The initial six Shiratsuyu-class destroyers were modified versions of the Hatsuharu class, and had been originally planned as the final six vessels of that class under the ”Circle-One” Naval Expansion Plan.

However, design issues with the Hatsuharu-class ships, notably their “top-heavy” design relative to their small displacement, resulted in extensive modifications, to the point where the final six vessels on order were named as a separate class. The redesign caused the new class to exceed the limitations imposed by the 1930 London Naval Treaty.^[2] An additional four vessels were ordered under the ”Circle-Two Naval Expansion Plan of fiscal 1934, and all vessels were completed by 1937. While the process of only giving numbers rather than names has ceased in 1928, these ships also bore the numbers Dai-65 to Dai-74.

As with the Hatsuharu class, the Shiratsuyu-class destroyers were designed to accompany the Japanese main striking force and to conduct both day and night torpedo attacks against the United States Navy as it advanced across the Pacific Ocean, according to Japanese naval strategic projections.^[3] Despite being one of the most powerful classes of destroyers in the world at the time of their completion, none survived the Pacific War.^[4]

In general layout, the Shiratsuyu-class vessels closely resembled the Ariake sub-class, or final version of the Hatsuharu class, differing only in the lower and more compact bridge design and the shape and inclination of the funnels. The hull retained the general configuration of the Hatsuharu class with a long forecastle with a pronounced flare to improve sea-keeping at high speeds by adding buoyancy and reducing the spray and water coming over the deck, but with a shorter forecastle and longer stern. The same engines were used as on the Hatsuharu class, and due to their greater displacement and draft, the Shiratsuyu-class could only attain 34 knots.^[2]

The Shiratsuyu class were the first Japanese warships to be completed with quadruple torpedo mounts and telephone communications to the torpedo station.^[2] As with the Hatsuharu class. the torpedo launchers were given a protective shield to allow for use in heavy weather and to protect against splinter damage. The last four vessels (those ordered in 1934) differed slightly from their predecessors and resembled more the succeeding Asashio Class.

Propulsion edit

The Shiratsuyu class, as with the previous Hatsuharu class, carried two sets of Kampon geared turbines, one for each shaft. Each set consisted of one low-pressure and one high-pressure turbine, plus a cruise turbine connected to the high-pressure turbine. The LP and HP turbines were connected to the propeller shaft by a two-pinion reduction gear. Each propeller had a diameter of 3.05 m (10.0 ft) and a pitch of 3.7 m (12 ft). The total horsepower of the Shiratsuyu class was only 42,000 hp (31,000 kW) compared to the 50,000 hp (37,000 kW) of their Fubuki-class predecessors, but the machinery was significantly lighter and more powerful on a unit basis. The Shiratsuyus' machinery weighed only 106 tonnes (104 long tons; 117 short tons) compared to the 144 tonnes (142 long tons; 159 short tons) of the Fubuki class, or 396 shaft horsepower per tonne versus 347 shaft horsepower per tonne for the older ships.^[5]

Similarly the three Kampon Type Ro-Gō boilers used in the Shiratsuyu-class ships weighed 50 tonnes (49 long tons; 55 short tons) in comparison to the 51 tonnes (50 long tons; 56 short tons) boilers used in the Fubuki class, but produced 14,000 hp (10,000 kW) each while the older boilers produced 12,500 hp (9,300 kW). This gave a ratio of 3.6 kg per shaft horsepower for the Shiratsuyu class compared to the 4.1 kg per shaft horsepower of their predecessors. The newer design of boilers initially used steam pressurized to 20-bar (290 psi), just like the older models, but used superheating to improve efficiency while the older boilers simply used saturated steam.^[6]

A single 100 kW turbo-generator was fitted behind the reduction gears in a separate compartment and two 40 kW diesel generators were located between the propeller shafts. As initially completed the Shiratsuyu class had a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h) with 460 tonnes (450 long tons; 510 short tons) of fuel.^[7]

Armament edit

The Shiratsuyu-class destroyers used the same 50 caliber 12.7 cm/50 Type 3 naval gun as the Fubuki class, but all turrets could elevate to 75° to give the main guns a minimal ability to engage aircraft. During the war the single turret in "X" position was removed on all surviving ships and replaced with two triple Type 96 anti-aircraft guns, while other guns were added so that between 13 and 21 (depending on the individual vessel) of this calibre were eventually carried in double and triple mounts. Although these powered mounts were unsatisfactory because their traverse and elevation speeds were too slow to engage high-speed aircraft^[8] more single mounts were fitted to ships in the last year of the war. Four 13 mm guns were also added.

For example, Hatsushimo of the related Hatsuharu class mounted ten single 25 guns when she was lost in July 1945. Four license-built Type 93 machine guns were also fitted to Hatsushimo, but these were also of limited utility against modern aircraft.^[9]

The 61 cm Type 90 torpedo was mounted in quadruple tube Type 92 launchers, derived from the twin tube Type 89 launcher used in the Takao-class heavy cruisers. Shields were fitted to both the torpedo mounts and lockers to protect them from the weather and from strafing aircraft. Initially the shields were made from Duralumin to save weight, but these quickly corroded and had to be replaced. "NiCrMo" steel, taken from the air chambers of obsolete torpedoes, 3 mm (0.12 in) in thickness, was chosen for the new shields to save weight. It was traversed by an electro-hydraulic system and could traverse 360° in twenty-five seconds. If the backup manual system was used the time required increased to two minutes. Eight reloads were carried, and each tube could be reloaded in twenty-three seconds using the endless wire and winch provided.^[10] Because of the weight of the extra guns added, one set of reloads for the torpedo tubes was removed, together with the minelaying and minesweeping gear. By the start of the Pacific War, all ships of the class were using Type 93 torpedoes.^[2]

Only eighteen depth charges were initially carried in a rack at the stern, but this increased to thirty-six after the autumn of 1942, with four depth charge throwers. Apparently no sonar or hydrophones were fitted until after the outbreak of the war when the Type 93 sonar and Type 93 hydrophones were mounted.^[11]

Radar edit

Radar was not installed on the surviving ships of this class until late in the war, possibly as late as 1944. Surviving ships were given a Type 22 radar on the foremast, a Type 13 on the mainmast and a Type E-27 radar countermeasures device was carried high on the foremast.^[11]

None of the Shiratsuyu-class ships survived the Pacific War. The lead ship of the class, Shiratsuyu was sunk northeast of Mindanao in a collision with the oiler Seiyo Maru. Most of the class were lost to US submarines, with Kawakaze, Yūdachi, and Murasame being lost in surface actions. Only Harusame fell victim to aircraft. All ships in the class took part in either the Battle of Midway or the Invasion of the Aleutians.

Kawakaze was probably the most successful ship of the class. On the 21st of August 1942, she located the destroyer USS Blue, and launched a torpedo which blew up Blue's engine room and sank her.^[12] On the 30th of November 1942, she participated in the Battle of Tassafaronga, where Kawakaze landed the two torpedo hits which sank the heavy cruiser USS Northampton.^[13] On February 1st 1943, Kawakaze via gunfire damage sank the American torpedo boat PT-37. Kawakaze was finally torpedoed and sunk by the destroyer USS Dunlap during the battle of Vella Gulf, August 7th 1943.^[12]

Another notable engagement was when the Shiratsuyu class destroyer Suzukaze combined torpedoes with the Kagero class destroyer Tanikaze to sink the American light cruiser USS Helena during the battle of Kula Gulf, 6th of July 1943^[14]

The Yūdachi was another notable ship of the class, first seeing action in 5th of September 1942 where, alongside the Fubuki class destroyers Murakumo and Hatsuyuki, she sank the elderly destroyers USS Gregory and USS Little.^[15] At the battle of Guadalcanal, the 13th of November, Yūdachi fired off her guns, but failed to inflict much damage as she was first crippled by shell hits from the destroyer USS Sterett which left her dead in the water. The crippled Yūdachi was later located by the heavy cruiser USS Portland, which despite being crippled by a torpedo hit from the destroyer Inazuma, fired her forward 8-inch (203 mm) guns, and observed Yūdachi beginning to capsize by the 6th salvo.^[15]

Murasame was employed in several campaigns, beginning with the invasion of the Philippines. In 1942 she participated in the Battle of the Java Sea and the Battle of Midway. During the Guadalcanal Campaign Murasame played a supporting role in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands and was sunk at the Battle of Blackett Strait.

Shigure was squadron flagship of Captain Tameichi Hara through much of 1942–43, and became one of the most famous Japanese destroyers of the war.^[16] She survived numerous battles in the Solomons until she was torpedoed and sunk off the Gulf of Siam by the submarine USS Blackfin in early 1945.^[17]

Notes edit

Books edit

• Evans, David (1979). Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-192-7.
• Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-914-X.
• Roger Chesneau, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. Grenwitch: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Howarth, Stephen (1983). The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895–1945. Atheneum. ISBN 0-689-11402-8.
• Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
• Lengerer, Hans (2007). The Japanese Destroyers of the Hatsuharu Class. Warship 2007. London: Conway. pp. 91–110. ISBN 978-1-84486-041-8.OCLC 77257764
• Stille, Mark E. (2013). Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers 1919-45 (1) - Minekaze to Shiratsuyu Classes. Osprey Publishing (No. 198). ISBN 978-1-84908-984-5.
• Watts, Anthony J. (1971). The Imperial Japanese Navy. Macdonald & Co. ISBN 978-0385012683.
• Watts, Anthony J. (1966). Japanese Warships of World War 2. Ian Allan Ltd.
• Whitley, Michael J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Cassell Publishing. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.

• Nishida, Hiroshi. "Materials of IJN: Shiratsuyu class destroyer". Imperial Japanese Navy. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22.
• Globalsecurity.org. "IJN Shiratsuyu class destroyers".
• CombinedFleet.com: Shiratsuyu-class destroyers