Japanese destroyer Shirakumo (1927)
History. Construction of the advanced "Fubuki"-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's expansion program from fiscal 1923, intended to give Japan a qualitative edge with the world's most modern ships. The "Fubuki" class had performance that was a quantum leap over previous destroyer designs, so much so that they were designated . The large size, powerful engines, high speed, large radius of action and unprecedented armament gave these destroyers the firepower similar to many light cruisers in other navies. "Shirakumo", built at the Fujinagata Shipyards in Osaka was laid down on  27 October 1926, launched on 27 December 1927 and commissioned on 28 July 1928. Originally assigned hull designation “Destroyer No. 42”, she was completed as "Shirakumo". Operational history. On completion, "Shirakumo" was assigned to Destroyer Division 11 under the IJN 2nd Fleet. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, "Shirakumo" was assigned to patrols of the southern China coast, and participated in the Invasion of French Indochina in 1940. World War II history. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, "Shirakumo" was assigned to Destroyer Division 12 of Destroyer Squadron 3 of the IJN 1st Fleet, and had deployed  from Kure Naval District to the port of Samah on Hainan Island. From 4 December 1941 to the end of the year, "Shirakumo" covered the landings of Japanese troops in Malaya and in "Operation B" (the invasion of British Borneo). She rescued survivors from the torpedoed destroyer on 23 December. In February 1942, "Shirakumo" was part of the escort for the heavy cruiser during "Operation L" (the invasion of Banka and Palembang in the Netherlands East Indies. On 14 February she sank a British cable-laying ship off Singapore. Subsequently, "Shirakumo" was assigned to "Operation J" (the invasion of Java ) and on 1 March at the Battle of Sunda Strait she assisted in the sinking of the Australian cruiser the American cruiser and the Dutch destroyer HNLMS Evertsen. On 10 March, "Shirakumo" was reassigned to Destroyer Division 20 of Destroyer Squadron 3 of the IJN 1st Fleet, and subsequently was involved in "Operation T" (the invasion of northern Sumatra) on 12 March and "Operation D" (the invasion of the Andaman Islands on 23 March. On 6 April during the Indian Ocean raids, "Shirakumo", together with and sank the British steamships "Silksworth", "Autolycus", "Malda" and "Shinkuang" and the American steamship "Exmoor . From 13–22 April Shirakumo" returned via Singapore and Camranh Bay to Kure Naval Arsenal, for maintenance. During the Battle of Midway, "Shirakumo" was part of "Operation AL" - the diversionary invasion of the Aleutian islands. In July 1942, "Shirakumo" sailed from Amami-Ōshima to Mako Guard District, Singapore, Sabang and Mergui for a projected second Indian Ocean raid. The operation was cancelled due to the Guadalcanal campaign, and "Shirakumo" was ordered to Truk instead. In August, "Shirakumo" was used for “Tokyo Express” high speed transport missions in the Solomon Islands. On 28 August, after having aborted a troop transport mission to  Guadalcanal, "Shirakumo" suffered heavy damage in an attack by American dive bombers, and was left dead in the water with a direct hit to her engine room, although only two crewmen were wounded. She was towed by the destroyer , followed by the minelayer to Shortland Island, and by the tanker "Koa Maru" back to Truk for emergency repairs, which enabled her to limp back to Kure by 8 October. After repairs were completed by 1 April 1943, "Shirakumo" was reassigned to Destroyer Division 9 of Destroyer Squadron 1 in the IJN 5th Fleet, for patrols and escort missions off Hokkaidō  and the Chishima Islands. On 6 June 1943, she collided with the destroyer in heavy fog off Paramushiro, and was forced to put into Hakodate for repairs, which were not completed to the end of September, when she resumed her patrol and escort duties. On 16 March 1944, after departing Kushiro in northern Hokkaidō with a troop convoy for Uruppu Island, "Shirakumo" was torpedoed by the US submarine east of Muroran at position . She sank instantly; there were no survivors. On 31 March 1944, "Shirakumo" was struck from the navy list.