three Supplementary Naval Expansion Program]] (''Maru San Keikaku'').

==Background==
The ''Kagerō''-class destroyers were outwardly almost identical to the preceding [[light cruiser]]-sized {{sclass|Asashio|destroyer|4}}, 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.<ref>Peattie & Evans, ''Kaigun'' .</ref>{{Page needed|date=October 2024}} 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]].<ref>Globalsecurity.org, IJN Kagero class destroyers</ref>

''Shiranui'', built at the [[Uraga Dock Company]], was laid down on 30 August 1937, launched on 28 June 1938 and commissioned on 20 December 1939.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0427.htm | title= Asashio class 1st class destroyers | last= Nishidah | first= Hiroshi | year= 2002 | work= Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy | access-date= 2011-03-27 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20120721073917/http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0427.htm | archive-date= 2012-07-21 | url-status= dead }}</ref>

==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 [[Iturup|Etorofu]] in the [[Kurile Islands]], as part of the escort for [[Chūichi Nagumo|Admiral Nagumo]]’s [[Kido Butai|Carrier Strike Force]]. She returned to [[Kure Naval District|Kure]] on 24 December.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/shiran_t.htm | title= IJN ''Shiranui'': Tabular Record of Movement |author= Allyn D. Nevitt  |year= 1998 |publisher= combinedfleet.com }}</ref>

In January 1942, '' Shiranui'' escorted aircraft carriers {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shōkaku||2}} and {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Zuikaku||2}} to [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]], and onwards to [[Rabaul]] to cover [[Battle of Rabaul (1942)|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 [[Sri Lanka|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 {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Kumano||2}} and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Suzuya|1934|2}} from [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]] back to Kure.

On 28 June, she was assigned to escort the aircraft carrier {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Chiyoda||2}} 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 the submarine {{USS|Growler|SS-215|6}}, which severed her [[bow (ship)|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 25 mm AT/AA Gun|Type 96 25mm AA guns]].

On 15 November 1943, ''Shiranui'' was assigned to the [[IJN 9th Fleet]], and escorted convoys to [[Palau]], [[Wewak]] and [[Jayapura|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 the cruisers {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Nachi||2}} and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Ashigara||2}} 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 Island|Coron]] to search for the missing cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Kinu||2}} and destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Uranami|1928|2}}, and took on survivors from the destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hayashimo||2}}. On 27 October she was sunk with all hands by dive-bombers from {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|6}},<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/Hayashimo-TU-Notes.htm | title= Editorial Notes - HAYASHIMO |author= Anthony Tully  |year= 2014|publisher= combinedfleet.com }}</ref> {{convert|80|mi|km}} north of [[Iloilo]], [[Panay Island|Panay]] ({{coord|12|0|N|122|30|E|display=inline,title }}).<ref>{{cite book | last = Brown | first = David| year = 1990 | title = Warship Losses of World War Two| publisher = Naval Institute Press| isbn = 1-55750-914-X}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=October 2024}} 

''Shiranui '' was  removed from the [[navy list]] on 10 December 1944.

== See also ==
* [[List of ships of the Japanese Navy]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==Books==
*{{cite book | last = Brown | first = David| year = 1990 | title = Warship Losses of World War Two| publisher = Naval Institute Press| isbn = 1-55750-914-X}}
*{{cite book | last = D'Albas | first = Andrieu| year = 1965 | title = Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II  | publisher = Devin-Adair Pub| isbn = 0-8159-5302-X}}
*{{cite book | last = Evans   | first = David | year = 1979 | title = Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941 | publisher = US Naval Institute Press  | isbn = 0-87021-192-7}}
* {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946|editor=Roger Chesneau|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Grenwitch|year=1980|isbn=0-85177-146-7}}
*{{cite book | last = Howarth   | first = Stephen | year = 1983 | title = The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895–1945 | publisher = Atheneum
 | isbn = 0-689-11402-8}}
*{{cite book | last = Jentsura  | first = Hansgeorg  | year = 1976 | title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945 | publisher = US Naval Institute Press  | isbn = 0-87021-893-X }}
* {{cite book |last1=Watts |first1=A.J. |title=Japanese warships of World War II |date=1966 |publisher=Ian Allan |isbn=0711002150}}
* {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Destroyers of World War 2|publisher=Cassell Publishing|year=1988|isbn=1-85409-521-8}}

==External links==
*[http://www.combinedfleet.com/kagero_c.htm  CombinedFleet.com: ''Kagero''-class destroyers]
*[http://www.combinedfleet.com/shiran_t.htm  CombinedFleet.com: ''Shiranuhi'' history]
*{{cite web| last = Globalsecurity.org| url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/kagero-dd.htm| title = IJN Kagero class destroyers}}

{{Kagerō-class destroyer}}
{{October 1944 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shiranuhi}}
[[Category:Kagerō-class destroyers|Shiranuhi]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of Japan|Shiranuhi]]
[[Category:Ships of the Aleutian Islands campaign]]
[[Category:Destroyers sunk by aircraft]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Sulu Sea]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:1938 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built by Uraga Dock Company]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in October 1944]]
[[Category:Warships lost with all hands]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by US aircraft]]